US4051746A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for opening and closing a movable member
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-02-20
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Granted: 1977-10-04
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Expires: 1996-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for controlling the movement of a movable tail-gate hinged to a tipping body of a vehicle. A collapsible toggle linkage is pivotally connected at one end to a flap adapted to bear against the tail-gate and the opposite end of the linkage is pivotally connected to a support secured to the vehicle. The toggle linkage is moved between erect and collapsed conditions by a piston and cylinder assembly, the piston rod of said assembly being connected to the interconnected ends of the toggle linkage by a bracket. The bracket serves as a stop to prevent outwardly collapsing movement of the toggle linkage. The tail-gate can be maintained in a closed position independently of any forces exerted by the piston and cylinder assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Rolf Sven Gunnar Liljeros
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:42
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/04; B60P1/26; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20582; Y10T74/20588
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for controlling the movement of a tail-gate of a vehicle body, comprising: a support securable to the vehicle body adjacent and below the tail-gate; a flap adapted to bear against the tail-gate; a collapsible linkage having first and second arms pivotally interconnected on a pivot axis at their one ends to form a toggle, the opposite ends of the arms pivotally connected to the flap and to the support respectively; actuating means operable to swing the flap between first and second positions for both opening and closing the tail-gate respectively; and a bracket operatively connecting the actuating means to the linkage, the bracket including means responsive to said pivot axis being immediately on the side of a line joining the opposite ends of the arms remote from the actuating means for preventing collapse of said toggle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for controlling the movement of a tail-gate of a vehicle body, comprising: a support securable to the vehicle body adjacent and below the tail-gate; a flap adapted to bear against the tail-gate; a collapsible linkage having first and second arms pivotally interconnected on a pivot axis at their one ends to form a toggle, the opposite ends of the arms pivotally connected to the flap and to the support respectively; actuating means operable to swing the flap between first and second positions for both opening and closing the tail-gate respectively; and a bracket operatively connecting the actuating means to the linkage, the bracket including means responsive to said pivot axis being immediately on the side of a line joining the opposite ends of the arms remote from the actuating means for preventing collapse of said toggle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the support comprises two spaced apart rigid plates and the flap, linkage and actuating means arranged between the plates, the plates including means for supporting the tail-gate when the linkage is in a collapsed condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the first and second arms is adjusted axially in length.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the bracket comprises a channel-shaped portion embracing the interconnected ends of the linkage and a hollow box-shaped portion to receive and form an operable connection with the actuating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the actuating means comprises a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder assembly, the cylinder being pivotally connected to the vehicle body and the piston having a piston rod the end of which is received in the box-shaped portion of the bracket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the piston and cylinder assembly is controlled from a remote location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including stiffening bars extending between the pivot connection of the cylinder and the support.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for controlling the movement of a tail-gate of a vehicle body, comprising; a support securable to the vehicle body adjacent and below the tail-gate, said support having two laterally spaced rigid plates aligned in planes transverse to the tail-gate, said plates having substantially rearward facing edge means for engaging and supporting the opened tail-gate; a flap pivoted between said support plates and extending therefrom to supportively bear against the tail-gate; a collapsible linkage having first and second arms with adjacent ends pivotally interconected on a pivot axis to form a toggle, the remote end of said first arm being pivotally connected to said flap, the remote end of said second arm being pivoted between said support plates, the support plate pivots of said flap and second arm defining a plane transverse to said plates, said arms having a collapsed tail-gate open position with the pivotally interconnected adjacent ends thereof spaced in one direction from said plane and having a straightened tail-gate closed position spaced in the opposite direction from said plane; and an actuating means engaging said toggle linkage between said plates and reversibly actuable for pivoting said arms from said straightened tail-gate closed position to said collapsed tail-gate open position and vice versa.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for controlling the movement of a tail-gate of a vehicle body, comprising; a support securable to the vehicle body adjacent and below the tail-gate, said support having two laterally spaced rigid plates aligned in planes transverse to the tail-gate, said plates having substantially rearward facing edge means for engaging and supporting the opened tail-gate; a flap pivoted between said support plates and extending therefrom to supportively bear against the tail-gate; a collapsible linkage having first and second arms with adjacent ends pivotally interconected on a pivot axis to form a toggle, the remote end of said first arm being pivotally connected to said flap, the remote end of said second arm being pivoted between said support plates, the support plate pivots of said flap and second arm defining a plane transverse to said plates, said arms having a collapsed tail-gate open position with the pivotally interconnected adjacent ends thereof spaced in one direction from said plane and having a straightened tail-gate closed position spaced in the opposite direction from said plane; and an actuating means engaging said toggle linkage between said plates and reversibly actuable for pivoting said arms from said straightened tail-gate closed position to said collapsed tail-gate open position and vice versa.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said support includes a cross member extending and connecting the lower edges of said plates, said cross member lying in the path of pivotal motion of said second arm to limit collapsing motion of said toggle linkage beyond the tail-gate open position and therewith preclude excessive movement of said flap away from said tail-gate with the latter open.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said actuating means comprises a reciprocable member terminating in a bracket, said bracket including a first portion through which said pivot axis extends for copivoting said bracket and said first and said second arms on said pivot axis, said bracket further including a second portion fixed transversely to said first portion and having surface means simultaneously engageable with points on said first and second arms remote from said pivot axis and facing toward said actuating means for positively blocking pivoting of said arms beyond said tail-gate closed position in a direction opposite their tail-gate open position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including a triangular cross section pressure beam fixed to the tail-gate of the truck and extending widthwise thereof near the hinge axis of the tail-gate, and wherein said support includes a transverse mounting member adjacent the upper end thereof for securing said upstanding plates to said truck adjacent said beam and with the hinge axis of said truck and the pivot axis of said flap cooperatively arranged for flush seating of said beam on said flap and on said edge means of said plates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-03 | 1981-04-04 | 1981-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-03 | 1985-04-04 | 1985-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-03 | 1989-04-04 | 1989-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |