Multi-Position End Gate Assembly
OwnerJoseph Waldnerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An end gate assembly of a dump box comprises an end gate panel supported for pivotal movement about a lower pivot axis of a pair of lower latch assemblies in a first released position and about an upper pivot axis of a pair of upper latch assemblies in a second released position. A common actuator is arranged to release both upper latch assemblies in the first released position of the actuator and is arranged to release both lower latch assemblies in the second released position. The common actuator communicates between the latch assemblies on opposing sides of the end gate panel through a connecting member extending across the gate opening below a floor of the dump box.
Claims20
An end gate assembly for a cargo box comprising a bed floor extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, a pair of sidewalls extending in the longitudinal direction along opposing sides of the bed floor to respective rear ends defining a gate opening therebetween at the rear end of the bed floor, the end gate assembly comprising:
- an end gate panel arranged to span between opposing ends in a lateral direction across the gate opening between the rear ends of the sidewalls of the cargo box;
- a pair of upper latch assemblies arranged to couple respective opposing ends of the end gate panel to respective ones of the rear ends of the sidewalls adjacent a top of the end gate panel in a latched position of the upper latch assemblies;
- a pair of lower latch assemblies arranged to couple respective opposing ends of the end gate panel to respective ones of the rear ends of the sidewalls adjacent a bottom of the end gate panel in a latched position of the lower latch assemblies;
- an actuator coupled to the upper latch assemblies and the lower latch assemblies;
- the actuator being movable from a neutral position in which the upper and lower latch assemblies are in the latched position to either one of a first released position or a second released position;
- said actuator being arranged to release both upper latch assemblies in the first released position such that the end gate panel is pivotal about a lower pivot axis spanning in the lateral direction across the bottom of the end gate panel between the lower latch assemblies;
- and
- said actuator being arranged to release both lower latch assemblies in the second released position such that the end gate panel is pivotal about an upper pivot axis spanning in the lateral direction across the top of the end gate panel between the upper latch assemblies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.