Vertically Removable Patents (Class 296/52)
  • Patent number: 9242680
    Abstract: A cargo bed for a utility vehicle includes a bed portion including a left-side wall portion and a right-side wall portion and a rear opening between rear ends of the side wall portions, and a tail gate to close the rear opening of the bed portion. The side wall portions include a pair of first left and right groove portions extending along an up-down direction at a rear end of the side wall portions. The left-side and right-side wall portions further include a pair of second left and right groove portions disposed forward with respect to the pair of first groove portions and extending along the up-down direction at the left-side and right-side wall portions. The pairs of first and second groove portions are arranged such that a left end and a right end of the tail gate are each slidable in the up-down direction and the tail gate is held removably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA MOTOR MANUFACTURING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Andrew Schwab
  • Publication number: 20150091322
    Abstract: A tailgate hinge is part of a tailgate assembly and is attached to the rear sill of a pick-up truck bed. The tailgate hinge includes a stationary hinge bracket and a pivotal hinge bracket that are connected by a hinge pin. The pivotal hinge bracket includes a detachment slot. The hinge pin has a pair of flats that permit the hinge pin to pass through the detachment slot when the tailgate is at a predetermined angular orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henry W. Hausler, Andrew Kammerzell, John Comiez, Daniel Clatterbuck
  • Patent number: 8201868
    Abstract: Gate removal assemblies are disclosed herein that include a stabilizing assembly; an adjustment assembly coupled to the stabilizing assembly; and a releasing assembly coupled to the adjustment assembly. Gate rack assemblies are also disclosed that includes a coupling mechanism, and at least one support mechanism. Gate removal systems are disclosed herein and include at least one gate removal assembly, and at least one gate rack assembly. In some embodiments, gate removal systems further include a gate removal assembly caddy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Ken Hamilton
  • Patent number: 8075035
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a motor vehicle having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. The cover assembly includes a track formed in each sidewall and a panel. A first leg of each track is arranged substantially orthogonal to a floor of the vehicle and a second leg of each track is positioned above the floor and extends from the first leg. The panel is movably coupled to the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Thomas M. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20100181795
    Abstract: An entry assembly comprises a frame and a gate. The frame has a first side and a second side. The gate is connected to the frame. The gate defines a demarcation between the first side and the second side of the frame. The gate is pivotable about the frame along at least two axes of rotation. Each axis of rotation intersects at least one of the at least two axes of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Kosta Papanikolaou, Charles Gregory Bambenek, Fritz Cory, Jason Falenski, Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott
  • Patent number: 7690711
    Abstract: An endgate assembly connectable to a vehicle body for opening and closing a vehicle bed formed by the body includes an endgate supportable by the vehicle body at a pivot connection and openable and closable by pivoting about the pivot connection. A keyed support member is securable to the vehicle body. A damper and a cable are connected to the endgate. Both the damper and the cable have ends that are configured to be retained by the keyed support member when the endgate is pivoted between the open and closed position. The cable and damper ends can be removed from the keyed support member without tools when the cable end is rotated relative to the keyed support member. A method of modifying the vehicle bed by detaching or reattaching the endgate assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. McGowan, Edward L. Schulte, Derek L. Patterson, Balakrishna Chinta
  • Patent number: 7651148
    Abstract: A passenger vehicle trunk structure is provided with a trunk lid, a vehicle body, a hinge arrangement and a tool free hinge release mechanism. The vehicle body defines an interior cargo area with an exterior trunk access opening. The hinge arrangement is pivotally coupling the trunk lid to the vehicle body with the trunk lid being movable between a closed position that covers the exterior trunk access opening and an open position that exposes the exterior trunk access opening to provide access to the interior cargo area through the exterior trunk access opening. The tool free hinge release mechanism is operatively coupled to the hinge arrangement to release the trunk lid from the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Hustyi, Andy Christensen, Heather S. Konet
  • Patent number: 7547054
    Abstract: A vehicle bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. The extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall, a first mount, a second mount, a first mounting station, and a second mounting station. The connecting wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall cooperate to form a generally U-shaped frame. The first mounting station and the second mounting station each comprise a stationary portion and a moveable portion configured such that the moveable portion, in a first position, cooperates with the stationary portion to engage the first mount or the second mount and to prevent disengagement. The moveable portion of the first mounting station and the second mounting station can be moved by a manual application of pressure to a second position which allows such disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: AMP Research
    Inventor: Horst Leitner
  • Patent number: 6834906
    Abstract: A module in the form of an applique is mountable on an exterior surface of a vehicle liftgate and provides a mounting platform for a plurality of components mountable on the liftgate in a single assembly operation. The components include at least two of light sources in the form of LEDs or incandescent bulbs, an actuatable switch, a camera and a wash fluid dispensing nozzle. The components are mounted on a substrate in the form of a printed circuit board or a lead frame attached to a substrate for mounting in a carrier. The carrier is affixed to the module and is alignable with apertures in the applique for transmission of light from the light sources exteriorly of the applique as well as to enable the camera to view a field of view through the lens. The electric switch is actuatable by a resilient membrane mounted on the carrier and actuatable exteriorly of the applique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonida S. Vaitus, Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg
  • Patent number: 6550838
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a cargo box having a support deck and a wall structure extending therefrom. The tailgate assembly comprises a pair of brackets positioned along the wall structure at spaced apart locations and a tailgate pivotally mounted between the brackets and releasably securable to the wall structure via a latch mechanism. The tailgate assembly has a hinge assembly which allows the tailgate to be installed and removed without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Club Car, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Bobbitt, III, Byron J. Danielson, David N. Schult, Steven D. Smith
  • Patent number: 6276744
    Abstract: A door opener for a roll-type door in a cargo van includes a shaft that is mounted for rotation within the cargo van body and is coupled with the door such that shaft rotation causes the door to move between opened and closed positions. The shaft is rotated by a motor that is mounted outside of the cargo van body and is coupled to the rotatable shaft by a drive system that extends through the cargo van body. This arrangement allows a relatively large conventional motor to be used without extending into the door opening or compromising the height of the door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Technical Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Huber, William H. Slavik
  • Patent number: 6152510
    Abstract: A stake and rail assembly for increasing the cargo carrying capacity of a pickup truck or the like vehicle comprising: a front wall, a pair of generally parallel side walls, a rear wall and upright stakes for insertion into the cavities in the vehicle or attachment by bolts to the vehicle, wherein the front and side walls comprise a plurality of horizontal rails attached to the stakes to form three sides of an enclosed volume, the rear wall comprises a plurality of horizontal rails, a first pair of angularly mounted members and at least one upright attached to the horizontal rails of the rear wall and capable of engaging a parallel second pair of angularly mounted members and at least one upright on the front wall when the rear wall is vertically juxtaposed with the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Reginald W. Newsome
  • Patent number: 5845971
    Abstract: A side dump trailer comprising a trailer body pivotally mounted on a wheeled frame to enable the material within the trailer body to be dumped from one side of the trailer. The body of the trailer is constructed to permit it to transport loose bulk materials or to support elongated rod members or spool members therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Circle R, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph R. Rogers
  • Patent number: 5678876
    Abstract: A pair of mounting brackets are described for removable vehicle tailgates that have a prescribed height and thickness dimension. Each bracket includes an elongated rigid base member with a side surface extending between top and bottom ends. An adapter on each base member is used for attaching the base member to a vehicle. A pair of bottom flanges are provided at the bottom end of each base member, projecting from the side surface thereof and spaced apart to releasably receive the thickness dimension of the tailgate. A top flange is located adjacent the top end of each base member projecting from the side surface thereof. The top flange of each base member includes a bottom edge surface, and the bottom flanges of each base member include top edge surfaces spaced along the associated base member by a distance less than the prescribed height dimension of the tailgate and greater than the thickness dimension of the tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventors: Robert P. Sargent, Bruce O. Burton
  • Patent number: 5533773
    Abstract: A tailgate barrier to be suspended between the sidewalls of a pickup truck includes a flexible barrier having stiffeners at the side edges. At least two connecting members attach the edge stiffeners to the truck sidewalls, allowing horizontal movement of the barrier. Biasing members attached to the connecting members force the edge stiffeners towards the respective sidewalls. The biasing members are preferably compression springs. The tailgate barrier eliminate out-of-plane sag. The tailgate barrier is also easily installed and removed without being subjected to wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Nicolas P. Lessick
  • Patent number: 5509714
    Abstract: A frameless container of a predetermined length includes a floor having floor supports, a roof, a pair of opposing sidewalls and a pair of opposing end walls. One end wall includes an access door. The sidewalls are respectively connected to the floor supports and the roof. The upper portion of each of the opposing sidewalls has at least a first and second lap-jointed panels. Each panel has predetermined dimensions for the height, width and thickness. The lower portion of each sidewall includes a scuff plate. The bottom of the scuff plate is connected to the floor supports. The top of the scuff plate extends up from the floor by a predetermined distance defining a "scuff zone." The scuff zone has a projection-free surface exposed to the interior of the container. Fasteners attach the scuff plate to the lap-jointed upper wall portion and are arranged into a horizontal row located above the scuff zone. The fasteners have low profile heads which project only slightly from the inner surface of the scuff plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Strick Corporation
    Inventor: George A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5393115
    Abstract: This invention relates to an alternative device for a tailgate to a pickup truck. The device includes a horizontal beam assembly to be installed across the open back of a pickup truckbed having a cylindrical pivot hinge on one end and a handle-latch at the other end. The pivot hinge can be installed at any height along the open truckbed so as to provide a functional impediment to loss of cargo depending on the size of cargo carried by the operator of the vehicle. The beam assembly can be raised or lowered to accommodate the size of cargo carried in the truckbed.The beam assembly is wired electrically for a rear brake lamp which would be connected to the wiring for the truck tail lights. The beam feature is an improvement over a full tailgate as it allows for the flow of air out of the truckbed to reduce drag and increase gas mileage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Kenneth B. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 5039154
    Abstract: A mounting system for a conventional tailgate of a pick-up truck is capable of situating the tailgate so as to minimize drag and at the same time provide effective use of the tailgate. Two mounting brackets are each structured to include a base for being mounted upon the top end of a respective sidewall of a pick-up truck cargo bed. Each of the mounting brackets is further structured with a particular fitting for interfacing with reciprocably shaped fittings on the tailgate to removably secure, in a selectively lockable manner, the tailgate to the fittings, in the same manner that the tailgate conventionally attaches to the conventional fittings located at the inside wall of the sidewalls of the pick-up truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: Barton E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4838598
    Abstract: To provide flow of grain controlled in amount and direction, an end gate for a truck comprises an end gate body adapted to be fastened to the end panel of a truck having three vertically slidable door panels in it and a single lever operated drive plate. Each of the door panels includes a separate latch by which it is connected to the drive plate. The door panels are mounted in parallel track members with cut-away portions and a member extending upwardly from the bottom edge of the door panel when the door panel is in its uppermost position to hold the lower portion of the door panels. The latches include hinges movable from a location over an L-shaped flange on the longitudinally extending drive plate and away from said longitudinally extending plate and the latch cam may be moved to engage the hinge and press it against said longitudinally extending plate for connecting said drive means to said door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventor: Neal T. Hyde
  • Patent number: 4790589
    Abstract: A tailgate is hingedly mounted for movement about a vertical axis rearwardly and outwardly offset from a vertical post adjacent the rear corner of the load carrying bed of a vehicle. The tailgate is mounted upon the post by a hinge assembly which accommodates vertical movement of the gate relative to the vehicle bed along the hinge axis to enable vertical stakes projecting downwardly from the tailgate to be inserted into and removed from upwardly opening apertures in the vehicle bed to accommodate hinging movement of the gate to and from a positively maintained closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventors: Larry R. Moore, David Juhnke
  • Patent number: 4767150
    Abstract: There is provided an improved trailer and tailgate therefore. The means for attaching the tailgate to the remainder of the trailer is independent of the inside surfaces of the sidewalls of the trailer. Thus the sidewalls are free from obstructions permitting a free flow of material out of a trailer when it is being dumped. A pair of cane shaped rods are received through the top and bottom of the tailgate and are connected to the floor and to the tops of the sidewalls of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Peco, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Hall
  • Patent number: 4636130
    Abstract: A railroad track trailer for carrying replacement rail sections along a railroad track, which reduces the problems of having a trailer which will tend to jump off the track, when going around curves, and which includes support systems that ease the ability of workers to load and unload rail sections from the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Western States Company
    Inventors: John I. Lenertz, Dennis J. Tessenske, Ricky J. Ferrari
  • Patent number: 4352624
    Abstract: A refuse compaction trailer of the type used with a stationary packer positioned adjacent to the rear of the trailer to compact refuse into the body of the trailer. The body of the trailer has a rear portion shaped to prevent spillage outside the trailer after removing the trailer from the stationary packer. The body of the trailer includes sloped side walls which define the opening for a stationary packer. A rear overhead door is adapted to slide up and down inside tracks in the sloped side walls. The shape of the rear of the trailer body permits the rear wheels of the trailer to be moved back under the packer extension to reduce loading on the rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Tom T. Matsumoto
    Inventor: Tom T. Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4122966
    Abstract: A fifth wheel trailer coupled to a pickup truck. The trailer has a wheel supported frame carrying a box having a generally horizontal floor and upright side and end walls. The walls are laminated panels having an outer sheet metal skin, an inner sheet metal skin and a core comprising a plurality of side-by-side plywood sheets located between the outer skin and the inner skin. Bonding materials secure the inside surfaces of the outer skin and inner skin to the plywood sheets and the plywood sheets to each other. Stakes secured to the walls are attached to the peripheral edges of the platform with hook bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Winnebago Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael O. Anderson