Integrated stepgate and handle assembly
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsVenkatesh Krishnan, Ravikumar Ranganathan, Brandon Buckhalt, Thomas M. Herline
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Abstract
An integrated stepgate and handle assembly includes a tailgate, a displaceable ladder carried on the tailgate, a displaceable handle carried on the tailgate and a latch. The latch connects the ladder and the handle whereby the handle is partially deployed with the ladder. This partial deployment of the handle prompts the operator to fully deploy and use the handle.
Claims23
An integrated stepgate and handle assembly, comprising:
- a tailgate;
- a ladder displaceable between a storage position within said tailgate and a use position;
- a handle displaceable between a stowed position within said tailgate and a deployed position;
- and
- a latch connecting said ladder and said handle whereby said handle is partially deployed as said ladder is displaced toward said use position;
- and
- a first pivot for mounting a first end of said latch to said ladder.
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A method of deploying an integrated stepgate and handle assembly including a ladder and a handle, comprising:
- displacing said ladder from a storage position in a vehicle tailgate to an intermediate position;
- temporarily connecting said ladder to said handle whereby said handle is pulled into a partially deployed position as said ladder is displaced from said storage position to said intermediate position;
- displacing said ladder from said intermediate position to a use position;
- and
- disconnecting said ladder from said handle as said ladder is displaced from said intermediate position to said use position thereby leaving said handle in said partially deployed position.
An integrated stepgate and handle assembly, comprising:
- a tailgate;
- a ladder displaceable between a storage position within said tailgate and a use position;
- a handle displaceable between a stowed position within said tailgate and a deployed position;
- and
- a latch connecting said ladder and said handle whereby said handle is partially deployed as said ladder is displaced toward said use position, wherein a second end of said latch includes a catch and a cam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.