Tailgate Protection Device

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting a tailgate portion of a truck have a truck bed is disclosed. This apparatus comprises a protection bar, at least two support tubes and at least two mounting tubes. The protection bar has a first protection bar end and a second protection bar end. Each of the support tubes have having a straight insertion portion, a protection bar receiving portion and a curved portion therebetween. The protection bar receiving portions are configured to receive one end of the protection bar. Each curved portion is configured to curve above and over the tailgate. Each of the mounting tubes have an open mounting tube first end, an open mounting tube second end, and four mounting tube side walls. The mounting tubes are configured to slidably receive the insertion portion of a support tube. Further, each mounting tube is configured to be secured to an interior side wall of a truck bed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting a tailgate portion of a truck have a truck bed comprising: a protection bar having a first protection bar end and a second protection bar end; at least two support tubes, each support tube having a straight insertion portion, a protection bar receiving portion and a curved portion therebetween, each protection bar receiving portion configured to receive one end of the protection bar, each curved portion configured to curve above and over the tailgate; and at least two mounting tubes, each mounting tube having an open mounting tube first end, an open mounting tube second end, and four mounting tube side walls, each mounting tube being configured to slidably receive the insertion portion of a support tube, each mounting tube being configured to be secured to an interior side wall of a truck bed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein protection bar has a square dimension.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each mounting tube has a square tubular dimension.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one mounting bracket for each mounting tube for securing the mounting tube to the interior side wall of the truck bed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each insertion portions and each mounting tubes have mounting alignment holes to provide alignment and to secure each support tube within a respective mounting tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising one or more alignment pins for placement within one or more of the alignment hole for aligning and securing each support tube within a respective mounting tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each protection bar ends and each protection bar receiving portions have protection bar securing holes to secure each protection bar end to a protection bar receiving portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising one or more securing pins for placement within one or more protection bar securing holes to secure the protection bar to each support tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

[0020] FIG. 1 is a side prospective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a front prospective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the mounting tube of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of the support tube of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the support tube of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of the protection bar of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a top view of an embodiment of the support tube of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment of the protection bar engaging the support tube of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 11 is a front view of an embodiment of the protection bar engaging the support tube of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FO THE INVENTION

[0031] The inventive concept is directed toward a cargo securing devices, and in particular to a device relating to a ladder rack/tail gate protector commonly installed on a truck.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1-11, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, device 10 includes a protection bar 20, a first support tube 30, a second support tube 32, a first mounting tube 40 and a second mounting tube 42. Protection bar 20 has a square dimension and has a first protection bar end 22 and a second protection bar end 24. In this embodiment, the support tubes, 30, 32, mounting tubes 40, 42 and protection bar 20 is illustrated having a square dimension. Those skilled in the art will recognize other configurations may be utilized and are in the scope of the present invention. One such alternative configuration would include a round dimension along the interior portion of the protection bar with a square dimension near and at its ends. Further, various FIGS. illustrate a single support tube and/or mounting tube. This is illustrative as the first and second support tubes and mounting tubes are practically identical. As such, the description for one support tube and/or mounting tube would apply to the other tubes.

[0033] Each mounting tube 40, 42 has a square tubular dimension and configured to slidably receive first and second support tubes 30, 32 respectively through an opening 45 therethrough. Further, each mounting tube 40, 42 has an open mounting tube first end 44, an open mounting tube second end 46, and four mounting tube side walls 48. Mounting brackets 50, 52 are attached to side walls of the first and second mounting tubes 40, 42 respectfully. First mounting tube 40 is secured to the interior side wall 102 of a truck bed 100 along the driver's side proximate to the tailgate 106. Second mounting tube 42 is securing to the interior side wall 104 of truck bed 100 along the passenger's side proximate to tailgate 106. Both mounting tubes 40, 42 are secured to the interior side walls by first and a second mounting brackets 52, 50.

[0034] Each support tube 30, 32 has a straight insertion portion 64, a protection bar receiving portion 72 and a curved portion 68 therebetween. Each insertion portion 64 and curved portion 68 has a square tubular configuration. Each protection bar receiving portion 72 is configured to receive one end of protection bar 20 through a protection bar opening 74 therethrough. Both insertion portions 64 are dimensioned to freely move through mounting tubes 40, 42. Insertion portions 64 and mounting tubes 40, 42 have mounting alignment holes 43 and 67 respectively. As insertion portions 64 are moved axially within mounting tubes 40, 42 alignment holes 43, 67 align at which point a securing pin 78 may be inserted through the support tube and insertion portion holes thereby locking each support tube 30, 32 at a desired height. Curved portions 68 respectively are configured to curve above and over tailgate 106.

[0035] In this embodiment, protection bar 20 is dimensioned to freely move through protection bar receiving opening 74. Protection bar ends 22, 24 and protection bar receiving portions 72 have protection bar securing holes 25 and 75 respectively. As protection bar ends 22, 24 are moved axially within protection bar receiving portions 72 protection bar securing holes 25 and 75 align at which point a protection bar securing pin 77 may be inserted through protection bar securing holes 25 and 75 thereby locking protection bar 20 to each support tube 30, 32.

[0036] In operation, protective bar 20 is secured to both support tubes 30, 32, while both support tubes 30, 32 are secured to both mounting tubes 40, 42 respectively.

[0037] Support tubes 30, 32 are secured within mounting tubes 40 ,42 such that curve portions 68 extend above and over tailgate 106 at a desired height. Protective bar 20 extends between both support tubes 30, 32. Due to its height above tailgate 106, it is capable of bearing a load, such as a ladder, a tool or other items, thereby removing the load from the tailgate.

[0038] While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and by no means limited by the scope of the claims presented herein.