Abstract: A tailgate hitch sensor system is installed by mounting a housing around the end of a receiver tube on the back of a hitch, and then plugging the system into both the OEM passenger side tailgate locking mechanism and the OEM driver side tailgate locking mechanism. A magnetically operated reed switch is positioned at the top of the housing, and a cover supporting a magnet is pivotally hinged to the housing so the cover has a normally closed position covering the receiver tube. When the cover is closed, the tailgate operates normally. When the cover is open, the electrical circuit for at least one stage of lowering the tailgate is de-activated.

Abstract: A tow bar assembly has a shank portion for attachment to the towing vehicle hitch, a pivot joint on a trailing end of the shank, and two arms extending from the pivot joint for attachment to the towed load. A stowage block on the shank includes two transversely oriented slots, for receiving a tab on the arms and thereby hold the arms in a transverse, horizontal stowage position. The arms each telescope between extended and retracted positions. A latch, having a retention shaft with a handle, automatically engages to lock the arm in the extended position when the trailing end of the arm is pulled to the extended position. The retention shaft has a shape which, depending on its rotational position as controlled by the handle, either allows the telescoping or interferes with the telescoping, locking the arm in the extended position.

Abstract: A set of adjustable side mount legs attach bed-side side-mount truck bed toolbox or similar container to most any truckbed configuration. A center section of the legs, which is adjustable in length, extends between two pivotally attached mounting brackets. The center section can be formed by two telescoping tubes, at least one of which has a series of bolt holes along its length, with a bolt attached through one of those bolt holes and through the other tube, such that the user can select and set the length between the two mounting brackets. One of the mounting brackets is attached by bolts to a bottom of the bed-side side-mount truck bed toolbox. The other mounting bracket of each leg is attached by rivet nut threaded inserts to a side of the truck bed sidewall.

Abstract: A brake controller has a control dial with a series of full color LEDs arranged around the dial. The dial with its LEDs is in a module mounted on the dash of the towing vehicle and connected by a cable to a main module mounted out of sight. The dial is a rotary encoder pushbutton mounted on the same circuit board as the LED chips. Status information is output using the LEDs primarily based on color. Substantially all setting input is provided solely by user manipulation of the dial, pushing the dial in to change setting input mode, with the value of the input reflected in the number of LEDs being lit in a color corresponding to the brake controller setting being changed, as the user rotates the dial either clockwise or counterclockwise to change setting values.

Abstract: A vibration minimization towing hitch includes a shank attachable into the receiver tube the towing vehicle, and a separately formed head, such as for supporting a tow ball. The head is pivotable through a partial range of motion relative to the head, such as allowing the tow ball to pivot up to 7° downward or up to 3° upward. One or more compressible inserts are disposed in a pocket between the shank and the head, for resisting the limited pivotal motion of the head relative to the shank. A user performs a part of the assembly using two insertable pins or bolts, with insertion of the second pin compressing a compressible bumper which is separate from the insert(s).

Abstract: A hitch tightener is used around the lip of a hitch receiver tube and a shank inserted into the hitch receiver tube. The hitch tightener has a U-bolt with two threaded legs, and a crossbar with throughholes for the legs of the U-bolt, positioned so the crossbar and the U-bolt encircle the shank and the receiver tube lip. A standard threaded nut holds the crossbar onto one of the legs, and a cam lock lever is pivotally attached on the other leg by a threaded trunnion nut. When the cam lock lever is pivoted from its opened position to its closed position, it moves the crossbar toward the connecting portion of the clamp component, tightening the hitch tightener around shank and lip.

Abstract: A tri-ball trailer hitch coupler lock has three differently sized ball substitute members. A lanyard extends in two directions off a portion which adjoins the ball substitute members, with mating portions of a lock permanently attached to each free end of the lanyard. One portion of the lock terminates in a pin sized to fit in the latch pin opening of the coupler, and the other portion of the lock is matably lockable onto the pin after the pin has been extended through the coupler pin opening. The lanyard preferably passes through an opening in the adjoinment portion offset from the center.

Abstract: A brake controller is provided as an inline plug between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle or trailer. The electronics including an accelerometer and wireless communication radio are potted within a brake controller housing package. There is no conventional display or input controls on the exterior of the brake controller package. Input settings, and possibly output messages, are communicated through a smartphone or similar software or hardware application. The brake controller can identify a hazard lighting condition and avoid braking the towed vehicle during the hazard lighting condition, and can also distinguish when braking during signaling a turn, using the turn signals of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A vibration minimization towing hitch includes a shank attachable into the receiver tube the towing vehicle, and a separately formed head, such as for supporting a tow ball. The head is pivotable through a partial range of motion relative to the head, such as allowing the tow ball to pivot up to 7° downward or up to 3° upward. One or more compressible inserts are disposed in a pocket between the shank and the head, for resisting the limited pivotal motion of the head relative to the shank. A user performs a part of the assembly using two insertable pins or bolts, with insertion of the second pin compressing a compressible bumper which is separate from the insert(s).

Abstract: A bicycle mount which mounts a bicycle longitudinally over the bed rail of a pickup truck. A carriage of the bicycle mount supports the wheels of the bicycle above it. A pivot arm and hook is used as a primary vertical support for the bicycle, with the pivot arm mounted using slide channels of the carriage to allow both longitudinal and pivoting motion. The hooks is extendable on the pivot arm to support an upper section of the bicycle frame. A mounting system for the carriage is provided allows the carriage to mount into stake pockets of the bed rail, adjustable to accommodate different length bed rails and different stake pocket spacing on different pickup trucks.

Abstract: A brake controller has a control dial with a series of full color LEDs arranged around the dial. The dial with its LEDs is in a module mounted on the dash of the towing vehicle and connected by a cable to a main module mounted out of sight. The dial is a rotary encoder pushbutton mounted on the same circuit board as the LED chips. Status information is output using the LEDs primarily based on color. Substantially all setting input is provided solely by user manipulation of the dial, pushing the dial in to change setting input mode, with the value of the input reflected in the number of LEDs being lit in a color corresponding to the brake controller setting being changed, as the user rotates the dial either clockwise or counterclockwise to change setting values.

Abstract: A headache rack is formed substantially from sheet metal, including left and right uprights as part of a framing portion supporting a screen. The forward edge of the uprights has a concave curvature facing the cab and providing a cantilever, and a folded rearward edge causing the uprights to be considerably wider where they contact the pickup truck bed walls than they are at their tops. The framing portion is provided in three separable sections, connectable by the user using fasteners such as nuts and bolts, with a removable screen in the center frame portion.

Abstract: A drive system for an automatic step including an actuator for moving an automatic step, a crank arm pivotally coupled to the actuator and pivotable about a central shaft, and a first link pivotally coupled to the crank arm, the first link having first and second ends. The linkage comprises one or more force mitigation mechanisms capable of reducing forces eccentric to the actuator. A first force mitigation mechanism engages when the step is deployed or nearly deployed by aligning the central shaft with the first and second ends of the first link along a first axis to generally place eccentric forces originating from the step against the central shaft of the crank arm instead of directly engaging the actuator.

Abstract: A stake pocket anchor attaches an accessory to a vehicle stake pocket. The stake pocket anchor includes an anchor assembly hung from a tensioning member. The anchor assembly includes two channel members slidably attached to sandwich a center block, with an angled slide direction that enables sliding either upwardly and inwardly to a minimum anchor assembly width or downwardly and outwardly to a maximum anchor assembly width. During use, the anchor assembly gravitationally releases to its maximum anchor assembly width after being inserted through the stake pocket opening. The tensioning member is then used to vertically raise the anchor assembly within the stake pocket until a top of the anchor assembly contacts a bottom surface of the lip and thereafter allows further tightening of the anchor assembly against the bottom surface of the lip.

Abstract: A hollow tubular shape is extruded from aluminum and used as a basic building block for one or more different truck accessories, such as a side step, grill guard and headache rack. The outside of the hollow tubular shape provides flat surfaces and angled edges over most of its periphery, including a major wall and several side walls. An attachment wall opposite the major wall includes attachment slides that enable the extrusion to be attached in numerous configurations, including to attachment brackets. The interior of the extruded hollow tubular shape includes openings to receive end caps.

Abstract: A guard apparatus for mounting on a vehicle may comprise a guard structure comprising a plurality of bars joined together and having a major plane, a guard mounting structure configured to mount the guard structure to the vehicle in a manner permitting movement of the major plane of the guard structure between a first position and a second position, and a guard securing structure configured to secure the guard structure in the first position and release the guard structure to move toward the second position. The guard securing structure may be configured to secure the guard structure in the first position using magnetic attraction force.