Tailgate lifter
OwnerJames Francois Leggettinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pick-up truck tailgate lifter having dual hooks for gripping the bottom of the rear of the tailgate and lifting straps affixed thereto and running to the inside of the tailgate ending in a handle. One embodiment has a roll-up handle so the straps and handle fit through the space between the bed and the tailgate. The other routes the straps over the rear face of the tailgate, through a top cap and around a reversing post in the inside of the tailgate so that when lifting pressure is applied to the handle, the straps tighten the lifting hooks.
Claims3
An improved tailgate lifter device for manually removing and re-installing a full size pickup truck tailgate which attaches to the pickup box by means of a post and collar hinge wherein one post is slotted and one collar has an opening through which the slotted post can be removed thus freeing one side of the tailgate so the collar on the other side of the tailgate can be withdrawn from the post to completely free the tailgate from the truck and the process can be reversed to reinstall the tailgate on the truck, which tailgate lifter device is comprised of two rigid hooks, of sufficient internal diameter to engage the bottom edge of the tailgate, a spacer of rigid material communicating between the hooks so that the two hooks are of sufficient distance from one another so that the tailgate is relatively stable longitudinally when free of the truck bed, a strap connected between the ends of the hooks opposite from the end of the hook which engages the bottom edge of the tailgate, and midway along the length of the strap a roll-up handle provided with a slot along one end to receive the strap and being of sufficient width and length so that when it wraps around the strap it provides a well cushioned hand-hold for an individual removing or installing the tailgate, and the material of said roll-up handle and strap are of such thickness so as to be able to fit through the opening between the tailgate and the truck bed when the tailgate is opened.
An improved tailgate lifter device for manually removing and re-installing a full size pickup truck tailgate which attaches to the pickup box by means of a post and collar hinge wherein one post is slotted and one collar has an opening through which the slotted post can be removed thus freeing one side of the tailgate so the collar on the other side of the tailgate can be withdrawn from the post to completely free the tailgate from the truck and the process can be reversed to reinstall the tailgate on the truck, which tailgate lifter device is comprised of two bottom hooks, of sufficient dimension to engage the bottom edge of the rear surface of the tailgate, to which straps are connected at the end opposite to that which engages the bottom edge, which straps each run the height of the tailgate on either side of a tailgate latch handle, into a top cap which sets snugly over the top of the tailgate and extends down the inside surface to a point just above the tailgate's center of gravity, being comprised of an inner and outer surface with a space in between having a channel for each of the straps through its length, bounded by a tension spring guide post 1 and a guide post 2 and guide post 3 around which the straps pass and end at a guide post 4 on the inside surface of the tailgate and the straps terminate at either end of a single handle, such that when upward pressure is applied to the handle the straps are pulled through the top cap and the bottom hooks are pulled tight against the bottom edge of the rear surface of the tailgate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.