Supplementary vehicle tailgate support and related method

A vehicle comprising

• a vehicle body,
• a reinforced unitary tailgate secured to said vehicle body for rotation with respect thereto about a generally horizontal axis,
• said tailgate structured to rotate between a closed up position and a generally horizontal open position,
• a pair of relatively spaced first support members secured to said vehicle body and said tailgate for supporting said tailgate in said open position,
• two pairs of latches each having one first latch element secured to said vehicle body and a cooperating second latch element secured to said tailgate, whereby said first and second latch elements will engage each other to secure said tailgate in said closed up position,
• a pair of removable elongated supplementary support members each having a first portion removably secured to said first latch element and a second portion removably secured to said second latch element,
• said second latch elements being secured to said tailgate adjacent to said first support members,
• said supplementary support members being substantially rigid,
• said first latch elements each having a latch pin projecting generally toward each other,
• each said supplementary support member having an opening through which said latch pin passes,
• said second latch elements having a recess formed therein,
• each said supplementary support member having a projecting pin passing through said recess, and
• each said opening in said supplementary support member having an enlarged portion and an adjacent portion of reduced size.

A vehicle comprising

• a vehicle body
• a reinforced unitary tailgate secured to said vehicle body for rotation with respect thereto about a generally horizontal axis,
• said tailgate structured to rotate between a closed up position and a generally horizontal open position,
• a pair of relatively spaced first support members secured to said vehicle body and said tailgate for supporting said tailgate in said open position,
• two pairs of latches each having one first latch element secured to said vehicle body and a cooperating second latch element secured to said tailgate, whereby said first and second latch elements will engage each other to secure said tailgate in said closed up position,
• a pair of removable elongated supplementary support members each having a first portion removably secured to said first latch element and a second portion removably secured to said second latch element,
• said second latch elements being secured to said tailgate adjacent to said first support members,
• said supplementary tailgate supports being substantially rigid,
• each said supplementary support member having a latch engaging opening adjacent to one end thereof and a hook member at the other end thereof,
• each said supplementary support member being of generally uniform thickness throughout its length except for said opening and said hook member, and
• said opening receiving a spring-biased latching element.

A vehicle comprising

• a vehicle body,
• a reinforced unitary tailgate secured to said vehicle body for rotation with respect thereto about a generally horizontal axis,
• said tailgate structured to rotate between a closed up position and a generally horizontal open position,
• a pair of relatively spaced first support members secured to said vehicle body and said tailgate for supporting said tailgate in said open position,
• two pairs of latches each having one first latch element secured to said vehicle body and a cooperating second latch element secured to said tailgate, whereby said first and second latch elements will engage each other to secure said tailgate in said closed up position,
• a pair of removable elongated supplementary support members each having a first portion removably secured to said first latch element and a second portion removably secured to said second latch element,
• said second latch elements being secured to said tailgate adjacent to said first support members,
• said supplementary support members being substantially rigid,
• said first latch elements each having a latch pin projecting toward each other,
• each said supplementary support member having an opening through which said latch pin passes,
• said second latch elements having a recess formed therein,
• each said supplementary support member having a projecting pin passing through said recess, and
• each said second latch elements having a rotatable keeper member with a recess for receiving said projecting pin.

A method of reinforcing a unitary vehicle tailgate which is rotatably secured to a vehicle body comprising

• providing a vehicle having the reinforced unitary tailgate which is rotatably secured thereto between a closed up generally vertical position and an open generally horizontal position with a pair of first support members connecting said tailgate to the vehicle body so as to support the tailgate in said open generally horizontal position,
• said tailgate being structured to assume partially open positions between said closed up generally vertical position and open generally horizontal positions,
• providing a pair of supplementary support members which are elongated and substantially rigid and, are structured to have end portions removably secured to first latch elements secured to the vehicle body and second latch elements secured to said tailgate adjacent to said first support members,
• moving said tailgate to one of said partially open positions,
• securing a first end portion of each of said supplementary support members to the first latch elements,
• securing a second end portion of each of said supplementary support members to the second latch elements, whereby said tailgate will be in said open generally horizontal position with support being provided by both said first support members and said supplementary support members,
• reversing the sequence of steps employed to secure said supplementary support members,
• employing as said supplementary support members elongated substantially rigid metal members,
• providing in each of said supplementary support members in said first end portion elongated openings for engaging of said first latch elements projecting inwardly, and
• providing on the second end portion of said supplementary support members at least one pin member structured to be received within a recess within said second latch elements.

A method of reinforcing a unitary vehicle tailgate which is rotatably secured to a vehicle body comprising

• providing a vehicle having the reinforced unitary tailgate which is rotatably secured thereto between a closed up generally vertical position and an open generally horizontal position with a pair of first support members connecting said tailgate to the vehicle body so as to support the tailgate in said open generally horizontal position,
• said tailgate being structured to assume partially open positions between said closed up generally vertical position and open generally horizontal positions,
• providing a pair of supplementary support members which are elongated and substantially rigid and, are structured to have end portions removably secured to first latch elements secured to the vehicle body and second latch elements secured to said tailgate adjacent to said first support members,
• moving said tailgate to one of said partially open positions,
• securing a first end portion of each of said supplementary support members to the first latch elements,
• securing a second end portion of each of said supplementary support members to the second latch elements, whereby said tailgate will be in said open generally horizontal position with support being provided by both said first support members and said supplementary support members, and
• securing said supplementary support members to said tailgate before securing said supplementary support member to said vehicle body.