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:
May. 12, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 12, 2006
Stephen L. Bruford, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Laurence J. Holt, Uxbridge, CA;
Charles Bambenek, Farmington, MI (US);
Jeff Firzlaff, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Robert A. Howell, Brooklin, CA;
Stephen L. Bruford, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Laurence J. Holt, Uxbridge, CA;
Charles Bambenek, Farmington, MI (US);
Jeff Firzlaff, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Robert A. Howell, Brooklin, CA;
Ford Global Technologies, LLC., Dearborn, MI (US);
Multimatic, Inc., Markham, CA;
Abstract
A pivotable grab handle device is movable between a stowed position, which is positioned against the main tailgate structure, and a deployed position that projects upwardly above the top surface of a lowered main tailgate structure. The grab handle device is mounted on a retainer bracket that is affixed to the top surface of the lowered main tailgate structure. The grab handle incorporates a spring-loaded latch mechanism that is cooperable with the pivot bracket when in the stowed position and cooperable with a striker plate mounted below the top surface of the main tailgate structure to fix the grab handle in the deployed position. A release lever projecting outwardly of the grab handle permits a retraction of the latch member to release the grab handle from either the pivot bracket or the striker plate to allow pivotal movement of the grab handle into the desired position.