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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. A tailgate ladder assembly for coupling to a tailgate of a vehicle, said
tailgate ladder assembly comprising:
a ladder having a pair of opposite side rails and a plurality of rungs
extending between said side rails;
a pair of tracks adapted for coupling to the tailgate of the vehicle, each
of said side rails being slidably insertable into an associated one of
said pair of tracks whereby said side rails are extendable and retractable
relative to said tailgate;
a first end of each of said side rails being pivotally coupled to an
associated track connection portion whereby said ladder is pivotable such
that a second end of each of said side rails is positionable to abut a
support surface below the tailgate such that said rungs for a plurality of
steps between the support surface and the tailgate;
each of said side rails having a plurality of telescopic portions, each
telescopic portion being slidably engaged to each adjacent telescopic
portion such that each said side rail is extendable;
each of said rungs having a connection portion coupled to an interior face
of an associated one of said side rails;
said plurality of telescopic portions including a pair of proximal
telescopic portions, each proximal telescopic portion being pivotally
coupled to an associated one of said connection portions; and
said plurality of telescopic portions including a plurality of outer
telescopic portions, each outer telescopic portion having a generally
C-shaped cross-section whereby said outer telescopic portions are slidable
relative to each other such that said connection portions of said rungs
are slidable within a gap formed by opposite edges of said outer
telescopic portions.
2. The tailgate ladder assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a pair of feet, each foot being coupled to an associated second end of one
of said side rails.
3. The tailgate ladder assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
each of said rungs having a generally arcuate upper surface whereby an
uppermost portion of said upper surface is positioned substantially
horizontally throughout a range of angles between said tailgate and said
ladder when said ladder is pivoted relative to said tailgate.
4. The tailgate ladder assembly of claim 3, further comprising:
said upper surface being covered by a gripping material to prevent slipping
on said rungs.
5. The tailgate ladder assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
each outer telescopic portion including a locking pin mechanism for
engaging a selectable one of a plurality of holes in an adjacently
positioned one of said telescopic portions whereby said telescopic
portions are lockable into a static position relative to each other.
6. The tailgate ladder assembly of claim 5, further comprising:
a cover member having an outer perimeter portion adapted for abutting the
tailgate such that said cover member is positionable over said ladder when
said ladder is in a fully retracted position.
7. The tailgate ladder assembly of claim 6, further comprising:
a plurality of first connection members, said first connection members
being coupled to said outer perimeter portion of said cover member; and
a plurality of second connection members adapted for coupling to the
tailgate of the vehicle such that said each of said second connection
members is alignable with an associated one of said first connection
members when said cover member is positioned over said ladder, each of
said second connection members being complimentary to said associated
first connection member whereby each of said second connection member is
engageable to said associated first connection member.
8. A tailgate ladder assembly for coupling to a tailgate of a vehicle, said
tailgate ladder assembly comprising:
a ladder having a pair of opposite side rails and a plurality of rungs
extending between said side rails;
a pair of tracks adapted for coupling to the tailgate of the vehicle, each
of said side rails being slidably insertable into an associated one of
said pair of tracks whereby said side rails are extendable and retractable
relative to said tailgate;
a first end of each of said side rails being pivotally coupled to an
associated track connection portion whereby said ladder is pivotable such
that a second end of each of said side rails is positionable to abut a
support surface below the tailgate such that said rungs form a plurality
of steps between the support surface and the tailgate;
a pair of feet, each foot being coupled to an associated second end of one
of said side rails;
each of said rungs having a generally arcuate upper surface whereby an
uppermost portion of said upper surface is positioned substantially
horizontally throughout a range of angles between said tailgate and said
ladder when said ladder is pivoted relative to said tailgate;
said upper surface being covered by a gripping material to prevent slipping
on said rungs;
each of said side rails being telescopic for extending a length of said
ladder;
each of said side rails having a plurality of telescopic portions, each
telescopic portion being slidably engaged to each adjacent telescopic
portion such that each of said side rails is extendable;
each of said rungs having a connection portion coupled to an interior face
of an associated one of said side rails;
said plurality of telescopic portions including a pair of proximal
telescopic portions, each proximal telescopic portion being pivotally
coupled to an associated one of said connection portions;
said plurality of telescopic portions including a plurality of outer
telescopic portions, each outer telescopic portion having a generally
C-shaped cross-section whereby said outer telescopic portions are slidable
relative to each other such that said connection portions of said rungs
are slidable within a gap formed by opposite edges of said outer
telescopic portions;
each outer telescopic portion including a locking pin mechanism for
engaging a selectable one of a plurality of holes in an adjacently
positioned one of said telescopic portions whereby said telescopic
portions are lockable into a static position relative to each other;
a cover member having an outer perimeter portion adapted for abutting the
tailgate such that said cover member is positionable over said ladder when
said ladder is in a fully retracted position;
a plurality of first connection members, said first connection members
being coupled to said outer perimeter portion of said cover member; and
a plurality of second connection members adapted for coupling to the
tailgate of the vehicle such that said each of second connection members
is alignable with an associated one of said first connection members when
said cover member is positioned over said ladder, each of said second
connection members being complimentary to said associated first connection
member whereby each of said second connection member is engageable to said
associated first connection member.
9. A tailgate ladder assembly for coupling to a tailgate of a vehicle, said
tailgate ladder assembly comprising:
a ladder having a pair of opposite side rails and a plurality of rungs
extending between said side rails;
a pair of tracks adapted for coupling to the tailgate of the vehicle, each
of said side rails being slidably insertable into an associated one of
said pair of tracks whereby said side rails are extendable and retractable
relative to said tailgate;
a first end of each of said side rails being pivotally coupled to an
associated track connection portion whereby said ladder is pivotable such
that a second end of each of said side rails is positionable to abut a
support surface below the tailgate such that said rungs form a plurality
of steps between the support surface and the tailgate;
each of said side rails having a plurality of telescopic portions, each
telescopic portion being slidably engaged to each adjacent telescopic
portion such that each said side rail is extendable;
each of said rungs having a connection portion coupled to an interior face
of an associated one of said side rails;
said plurality of telescopic portions including a pair of proximal
telescopic portions, each proximal telescopic portion being pivotally
coupled to an associated one of said connection portions;
said plurality of telescopic portions including a plurality of outer
telescopic portions, each outer telescopic portion having a generally
C-shaped cross-section whereby said outer telescopic portions are slidable
relative to each other such that said connection portions of said rungs
are slidable within a gap formed by opposite edges of said outer
telescopic portions; and
a tailgate assembly being substantially hollow, said tailgate assembly
being adapted for retrofitting onto an existing pickup truck as a
replacement for an existing tailgate, said tailgate assembly having an
interior face, said pair of tracks being coupled to said interior face
such that said ladder is extendable from said tailgate assembly when said
tailgate assembly is in an open position, said ladder being stored within
said tailgate assembly when said tailgate assembly is in a closed position
for safe transportation of said ladder and to prevent said ladder from
accidentally being separated from the pickup truck when the pickup truck
moves. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to step assemblies and more particularly
pertains to a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly for providing
improved accessibility for truck beds.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of step assemblies is known in the prior art. More specifically,
step assemblies heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist
basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations,
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art
which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and
requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,876; U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,930;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,071; U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,813; U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,603;
and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 365,402.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new extendable
tailgate ladder assembly. The inventive device includes a ladder, a pair
of tracks, a pair of feet, a cover member, a plurality of first connection
members and a plurality of second connection members.
In these respects, the extendable tailgate ladder assembly according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily
developed for the purpose of providing improved accessibility for truck
beds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of step
assemblies now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a
new extendable tailgate ladder assembly construction wherein the same can
be utilized for providing improved accessibility for truck beds.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new extendable tailgate
ladder assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of
the step assemblies mentioned heretofore and many novel features that
result in a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which is not
anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the
prior art step assemblies, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a ladder, a pair
of tracks, a pair of feet, a cover member, a plurality of first connection
members and a plurality of second connection members.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
extendable tailgate ladder assembly apparatus and method which has many of
the advantages of the step assemblies mentioned heretofore and many novel
features that result in a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which is
not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of
the prior art step assemblies, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new extendable
tailgate ladder assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured
and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new extendable
tailgate ladder assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new
extendable tailgate ladder assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of
manufacture with regard to bother materials and labor, and which
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming
public, thereby making such extendable tailgate ladder assembly
economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
extendable tailgate ladder assembly which provides in the apparatuses and
methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated
therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
extendable tailgate ladder assembly for providing improved accessibility
for truck beds.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable
tailgate ladder assembly which includes a ladder, a pair of tracks, a pair
of feet, a cover member, a plurality of first connection members and a
plurality of second connection members.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
extendable tailgate ladder assembly that reduces the bending, stretching,
lifting at awkward angles common to accessibility with normal tailgates
and therefore may reduce injuries.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
extendable tailgate ladder assembly that stores in a compact hidden state
when not in use.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set
forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the
following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference
to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new extendable tailgate ladder
assembly according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention, in the
retracted position.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the cover member of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3
thereof, a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly embodying the
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated
by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the extendable tailgate ladder
assembly 10 generally comprises a ladder 20, a pair of tracks 30, a pair
of feet 28, a cover member 40, a plurality of first connection members 42
and a plurality of second connection members 44.
The ladder 20 has a pair of opposite side rails 22 and a plurality of rungs
24 extending between the side rails 22.
The pair of tracks 30 is designed to couple to the tailgate 2 of the
vehicle. Each of the rails 22 is slidably insertable into an associated
track 30. The sliding of the rail 22 with respect to the track 30 serves
to extend or retract the side rails 22 with respect to the tailgate 2.
A first end 25 of each of the side rails 22 is pivotally coupled to an
associated track connection portion 23. This allows the ladder 20 to be
pivoted such that a second end 26 of each of the side rails 22 is
positionable to rest on a support surface below the tailgate 2. With the
second end 26 of the side rail 22 resting on a support surface, the rungs
24 form a plurality of steps between the support surface and the tailgate
2.
The pair of feet 28 are each coupled to an associated second end 26 of the
side rails 22.
Each of the rungs 24 has a generally arcuate upper surface. This allows the
uppermost portion of the upper surface to be positioned substantially
horizontal throughout a range of angles between the tailgate 2 and the
ladder 20, when the ladder 20 is pivoted relative to the tailgate 2. The
upper surface of the rungs 24 is covered by a gripping material 4 to
prevent slipping on the rungs 24.
Each of the side rails 22 is telescopic for extending a length of the
ladder 20.
Each of the side rails 22 has a plurality of telescopic portions 50. Each
of the telescopic portions 50 is slidably engaged to each adjacent
telescopic portion 50 such that each of the side rails 22 is extendable.
Illustratively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the telescopic portions 50 each
may have a notch for receiving the rung of an adjacent telescopic portion
50 when the side rails 22 are moved into a collapsed position.
Each of the rungs 24 has a connection portion 23 which is coupled to an
interior face of an associated one of the side rails 22.
The plurality of telescopic portions 50 includes a pair of proximal
telescopic 52 portions. Each proximal telescopic portion 52 is pivotally
coupled to an associated one of the connection portions 23.
The plurality of telescopic portions 50 includes a plurality of outer
telescopic portions 54. Each telescopic portion 54 has a generally
C-shaped cross-section which allows the outer telescopic portions 54 to be
slidable relative to each other. This C-shaped cross section allows the
connection portions 23 of the rungs 24 to be slidable within a gap 56
formed by opposite edges of the outer telescopic portions 54.
Each of the outer telescopic portions includes a locking pin mechanism 32
for engaging a selectable one of a plurality of holes in an adjacently
positioned telescopic portion 50, which locks the two telescopic portions
50 into a static position relative to each other.
The cover member 40 has an outer perimeter portion designed for abutting
the tailgate 2 such that the cover member 40 is positionable over the
ladder 20 when the ladder 20 is in the fully retracted position.
The plurality of first connection members 42 are coupled to the outer
perimeter portion of the cover member 40.
The plurality of second connection members 44 are designed for coupling to
the tailgate 2 of the vehicle such that each of the second connection
members 44 is alignable with an associated one of the first connection
members 42 when the cover 40 is positioned over the ladder 20. Each of the
second connection members 44 is complimentary to the associated first
connection member 42. Because the first 42 and second connection members
44 are complementary, each of the second connection members 44 is
engageable to the associated first connection member 42.
In use, the tailgate is lowered or opened. The cover member is removed by
disengaging the second connection members from the first connection
members. The cover member is placed aside. The ladder assembly is pivoted
relative to the tailgate towards a support surface below the tailgate.
Illustrative examples of a support surface include driveways and the
ground. The telescopic portions of the slide rails are extended until the
feet coupled to the second end of each of the side rails come into contact
with the support surface. The locking mechanism is engaged if desired. To
store the extendable tailgate ladder assembly this process is simple
reversed.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description.
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and
operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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