Tailgate locking assembly

摘要

A tailgate locking assembly (10) designed to be attached to a tailgate latching mechanism (92) that operates a truck tailgate (90). The mechanism (92) includes a pull-handle (96) which controls the position of a pair of lever arms (98) connected to a pair of respective latching rods (100). The rods are normally spring-biased in an outward direction which maintains the tailgate (90) in a latched configuration. When the pull-handle (96) is pulled back, the latching rods (100) move inward which unlatches and allows the tailgate (90) to be lowered. The tailgate locking assembly (10) includes a bracket (12) that attaches to the mechanism (92) and that incorporates a locking arm (56) that can be placed in a first position (44) or a second position (46) by means of a key lock (30). When the arm (56) is in the first position (44) it is located against one of the lever arms (98) preventing the pull-handle (96) from releasing the latching rods (100). The tailgate (90) cannot be lowered until the key lock (30) is placed in the second position (46) which releases the lever arms (98) allowing the pull-handle (96) to be pulled back to release the latching rods (100) and allow the tailgate (90) to be lowered.