US 8,944,484 B2 · Pressurized locking assembly for a side-swing tailgate and a tailgate incorporating the same

Abstract

A locking assembly and method of securing a dump truck tailgate to a sidewall of the dump truck, and a truck incorporating the same. The locking assembly includes a pressurized pin mechanism mounted on one of tailgate and the sidewall; and a spool mounted on the other of the tailgate and the sidewall. The spool is engageable with the pin mechanism to lock the locking assembly and secure the tailgate to the sidewall, and is disengageable from the pin mechanism to unlock the locking assembly and release the tailgate from its securement to the sidewall. A hinge assembly is provided on an opposite side of the tailgate from the locking assembly. The tailgate is selectively pivotable relative to the truck bed about a vertical axis extending through the hinge assembly or about a horizontal axis extending through both of the locking assembly and the hinge assembly.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims18

Dependent claims

A dump truck comprising:

a truck bed having a bottom wall, a front wall, and first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall;
a compartment defined by the bottom, front, first and second sidewalls;
said compartment having an opening defined between a rear end of the first sidewall and a rear end of the second sidewall;
a tailgate spanning the opening, said tailgate being movable between an open position and a closed position;
a locking assembly engaging a first region of the bed with a first region of the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed position, said locking assembly including:
a spool provided on the first region of the bed or the first region of the tailgate;
a bracket provided on the other of the first region of the bed or the first region of the tailgate, wherein the bracket includes a first arm and a second arm;
a gap defined between inner surfaces of the first and second arms and oriented along a first axis;
wherein the spool is received in the gap when the tailgate is moved to the closed position;
an aperture defined in the second arm of the bracket;
the aperture being oriented along a second axis, where the second axis is oriented at right angles to the gap;
and
a pin aligned along the second axis and being movable along the second axis through the aperture between a locked position where the pin extends into the gap and an unlocked position where the pin does not extend into the gap.

10 more elements

A dump truck comprising:

a truck bed having a bottom wall, a front wall, and first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall;
a compartment defined by the bottom, front, first and second sidewalls;
said compartment having an opening defined between a rear end of the first sidewall and a rear end of the second sidewall;
a tailgate spanning the opening;
a locking assembly engaging a first region of the bed with a first region of the tailgate;
wherein the locking assembly comprises:
a pressurized pin mechanism mounted on one of the first and second sidewalls of the truck bed or the tailgate;
and
a spool mounted on the other of one of the first and second sidewalls of the truck bed or the tailgate;
and wherein the spool is engageable with the pin mechanism to lock the locking assembly, and is disengageable from the pin mechanism to unlock the locking assembly;
wherein the locking assembly further includes a pressurized cylinder and the cylinder is activated to move the locking assembly between a locked position and an unlocked position;
and
a hinge assembly engaging a second region of the bed with a second region of the tailgate;
and wherein the tailgate is selectively pivotable relative to the bed about a vertical axis extending through the hinge assembly or about a horizontal axis extending through both of the locking assembly and the hinge assembly.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,381 words

Summary422 words

#1. Technical Field

#This invention relates generally to vehicles. More particularly, this invention relates to trucks, especially dump trucks. Specifically, this invention is directed to a locking assembly for a side-swing tailgate for a dump truck where the locking assembly includes a pressurized pin.

#2. Background Information

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a dump truck having a side-swing tailgate which includes a locking assembly;

#FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the back, right-hand corner of the truck showing the locking assembly mounted on the truck bed and engaged with the tailgate; and where the locking assembly is shown in a latched position;

Detailed description4,658 words

#Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

#Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a dump truck 10 comprising a cab 12 mounted on a front region of a truck frame 14, and an open box bed 16 mounted on a rear region of the truck frame 14. A plurality of wheels 18 are engaged on frame 14 and are positioned to contact a road surface 20 over which the truck 10 is to travel.

#Bed 16 is generally rectangular in shape includes a bottom wall 22 having a front end 22a and a rear end 22b. Rear end 22b is pivotally secured to frame 14 by a hinge 24. Although it is not illustrated herein, it will be understood that a hydraulic lift is mounted on frame 14 and engages front end 22a of bottom wall 22. The hydraulic lift is activatable to raise up the front end 22a of bottom wall 22 such that bottom wall 22 pivots about hinge 24 and becomes oriented at an angle relative to frame 14.

Facts

Application

13/835,226Filed 15 Mar 2013

Published

US 2014/0265518 A118 Sep 2014

Granted

3 Feb 2015

Term ends

15 Mar 2033

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification6 codes

E05B 83/02
Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle: locks for railway freight-cars, freight containers or the like; Locks for…
B60P 1/26
With a tipping movement of load-transporting element: means for controlling movement of tailboards or sideboards
Y10T 292/1014
Sliding: operating means
E05B
Locks

Timeline

15 Mar 2013Application filedUS 13/835,226
24 Jul 2013Assigned to Mac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
18 Sep 2014PublishedUS 2014/0265518 A1
3 Feb 2015GrantedUS 8,944,484 B2
6 Jun 2019Assigned to The Huntington National Banksecurity interest
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
15 Mar 2033Term endsEstimated

Pressurized locking assembly for a side-swing tailgate and a tailgate incorporating the same

Life of this patent

Pressurized locking assembly for a side-swing tailgate and a tailgate incorporating the same

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims18

Description5,381 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,381 words