US 9,308,947 B2 · Vehicle tailgate with built in stowage compartment

Abstract

A tailgate stowage system is disclosed for use with a motor vehicle having a door-like element. The stowage system involves the use of a bin having a bin lid and a bin body hingedly connected to the bin lid. The bin lid may be opened to permit access to an interior area of the bin body, and may be closed to contain at least one component within the stowage bin. The bin lid and bin body form a compartment when the bin lid is in a closed orientation to enable the component to be stowed therein. At least one mounting latch may be used for securing the bin within the recess of the tailgate, and which permits removal of the bin from the recess without the use of external tools.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims22

Dependent claims

A stowage system for use with a moveable element of a motor vehicle, wherein the moveable element is moveable between first and second positions, and wherein the moveable element includes a recess formed therein, the system comprising:

a stowage bin having a bin lid and a bin body hingedly connected to the bin lid to permit the bin lid to be opened, to permit access to an interior area of the bin body, and to permit the stowage bin to be closed to contain at least one component within the stowage bin;
the bin lid and bin body forming a compartment when the bin lid is in a closed orientation to enable the component to be stowed therein;
at least one mounting latch for securing the stowage bin within the recess of the door-like element, and which permits removal of the stowage bin from the recess only after the bin lid is opened, and without the use of external tools.

A load restraining and stowage system for use with a tailgate of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle includes a bed and a tailgate that is able to be moved into a lowered position to gain access to the bed, the system comprising;

a pair of support rails secured to vertical sidewalls of the bed;
a pair of load restraining bars each having a length sufficient to span a width of the bed and having a telescopic construction to enable each said load restraining bar to assume a first length when secured in the bed to the pair of support rails, to thus help restrain an article being transported in the bed against movement, and a second length which is shorter than the first length when the load restraining bar is configured to be stowed in the tailgate;
a recess formed in the tailgate;
a stowage bin placed in the recess in the tailgate;
the stowage bin including a bin lid and a bin body hingedly secured together along edges thereof such that the bin lid forms a cover and an inside wall surface of the tailgate, and the stowage bin forms a compartment within which the load restraining bars can be stowed when not in use in the bed;
a pair of spring biased mounting latches arranged along a rear wall portion of the bin body, the spring biased mounting latches engaging with structure associated with the tailgate to secure the rear wall of the stowage bin within the recess;
a pair of release latches operably associated with the spring biased mounting latches, the release latches each being engageable with one or more fingers of a user hand to permit the user to use the release latches to slidably move the mounting latches into retracted positions;
a double U-shaped track having a first track portion within which the mounting latches are mounted, a second track portion within which the release elements are mounted, and a pair of openings in which portions of the release elements may engage to hold the mounting latches in their said retracted positions when the user releases the release latches;
wherein the bin body includes structure enabling a forward wall portion of the bin body to be held by additional structure associated with the tailgate, such that the stowage bin is fully suspended within the tailgate and restrained against movement;
and
wherein the pair of release latches are only accessible by a user when the bin lid is in an open position.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,674 words

Summary1,190 words

#The present disclosure relates to stowage systems for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a stowage system incorporated into a tailgate of a motor vehicle for storing various articles and article securing components in an organized, secure fashion.

#The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

#The popularity of pickup trucks has grown significantly in recent years. Such vehicles have always been popular with contractors, and such contractors often use their pickup trucks as their main mode of transportation outside of work. Pickup truck ownership has also grown with non-contractors, in part due to the increasing refinement and comfort of present day pickup trucks, as well as the utility that non-contractors find in having such a vehicle that is capable of transporting a wide variety of cargo.

Brief description of the drawings17 figures

#The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in .any way. In the drawing figures:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stowage system for a pickup truck which is integrated into the tailgate of the vehicle, and with the system in its open configuration revealing the individual stowage areas within the tailgate;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stowage system of FIG. 1 but with a cover of the system in the closed position;

Detailed description3,815 words

#The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

#Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a tailgate stowage system 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 10 is incorporated into a tailgate 14 of a vehicle such as a pickup truck 12. However, it will be appreciated that the system 10 could be integrated into the tailgate of any other type of vehicle, for example a sport utility vehicle (SUV), and is thus not restricted to use with only pickup trucks.

#The system 10 is integrated into the tailgate 14 of the vehicle 12 through a floor panel 16 which forms a floor for all components being stowed by the system 10. Additional walls 18 form compartments for various articles such as battery jumper cables 22, a large flashlight 24, miscellaneous tools 26, and a first aid pack 28. These are but some of the different types of cargo items that the system 10 is able to stow, and it will be appreciated that the precise configuration of the system 10 may be varied to stow other types of items as well. As such, the system 10 is not limited to stowing only the cargo items shown in FIG. 1.

Facts

Application

14/510,460Filed 9 Oct 2014 · us provisional application

Priority

9 Oct 2013

Published

US 2015/0102624 A116 Apr 2015

Granted

12 Apr 2016

Term ends

9 Oct 2034

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

B62D 33/04
Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles: enclosed load compartments ; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains
B60R 9/06
Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like: at vehicle front or rear
B60R 11/06
Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for: for tools or spare parts
B62D 33/0273
Movable: movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks

Timeline

9 Oct 2013Priority claimedParent application 61/888,794
9 Oct 2014Application filedUS 14/510,460
16 Apr 2015PublishedUS 2015/0102624 A1
12 Apr 2016GrantedUS 9,308,947 B2
13 Sep 2016Assigned to Jac Products, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
31 Oct 2016Assigned to Bank of America, N.A., AS Administrative Agentnotice of grant of security interest in patents
30 Aug 2019Assigned to Jpmorgan Chase Bank N.A.security interest
6 Sep 2019Assigned to Jac Products, Inc.release of security interest
21 Aug 2026Assigned to Jac Holding Corporation, Jac Products, Inc., Jac Finance Corp., Franklin Aluminum Company, Inc., Jac Holding Enterprises, Inc.release of security interest
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
9 Oct 2034Term endsEstimated

Vehicle tailgate with built in stowage compartment

Life of this patent

Vehicle tailgate with built in stowage compartment

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims22

Description5,674 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,674 words