Vehicle tailgate with overlap door assembly
By designing a stackable vehicle tailgate assembly, the problem of difficulty in effectively stacking the tailgate when closed in the prior art is solved, and better aesthetics and the effect of preventing material from entering is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411389464.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-10-06
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-08
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle tailgate is difficult to stack effectively when closed, affecting aesthetics and may cause material to enter the area between the door assembly and the frame assembly.
A vehicle assembly is designed in which the door assembly of the tailgate is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly and stacked in a closed position relative to the frame subassembly. The inner edge of the first outer section is positioned on the inner side of the outer edge of the door assembly when the door is closed, and the division line is horizontally offset when the tailgate is closed, the overlap between the door assembly and the frame subassembly is achieved.
Enhance the aesthetics of the tailgate and effectively prevent material from entering the area between the door assembly and the frame assembly, improving the overall performance and user experience of the vehicle.
Smart Images
Figure CN119821522A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a tailgate for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a tailgate having a door subassembly that overlaps relative to a vehicle frame subassembly. 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 can be moved to 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, comprising: a frame subassembly of a tailgate, the frame subassembly having a cargo compartment inlet and outlet opening between a first outer section and a second outer section; and a door subassembly of the tailgate, the door subassembly being pivotally connected to the frame subassembly, the door subassembly being capable of pivoting back and forth between a door open position and a door closed position relative to the frame subassembly, the door subassembly closing the cargo compartment inlet and outlet opening and overlapping relative to the frame subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.
[0004] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the frame subassembly and the door subassembly pivot together about a horizontally extending axis, wherein the door subassembly pivots relative to the frame subassembly about a vertically extending axis.
[0005] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the first outboard segment is located on a driver's side of the cargo bed access opening and the second outboard segment is located on a passenger's side of the cargo bed access opening.
[0006] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein an innermost edge of the first outer segment is located inboard of an outermost edge of the door subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.
[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein a vertically extending split line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on a forward-facing side of the tailgate is located inboard of both an inner rolled edge of the first outer section and an outer rolled edge of the door subassembly when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position.
[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the inner hem edge of the first outer section is an inner hem edge of an outer panel of the first outer section.
[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the inner rolled edge of the first outer section and the outer rolled edge of the door subassembly are both located behind a closing face of the door subassembly when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position.
[0010] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein an inner beaded edge of the first outer section horizontally overlaps an outer beaded edge of the door subassembly when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position.
[0011] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein, when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position, the innermost edge of the first outer segment is located in front of a closing surface of the door subassembly, and the outermost edge of the door subassembly is located behind the closing surface of the door subassembly.
[0012] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein, when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position, the innermost edge of the first outer section is located inboard of the closing surface of the door subassembly, and the outermost edge of the door subassembly is located outboard of the closing surface of the door subassembly.
[0013] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein, when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position, a vertically extending dividing line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on a forward-facing side of the tailgate is located inboard of a vertically extending dividing line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on a rearward-facing side of the tailgate.
[0014] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly that also includes a material shield that covers the vertically extending parting line between the door subassembly and the first outboard segment when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position.
[0015] 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 pivotable 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.
[0016] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly wherein the cargo bed access opening extends vertically downward at least as far as the vertically bottommost sides of the outer panels of the first outer section and the second outer section when the door subassembly is in the door open position.
[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle assembly in which the cargo bed access opening extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.
[0018] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method for overlapping areas of a tailgate, the method comprising: providing a tailgate, the tailgate comprising a door subassembly pivotally connected to a frame subassembly, the door subassembly and the frame subassembly pivotable together between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position; pivoting the door subassembly from a door closed position to a door open position relative to the frame subassembly to provide a cargo compartment inlet and outlet opening, the door subassembly being disposed between a first outer section and a second outer section of the frame subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door closed position; and overlapping the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door closed position and closes the cargo compartment inlet and outlet opening.
[0019] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes overlapping the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly by positioning an inner edge of the first outer segment inboard of an outer edge of the door subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.
[0020] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes overlapping by horizontally offsetting a vertically extending split line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on a forward-facing side of the tailgate from a vertically extending split line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on a rearward-facing side of the tailgate when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position.
[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to a method wherein the vertically extending split line on the rearward-facing side of the tailgate is provided by a rolled inboard edge of the first outboard segment and a rolled outboard edge of the door subassembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] 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.
[0023] Figure 1is a rear perspective view of a motor vehicle equipped with a cargo space and having a tailgate assembly in a tailgate closed position relative to the cargo space.
[0024] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A motor vehicle wherein the tailgate assembly is in a tailgate open position.
[0025] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A motor vehicle wherein the door subassembly of the tailgate assembly is in a door open position relative to the frame subassembly of the tailgate assembly.
[0026] Figure 4 Shows that Figure 3 A top view of the tailgate assembly in position.
[0027] Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 A cross-sectional view at line 5 - 5 in FIG. 5 shows an example embodiment of a door subassembly overlapped relative to a frame subassembly.
[0028] Figure 6 Another example embodiment according to the present disclosure is shown in Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken at the location of the cross section but through the tailgate assembly.
[0029] Figure 7 According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken at the location of the cross section but through the tailgate assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The present disclosure details a tailgate assembly having a frame subassembly and a door subassembly. The door subassembly can be opened to provide an opening that helps a user access cargo in a cargo compartment, among other things. The door subassembly can overlap relative to the frame subassembly to enhance aesthetics and prevent material from entering an area between the door subassembly and the frame subassembly.
[0031] refer to Figures 1 to 4 According to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle 10 is a pickup truck. The vehicle 10 has a cargo bed 12 provided by a pair of side walls 14, a front wall 16, and a tailgate assembly 20. The cargo bed 12 can hold various types of cargo, including materials such as mulch, rocks, dirt, etc.
[0032] The tailgate assembly 20 includes, among other things, a frame subassembly 22 and a door subassembly 24. The tailgate assembly 20 can be rotatable relative to the cargo box 12 about a first axis A1. Figure 1 Tailgate shown in closed position Figure 2The example tailgate assembly 20 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.
[0033] The door subassembly 24 is in the door closed position and is latched to the frame subassembly 22 when the frame subassembly 22 and the door subassembly 24 pivot between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position. Therefore, when the tailgate assembly 20 pivots between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position, the frame subassembly 22 and the door subassembly 24 pivot together.
[0034] When the tailgate assembly 20 is in the tailgate closed position, the door subassembly 24 can pivot relative to the frame subassembly 22 about the second axis A2. Figure 1 Door closed position shown Figure 3 and Figure 4 The door 10 is pivoted back and forth between the door open positions shown. In this example, the first axis A1 is an axis extending horizontally. The second axis A2 is transverse to the first axis A1 and is an axis extending vertically in this example. For the purposes of this disclosure, horizontal and vertical are referenced to the ground and the general orientation of the vehicle 10 during normal operation.
[0035] The door subassembly 24 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 as far as a floor 26 of the cargo bed 12 .
[0036] like Figure 4 As shown, the user 30 can enter and exit the cargo compartment 12 through the cargo compartment access opening O provided when the door subassembly 24 is in the door open position. Placing the door subassembly 24 in the door open position allows the user 30 to move further than, for example, when the tailgate assembly 20 is moved to Figure 2 The cargo box 12 is closer to the cargo box 12 when the tailgate is in the open position. The cargo box access opening O can also provide a gap for the user 30 to enter the cargo box 12 to load or retrieve cargo.
[0037] The frame subassembly 22 includes, among other things, a first outer section 32, a second outer section 34, and a connecting member 36. The first outer section 32, the second outer section 34, and the connecting member 36 pivot together when the frame subassembly 22 moves between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position. A portion of the connecting member 36 may be vertically tilted downward to hold the connecting member 36 below the floor 26 of the cargo bed 12.
[0038] The first outer section 32 includes an outer panel 42, and the second outer section 34 includes an outer panel 44. Figure 1When the tailgate is in the closed position, the outer panels 42 and 44 are visible to individuals standing behind the vehicle 10. However, the connecting member 36 is hidden from view, for example, behind the bumper 46 or the fender.
[0039] The door subassembly 24 includes an outer panel 48 that is formed when the tailgate assembly 20 is in the Figure 1 When the door subassembly 24 is in the door closed position, the outer panel 48 of the door subassembly 24 separates the outer panel 42 of the first outer section 32 from all portions of the outer panel 44 of the second outer section 34. When the door subassembly 24 is in the door open position, the cargo compartment access opening O extends vertically downward at least as far as the vertically bottommost sides of the outer panel 42 of the first outer section 32 and the outer panel 44 of the second outer section 34.
[0040] Notably, no portion of the outer panel 42 or the outer panel 44 horizontally overlaps the outer panel 48 of the door subassembly 24. That is, the outer panel 42 of the first outer section 32 does not include a segment extending vertically below the outer panel 48 of the door subassembly 24, and the outer panel 44 of the second outer section 34 does not include a segment extending vertically below the outer panel 48 of the door subassembly 24.
[0041] The door subassembly 24 is pivotally coupled to the frame subassembly 22 by a hinge system, which in this example includes two hinges 52. In this example, the door subassembly 24 is pivotally coupled to the second outboard segment 34. In another example, the door subassembly 24 is pivotally coupled to the first outboard segment 32.
[0042] In this example, the hinge 52 is a gooseneck hinge. The hinge 52 allows the door subassembly 24 to pivot relative to the frame subassembly 22 and pivot appropriately away from the cargo compartment access opening O. The hinge 52 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 24 may pivot one hundred degrees.
[0043] When the door subassembly 24 is in the door closed position, the latch system is used to secure the door subassembly 24 to the frame subassembly 22. The example latch system includes at least one upper latch 54 that engages a striker mounted to the first outboard section 32 to retain the door subassembly 24 in the door closed position.
[0044] When the rear fender assembly 20 is in Figure 1 When the tailgate is in the closed position, the tailgate assembly 20 includes a forward facing side 58 and a rearward facing side 60. The door subassembly 24 is coupled to the tailgate assembly 20 between the first outer section 32 and the second outer section 34 so that the door subassembly 24 overlaps relative to the frame subassembly 22.
[0045] In particular, on the rearward facing side 60, the outer panel 48 of the door subassembly 24 is separated from the outer panel 42 of the first outer section 32 and the outer panel 44 of the second outer section 34 by respective split lines 62 extending vertically from the bottom of the tailgate assembly 20 to the top of the tailgate assembly 20. On the forward facing side 58, the door subassembly 24 is separated from the first outer section 32 and the second outer section 34 by respective split lines 64 extending vertically from the bottom of the tailgate assembly 20 to the top of the tailgate assembly 20. The split lines 64 are each offset inwardly from the respective split lines 62 by a distance D. Due to the offset, the example door subassembly 24 overlaps relative to the frame subassembly 22.
[0046] The example tailgate assembly 20 includes a material shield 68 disposed at the interface 118 between the door subassembly and the frame subassembly. The material shield 68 covers the split line 64 to prevent material from moving into the gap between the door subassembly 24 and the first outer section 32 and the gap between the door subassembly 24 and the second outer section 34. The material may be, for example, mulch, stone, building material, leaves, etc. The material shield 68 may be a rubber material, such as ethylene propylene rubber.
[0047] refer to Figure 5 And continue to refer to Figures 1 to 4 , when the door subassembly 24 is in the door closed position, the innermost edge 70 of the first outer section 32 extends inwardly beyond the outermost edge 72 of the door subassembly 24. This offsets the split lines 62 and 64 to hide gaps and mechanisms (such as latches and strikers), particularly when the vehicle 10 is viewed from behind with the tailgate assembly 20 in the tailgate closed position. The offset between the split lines 62 and 64 can also help prevent material from flowing into these areas.
[0048] In this example, the outermost edge 72 of the door subassembly 24 is the hemmed edge of the outer panel 48 of the door subassembly 24. The outermost edge 72 abuts against a hemmed edge 76 extending along the inner side of the outer panel 42 of the first outer section 32 and a hemmed edge 78 along the inner side of the outer panel 44 of the second outer section 34, respectively, to establish the parting line 62.
[0049] The split line 64 on the driver's side of the tailgate assembly 20 is located inboard of the outermost edge 72 of the door subassembly 24 and inboard of the rolled edge 76 of the outer panel 42 of the first outer section 32. The split line 64 on the passenger's side is similarly positioned inboard of the outermost edge 72 of the door subassembly 24 and inboard of the rolled edge 78 along the inner side of the outer panel 44 of the second outer section 34.
[0050] The door subassembly 24 includes a driver-side closure surface 80 and a passenger-side closure surface 82. In this example, when the tailgate assembly 20 is in the tailgate closed position, the outermost edge 72 of the door subassembly 24 is located behind the driver-side closure surface 80 and the passenger-side closure surface 82. The hemmed edge 76 of the outer panel 42 of the first outer section 32 and the hemmed edge 78 of the outer panel 44 of the second outer section 34 are also located behind the driver-side closure surface 80 and the passenger-side closure surface 82.
[0051] refer to Figure 6 In another example tailgate assembly 120, the rolled edge 176 on the inner side of the first outer section 132 horizontally overlaps the outer rolled edge 172 of the door subassembly 124. When the example tailgate assembly 120 is in the tailgate closed position, the rolled edge 176 is located behind the outer rolled edge 172. In another example, the outer rolled edge 172 can be located behind the rolled edge 176.
[0052] refer to Figure 7 In yet another example tailgate assembly 220, the outer panel 242 is rolled forward so that the innermost edge 276 of the outer panel 242 of the first outer section 232 is located in front of the closing surface 280 of the door subassembly 224. The outermost edge 272 of the door subassembly 224 is located behind the closing surface 280 of the door subassembly 224. The innermost edge 276 of the first outer section 232 is located inboard of the closing surface 280 of the door subassembly 224, and the outermost edge 272 of the door subassembly 224 is located outboard of the closing surface 280 of the door subassembly.
[0053] The foregoing 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: a frame subassembly of a tailgate having a cargo bed access opening between a first outboard section and a second outboard section; as well as The door subassembly of the tailgate is pivotally connected to the frame subassembly, and the door subassembly can pivot back and forth between a door open position and a door closed position relative to the frame subassembly. When the door subassembly is in the door closed position, the door subassembly closes the cargo compartment inlet and outlet opening and overlaps relative to the frame subassembly.
2. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame subassembly and the door subassembly pivot together about a horizontally extending axis, wherein the door subassembly pivots relative to the frame subassembly about a vertically extending axis.
3. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first outboard section is located on a driver's side of the cargo bed access opening and the second outboard section is located on a passenger's side of the cargo bed access opening.
4. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the innermost edge of the first outer section is located inboard of the outermost edge of the door subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.
5. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein a vertically extending dividing line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on a forward-facing side of the tailgate is located inboard of both an inner rolled edge of the first outer section and an outer rolled edge of the door subassembly when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position, and optionally wherein the inner rolled edge of the first outer section is an inner rolled edge of an outer panel of the first outer section.
6. The vehicle assembly of claim 5, wherein the inner beaded edge of the first outer section and the outer beaded edge of the door subassembly are both located rearward of a closing surface of the door subassembly when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position. 7 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner beaded edge of the first outer section horizontally overlaps the outer beaded edge of the door subassembly when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position.
8. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position, the innermost edge of the first outer section is located in front of the closing surface of the door subassembly, and the outermost edge of the door subassembly is located behind the closing surface of the door subassembly, and optionally, wherein when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position, the innermost edge of the first outer section is located inboard of the closing surface of the door subassembly, and the outermost edge of the door subassembly is located outboard of the closing surface of the door subassembly.
9. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein a vertically extending dividing line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on the forward-facing side of the tailgate is located inward of a vertically extending dividing line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on the rearward-facing side of the tailgate when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position, and optionally, the vehicle assembly further comprises a material shield that covers the vertically extending dividing line between the door subassembly and the first outer section when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position.
10. A vehicle assembly as described in claim 1, 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, and optionally, wherein when the door subassembly is in the door open position, the cargo compartment access opening extends vertically downward at least as far as the vertically bottommost sides of the outer panels of the first outer section and the outer panels of the second outer section.
11. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the cargo bed access opening extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.
12. A method of overlapping a region of a tailgate, the method comprising: providing a tailgate 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 from a door-closed position to a door-open position to provide a cargo compartment access opening, wherein the door subassembly is disposed between a first outer side section and a second outer side section of the frame subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door-closed position; and The door subassembly is overlapped relative to the frame subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door closed position and closes the cargo bed access opening.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising overlapping the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly by positioning an inner edge of the first outer section inboard of an outer edge of the door subassembly when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising overlapping by horizontally offsetting a vertically extending dividing line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on a forward-facing side of the tailgate from a vertically extending dividing line between the door subassembly and the first outer section on a rearward-facing side of the tailgate when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the vertically extending parting line on the rearward-facing side of the tailgate is provided by a rolled inboard edge of the first outboard segment and a rolled outboard edge of the door subassembly.