Did You Know...
...that one person who claimed to be the inventor of the television is Russian emigre Vladimir Zworykin? In 1929 David Sarnoff, founder of RCA, asked Zworykin what it would take to develop TV for commercial use. He said: a year and a half and $100,000. In reality, it took 20 years and $50 million! Before his death in 1982 at the age of 92, Zworykin said of his invention: "The technique is wonderful. It is beyond my expectations. But the programs! I would never let my children even come close to this thing."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8136862 | Box frame dual mode tailgate A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes a multi-piece frame. The multi-piece frame includes a left frame assembly, a right frame assembly, an upper frame member and a lower frame member. The upper frame member and lower frame member extend laterally along a respe... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8109553 | Multi-position tailgate retaining and counterbalancing apparatus and method A multi-position tailgate retaining and counterbalancing apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus maintains the look and functionality of a conventional tailgate for a pickup truck. The apparatus and methods may include a counterbalance reducing the effort r... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8100456 | Vehicle endgate hinge assembly A vehicle endgate hinge assembly is disclosed. The hinge assembly has a bodyside hinge strap including a hinge support boss extending through the endgate opening shut-face and having a central hole that is coaxial with the endgate pivot axis, a mounting plate locate... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8087710 | Multi-position tailgate support apparatus and method A method and apparatus for adjusting the location of suspension for a tailgate is disclosed. The method may include selecting a vehicle comprising first and second sides, a tailgate, and at least one tailgate support. The tailgate may be connected to pivot with resp... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8075038 | Multi-position tailgate support apparatus and method A method and apparatus for adjusting the location of suspension for a tailgate is disclosed. The method may include selecting a vehicle comprising a first side, a second side, a tailgate, and at least one tailgate support. The tailgate may be connected to pivot with... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8070207 | Multi-position tailgate support apparatus and method A method and apparatus for adjusting the location of suspension for a tailgate is disclosed. The method may include selecting a vehicle comprising a first side, a second side, a tailgate, and at least one tailgate support. The tailgate may be connected to pivot with... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8070206 | Tailgate lowering apparatus and method A method for lowering a tailgate is disclosed. The method may include selecting a vehicle comprising a first side, a second side, a tailgate, and a first tailgate support. The tailgate may be connected to pivot with respect to the first and second sides through a ra... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8070208 | Multi-position tailgate adjustment apparatus and method A method and apparatus for adjusting the location of suspension for a tailgate is disclosed. The method may include selecting a vehicle comprising a first side, a second side, a tailgate, a tailgate support, and an adjustor. The tailgate may be connected to pivot wi... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8020912 | Rear closure assembly for a passenger vehicle A passenger vehicle is provided with a body having an interior with a passenger compartment and a rear cargo region accessed through a rear opening. A liftgate and tailgate are pivotally coupled to the body at an upper and lower periphery of the opening respectively... | 09/20/2011 |
| 7770956 | Cargo bed extender A cargo bed extender extends the useful length of a cargo bed when the tailgate is open and has an outer shell that is attached to inner side of the tailgate. An end panel slides between the tailgate and outer shell when in a stowed position and is secured on catch ... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7699378 | Motion assist mechanism for a vehicle tailgate A motion assist hinge mechanism includes a first and second hinge part mounted to the tailgate and vehicle body, respectively. The first hinge part includes a first cam having a sloped engagement surface engaged with a sloped engagement surface of a second cam of th... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7695043 | Truck tailgate with motion control devices A tailgate control mechanism used to exert a force on a pivot. The tailgate may include a pivoting main body and a pivot fixed to a truck bed, where the main body may move about the pivot. The tailgate may also include a piston element including a first end connecte... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7690711 | Endgate assembly with damper releasable from keyed stud An endgate assembly connectable to a vehicle body for opening and closing a vehicle bed formed by the body includes an endgate supportable by the vehicle body at a pivot connection and openable and closable by pivoting about the pivot connection. A keyed support mem... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7690710 | Motor vehicle endgate hinge having dual pivot axes An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into the body of a motor vehicle includes a post secured to the body at a lateral side of the passageway, an endgate for opening and closing the passageway, and a hinge secured to the endgate and the post. The hinge d... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7677628 | Unit for synchronous extension and retraction of two wire segments, and a motor vehicle having such a unit The invention relates to a unit for synchronous extension and retraction of two wire segments that are wound onto a storage spool in such a way that upon a rotary motion of the storage spool in one rotation direction, both wire segments are synchronously unwound, an... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7651147 | Cargo hauling system A cargo hauling system is dimensioned to fit within a bed of a light truck. The bin moves forwardly and rearwardly relative to the truck bed along rollers provided on a tailgate of the truck. The tailgate is modified by reinforcing a perimeter of the tailgate, addin... | 01/26/2010 |
| 7644973 | Anti-chucking tailgate An anti-chucking device (14) for a tailgate assembly (12) for a vehicle (10), includes a bracket member (36) and a striker member (38). The striker member (38) engages the bracket member (36) and prevents the tailgate... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7637552 | Tailgate lift-and-secure cable and latch assembly A lift and secure latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a pair of cables capable of applying upward force to the tailgate and a tensioning mechanism positioned within the tailgate and connected to the support members to apply tension thereto. One of the cab... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7631922 | Tailgate dampening apparatus An apparatus for damping the motion of a tailgate attached to a truck bed comprising a damper having a truck bed attachment point at one end and a tailgate attachment point at the other end. The truck bed attachment point is secured to said truck bed, while the tail... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7614679 | Tailgate door assist An apparatus for assisting with the handling of a door of a tailgate cart features two springs that are strung in seriatim. The first spring is connected at one end to the tailgate door, and connects to the second spring at its other end. The second spring is anchor... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7566085 | Tailgate-attached cargo support apparatus A cargo support apparatus is attached to a tailgate of a vehicle and includes a platform unit suitably adapted to be connected to the bottom of the tailgate, platform-to-tailgate orientation and support members connected between the platform unit and the tailgate fo... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7556305 | Vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism using cam A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism may include a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions, and a tailgate cam lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate. A bell crank may be pivotally anchored at one end thereof t... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7552958 | Vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism using plunger A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism including a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions and a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate. A drive lever may be pivotally connected at one end thereof to the... | 06/30/2009 |
| 7547055 | Vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism using four bar linkage and strut A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism including a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions and a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate. A drive lever may be pivotally connected at one end thereof to the... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7547056 | Swing and fold down tailgate actioning mechanism The present invention is a swing and fold down tailgate mechanism which includes an inner panel, a first handle supported by the inner panel operably associated with a first latch and a second latch, a second handle supported by the inner panel operably associated w... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7533921 | Multifunctional extendable tailgate An improved extendable tailgate for a vehicle with a cargo bed has an upright position and a horizontal position. With the tailgate in the upright position there is a hinged lower edge and an upper edge. The tailgate has a tailgate frame that has a substantially rec... | 05/19/2009 |
| 7533922 | Vehicle endgate counterbalance A vehicle having an endgate counter balance for use with an endgate of the vehicle, and a method of operating, is disclosed. The endgate counterbalance may include a hinge arm extending from the hinge, an energy storage device and a crank mechanism connected between... | 05/19/2009 |
| 7500706 | Tailgate spring assist assembly A spring assist raising assembly includes a pivot pin with a noncircular cross section which is mounted to either a pivoted panel, such as a tailgate, or a stationary member, such as a vehicle body adjacent the tailgate. A spring-loaded rotatable socket is rotatably... | 03/10/2009 |
| 7490888 | System for counterbalancing a tailgate A counterbalancing system is provided that can be easily installed to an exterior of a tailgate and provides a mechanism for arresting the tailgate in an open position. The system includes a stop assembly coupled to the vehicle and a counterbalance assembly adapted ... | 02/17/2009 |
| 7484784 | Selectively removable tailgate hinge for a power tailgate A selectively detachable tailgate assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The tailgate assembly includes a tailgate, a hinge mechanism, and a power assembly. The hinge mechanism connects the tailgate to a portion of a vehicle. A portion of the hinge mechanism may be se... | 02/03/2009 |
| 7472938 | Tailgate structure for receiving supplemental tailgate A tailgate structural configuration accommodates the housing of a supplemental tailgate internally within the tailgate. The tailgate is formed with an outer panel and an inner panel to define an internal cavity. The upper portion of the tailgate includes a C-channel... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7431370 | Seating accessory A seating accessory for use in combination with the inside surface of the tailgate of a pickup truck. The accessory includes a generally rectangular sheet sized to be positioned over the lowered tailgate surface and defining two side-by-side upwardly opening concave... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7422262 | Power operated retractable tailgate assembly A power operated retractable tailgate assembly for a vehicle that includes a tailgate with opposite end edges thereof connected via sliding pivots to a respective one of a pair of elongate slide rails. The slide rails mount in lateral spaced apart relation on the un... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7419204 | Powered ramp door lift The powered ramp door lift is used in cargo trailers and other ramp door applications and includes a powered winch assembly, a pair of wire cables or nylon straps connecting the winch assembly to the ramp door, and a “pusher” mechanism. The winch assembly mounte... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7413231 | Truck cargo bed management system A cargo bed management system for dividing or extending a bed of a motor vehicle. The cargo bed management system includes a main panel having a length approximately equal to a width of the bed, and a pair of side panels hingedly connected to the main panel so that ... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7407213 | Vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure A vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure is provided with a rear end structure, a tailgate pivotally coupled to the rear end structure, and a lift assist device connected between the rear end structure and the tailgate. The rear end structure includes a firs... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7401832 | Opening and closing apparatus of vehicle An opening and closing apparatus of a vehicle includes, an opening and closing member for opening and closing an opening portion of a vehicle body; a lower hinge for pivotably supporting the opening and closing member from below; and a cover member disposed below th... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7393035 | Vehicle cargo bed extender An improved truck bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. When not being used to extend the truck bed, the extender is advantageously adapted to quickly and easily create a secondary storage area. In one embodiment, the extender inclu... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7380873 | Covered utility trailer and kit for assembling same The present invention relates to the field of utility trailers and more specifically, to a covered utility trailer and a kit for assembling same. The covered utility trailer includes a trailer bed for supporting cargo. The trailer bed has a leading edge, an opposed ... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7370851 | Damping system of a glove box A damping system of a glove box using a damper and a wire. The damper is attached to the glove box. An end of the wire is fixed to a fastener on a lower panel. Thereby, when a field problem occurs, the damper is mounted and demounted with ease. ... | 05/13/2008 |
