초록 ▼

A removable tailgate assembly (18, 118), mounted upon a pick-up type truck vehicle (10), is provided with a handle (46, 146) within the vicinity of the lower end portion (20, 120) of the tailgate assembly (18, 118) along the centerline (48) of the tailgate assembly (18, 118) as viewed in the transve

A removable tailgate assembly (18, 118), mounted upon a pick-up type truck vehicle (10), is provided with a handle (46, 146) within the vicinity of the lower end portion (20, 120) of the tailgate assembly (18, 118) along the centerline (48) of the tailgate assembly (18, 118) as viewed in the transverse direction extending between opposite sides of the tailgate assembly (18, 118). The handle may comprise a recessed region (60) formed at the corner junction of the inner (52) and bottom panel (56) members of the tailgate assembly (18), or an insert (166) mounted within an aperture (164) formed at the corner junction of the inner (152) and bottom (156) panel members of the tailgate assembly (118) wherein the insert (166) defines a hollow portion (168) for accommodating the fingers (170) of the person removing the tailgate assembly (118) from the vehicle (10) and carrying the same toward a storage facility. The recessed region (60) and the insert (166) have limited width dimensions so as to accommodate, yet comfortably confine, four fingers of the person's hand so as to assist the person (50) in carrying or transporting the tailgate assembly (18, 118) in a balanced manner.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A tailgate assembly for a pick-up type truck vehicle, comprising:a tailgate assembly comprising an inner panel, an outer panel, and a bottom panel interconnecting said inner and outer panels;means provided upon opposite lateral sides of said tailgate assembly within the v

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A tailgate assembly for a pick-up type truck vehicle, comprising:a tailgate assembly comprising an inner panel, an outer panel, and a bottom panel interconnecting said inner and outer panels;means provided upon opposite lateral sides of said tailgate assembly within the vicinity of said bottom panel for defining a pivot axis about which said tailgate assembly is pivotable between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position, and for cooperating with corresponding means provided upon said truck vehicle by which said tailgate assembly may be installed upon said truck vehicle and removed from said truck vehicle when said means of said tailgate assembly is releasably engaged with and disengaged from said corresponding means of said truck vehicle, respectively, as a result of said tailgate assembly being pivotally disposed at a predetermined angular position, between said vertical closed and horizontal open positions, with respect to said truck vehicle; andhandle means defined within the vicinity of said bottom panel of said tailgate assembly and along a centerline thereof intermediate said opposite lateral sides of said tailgate assembly for permitting a person to grasp said tailgate, remove said tailgate from said truck vehicle when said tailgate assembly is disposed at said predetermined angular position with respect to said truck vehicle, and to carry said tailgate assembly away from said truck vehicle in a balanced mode.