Liftgate and mounting bracket system

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system of installing a liftgate under a vehicle bed. In one implementation, the system includes a liftgate and a mounting device. The mounting device comprises at least one mounting bracket having a group of multiple substantially horizontal slots vertically stacked relative to one another so as to be at different heights relative to ground when the bracket is installed under a vehicle bed essentially parallel to ground. The slots are vertically spaced on the bracket relative to one another to accommodate different vehicle bed heights so as to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted in a slot on said bracket under a vehicle bed.

1 . A method of installing a liftgate under a vehicle bed, the liftgate comprising a platform coupled to a support frame via a lift linkage, the platform capable of being moved by an actuator via the lift linkage between a raised position and a lowered position, the method comprising:
 providing a liftgate mounting device comprising a bracket having a group of multiple substantially horizontal slots vertically stacked relative to one another so as to be at different heights relative to ground when the bracket is installed under a vehicle bed essentially parallel to ground, wherein the slots are vertically spaced on the bracket relative to one another to accommodate different vehicle bed heights so as to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted in a slot on said bracket under a vehicle bed;   attaching the bracket under the vehicle bed and thereto;   selecting a slot based on the vehicle bed height and desired liftgate ground clearance range; and   slidably mounting the liftgate on the selected slot under the vehicle bed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 sliding the liftgate in the slot towards the rear of the vehicle bed; 
 fully raising said platform until it abuts against the vehicle body; 
 if the fully raised platform is vertically at a level above the vehicle bed, then lowering the platform to be level with the vehicle bed. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 if there is a horizontal gap between the leveled platform and the vehicle bed, then sliding the liftgate in the slot towards the vehicle bed to close the gap; and 
 fixing the liftgate in relation to the slot to prevent further slidable movement of the liftgate in the slot. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the bracket allows the liftgate to be slidably mounted on a selected slot of the mounting bracket under a vehicle bed, and maintaining the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance range. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein a slot is selected from among the multiple slots based on vehicle bed height to ground to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted on the bracket and the liftgate is horizontally slid in the slot for position adjustment relative to the vehicle bed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 the liftgate mounting device comprises a pair of elongate brackets, each bracket including two substantially horizontally spaced groups of slots; 
 the two groups of slots on each bracket are at the same vertical level; and 
 each group of slots on a bracket comprises multiple substantially horizontal slots stacked relative to one another so as to be at different heights relative to ground when the bracket is installed under a vehicle bed essentially parallel to ground. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein:
 the slots in each group of slots on a bracket are vertically spaced on the bracket relative to one another to accommodate different vehicle bed heights so as to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted in a slot on said bracket under a vehicle bed; and 
 each bracket allows the liftgate to be slidably mounted in a selected slot in each group of slots on the bracket, and maintains the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance range. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein each bracket is substantially rectangular in shape and the two groups of slots are spaced along the length of the bracket, and each slot has a width along the length of the bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein:
 the liftgate includes a pair of spaced parallel sliders corresponding to the brackets, for slidably disposing the liftgate in selected bracket slots when the brackets are attached under the vehicle bed, with essentially the same spacing and orientation as the sliders; 
 all the selected slots in said groups of slots on the brackets are at the same vertical distance to ground. 
 
     
     
         10 . A liftgate system for mounting under a vehicle bed, comprising:
 a liftgate comprising a platform coupled to a support frame via a lift linkage, the platform capable of being moved by an actuator via the lift linkage between a raised position and a lowered position; and   a liftgate mounting device comprising a bracket having a group of multiple substantially horizontal slots vertically stacked relative to one another so as to be at different heights relative to ground when the bracket is installed under a vehicle bed essentially parallel to ground; and   the slots are vertically spaced on the bracket relative to one another to accommodate different vehicle bed heights so as to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted in a slot on said bracket under a vehicle bed.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the bracket allows the liftgate to be slidably mounted on a selected slot of the mounting bracket under a vehicle bed, and maintaining the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance range. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein a slot is selected from among the multiple slots based on vehicle bed height to ground to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted on the bracket and the liftgate is horizontally slid in the slot for position adjustment relative to the vehicle bed. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein:
 the liftgate mounting device comprises a pair of elongate brackets, each bracket including two substantially horizontally spaced groups of slots; 
 the two groups of slots on each bracket are at the same vertical level; and 
 each group of slots on a bracket comprises multiple substantially horizontal slots stacked relative to one another so as to be at different heights relative to ground when the bracket is installed under a vehicle bed essentially parallel to ground. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein:
 the slots in each group of slots on a bracket are vertically spaced on the bracket relative to one another to accommodate different vehicle bed heights so as to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted in a slot on said bracket under a vehicle bed; and 
 each bracket allows the liftgate to be slidably mounted in a selected slot in each group of slots on the bracket, and maintains the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance range. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein each bracket is substantially rectangular in shape and the two groups of slots are spaced along the length of the bracket, and each slot has a width along the length of the bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein:
 the liftgate includes a pair of spaced parallel sliders corresponding to the brackets, for slidably disposing the liftgate in selected bracket slots when the brackets are attached under the vehicle bed, with essentially the same spacing and orientation as the sliders; and 
 all the selected slots in said groups of slots on the brackets are at the same vertical distance to ground. 
 
     
     
         17 . A liftgate mounting device for mounting a liftgate under a vehicle bed, the liftgate comprising a platform coupled to a support frame via a lift linkage, the platform capable of being moved by an actuator via the lift linkage between a raised position and a lowered position, the mounting device comprising:
 a bracket having a group of multiple substantially horizontal slots vertically stacked relative to one another so as to be at different heights relative to ground when the bracket is installed under a vehicle bed essentially parallel to ground; and   the slots are vertically spaced on the bracket relative to one another to accommodate different vehicle bed heights so as to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted in a slot on said bracket under a vehicle bed.   
     
     
         18 . The mounting device of  claim 17  wherein the bracket allows the liftgate to be slidably mounted on a selected slot of the mounting bracket under a vehicle bed, and maintaining the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance range. 
     
     
         19 . The mounting device of  claim 18  wherein a slot is selected from among the multiple slots based on vehicle bed height to ground to maintain the liftgate within a desired vertical ground clearance when mounted on the bracket and the liftgate is horizontally slid in the slot for position adjustment relative to the vehicle bed. 
     
     
         20 . The mounting device of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a pair of elongate brackets, each bracket including two substantially horizontally spaced groups of slots; 
 the two groups of slots on each bracket are at the same vertical level; and 
 each group of slots on a bracket comprises multiple substantially horizontal slots stacked relative to one another so as to be at different heights relative to ground when the bracket is installed under a vehicle bed essentially parallel to ground.