Tailgate and Door Adjustors

Abstract

A tailgate adjuster in a preferred example comprises an adjustably locking rotatable bracket comprising a plurality of rotatably linked shank components, with at least one shank component joined to a sprocket component having a plurality of sprocket teeth, and at least one other shank component joined to a rotatable trigger component having a sprocket-engaging trigger tooth. The trigger component is preferably spring biased to maintain the trigger tooth in an engaged position with the sprocket teeth, and can be adjusted to disengage the trigger component from the sprocket teeth. The sprocket teeth are spaced to permit the locking of shank components at a desired angle to each other. Holes at each end of the tailgate adjuster permit the rotatable mounting of one such end to a vehicle tailgate or hatchback and the other end to a fixed location of the vehicle. In other examples the invention concerns a tailgate-reinforcing sheath and methods for maintaining a vehicle tailgate or other hinged door, gate or window in a one of a plurality of partly open positions.

1 - 18 ) (canceled) 
     
     
         19 ) In a motor vehicle comprising
 a) a cargo bed, and   b) a tailgate comprising
 i) a bottom tailgate portion joined by one or more hinged connector to the motor vehicle proximate a rear bottom portion of the cargo bed, and 
 ii) an end tailgate portion, 
   
       said tailgate being capable of being adjusted within a range of rotation relative to said one or more hinged connector from a vertical position wherein the end tailgate portion and bottom tailgate portion are aligned substantially vertically with respect to each other, to a substantially horizontal position wherein the end tailgate portion and bottom tailgate portion are aligned substantially horizontally with respect to each other;
 the improvement comprising a tailgate-reinforcing sheath comprised of a high strength metal or metal alloy and comprising a hollowed inside portion into which the end tailgate portion is fitted and affixed; the hollowed inside portion being adapted and sized to closely fit said end tailgate portion, and wherein the tailgate-reinforcing sheath is effective to prevent bending of the tailgate when used in concert with a heavy load contained in the cargo bed of said motor vehicle. 
 
     
     
         20 ) The improvement of  claim 19  wherein said tailgate is oriented in a one of a plurality of positions between said substantially vertical position and substantially horizontal position. 
     
     
         21 ) The improvement of  claim 19  wherein said tailgate-reinforcing sheath comprises a plurality of brackets affixed to a top surface thereof. 
     
     
         22 ) The improvement of  claim 19  wherein said tailgate-reinforcing sheath comprises a plurality of holes defined in a surface selected from the group consisting of a top sheath surface and a side sheath surface, and said tailgate-reinforcing sheath is affixed to the end tailgate portion by a plurality of screws extended through the plurality of holes into the end tailgate portion, thereby joining the tailgate-reinforcing sheath to the end tailgate portion of the tailgate. 
     
     
         23 ) The improvement of  claim 19  wherein said tailgate-reinforcing sheath comprises a plurality of holes defined in a top sheath surface and in a side sheath surface and said tailgate-reinforcing sheath is affixed to the end tailgate portion by a plurality of screws extended through the plurality of holes into the end tailgate portion, thereby joining the tailgate-reinforcing sheath to the end tailgate portion of the tailgate. 
     
     
         24 ) An apparatus comprising a tailgate-reinforcing sheath comprising a rear sheath surface, side sheath surfaces, a front sheath surface, and a top sheath surface, and a hollow inside portion being adapted and sized to receive and closely fit an top end portion of a motor vehicle tailgate, said tailgate-reinforcing sheath comprised of a metal or a metal alloy, wherein the tailgate-reinforcing sheath is effective to prevent bending of said motor vehicle tailgate when said motor vehicle tailgate is affixed within the hollow inside portion of said motor vehicle tailgate and used in concert with a heavy load contained in the cargo bed of said motor vehicle. 
     
     
         25 ) The apparatus of  claim 24  comprising a plurality of brackets affixed to a top surface thereof. 
     
     
         26 ) The apparatus of  claim 24  comprising a plurality of holes defined in a one or more surface selected from the group consisting of the top sheath surface and a side sheath surface. 
     
     
         27 ) The apparatus of  claim 25  comprising a plurality of holes defined in a one or more surface selected from the group consisting of the top sheath surface and a side sheath surface.