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:
Jan. 23, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2004
Steven Thiele, Marysville, OH (US);
Danny Cheung, Dublin, OH (US);
Matthew Plett, Worthington, OH (US);
Kenichi Kitayama, Dublin, OH (US);
Kurt Johansen, Powell, OH (US);
Joel Romig, Plain City, OH (US);
Steven Thiele, Marysville, OH (US);
Danny Cheung, Dublin, OH (US);
Matthew Plett, Worthington, OH (US);
Kenichi Kitayama, Dublin, OH (US);
Kurt Johansen, Powell, OH (US);
Joel Romig, Plain City, OH (US);
Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A tailgate assembly is adapted to be mounted along an open edge of a vehicle's load-carrying bed for alternatively pivoting about (1) a first axis generally parallel with the open edge of the tailgate for movement between a closed position and a fold-open position and (2) a second axis generally normal relative to the first axis for movement between the closed position and a swing-open position. The tailgate assembly includes a tailgate, a dual-mode hinge assembly, a first hinge/lock assembly and a second hinge/lock assembly. The first hinge/lock assembly is selectively latched to an associated first hinge/lock striker and cooperates with the dual-mode hinge assembly to pivotally support the tailgate about a first pivot axis. The second hinge/lock assembly is selectively latched to an associated second hinge/lock striker and cooperates with the dual-mode hinge assembly to pivotally support the tailgate about a second pivot axis. One of the first and second hinge/lock assemblies is mechanically prevented from unlatching from a respective one of the first and second hinge/lock strikers when the other of the first and second hinge/lock assemblies is unlatched from the other respective one of the first and second hinge/lock strikers.