IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0749908
(2013-01-25)
|
등록번호 |
US-8613475
(2013-12-24)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- DoMore Truck Company, LLC
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
A device for assisting access to motor vehicles having a grip handle moveable between at least one stored position and a deployed position for assisting a user to climb up onto the tailgate and bed of a pickup truck is disclosed. A handle arm having the grip handle at one end thereof is pivotally mo
A device for assisting access to motor vehicles having a grip handle moveable between at least one stored position and a deployed position for assisting a user to climb up onto the tailgate and bed of a pickup truck is disclosed. A handle arm having the grip handle at one end thereof is pivotally mounted at the other end thereof onto a mounting bracket which itself is installed at the rear and on one side of a pickup truck bed. The handle arm is pivotally moveable between a deployed position extending rearwardly over the tailgate of the pickup truck and at least one stored position within the bed of the pickup truck.
대표청구항
▼
1. A deployable grab handle for assisting an individual to climb onto a tailgate of a pickup truck having a bed with sidewalls, the grab handle comprising: a mounting bracket that is arranged and configured for mounting to a sidewall of the pickup truck bed near a rear end thereof;a handle arm that
1. A deployable grab handle for assisting an individual to climb onto a tailgate of a pickup truck having a bed with sidewalls, the grab handle comprising: a mounting bracket that is arranged and configured for mounting to a sidewall of the pickup truck bed near a rear end thereof;a handle arm that is arranged and configured for pivotable mounting at a first end thereof onto the mounting bracket such that the handle arm pivots in a horizontal plane between a deployed position extending to the rear of the truck over the tailgate when the tailgate is in an open position and at least one stowed position in a space defined within the bed of the pickup truck when the tailgate is in a closed position;a handle grip located at a second end of the handle arm opposite the first end thereof; anda latching mechanism that is arranged and configured to releasably lock the handle arm in either the deployed position or in the at least one stowed position. 2. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is arranged and configured for mounting to the sidewall of the pickup truck bed near a top of the sidewall on either side of the bed of the pickup truck. 3. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is arranged and configured for mounting to a vertical support member located in the pickup truck bed, the deployable grab handle additionally comprising: a nut plate located on the opposite side of the vertical support member from the mounting bracket; anda plurality of connecting members extending sequentially through the mounting bracket, the vertical support member, and the nut plate. 4. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising: a first pivoting mechanism located on the mounting bracket; anda second pivoting mechanism located on the handle arm at the first end. 5. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 4, wherein the first pivoting mechanism comprises: a support bracket having parallel, spaced-apart upper and lower flanges each having apertures located therein that together define a first vertical axis; and wherein the second pivoting mechanism comprises: a pair of apertures located in top and bottom sides of the handle arm at the first end thereof that together define a second vertical axis; wherein the first end of handle arm is located intermediate the upper and lower flanges in the support bracket with the first and second vertical axes being coaxial, and wherein the deployable grab handle additionally comprises: a pin extending sequentially through the aperture in the upper flange, the aperture in the top side of the handle arm, the aperture in the bottom side of the handle arm, and the aperture in the lower flange. 6. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 5, additionally comprising: a first hollow cylindrical boss mounted orthogonally on the top side of the handle arm at the first end thereof in axial alignment with the aperture on the top side of the handle arm at the first end thereof, the first hollow cylindrical boss being located below the upper flange; anda second hollow cylindrical boss mounted orthogonally on the bottom side of the handle arm at the first end thereof in axial alignment with the aperture on the bottom side of the handle arm at the first end thereof, the second hollow cylindrical boss being located above the lower flange; wherein the pin extends through each of the first and second spacers. 7. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 4, additionally comprising: a flat latch plate located on the mounting bracket which will be oriented in a horizontal plane when the mounting plate is mounted to a sidewall of the pickup truck bed; anda pair of spaced-apart, parallel, flat elements respectively located on a top side and a bottom side of a notch located in the first end of the handle arm and extending between opposite sides thereof, at least a portion of the flat latch plate being located intermediate the flat elements. 8. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle arm is of a length such that the handle grip at the second end of the handle arm is located in a position from a location above the rearward-most portion of the open tailgate of the pickup truck to a position fourteen inches in front of the rearward-most portion of the open tailgate of the pickup truck. 9. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 8, wherein the handle arm is of a length such that the handle grip at the second end of the handle arm is located in a position approximately eight inches in front of the rearward-most portion of the open tailgate of the pickup truck. 10. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is arranged and configured for mounting to a sidewall of the pickup truck bed near the top of the sidewall and near a rear end thereof. 11. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising: a grip handle tube extending orthogonally from the second end of the handle arm; wherein the handle grip is mounted on the grip handle tube. 12. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle arm is arranged and configured for pivotable mounting onto the mounting bracket such that the handle arm pivots in a horizontal plane between the deployed position, a first stowed position in which the second end of the handle arm is located close adjacent the inside of the tailgate when the tailgate is in its closed position, and a second stowed position in which the handle arm is close adjacent the sidewall of the pickup truck on which the mounting bracket is installed, and wherein the latching mechanism is arranged and configured to releasably lock the handle arm in any of the deployed position, the first stowed position, and the second stowed position. 13. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 12, wherein when the handle arm is in the second stowed position it is angularly displaced approximately 175-180 degrees from the handle arm when it in the deployed position, and wherein when the handle arm is in the first stowed position it is angularly displaced approximately 83 degrees from the handle arm when it in the deployed position. 14. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle arm is hollow, and wherein the latching mechanism comprises: a first latch member mounted on the mounting bracket, the first latch member having a circular segment with a plurality of notches located therein;a notch located in the first end of the handle arm and extending between opposite sides thereof, at least a portion of the circular segment of the first latch member being received within the notch in the handle arm; anda latch member located within the handle arm and having a latched position in which the latch member engages any of the notches in the circular segment that are rotationally aligned with the latch member and an unlatched position in which the latch member is retracted away from the circular segment. 15. A deployable grab handle as defined in claim 14, additionally comprising: a spring located within the handle arm for urging the latch member to its latched position; anda knob accessible outside the handle arm for operating the latch member to move it to its unlatched position to allow the handle arm to be moved between the deployed position, the first stowed position, and the second stowed position. 16. A deployable grab handle for assisting an individual to climb onto a tailgate of a pickup truck having a bed with sidewalls, the grab handle comprising: a mounting bracket that is arranged and configured for mounting to one of the sidewalls of the pickup truck bed near a rear end thereof;a latch plate located on the mounting bracket, the latch plate having first, second, and third notches located therein;a handle arm that is arranged and configured for pivotable mounting at a first end thereof onto the mounting bracket such that the handle arm pivots in a horizontal plane between a first deployed position extending to the rear of the truck over the tailgate when the tailgate is in an open position, a second stored position in which the second end of the handle arm is located close adjacent the inside of the tailgate when the tailgate is in its closed position, and a third stowed position in which handle arm is close adjacent the sidewall of the pickup truck on which the mounting bracket is installed;a handle grip located at a second end of the handle arm opposite the first end thereof; anda latch member located in the handle arm and moveable between latched and unlatched positions, the latch member being arranged and configured for latching engagement with any of the first, second, or third notches in the latch plate; wherein the latch member releasably locks the handle arm in the first deployed position when it engages the first notch in the latch plate; and wherein the latch member releasably locks the handle arm in the second stored position when it engages the second notch in the latch plate; and wherein the latch member releasably locks the handle arm in the third stored position when it engages the third notch in the latch plate. 17. A method of facilitating an individual to climb onto a tailgate of a pickup truck having a bed with sidewalls, the method comprising: providing a mounting bracket that is arranged and configured for mounting to a sidewall of the pickup truck bed near a rear end thereof;mounting a handle arm at a first end thereof onto the mounting bracket for pivotable movement in a horizontal plane between a deployed position extending to the rear of the truck over the tailgate and at least one stowed position within the bed of the pickup truck, the handle arm having a handle grip located at a second end thereof opposite the first end thereof; andreleasably locking the handle arm in either the deployed position or in the at least one stowed position. 18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the handle arm is mounted for pivotable movement between the deployed position extending to the rear of the truck over the tailgate, a first stowed position in which the second end of the handle arm is located close adjacent the inside of the tailgate when the tailgate is in its closed position, and a second stowed position in which the handle arm is close adjacent the sidewall of the pickup truck on which the mounting bracket is installed, and wherein the handle arm may be releasably locked in any of the deployed position, the first stowed position, and the second stowed position. 19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein when the handle arm is in the second stowed position it is angularly displaced approximately 175-180 degrees from the handle arm when it is in the deployed position, and wherein when the handle arm is in the first stowed position it is angularly displaced less than 90 degrees from the handle arm when it is in the deployed position.
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