US 12,312,015 B2Granted

Modular tailgate

AssigneeMagna Exteriors Inc.

InventorsAnthony J. Povinelli, Martin R. Matthews, Mark P. Birka, Michael A. West

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A modular gate combined with multiple functions which can be easily employed with existing tailgates without any hardware or mounting modifications to existing truck beds. There is provided a modular tailgate system having a tailgate portion in combination with a plurality of functions. The modular tailgate system integrates any combinations of at least two of the plurality of features without affecting existing body sides and/or existing truck beds. Integrated features include a multi-functional gate (e.g., swing, drop, etc), storage (e.g., normal, sealed, refrigerated, heated, etc), step(s), lighting (e.g., ingress/egress, bed interior, removable, trailer hitch, parking, etc), bed extension(s), power (e.g., 12 v and/or 110 v), tie downs (e.g., ratchets, anchors, etc), sawhorse, magnet(s), table(s), bench(es), seat(s), net(s), any other predetermined desired function, etc., and combinations thereof.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A modular tailgate system, comprising:

a tailgate portion operably connected to a cargo bed area of a vehicle and rotatable between a stowed position and at least one deployed position;
and
a plurality of features incorporated with the tailgate portion and employable with existing vehicles without any hardware or mounting modifications to existing body sides and/or existing cargo beds, wherein the plurality of features are selected from the group consisting of a split door, a three-way opening door, at least one storage unit, at least one step, at least one lighting device, at least one bed extension system, at least one power source, at least one tie down, at least one retractable net, at least one cargo hold system, at least one sawhorse, at least one bench, at least one seat, and combinations thereof, wherein one of the plurality of features is said split door including at least a first door and a second door operably connected to said vehicle, wherein either of said first door and said second door is selectively rotatable downward only along a horizontal axis independent of the other of said first door or said second door to the at least one deployed position, and wherein one of said plurality of features includes said at least two cargo storage units incorporated with said first door and said second door, each cargo storage unit including a lid forming an interior side of said first door and said second door, respectively, when said first door or said second door are in a stowed position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/799,246Filed 24 Feb 2020 · continuation
Priority: 19 Aug 2014
Published: US 2021/0155296 A127 May 2021
Granted: 27 May 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

B62D 33/0273
Movable: movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks
B60P 1/26
With a tipping movement of load-transporting element: means for controlling movement of tailboards or sideboards
B60Q 1/2661
The devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic: mounted on parts having…
B60Q 1/304
For indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces: adaptations of signalling devices having a part on the vehicle body and…

Family

Application62/039,172Us provisional application · filed 19 Aug 2014
PCT/US2015/045877Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Aug 2015
US 2021/0155296 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 May 2021
Application15/505,215Parent of this continuation
US 10,661,842 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2017/0274940 A1Published application
US 12,312,015 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.