US 6,672,642 B1 · Hybrid tailgate

Abstract

A lightweight tailgate assembly for pickup trucks and other motor vehicles includes several metal panels that are made from a single metal sheet and a plastic reinforcing module between inner and outer metal panels. The side panels of the tailgate are formed as part of the plastic reinforcing module. A preferred assembly may also include a hinge device for connection with a truck body and a latch mechanism for locking the assembly between opposed rear corner posts in a truck body. The hinge device may be integrally molded into the plastic reinforcing module. A particularly preferred tailgate assembly made with AA 6022 aluminum alloy sheet and a reinforcing module containing polymer and glass fibers may weigh less than half as much as a conventional steel truck tailgate. Metal cover plates can be used to obscure visibility of the plastic side panels from the exterior.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A lightweight tailgate assembly for trucks, comprising:

(a) an inner panel, an outer panel spaced from said inner panel, and top and bottom panels extending between said inner and outer panels, said inner and outer panels being integrally formed from a single, aluminum alloy sheet;
(b) a plastic reinforcing module between said inner and outer panels, said module including a top leg adjacent to said top panel and at least one diagonal bottom leg adjacent to said bottom panel at one end of the bottom leg, said module further including two partially exposed side legs that form the side walls of the tailgate assembly;
(c) means for joining said module to said inner panel;
and
(d) at least one metal face plate disposed on said reinforcing module to at least partially cover said partially exposed side legs.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hybrid tailgate

Life of this patent

Hybrid tailgate

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16