Vehicle wire shield assembly
A polymer-based wire shield assembly mounted to the hinge of a tailgate assembly addresses the challenge of wire management in vehicle designs, ensuring structural integrity and reducing aesthetic issues by housing and securing wires during pivoting motions.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410784560.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-06-21
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-18
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle designs face challenges in effectively shielding and managing wires that extend between movable components, such as a tailgate assembly, which can lead to structural integrity issues and aesthetic disruptions due to repeated pivoting motions.
A wire shield assembly, typically made of polymer-based material, is mounted to a hinge of the tailgate assembly, housing and protecting wires as they pivot, using clips or mechanical fasteners to secure it to the hinge, ensuring the wires remain spaced and aligned with the pivoting motion.
The solution maintains wire integrity and reduces aesthetic disruptions by keeping wires spaced and aligned, allowing smooth operation and minimal visual impact during the tailgate's movement between closed and open positions.
Smart Images
Figure CN119176090A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a wire shield assembly for a vehicle, and more particularly to a wire shield assembly mounted to a hinge, such as a hinge of a tailgate. Background Art
[0002] Many motor vehicles include a cargo space for transporting various types of cargo. For example, a pickup truck includes a cargo box that establishes the cargo space of the truck. A tailgate typically encloses one end of the cargo box. The tailgate is movable from an open position to provide access to the cargo box. Summary of the invention
[0003] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly that includes: a hinge; and a wire shield assembly mounted to the hinge.
[0004] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly, further comprising: a wire housed within the wire shielding assembly.
[0005] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the wire shielding assembly includes a first piece secured to at least one second piece, the wire being received between the first piece and the at least one second piece.
[0006] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the wire shielding assembly is clamped to the hinge.
[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the hinge is a gooseneck hinge.
[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the wire shielding assembly is a polymer-based material.
[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the hinge is configured to pivot a door subassembly of a tailgate about a vertically extending axis.
[0010] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly further comprising: a wire extending through an opening in the wire shield assembly to the door subassembly, the opening being aligned with the vertically extending axis.
[0011] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly, which also includes: a frame subassembly of a tailgate; a door subassembly of the tailgate, the door subassembly being pivotally connected to the frame subassembly via the hinge; and a wire, the wire being at least partially housed within the wire shielding assembly, the wire extending between the frame subassembly and the door subassembly.
[0012] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the hinge is a first hinge and the vehicle assembly further comprises a second hinge pivotably connecting the door subassembly of the tailgate to the frame subassembly.
[0013] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly, wherein when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position, the first hinge is located vertically below the second hinge, and the wire and the wire shielding assembly are disposed between the first hinge and the second hinge.
[0014] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly, further comprising: a connecting member connecting the first hinge to the second hinge, wherein the wire shielding assembly is disposed about the connecting member.
[0015] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly, wherein the frame subassembly includes a driver-side section having a driver-side outer panel, and a passenger-side section having a passenger-side outer panel, wherein the door subassembly includes a door outer panel, and the door subassembly is capable of pivoting back and forth between a door closed position and a door open position relative to the frame subassembly, and when the door subassembly is in the door closed position, the door outer panel is disposed between the driver-side outer panel and the passenger-side outer panel, so that the door subassembly separates all portions of the driver-side outer panel from the passenger-side outer panel.
[0016] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the door subassembly and the frame subassembly are capable of pivoting together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position, wherein the door subassembly is capable of pivoting relative to the frame subassembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position, the first axis being transverse to the second axis.
[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the door subassembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening extending vertically downward to at least the vertically lowermost sides of the driver-side outer panel and the passenger-side outer panel.
[0018] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein no portion of the door outer panel horizontally overlaps any portion of the driver-side outer panel or the passenger-side outer panel.
[0019] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method for shielding wires, comprising: providing a tailgate assembly, the tailgate assembly including a door subassembly pivotally connected to a frame subassembly, the door subassembly and the frame subassembly being capable of pivoting together between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position; pivoting the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly to provide a cargo compartment accessible opening; and electrically connecting the door subassembly using wires routed through the wire shielding assembly.
[0020] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a tailgate subassembly alignment method that also includes mounting the wire shield assembly to a hinge that pivotably couples the door subassembly to the frame subassembly.
[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a tailgate subassembly alignment method, further comprising: clamping the wire shield assembly to the hinge during the connecting.
[0022] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a tailgate subassembly alignment method, further comprising: pivoting the wire shield assembly with the hinge when pivoting the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly.
[0023] The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, claims or the following description and drawings (including any of their various aspects or corresponding individual features) may be adopted independently or in any combination. Features described in conjunction with one embodiment apply to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.
[0024] The various features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a motor vehicle equipped with a cargo space and having a tailgate assembly with a door subassembly with the tailgate assembly in a tailgate closed position relative to the cargo space.
[0026] Figure 2 The tailgate assembly is shown in the tailgate open position. Figure 1 of motor vehicles.
[0027] Figure 3The door subassembly of the tailgate assembly is shown in the door open position. Figure 1 of motor vehicles.
[0028] Figure 4 is in Figure 3 A top view of the tailgate assembly in position.
[0029] Figure 5 It is the view from the cargo space. Figure 3 A perspective view of the tailgate assembly in position.
[0030] Figure 6 is a close-up view of a wire shield assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure when the wire shield assembly is mounted to a hinge of a tailgate assembly.
[0031] Figure 7 The hinge system of the tailgate assembly is shown as well as Figure 6 Wire shielding assembly.
[0032] Figure 8 Shows Figure 6 A perspective view of the wire shielding assembly and the wires.
[0033] Fig. 9 Shows Figure 8 Wire shielding assembly and wire expansion diagram. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The present disclosure details an exemplary wire shield assembly for a tailgate of a vehicle. The tailgate may include a door subassembly. The door subassembly may be opened to provide an opening that, among other things, helps a user access cargo in a cargo compartment.
[0035] The wire shielding assembly may be used to shield wires extending from another portion of the tailgate to the door subassembly.
[0036] Figure 1 A vehicle 10 is shown in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. In this example, the vehicle 10 is a pickup truck having a cargo bed 14 provided by a pair of side walls 18 , a front wall 22 , and a tailgate assembly 26 .
[0037] The tailgate assembly 26 includes, among other things, a frame subassembly 30 and a door subassembly 34. The tailgate assembly 26 can be pivoted relative to the cargo bed 14 about a first axis A1. Figure 1 Tailgate shown in closed position Figure 2 The example tailgate assembly 26 is vertically aligned when in the tailgate closed position and horizontally aligned when in the tailgate open position. For purposes of this disclosure, vertical and horizontal are referenced to the ground and the normal orientation of the vehicle 10 during operation.
[0038] When the frame subassembly 30 and the door subassembly 34 pivot between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position, the door subassembly 34 is in the door closed position and is latched to the frame subassembly 30. Therefore, when the tailgate assembly 26 pivots between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position, the frame subassembly 30 and the door subassembly 34 pivot together.
[0039] When the tailgate assembly 26 is in the tailgate closed position, the door subassembly 34 can pivot relative to the frame subassembly 30 about the second axis A2. Figure 1 Door closed position shown Figure 3 and Figure 4 The door is pivoted back and forth between the open positions shown. In this example, the first axis A1 is an axis extending horizontally. In this example, the second axis A2 is transverse to the first axis A1 and is an axis extending vertically.
[0040] The door subassembly 34 in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening O. In this example, the cargo bed access opening O extends vertically downward at least to a floor 38 of the cargo bed 14 .
[0041] like Figure 4 As shown, the user 42 can access the cargo bed 14 through the cargo bed access opening O provided by the door subassembly 34 in the door open position. Placing the door subassembly 34 in the door open position allows the user 42 to move further than, for example, the tailgate assembly 26 is moved to the Figure 2 The cargo box access opening O can also provide a gap for the user 42 to enter the cargo box 14 to retrieve the cargo.
[0042] The frame subassembly 30 includes, among other things, a driver side section 50, a passenger side section 54, and a connecting member 58. The driver side section 50, the passenger side section 54, and the connecting member 58 pivot together when the frame subassembly 30 moves between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position. A portion of the connecting member 58 sinks vertically downward to help keep the connecting member 58 below the floor 38 of the cargo bed 14.
[0043] The driver side section 50 includes an outer panel 62, and the passenger side section 54 includes an outer panel 66. Figure 1 When the tailgate is in the closed position, panels 62 and 66 are visible to an individual standing behind vehicle 10. However, connecting member 58 is hidden from view, for example, behind bumper 70 or fender.
[0044] The door subassembly 34 is included in the tailgate assembly 26. Figure 1When the door subassembly 34 is in the door closed position, the outer panel 74 of the door subassembly 34 separates all portions of the outer panel 62 of the driver-side section 50 from the outer panel 66 of the passenger-side section 54. When the door subassembly 34 is in the door open position, the cargo bed access opening O extends vertically downward to at least the vertically lowermost sides of the outer panel 62 of the driver-side section 50 and the outer panel 66 of the passenger-side section 54.
[0045] Notably, no portion of the panel 62 or the panel 66 horizontally overlaps the outer panel 74 of the door subassembly 34. That is, the outer panel 62 of the driver-side segment 50 does not include a segment extending vertically below the panel 74 of the door subassembly 34, and the outer panel 66 of the passenger-side segment 54 does not include a segment extending vertically below the outer panel 66 of the door subassembly 34. Rather, the door subassembly 34 is joined to the tailgate assembly 26 using only two split lines 78 extending vertically across the tailgate assembly 26. Thus, the door subassembly 34 is joined to the tailgate assembly 26 with relatively little aesthetic disruption.
[0046] Reference now Figures 5 to 9 And continue to refer to Figures 1 to 4 , the door subassembly 34 is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly 30 by a hinge system, which in this example includes two hinges 82 and a connecting member. The connecting member 84 links the rotation of the hinges 82 together.
[0047] In this example, the door subassembly 34 is pivotally coupled to the passenger side section 54 . In another example, the door subassembly 34 is pivotally coupled to the driver side section 50 .
[0048] In this example, the hinge 82 is a gooseneck hinge. The hinge 82 allows the door subassembly 34 to pivot relative to the frame subassembly 30 and pivot a greater distance away from the cargo bed access opening O. The hinge 82 may include two door check positions, such as forty-five degrees and ninety degrees. When transitioning from a closed door position to a fully open door position, the door subassembly 34 may pivot one hundred degrees. One of the hinges 82 is located vertically above another of the hinges 82.
[0049] The door subassembly 34 may be electronically latched and may include one or more lights 86 and an electronic handle 87. In some examples, a power drive unit may be housed within the door subassembly 34 along with a rear view camera. These and other devices may require power and data communication capabilities from the vehicle 10.
[0050] Thus, the wire 90 may extend from the frame subassembly 30 to the door subassembly 34. The wire 90 may extend from another portion of the vehicle 10 to the frame subassembly 30. The wire 90 electrically connects the door subassembly 34 to the other portion of the vehicle 10.
[0051] The wire 90 may include a plurality of individual wires or wire strands bundled together. The wire 90 may be used to provide power from the frame subassembly 30 to the door subassembly 34. The wire 90 may alternatively or additionally be used to transmit data to and from the door subassembly 34.
[0052] Wires 90 are routed to door subassembly 34, which may pivot ninety degrees or more for thousands of opening and closing cycles during the life of vehicle 10. To help maintain the structural integrity of wires 90 and maintain proper positioning of wires 90, tailgate assembly 26 includes a wire shield assembly 88 that houses wires 90.
[0053] In the exemplary embodiment, the wire shield assembly 88 is mounted to one of the hinges 82 and rotates with the hinge 82 as the door subassembly 34 moves between the door open position and the door closed position. That is, the hinge 82 and the wire shield assembly 88 rotate together, rather than the hinge 82 rotating relative to the wire shield assembly 88. When the wire shield assembly 88 of the exemplary embodiment is mounted to the hinge 82, the wire shield assembly 88 is vertically disposed between the hinges 82.
[0054] The wire shield assembly 88 may be a polymer-based material. The wire shield assembly 88 is sleeved over a portion of the hinge 82 and may be molded with a plurality of clips 92 that may be used to clamp the wire shield assembly 88 to the hinge 82. In other examples, the wire shield assembly 88 may be attached in other ways, such as via one or more mechanical fasteners.
[0055] The wire shield assembly 88 may keep the wires 90 spaced apart from the crimped flanges of the door subassembly 34 and the frame subassembly 30 .
[0056] In this example, the wire shielding assembly 88 includes a first piece 94 and a second piece 98. In another example, additional pieces may be used. In an exemplary embodiment, the first piece 94 is secured to the second piece 98 to accommodate the wire 90. The first piece 94 and the second piece 98 may be secured to each other via a clip 102, which may be a molded-in clip.
[0057] For example, Figure 7 As shown, the wire 90 extends through the opening 106 to the wire shield assembly 88 to the frame subassembly 30. The opening 106 is generally aligned with the axis A2, which can help reduce fatigue on the wire 90 when the door subassembly 34 moves between the door open position and the door closed position. The wire shield assembly 88 can be connected to the door subassembly 34, where the wire 90 exits the wire shield assembly 88 to the door subassembly 34.
[0058] The above description should be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that certain modifications may occur within the scope of the present disclosure. For these reasons, the attached claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A vehicle assembly, comprising: Hinges; as well as A wire shielding assembly is mounted to the hinge.
2. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a wire housed within the wire shielding assembly, and optionally wherein the wire shielding assembly comprises a first piece secured to at least one second piece, the wire being housed between the first piece and the at least one second piece.
3. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 wherein the wire shield assembly is clamped to the hinge.
4. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 wherein the hinge is a gooseneck hinge.
5. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 wherein the wire shielding assembly is a polymer based material.
6. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 wherein the hinge is configured to pivot a tailgate door subassembly about a vertically extending axis, and optionally the vehicle assembly further comprises a wire extending through an opening in the wire shield assembly to the door subassembly, the opening being aligned with the vertically extending axis.
7. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, further comprising: tailgate frame subassembly; a door subassembly of the tailgate, the door subassembly being pivotally connected to the frame subassembly via the hinge; as well as A wire is at least partially received in the wire shielding assembly, and the wire extends between the frame subassembly and the door subassembly.
8. The vehicle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the hinge is a first hinge and the vehicle assembly further comprises a second hinge pivotally connecting the door subassembly of the tailgate to the frame subassembly, and optionally wherein the first hinge is vertically below the second hinge when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position, the wire and the wire shielding assembly being disposed between the first hinge and the second hinge.
9. The vehicle assembly of claim 8, further comprising: A connecting member connects the first hinge to the second hinge, wherein the wire shielding assembly is disposed about the connecting member.
10. A vehicle assembly as described in claim 7, wherein the frame subassembly includes a driver side section having a driver side outer panel, a passenger side section having a passenger side outer panel, wherein the door subassembly includes a door outer panel, and the door subassembly is capable of pivoting back and forth between a door closed position and a door open position relative to the frame subassembly, when the door subassembly is in the door closed position, the door outer panel is arranged between the driver side outer panel and the passenger side outer panel, so that the door subassembly separates the driver side outer panel from all portions of the passenger side outer panel, and optionally, wherein the door subassembly in the door open position provides a cargo compartment access opening extending vertically downward to at least the vertically lowest sides of the driver side outer panel and the passenger side outer panel.
11. The vehicle assembly of claim 10, wherein the door subassembly and the frame subassembly are capable of pivoting together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position, wherein the door subassembly is capable of pivoting relative to the frame subassembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position, the first axis being transverse to the second axis.
12. The vehicle assembly of claim 10, wherein no portion of the door outer panel horizontally overlaps any portion of the driver side outer panel or the passenger side outer panel.
13. A method for shielding a wire, comprising: providing a tailgate assembly including a door subassembly pivotably coupled to a frame subassembly, the door subassembly and the frame subassembly being pivotable together between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position; pivoting the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly to provide a cargo bed access opening; and The door subassembly is electrically connected using wires routed through a wire shield assembly.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: The wire shield assembly is mounted to a hinge that pivotably couples the door subassembly to the frame subassembly, and optionally the method further comprises clamping the wire shield assembly to the hinge during the connecting.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: When the door subassembly is pivoted relative to the frame subassembly, the wire shielding assembly is pivoted together with the hinge.