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:
Dec. 17, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 21, 2012
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Gordon M Platto, Troy, MI (US);
David Michael Lechkun, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Paul Geoffrey Roberts, Livonia, MI (US);
Terry Lee Steller, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
William K. Moore, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle tailgate is provided with a rack having a transverse cross-member extendable vertically between raised and lowered positions with telescoping supports. A powered cable-drive is connected to the supports move the cross-member between the raised and lowered positions. When the rack is in the lowered position, the cable-drive and supports are concealed within the tailgate and the cross-member forms at least a portion of a top surface of the tailgate.