GM has filed a patent application for a bike rack that can mount to the Chevy Multi-Flex and GMC MultiPro pickup tailgate.
The GM patent filing has been assigned application number US 2023/0033863 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on February 2nd, 2023. The patent was originally filed on August 2nd, 2021, and lists several Michigan-based engineers as the inventors, including Derek L. Patterson, Ryan Cahill, and William C. Bliss.
The patent describes a bike rack for a vehicle with a tailgate that includes both a major gate and a minor gate, with a hinge that connects the minor gate to the major gate. The minor gate section includes a main body and a load stop that pivots in relation to the main body, while the bike rack mounts to the tailgate and includes a load stop bracket and braces. The bike is mounted in an upright, vertical fashion.
The tailgate described in the patent is a reference to the Chevy Multi-Flex tailgate offered for the Chevy Silverado and GMC MultiPro tailgate offered for the GMC Sierra and the GMC Hummer EV Pickup. This multi-purpose, configurable tailgate design originally launched on the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 and 2020 GMC Sierra HD.
The Chevy Multi-Flex tailgate and GMC MultiPro tailgate offer six individual positions that are tailored to meet a wide variety of needs and uses. These include the standard Primary Gate Access, as one would expect from a traditional tailgate, as well as a Primary Gate Load Stop, a Foldable Inner Gate, a Full-Width Step, an, Inner Gate Load Stop, and an Inner Gate Work Surface. It appears as though the bike rack described in this new GM patent is designed to work with the Inner Gate Load Stop configuration, allowing users to easily secure bikes in the bed of the pickup truck.
Indeed, for those Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra owners that like to drive their bike to the trailhead, this could serve as a useful solution.
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Comments
What keeps the back of bike from rotating when front is secured by something to the tail gate. Are there provisions for locking the bike in the tailgate?
I was looking at that situation also, this measure looks like a good idea, but I’m wondering if we are getting the full extent of the details based on how the bikes will become sway-free when the truck is moving.
Weight of the bike keep the back from moving? Also keep in mind the ridges in the bed that may assist with keeping the back of the bike from shifting.
The diagrams also don’t show anything that straps around the front wheel to keep that locked in place.
Personally I like my hitch mounted rack. Take the bikes off and I can access the bed. Bed has a tonneau cover so bed can be completely secured and no one has a clue anything is back there.
This does look like an intriguing option though.
could be a U shaped piece that the wheel goes into on the bed of truck.
5$ at tractor supply, ratchet strap. Problem solved. I get the idea of continuously helping the customer, but I this is too the point I think letting the customer figure it out on their own and firing some engineers and patent layers to reduce cost would be more helpful.
I like this invention that GM came up with a multi functional tail gate.its very much similar to the existing truck patent that I have invented and patent on my own Chevy Silverado . The multi functional truck box cover that provides more Hite and With to my existing truck box. I’ve sent my invention information to GM ideas and I still haven’t received any response from them. And now they came up with this.
Truly: Denis FLeury
I like this invention that GM came up with a multi functional tail gate.its very much similar to the existing truck patent that I have invented and patent on my own Chevy Silverado . The multi functional truck box cover that provides more Hite and With to my existing truck box. And cover’s it like a regular tauneau cover. I’ve sent my invention information to GM ideas and I still haven’t received any response from them. And now they came up with this. If they invest in my invention,then they can call it a multi functional truck box with cover.
Truly: Denis FLeury
two tries and still didn’t get “height and width”!
LOL true
Thank you Dupa for your comment on Hite and With, yes I have invented the multi functional truck box cover that provides Hite and With to my existing truck box and cover’s it like a regular tauneau cover. I believe that my cover would be a great investment to GM as I own the patent application rights for it and it is a one and only. I have submitted a few applications to GM ideas and I haven’t heard from them , and now they came up with the patent truck box and the patent tailgate.
Interesting!
Truly: Denis
Looks kinda dumb to me… 2023 and this is the best they come up with???
I agree with you PDW !new year and they came up with the patent truck length and now the multi tail gate. I am the inventor of the multi functional truck box cover that I have built on my own Chevy Silverado and own the patent application rights for it as well.I have submitted my invention to GM ideas and I still haven’t heard from them and I sent a few.perhaps I should promote it to dodge.lol
Sincerely: Denis FLeury
This is for Dupa Yash!yes thanks for the spelling B . Yes provides Height and Width to my existing truck box and cover’s it like a regular cover.I call it my multi functional truck box cover.
Truly: Denis
only took you 3 times to get “height” and “width” correct .. LOL .. If you submitted your invention with the same spelling errors, do you think, just maybe, that is why they threw your idea in the trashcan?
You could be correct! that’s why I haven’t received any response from GM it’s the way height and width was spelt.thanks perhaps I’ll send them my information again. Lol
Truly Denis
Hey Galen , thanks for your time reading this and thanks again for the spelling B. Still doesn’t change the fact that I still own the patent rights for my invention.still my multi functional truck box cover that provides me with more Height and Width to my existing truck box. Thanks again and have a great day!