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:
Jun. 23, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 12, 2007
Edward L. Schulte, White Lake, MI (US);
Matthew J. Nelson, Washington, MI (US);
Edward L. Schulte, White Lake, MI (US);
Matthew J. Nelson, Washington, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An end gates which provides access to a cargo area of an automotive vehicle has a pair of outwardly opening cups which receive a pair of opposed pins directed inwardly from the cargo area. The end gate is rotatable from a closed vertical position through substantially 90° to provide horizontal access to the cargo area. The pins on the cargo area are aligned with notches in the cups when the end gate is in an intermediate position so that the end gate may be removed from the cargo area. In order to prevent the end gate from becoming inadvertently detached from the cargo area, resilient retainer clips are provided that overlie the notches so as to lock the pins in the cups and retain the end gate on the vehicle. The resilient retainer clips are rotated out of alignment with the notches when it is desired to remove the end gate from the vehicle.