Tailgate lift apparatus and method
AssigneeUltra-Fab Products, Inc.
InventorsJames B. Leurck, Eugene G. Cousineau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pickup truck tailgate lift apparatus attachable with no body modification, to create a powered lift function utilizing the tailgate as a load platform. Two side assemblies, which extend a lift mechanism beyond the rear bumper, are mounted over the existing tailgate pivot and upper cable anchor pin so that the tailgate may be opened and closed with respect to the side assemblies in the same manner that it is opened and closed with respect to the cargo box. The vehicle tailgate is attached to an electric drive plate assembly so that the tailgate, and a load place on the tailgate, is raised or lowered as the drive plate assembly is raised and lowered. In one embodiment, an electric motor is placed on each side to drive a treaded rod to move a drive plate up or down.
Claims6
A method of raising a load to a pickup truck bed, or lowering a load from the bed of a pickup, the pickup comprising a tailgate, a first side tailgate pivot pin, a second side tailgate pivot pin, a cargo box, and a rear bumper, the method comprising
- providing an electric powered tailgate lift apparatus
- comprising a first side assembly comprising
- a first electric motor,
- a first drive plate assembly, and
- a first side panel assembly to extend the first drive plate assembly past
- the rear bumper of the pickup;
- a second side inner/outer tube assembly
- comprising, a second electric motor,
- a second drive plate assembly,
- a second side panel assembly to extend the second drive plate assembly
- past the rear bumper of the pickup;
- and
- a floor panel;
- removing the tailgate from the pickup;
- attaching the electric powered tailgate lift apparatus to the rear portion of the pickup
- attaching the first side assembly to the first side tailgate pivot pin,
- attaching the second side assembly to the second side tailgate pivot pin,
- attaching the tailgate to the drive plate assembly so that the tailgate, and a load placed on the tailgate, is raised or lowered, without obstruction from the rear bumper, as the drive plate assembly is raised and lowered;
- and
- operating the electric powered tailgate lift apparatus so that the tailgate, and a load placed on the tailgate, is raised or lowered as the drive plate assembly is raised and lowered.
A method of installation of an electric powered tailgate lift apparatus for a pickup, the pickup comprising a tailgate, a first side tailgate pivot pin, a second side tailgate pivot pin, a cargo box, and a rear bumper, the method comprising
- disconnecting tailgate cables from the cargo box of the pickup and removing the tailgate;
- inserting a first side assembly lower collar into the pickup tailgate first side and second side pivot pins;
- inserting a second side assembly lower collar into the pickup tailgate pivot pins;
- installing a floor pan between the first side assembly and the second side assembly;
- connecting a first side wire harness assembly and a second side wire harness assembly;
- connecting the first side wire harness assembly and the second side wire harness assembly to the vehicles electric system;
- and
- re-installing the tailgate to the first side assembly and the second side assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.