Motor vehicle tailgate

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle tailgate for mounting pivotally to a vehicle about hinges situated close to one of the edges of the tailgate. In the vicinity of its hinges, the tailgate is constituted by a main panel secured to the hinges and by a secondary panel which is movable relative to the main panel between a closed position in which it is superposed on the main panel so as to reconstitute a tailgate of full thickness, and an open position in which it is separate from the main panel, the main panel then forming a portion of the tailgate of reduced thickness.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle tailgate, and more particularly to a tailgate for mounting on hinges situated along its bottom horizontal edge so as to pivot about said horizontal edge between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position.[0002] In the open position, the tailgate extends the floor at the back of the vehicle to facilitate loading.[0003] For such a tailgate to be able to pivot, it is necessary to leave an empty space enabling it to move angularly at the back of the vehicle.[0004] In particular, unless the tailgate extends beyond the bumper at the back of the vehicle, it is necessary for the bumper to be positioned far enough below the closed tailgate to leave sufficient free height between the bumper and the floor at the back to accommodate substantially the thickness of the tailgate.[0005] That constitutes a constraint on vehicle appearance that the present invention seeks to eliminate.[0006] Furthermore...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] This "thinner" portion of the tailgate enables the tailgate to be folded down while requiring smaller clearance than would be necessary if the tailgate retained its initial thickness on being opened.

[0009] The invention thus makes it possible to bring the floor at the back of the vehicle closer to the back bumper when the tailgate pivots about its bottom horizontal edge, since the minimum distance between the floor at the back of the vehicle and the bumper is the thickness of the main panel only and not the full thickness of the entire tailgate.

[0014] The secondary panel can then be used to support a device carrying signaling lights and / or a license or number plate possibly with license plate lighting, thus enabling the vehicle to be used with its tailgate open and still comply with regulations.

[0018] The secondary panel fixed in this way at the rearmost point of the vehicle also serves as a bumper for low energy impacts, thereby protecting the edge of the tailgate remote from its hinges, which is particularly vulnerable if the vehicle is used with its tailgate open.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, given that the bumper must not be positioned too low on account of its essential protective function, the floor at the back of the vehicle is often artificially raised so as to come up to the same level as the inside face of the tailgate when open, and that leads to a loss of volume at the back.

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