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US 5,685,594 AGranted
Two-way tailgate for a vehicle
OwnerFrank J. Harperinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tailgate for a truck that may be opened about two different axes at the same time is disclosed. A first tailgate portion of the gate rotates about a horizontal axis onto which heavy or long materials may be more readily loaded while a second tailgate portion rotates about a vertical axis for easy access to the forward-most portion of the bed. Additionally, the tailgate addition may include an extended step plate to allow the operator to step into the bed of the truck more readily.
Claims16
A tailgate for a vehicle comprising:
- a first tailgate portion rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis and having an inboard edge;
- a second tailgate portion rotatably mounted about a vertical axis and having an inboard edge;
- a first latching device for securing the first tailgate portion in a closed position;
- a second latching device for securing the second tailgate portion in a closed position;
- and
- wherein the inboard edges of said first and second tailgate portions are immediately adjacent to each other when in the closed position.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising a vehicle;
- and a tailgate mounted on said vehicle, wherein said tailgate includes:
- a first tailgate portion rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis and having an inboard edge;
- a second tailgate portion rotatably mounted about a vertical axis and having an inboard edge;
- a first latching device for securing the first tailgate portion in a closed position;
- a second latching device for securing the second tailgate portion in a closed position;
- and
- wherein the inboard edges of said first and second tailgate portions are immediately adjacent to each other when in the closed position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.