The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 20, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1999
Roger L. Johnsen, Industry, CA (US);
Calvin S. Wang, Industry, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A tailgate locking assembly (,) designed to be attached to a tailgate latching mechanism (,) that operates a truck tailgate (,). The mechanism (,) includes a pull-handle (,) which controls the position of a pair of lever arms (,) connected to a pair of respective latching rods (,). The rods are normally spring-biased in an outward direction which maintains the tailgate (,) in a latched configuration. When the pull-handle (,) is pulled back, the latching rods (,) move inward which unlatches and allows the tailgate (,) to be lowered. The tailgate locking assembly (,) includes a bracket (,) that attaches to the mechanism (,) and that incorporates a locking arm (,) that can be placed in a first position (,) or a second position (,) by means of a key lock (,). When the arm (,) is in the first position (,) it is located against one of the lever arms (,) preventing the pull-handle (,) from releasing the latching rods (,). The tailgate (,) cannot be lowered until the key lock (,) is placed in the second position (,) which releases the lever arms (,) allowing the pull-handle (,) to be pulled back to release the latching rods (,) and allow the tailgate (,) to be lowered.