Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Convertible box
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-03-06
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Convertible box
C296S057100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196603
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally pertains to a gate assembly for a motor vehicle. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiment which is shown and described for purposes of illustration, the present invention relates to a drop-down gate assembly for use in conjunction with a cargo box of a pickup truck or other similar vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pickup trucks and other similar cargo vehicles represent a class of vehicles which command extremely high sales volume. Vehicles of this type are used in a wide variety of commercial, as well as recreational endeavors. Typically, these vehicles include a generally rectangular cargo box located on a rearward portion of the vehicle frame. Historically the cargo box is accessed via a drop gate assembly associated with the rearward most transverse wall portion of the cargo box. More specifically, a tailgate assembly is pivotally coupled to the cargo box and positionable between a closed position wherein the tailgate is generally vertically oriented and an open position wherein the drop gate is generally horizontally positioned.
However, it has been recognized that the transfer of goods from the rear of the vehicle may at some times be difficult because of limited access behind the vehicle. Furthermore, it has been recognized that certain advantages may be obtained by permitting access to the articles stored within the cargo box from the side of the vehicle rather than from the rear of the vehicle. In this regard, the prior art discloses various embodiments in which a portion of the side panel of a cargo box may be manipulated between an open position and a closed position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,038,247 discloses a wagon box in which the side panel is pivotally coupled to the wagon box. Various embodiments for a panel truck in which the side panel may be pivoted upwardly into an open position, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,343 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,308 the side panel may be pivotally rotated downwardly as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,988. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,096 discloses a pickup truck box with a vertically hinged passenger door mounted in a side panel thereof. While each of these embodiments provide certain access to the cargo box of the pickup, they also require substantial swing clearance for manipulation of the gate from the closed position to the open position. Moreover, some of these designs provide only limited access to the cargo box.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved cargo box drop-down gate assembly which is operable within a compact space, and yet provides facilitated access to the entire cargo box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a box assembly for a cargo vehicle having a drop-down gate assembly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a drop-down gate assembly which is operable in a two-step process for extending the gate laterally outwardly from the vehicle to provide clearance and downwardly to provide facilitated ingress and egress to the cargo box area.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drop-down gate assembly operably supported from a sport bar structure fixedly secured within the cargo box.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a drop-down gate assembly having a kickout link mechanism operable to position the gate assembly laterally outwardly from the cargo box and a flexible roller guide mechanism to position the gate assembly vertically downward from the cargo box.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a drop-down gate assembly for a pickup or other similar cargo vehicle including a gate operably coupled to the vehicle at a pair of upper connection assembly associated with the upper corners of the gate assembly and a lower connection assembly associated with the lower middle portion of the gate. Each upper connection assembly includes a kickout link mechanism having a first member secured to the gate and a second member secured to a roller guide assembly. The flexible roller guide mechanism includes a plurality of roller brackets operably disposed around a sport bar for reciprocating motion thereupon. The lower connection assembly includes a kickout link mechanism secured to a portion of the cargo box and a track and roller assembly operably associated with the gate assembly.
Additional benefits and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5170746 (1992-12-01), Roose
Alongi Joseph J.
Garber David L.
Schambre John
Tesauro Michael D.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Dayoan D. Glenn
Engle Patricia
Fuller III Roland A.
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