Cargo box tailgate assembly

A tailgate assembly for a cargo box having a support deck and a wall structure extending therefrom, the tailgate assembly comprising:

• a pair of brackets positioned along the wall structure at spaced apart locations;
• a tailgate pivotably supported between the brackets;
• and
• a latch assembly extending between the tailgate and at least one of the brackets, the latch assembly comprising:
• a latch having opposed structures which define an opening and a retainment area, the opposed structures are biased toward one another such that the opening has a default spacing equal to X and the spacing is expandable upon application of a force upon the structures in a direction from outside the opening toward the retainment area, but is nonexpandable upon application of a force upon the structures is a direction from inside the retainment area toward the opening;
• and
• a latch pin having a first portion with a minimum width greater than X, the latch pin being moveable between a rest position in which the latch pin first portion is aligned with the latch such that it can be passed through the opening and be retained in the retainment area and a position in which the latch pin first portion is clear of the latch such that the tailgate may be rotated relative to the bracket.

A utility vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• wheels for supporting the frame;
• a cargo box having a support deck and a wall structure extending therefrom;
• and
• a tailgate assembly comprising:
• a pin receiving location defined along the wall structure including a slot having an open entry communicating with a substantially closed retainment area, the slot configured such that the retainment area is lower than the entry;
• a tailgate having opposed first and second ends with a first pin extending from the first end, the first pin being configured to be removably received through the entry and into the retainment area of the slot whereby the tailgate is supported by and pivotable about the pin;
• and
• a lock mechanism configured to releasably secure the tailgate relative to the wall structure
• wherein the slot entry has opposed sides defining an area of first minimum width and the first pin has a non-cylindrical configuration with at least a first portion having opposed sides with a first maximum width and a second portion having opposed sides with a second minimum width and wherein the first maximum width is less than or equal to the first minimum width and the second minimum width is greater than the first minimum width such that the first pin passes through the slot entry when the first pin is oriented with the first portion sides aligned with the entry passage sides defining the first minimum width and is prevented from passing through the slot entry when the first pin is oriented with the second portion sides aligned with the entry passage sides defining the first minimum width.

A utility vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• wheels for supporting the frame;
• a cargo box having a support deck and a wall structure extending therefrom;
• and
• a tailgate assembly comprising:
• a pin receiving location defined along the wall structure including a slot having an open entry communicating with a substantially closed retainment area, the slot configured such that the retainment area is lower than the entry;
• a tailgate having opposed first and second ends with a first pin extending from the first end, the first pin being configured to be removably received through the entry and into the retainment area of the slot whereby the tailgate is supported by and pivotable about the pin;
• and
• a lock mechanism configured to releasably secure the tailgate relative to the wall structure wherein the lock mechanism includes a latch assembly comprising:
• a latch having opposed structures which define an opening and a second retainment area, the opposed structures biased toward one another such that the opening has a default spacing equal to X and the spacing is expandable upon application of a force upon the structures in a , direction from outside the opening toward the second retainment area, but is nonexpandable upon application of a force upon the structures is a direction from inside the second retainment area toward the opening;
• and
• a latch pin having a first portion with a minimum width greater than X, the latch pin being moveable between a rest position in which the latch pin first portion is aligned with the latch such that it can be passed through the opening and be retained in the second retainment area and a position in which the latch pin first portion is clear of the latch such that the tailgate may be rotated relative to the wall structure.