Tailgate with a step
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorTom Thanh Ngo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a first gate pivotably coupled to a vehicle body, and a second gate pivotably coupled to the first gate. The second gate has an inner surface that faces a vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position. The first and second gates are moveable to a step position where the inner surface is a step surface to the vehicle cargo bed. An exemplary method includes, among other things, pivoting a first and a second gate to a step position where an inner surface of the second gate is a step surface to a vehicle cargo bed. The inner surface faces the vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position.
Claims20
A tailgate assembly, comprising:
- a first gate pivotably coupled to a vehicle body;
- and
- a second gate pivotably coupled to the first gate, the second gate having an inner surface that faces a vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position, the first and second gates moveable to a step position where the inner surface is a step surface to the vehicle cargo bed, the first gate having an inner surface that is vertically aligned with a plane of the vehicle cargo bed when in the step position.
A method, comprising:
- pivoting a first and a second gate to a step position where an inner surface of the first gate is vertically aligned with a plane of a floor of a vehicle cargo bed, and an inner surface of the second gate is a step surface to the vehicle cargo bed, the inner surface of the second gate facing the vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position.
A method, comprising:
- pivoting a first and a second gate to a step position where an inner surface of the second gate is a step surface to a vehicle cargo bed, the inner surface facing the vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position;
- and
- selectively pivoting the first and second gates to an extended bed position where the first gate is in an open position to provide an extended vehicle cargo bed, and the inner surface of the second gate faces the extended vehicle cargo bed to provide a closed tailgate for the extended vehicle cargo bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.