Foldable tailgates

Claim 2

In a powered tailgate for a truck body of the type in which the tailgate platform is pivoted at its inner end to vertically oriented slide members, the slide members being rigidly mounted on the truck body whereby the tailgate can be raised and lowered, the improvement which comprises a platform which has an inner part and an outer part which are hinged together along a horizontal hinge line whereby the gate may be folded upon itself for compact storage, support means projecting upwardly from said outer part of said platform and spaced inwardly from the outer edge of said outer part of said platform, said support means being secured against rotation relative to the outer part in the unfolding direction and having a length which is at least equal to half the length of one of the pivoted platform parts, and means for connecting said support means to said slide members in a plane which extends through a point at or adjacent the outer edge of said platform when the platform is in the unfolded position.

Claim 3

A powered tailgate as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a pair of arms pivotably mounted one at either side of said front part for movement between said upwardly projecting position and the lowered storage position in which said arms are substantially parallel to said outer part and project away from said pivotal connection between said inner part and said outer parts and stop means for preventing rotation of said arms in the unfolding direction beyond said upward position when said platforms are in the unfolded position.

Claim 4

A powered tailgate as claimed in claim 2 including chain means for connecting the upper ends of said arms to the upper ends of said slide members and extending in said support plane when said platform is in said unfolded position.

Claim 5

A powered tailgate as claimed in claim 3 including second chain means connecting the upper ends of said arms to the outer end of said outer platform part.

Claim 6

A powered tailgate as claimed in claim 1 including manually engageable actuator means mounted on said inner part and projecting outwardly therefrom in a direction substantially parallel thereto and radially of the pivot mounting of said inner part to said truck body.

Claim 7

A powered tailgate as claimed in claim 5 including torsion bar means operative about said pivot mounting of said inner part to said truck body urging said inner part in a direction towards the closed tailgate position.

Claim 8

A powered tailgate as claimed in claim 6 including means for locking the parts of the tailgate relative to one another and relative to said truck when in the folded configuration.

Claim 9

In a powered tailgate as claimed in claim 1, having means for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to effect raising and lowering of the tailgate, the further improvement of means for preventing the operation of said control means when said tailgate parts are in said locked and folded position relative to said truck.

Claim 10

In a powered tailgate for a truck body of the type in which the tailgate platform is pivoted at its inner end to vertically oriented slide members, the slide members being rigidly mounted on the truck body whereby the tailgate can be raised and lowered, the improvement which comprises a platform which has an inner part and an outer part which are hinged together along a horizontal hinge line whereby the gate may be folded upon itself for compact storage, support means projecting upwardly from said outer part of said platform and spaced inwardly from the outer edge of said outer part of said platform, said support means having a length which is at least equal to half the length of one of the pivot platform parts; means for connecting said support means to said slide members in a plane which extends through a point at or adjacent the outer edge of said platform when the platform is in the unfolded position, said support means consisting of a pair of arms pivotably mounted one at either side of said front part for movement between said upwardly projecting position and the lowered storage position in which said arms are substantially parallel to said outer part and project away from said pivotal connection between said inner part and said outer parts, and stop means for preventing rotation of said arms beyond said upward position when said platforms are in the unfolded position; first chain means for connecting the upper ends of said arms to the upper ends of said slide members and extending in said support plane when said platform is in said unfolded position, second chain means connecting the upper ends of said arms to the outer ends of said outer platform part, manually engageable lever means mounted on said inner part and projecting outwardly therefrom in a direction substantially parallel thereto and radially of the pivot mounting of said inner part to said truck body, torsion bar means operative about said pivot mounting of said inner part to said truck body urging said inner part in a direction towards the closed tailgate position.

Claim 11

In a powered tailgate for a truck body of the type in which the tailgate platform is pivoted at its inner end to vertically oriented slide members, the slide members being rigidly mounted on the truck body whereby the tailgate can be raised and lowered, the improvement which comprises a platform which has an inner part and an outer part which are hinged together along a horizontal hinge line whereby the gate may be folded upon itself for compact storage, support means projecting upwardly from said outer part of said platform and spaced inwardly from the outer edge of said outer part of said platform, said support means having a length which is at least equal to half the length of one of the pivot platform parts; means for connecting said support means to said slide members in a plane which extends through a point at or adjacent the outer edge of said platform when the platform is in the unfolded position, said support means consisting of a pair of arms pivotably mounted one at either side of said front part for movement between said upwardly projecting position and the lowered storage position in which said arms are substantially parallel to said outer part and project away from said pivotal connection between said inner part and said outer parts, and stop means for preventing rotation of said arms beyond said upward position when said platforms are in the unfolded position; first chain means for connecting the upper ends of said arms to the upper ends of said slide members and extending in said support plane when said platform is in said unfolded position, second chain means connecting the upper ends of said arms to the outer ends of said outer platform part, manually engageable lever means mounted on said inner part and projecting outwardly therefrom in a direction substantially parallel thereto and radially of the pivot mounting of said inner part to said truck body, torsion bar means operative about said pivot mounting of said inner part to said truck body urging said inner part in a direction towards the closed tailgate position.