Tailgate hinge

摘要

A tailgate hinge is part of a tailgate assembly and is attached to the rear sill of a pick-up truck bed. The tailgate hinge includes a stationary hinge bracket and a pivotal hinge bracket that are connected by a hinge pin. The pivotal hinge bracket includes a detachment slot. The hinge pin has a pair of flats that permit the hinge pin to pass through the detachment slot when the tailgate is at a predetermined angular orientation.

主权项

1. A tailgate hinge for a pick-up truck having a truck bed that includes a tailgate and a rear sill, the tailgate hinge comprising:
a first hinge bracket attached to the rear sill that includes a right flange and a left flange disposed parallel to and spaced from the right flange, the right flange and left flange extend rearward from a base that is secured to the rear sill, wherein the right flange defines a first hinge pin receiving opening and the left flange defines a second hinge pin receiving opening; a second hinge bracket attached to the tailgate that includes a center flange that extends from the tailgate to be received between the right flange and the left flange of the first hinge bracket, wherein the second hinge bracket defines a detachment slot that extends from a central opening through to an outer edge of the center flange; and a hinge pin is assembled to the first hinge pin receiving opening and the second hinge pin receiving opening, wherein the second hinge bracket is assembled to the first hinge bracket with the center flange being inserted between the right flange and the left flange through the detachment slot and into the central opening pivotally connecting the second hinge bracket to the first hinge bracket, wherein the hinge pin has a central portion that is generally cylindrical and has at least one flat that provides a reduced width portion, wherein the central portion is wider than the detachment slot except where the at least one flat is aligned with the detachment slot.