Patent Application
20090081012
a is a left side perspective view of the system for securing lift gate showing details of a first rack bracket and according to multiple embodiments and alternatives.
b is a right side perspective view of the system for securing lift gate showing details of a first rack bracket and according to multiple embodiments and alternatives.
a is a right side perspective view of the system for securing lift gate showing details of a second rack bracket and a rod assembly in a closed position and according to multiple embodiments and alternatives.
b is a right side perspective and partially exploded view of the system for securing lift gate, showing details of a second rack bracket and a rod assembly in relation to a tailgate assist device, in an open position and according to multiple embodiments and alternatives.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to the several Figs., in operation, the system 10 for securing lift gate 20 allows an operator to open and close a lift gate 20 from a single position. The one or more springs 450 are adjustably mounted to the rod assembly 400 in relation to the gate brackets 200, 240, the rack brackets 100, 120 and the rod bracket 260 in order to maintain directional force on the rod assembly 400. By selecting where along the rod assembly 400 to secure shaft collars 440, an operator may adjust the amount of spring 450 force as desired. By way of further example, alternative embodiments provide another spring 450 mounted on the second rod 420 to the right side, in reference to but hidden in
Alternative embodiments allow for installation of the system 10 on trailers 5 of varying configuration with respect to the lift gate 20 and its position proximal to the trailer 5 when the lift gate 20 is at rest in a closed position. For example, some lift gates 20 come to rest in a closed position such that the sides of the lift gate 20 are just inside and in proximal contact to the sides of the trailer 5. In other embodiments, the outermost extremity of the lift gate 20 comes into direct contact with the back ends of the trailer sides and such contact prevents the lift gate 20 from further movement past its closed position. Embodiments of the system 10 accommodate such differences in lift gates 20 by selecting and appropriately aligning the rack brackets 100, 120. The rack brackets 100, 120 may be selectably mounted in one or more orientations, such as, for example, with their mounting flanges 110 aligned inwards, towards the center of the trailer 20 or alternatively; with their mounting flanges 110 aligned outwards, away from the center of the trailer 20, or for embodiments where more than one of either a first or second rack bracket 100, 120 is provided to a user for installation and use; with both mounting flanges 110 aligned in the same direction, such as, for example, with both mounting flanges 110 aligned to either the right or the left as viewed from the position of an observer located behind the trailer 5.
As shown in
As shown in
Embodiments provide one or more handles 490 that are formed generally at either or both ends, as desired and as shown in
Further embodiments include forming a chamfer 485 on the rod ends 480 in order to ease alignment of the rod assembly 400 with and into the mating rod slots 106 in the gate brackets 200, 240 thereby allowing the closing and securing of the lift gate 20 with only a single instance of force being applied by an operator to initiate the closing and securing of the lift gate 20.
The stop flange 250 is provided in one embodiment on the second gate bracket 240, or alternatively on the first gate bracket 200 or even on both gate brackets 200, 240, in order to arrest further movement of the lift gate 20 as the stop flange 250 comes into contact with, and further motion is arrested by, structure on the trailer such as, for example, the second rack bracket 120 as shown in
Although the embodiments in the Figs. show a lift gate 20 affixed to a trailer 5 and oriented to rotate downwards from a vertical position when closed, to a substantially horizontal position when open; the present system and method provides other embodiments having orientations wherein the lift gate 20 rotates upwards from a vertical position when closed, to a substantially horizontal position when open; and yet more orientations wherein the motions are substantially sideways and, accordingly, the lift gate is secured by hinges (not shown) that are aligned vertically. Additionally, a system 10 may include two or more lift gates 20, such as, for example, a left and right, or a top and bottom, lift gate 20 that meet to form a closed position.
Referring to
Grasping a lift gate 20,
Applying force to the lift gate 20 sufficient to move the lift gate 20 towards its closed position,
Applying force to a handle 490 sufficient to compress one or more springs 450 thereby moving rod ends 480 and moving a rod assembly 400 within rod holes 220,
Continuing the application of force to the lift gate 20 thereby allowing the rod ends 480 to align with rod slots 106,
Releasing the handle 490 thereby allowing the one or more springs 450 to extend and force insertion of the rod ends 480 into the rod slots 106 and securing the lift gate 20 in a closed position,
In opening the lift gate 20, applying force to the handle 490 sufficient to compress the one or more springs 450 thereby moving the rod ends 480 and moving the rod assembly 400 within the rod holes 220 and withdrawing the rod ends 480 from the rod slots 106,
Applying force to the lift gate 20 thereby moving the lift gate 20 towards its open position.
For embodiments and alternatives where the system 10 includes chamfers 485, the user may, as desired, reduce the steps to the following:
Grasping a lift gate 20;
Applying force to the lift gate 20 sufficient to move the lift gate 20 towards its closed position and, as chamfers 485 of rod ends 480 engage rack brackets 100, 120, sufficient to compress one or more springs 450 thereby moving the rod ends 480, moving a rod assembly 400 within rod holes 220, thereby allowing the rod ends 480 to align with the rod slots 106, thereby allowing the one or more springs 450 to extend and force insertion of the rod ends 480 into the rod slots 106 and securing the lift gate 20 in a closed position;
In opening the lift gate 20, applying force to the handle 490 sufficient to compress the one or more springs 450 thereby moving the rod ends 480 and moving the rod assembly 400 within the rod holes 220 and withdrawing the rod ends 480 from the rod slots 106,
Applying force to the lift gate 20 thereby moving the lift gate 20 towards its open position.
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present embodiments are susceptible of a broad utility and application. While the present embodiments are described in all currently foreseeable alternatives, there may be other, unforeseeable embodiments, alternatives, and adaptations, as well as variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements that do not depart from the substance or scope of the present embodiments and alternatives. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit or otherwise to exclude such other embodiments, alternatives, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present embodiments being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.
