Tail door assembly with tail lamp protection support and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a tailgate assembly with a taillight protection bracket and a vehicle comprising the tailgate assembly. The tail door assembly (T) comprises a tail door inner plate (10); the tail door outer plate (20) is mounted on the outer side of the tail door inner plate, and a tail lamp groove (21) and a mounting hole (24) positioned in the tail lamp groove are formed in the tail door outer plate (20); the tail door opening device (30) penetrates through the mounting hole to be mounted on the tail door outer plate; the tail lamp (40) is arranged in the tail lamp groove; and the protection bracket (50) is arranged in the tail lamp groove between the tail lamp and the tail door opening device, and comprises an operation part (52) for a user to push the tail door assembly. According to the tail door assembly, the good rigidity is achieved in the operation process that a user opens the tail door, and the risk that the tail lamp is broken is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of motor vehicle body construction. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tailgate assembly with a taillight protection bracket, and to a vehicle including such a tailgate assembly. Background Art

[0002] The construction of a vehicle's tailgate assembly directly determines the styling of the rear of the vehicle. Figure 1 The figure is a rear perspective view of a vehicle tailgate assembly T. Figure 1 As shown, the tailgate assembly T includes a tailgate inner panel 10 (reference Figure 2 ) and a taillight 40 mounted to the tailgate outer panel 20. More specifically, the tailgate outer panel 20 is provided with a taillight groove 21 extending along the entire lateral length thereof, and the taillight 40 is arranged in the taillight groove 21 along the entire lateral length of the tailgate outer panel 20 and mounted to the tailgate outer panel 20 through the two lateral ends of the taillight 40.

[0003] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a tailgate assembly T in the prior art at the tailgate opening device 30. Figure 2 As shown, the taillight groove 21 of the tailgate outer panel 20 includes an upper wall 22 and a lower wall 23, and the tailgate opening device 30 (e.g., a tailgate opening button) of the tailgate assembly T is installed in a mounting hole 24 provided in the upper wall 22 at a substantially transverse center position of the taillight groove 21. The taillight 40 includes a front cover 41 made of a material such as plastic and a rear cover 42 made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic, and the front cover 41 and the rear cover 42 are fixedly connected to each other to form a chamber for accommodating a light-emitting component.

[0004] The main defect of this tailgate assembly T is that after the user inserts his finger into the taillight groove 21 and presses the tailgate opening device 30, in order to open the tailgate, the user's finger needs to directly contact and push the taillight 40 upward at the approximately lateral center position of the taillight 40, more specifically, push upward the front cover 41 of the taillight 40. Since the rigidity of the taillight 40 itself is relatively poor, there is a greater risk of the taillight 40 (especially the front cover 41 thereof) being broken during the operation. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a tailgate assembly with a taillight protection bracket to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned defects in the prior art. More specifically, the tailgate assembly according to the present invention has good rigidity during the operation of the user opening the tailgate, avoiding the risk of taillight breakage.

[0006] To this end, a first aspect of the present invention provides a tailgate assembly, which includes: a tailgate inner panel; a tailgate outer panel, which is installed to the outer side of the tailgate inner panel and is provided with a taillight slot and a mounting hole positioned in the taillight slot; a tailgate opening device, which is installed to the tailgate outer panel through the mounting hole; a taillight, which is installed in the taillight slot; and a protective bracket, which is installed in the taillight slot between the taillight and the tailgate opening device and includes an operating part for a user to push the tailgate assembly.

[0007] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the protective bracket includes: a main body, which shields the tailgate opening device from the outside of the tailgate opening device and is provided with the operating part; and at least one mounting part, which extends from the main body and is fixed to the tailgate outer panel.

[0008] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the at least one mounting portion is fixed to the tailgate outer panel by screw connection, rivet connection, adhesive connection or welding.

[0009] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the protection bracket further includes an abutment portion, wherein the abutment portion extends from the body and abuts against the first wall of the taillight slot.

[0010] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the protection bracket further includes at least one reinforcing rib arranged on the operating portion.

[0011] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the free end of the operating portion and the second wall of the taillight slot is not less than 20 mm, so as to form an opening for the user's fingers to pass through.

[0012] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the opening and the tailgate opening device is no more than 50 mm.

[0013] A second aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle comprising a tailgate assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0014] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the taillight groove and the taillight extend along the entire transverse length of the tailgate outer panel, and the mounting hole is located at a transverse center position of the taillight groove.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the tailgate assembly according to the present invention has a number of beneficial technical effects, especially: a protective bracket is arranged between the taillight and the tailgate opening device, and when the user presses the tailgate opening device, the tailgate can be opened by pushing the protective bracket upwards, thereby avoiding the risk of damage to the taillight caused by the user's fingers directly applying force to the taillight cover; in addition, this protective bracket has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture and install, and has a low cost, and can be widely used on various types of vehicles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood through the following preferred embodiments described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or similar components.

[0017] Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle tailgate assembly;

[0018] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a tailgate assembly in the prior art at a tailgate opening device;

[0019] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a tailgate assembly at a tailgate opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A cutaway schematic diagram of the tailgate assembly at another viewing angle at the tailgate opening device;

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a protective bracket of a tailgate assembly;

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the cutaway view of the tailgate assembly at the screw fixing position of the protective bracket.

[0023] All components in the accompanying drawings are shown for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to exact scale. It can be understood that the accompanying drawings can not only be used for specific explanation and description of the present invention, but also help to define the present invention when necessary. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The implementation and use of specific embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to implement and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0025] In this specification, when describing the structural position of each component, the expressions indicating directions such as "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", "rear" are not absolute, but relative. When the components are arranged as shown in the figure, these expressions indicating directions are appropriate, but when the positions of the components in the figure change, these expressions indicating directions should also change accordingly. In addition, "inside" and "outside" are defined with reference to the inside and outside directions of the vehicle. For example, "inside" refers to the side facing the inside of the vehicle, that is, the side facing the front of the vehicle for the tailgate assembly, and "outside" refers to the side facing the outside of the vehicle, that is, the side facing the rear of the vehicle for the tailgate assembly.

[0026] In addition, in the accompanying drawings, the X direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (i.e., the front-to-back direction, also indicating the driving direction of the vehicle), the Y direction corresponds to the lateral direction of the vehicle (i.e., the left-right direction at a 90-degree angle to the driving direction), and the Z direction corresponds to the vertical direction of the vehicle (i.e., the up-down direction).

[0027] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the tailgate assembly T of the vehicle according to the present invention includes a tailgate inner panel 10, a tailgate outer panel 20, a tailgate opening device 30, a taillight 40 and a protective bracket 50. The tailgate outer panel 20 is mounted to the outer side of the tailgate inner panel 10 by, for example, adhesive connection, and is provided with, for example, a taillight groove 21 extending along the entire lateral length of the tailgate outer panel 20 and a mounting hole 24 positioned at a substantially lateral center position in the taillight groove 21. More specifically, the taillight groove 21 is disposed on the outer side of the tailgate outer panel 20 and is recessed inward, and the taillight groove 21 includes an upper wall 22 and a lower wall 23, and the mounting hole 24 is disposed at a substantially lateral center position of the upper wall 22. The tailgate opening device 30 is mounted to the tailgate outer panel 20 through the mounting hole 24, and the tailgate opening device 30 is, for example, a tailgate opening button, so that the user can insert a finger into the taillight groove 21 to press and thus open the tailgate. The tail lamp 40 extends along the entire lateral length of the tailgate outer panel 20 and is installed in the tail lamp groove 21, and is installed to the tailgate outer panel 20 through the two lateral ends of the tail lamp 40. The tail lamp 40 includes a front cover 41 made of a material such as plastic and a rear cover 42 made of a transparent material such as glass and plastic, and the front cover 41 and the rear cover 42 are fixedly connected to each other to form a chamber for accommodating a light-emitting component.

[0028] like Figures 3 to 6As shown, the protection bracket 50 is installed in the taillight groove 21 between the taillight 40 and the tailgate opening device 30. More specifically, the protection bracket 50 includes a body 51 and at least one mounting portion 53, such as two mounting portions 53 extending from two lateral ends of the body 51 respectively. The body 51 shields the tailgate opening device 30 from the outside of the tailgate opening device 30, that is, the body 51 is arranged between the front cover 41 of the taillight 40 and the tailgate opening device 30 in the longitudinal direction, and the lower part of the body 51 forms an operating portion 52 slightly bent in the XZ plane for the user to push the tailgate assembly T. Preferably, at least one reinforcing rib 56 is arranged on the outside of the operating portion 52, such as three reinforcing ribs 56 shown, to increase the strength of the operating portion 52. The mounting portion 53, for example, extends roughly along the YZ plane and is provided with a fixing hole 54, and the tailgate outer panel 20 is provided with a mounting wall 25 located at the bottom of the taillight slot 21 corresponding to the mounting portion 53, so that the mounting portion 53 is fixed to the tailgate outer panel 20 by a screw 60 passing through the fixing hole 54 and the mounting wall 25. It is understood that the fixing method between the mounting portion 53 of the protection bracket 50 and the mounting wall 25 of the tailgate outer panel 20 is not limited to screw connection, and any other suitable fixing method such as rivet connection, adhesive connection or welding can also be adopted, and the present invention does not limit this. In addition, it is also preferred that the protection bracket 50 also includes an abutment portion 55, which extends outward from the top of the body 51 and abuts against the upper wall 22 of the taillight slot 21, so as to increase the installation stability of the protection bracket 50 by limiting in the vertical direction.

[0029] Especially Figure 4 As shown, the distance d1 between the free end 57 (i.e., the lower end) of the operating portion 52 of the protection bracket 50 and the lower wall 23 of the taillight groove 21 is preferably not less than 20 mm, more preferably not less than 25 mm, so as to leave enough space to form an opening 58 for the user's fingers to pass through. In addition, the distance d2 between the opening 58 and the tailgate opening device 30 is preferably not more than 50 mm, more preferably not more than 40 mm, so as to allow the user's fingers to easily touch the tailgate opening device 30.

[0030] Therefore, since a protective bracket 50 with relatively large rigidity is provided in the tailgate assembly T, when the user needs to open the tailgate, he can insert his finger into the taillight groove 21 through the opening 58 and press the tailgate opening device 30, and then can open the tailgate upward by pushing the operating part 52 of the protective bracket 50 upward, thereby avoiding the risk of damage to the taillight 40 caused by the user's fingers directly applying force to the front cover 41 of the taillight 40.

[0031] The technical content and technical features of the present invention have been disclosed above. However, it can be understood that under the creative ideas of the present invention, technicians in this field can make various changes and improvements to the above-disclosed concepts, but all belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] The description of the above embodiments is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. The protection scope of the present invention is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A tailgate assembly (T), characterized in that: include: Tailgate inner panel (10); A tailgate outer panel (20), the tailgate outer panel (20) being mounted to the outside of the tailgate inner panel (10) and being provided with a taillight slot (21) and a mounting hole (24) positioned in the taillight slot (21); A tailgate opening device (30), the tailgate opening device (30) passing through the mounting hole (24) and mounted to the tailgate outer panel (20); A tail light (40), the tail light (40) being installed in the tail light slot (21); as well as A protection bracket (50) is installed in the taillight slot (21) between the taillight (40) and the tailgate opening device (30), and includes an operating portion (52) for a user to push the tailgate assembly (T).

2. The tailgate assembly (T) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protective bracket (50) comprises: a body (51), the body (51) shielding the tailgate opening device (30) from the outside of the tailgate opening device (30) and provided with the operating portion (52); and At least one mounting portion (53), the at least one mounting portion (53) extending from the body (51) and fixed to the tailgate outer panel (20).

3. The tailgate assembly (T) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The at least one mounting portion (53) is fixed to the tailgate outer panel (20) by screw connection, rivet connection, adhesive connection or welding.

4. The tailgate assembly (T) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The protection bracket (50) further comprises an abutment portion (55), wherein the abutment portion (55) extends from the body (51) and abuts against the first wall (22) of the taillight slot (21).

5. The tailgate assembly (T) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The protection bracket (50) further comprises at least one reinforcing rib (56) arranged on the operating portion (52).

6. The tailgate assembly (T) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The distance (d1) between the free end (57) of the operating portion (52) and the second wall (23) of the taillight slot (21) is not less than 20 mm, so as to form an opening (58) for a user's finger to pass through.

7. The tailgate assembly (T) according to claim 6, characterized in that: The distance (d2) between the opening (58) and the tailgate opening device (30) is no greater than 50 mm.

8. A vehicle, characterized in that: It comprises a tailgate assembly (T) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that The vehicle has a longitudinal direction (X) indicating a driving direction, and a transverse direction (Y) forming an angle of 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction (X), wherein the taillight groove (21) and the taillight (40) extend along the entire transverse length of the tailgate outer panel (20), and the mounting hole (24) is positioned at the transverse center of the taillight groove (21).

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