Truck storage and work surface tailgate
AssigneeS.A. Robotics
InventorDaniel Sutton Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage compartment and integrated tailgate worksurface is disclosed. The storage compartment is easily retrofitable to any standard or light duty pick-up truck bed. A parallel linkage mechanism and integrated power unit can raise and lower the storage compartment without rotation, thereby keeping objects in an initial desired orientation and placement within the compartment. The parallel linkage system also facilitates adjustment of the integrated tailgate work surface to convenient working heights.
Claims18
A vehicle apparatus, comprising:
- a sliding rail assembly mountable to a vehicle;
- a linkage mechanism attached to the sliding rail assembly;
- a cargo box attached to the linkage mechanism, one side of the cargo box comprising a truck tailgate;
- wherein the linkage mechanism is capable of curvilinearly translating the cargo box from an elevated first position to a lowered second position.
A vehicle apparatus, comprising:
- a vehicle bed having a tailgate;
- a cargo box attached to the tailgate and extending partially into the vehicle bed;
- first and second sliding rail assemblies mounted in the vehicle bed;
- a first linkage mechanism attached to the first sliding rail assembly and a second linkage mechanism attached to the second sliding rail assembly;
- wherein the first and second sliding rail assemblies and first and second linkage mechanisms cooperate to non-rotationally translate the cargo box and tailgate from the vehicle bed to a ground position.
A method of moving a vehicle cargo box, comprising:
- horizontally translating the vehicle cargo box from a bed to a cantilevered position extending from the bed;
- curvilinearly translating the vehicle cargo box from the cantilevered position to a lower elevation;
- wherein one side of the cargo box is a truck tailgate.
A vehicle cargo box movement cycle, comprising:
- extending a cargo box and tailgate from a vehicle bed with a powered sliding rail assembly;
- lowering the cargo box without rotation of the cargo box with a powered linkage mechanism;
- lifting the cargo box without rotation of the cargo box with the powered linkage mechanism;
- retracting the cargo box into the vehicle bed with the powered sliding rail assembly.
A method of loading a vehicle bed, comprising:
- providing a powered movable cargo box in the vehicle bed;
- horizontally translating the cargo box from the vehicle bed to a cantilevered position such that there is elevational spacing between the cargo box and the vehicle bed;
- sliding cargo under the cargo box and into the vehicle bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.