Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – End gates
Patent
1994-11-22
1996-01-23
Pape, Joseph D.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
End gates
2961801, B62D 3500
Patent
active
054860326
ABSTRACT:
A tailgate for a pickup truck (10) includes an integrated air foil mechanism mounted in an open top cargo area (12) defined by two side walls (14) and (16), a front end and an open trailing end. The tailgate includes two control frames (20) and (22), a main air foil wing (24) and control apparatus. The two control frames (20) and (22) are mounted on the pickup truck side walls (14) and (16) at the open trailing end of the cargo area. The main air foil wing (24) has two ends, each end pivotally mounted to the control frames (20) and (22), such that the main air foil wing (24) spans the opening between the control frames (20) and (22). The control apparatus is operable such that tension from the control apparatus mounted in the control frames (20) and (22) causes the air foil (24) to be parallel with the control frames (20) and (22) until the pickup (10) reaches a sufficient speed causing the main air foil wing (24) to pivot, such that it is perpendicular to the control frame, thereby creating a downwards force. An auxiliary air foil wing (26) is mounted to the control frames (20) and (22) and is controlled by the control apparatus, as is the main air foil wing (24), such that the control apparatus keeps the auxiliary air foil wing (26) parallel with the control frame until the pickup truck (10) reaches a sufficient speed, whereas the auxiliary air foil wing (26) pivots such that it is perpendicular to the control frame (20) and (22) and parallel with the main air foil wing (24). A servo motor (76) and control unit (82) are provided to control the pivot of the main air foil (24) and the auxiliary air foil wing (26).
REFERENCES:
patent: 4165118 (1979-08-01), Jensen
patent: 4200328 (1980-04-01), Morgan
patent: 4201411 (1980-05-01), Morgan
patent: 4867499 (1989-09-01), Stephan et al.
patent: 5076636 (1991-12-01), Buck et al.
patent: 5083829 (1992-01-01), Fonseca
patent: 5232260 (1993-08-01), Lippard
patent: 5234249 (1993-08-01), Dorrell
patent: 5236242 (1993-08-01), Seeman
patent: 5324092 (1994-06-01), Burg
patent: 5352008 (1994-10-01), Denvir
Jones Brian A.
Reed Russ A.
Howison Gregory M.
Pape Joseph D.
Shallenburger Joe H.
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