Hinge assembly and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a hinge assembly and a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a vehicle body, a rear bumper mounted on the vehicle body, and a lower back door movably connected to the vehicle body. The hinge assembly comprises: a hinge assembly for connecting the lower back door and the vehicle body; a transmission member, one end of which is connected to the hinge assembly; a cover member movably connected to the rear bumper, the other end of the transmission member being connected to the cover member; under the limitation of the hinge assembly, the lower back door can move between a closed position and a maximum opening position; when the lower back door is in the closed position, the cover member is in an initial position and covers the gap between the lower back door and the rear bumper; during the opening of the lower back door, the cover member is flipped by the hinge assembly and the transmission member to avoid the lower back door. By arranging the hinge assembly, the gap between the lower back door and the rear bumper can be covered by the cover member when the lower back door is in the closed state, so that the appearance of the vehicle is ensured to be beautiful.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle technology, and in particular to a hinge assembly and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in traditional vehicles with a tailgate, the tailgate is connected to the vehicle body, allowing it to open downwards relative to the vehicle body. In other words, the tailgate can flip downwards relative to the vehicle body.

[0003] In some vehicles with a power tailgate, when the tailgate is closed, the bottom of the tailgate abuts against the rear bumper. When the tailgate is open, this bottom can easily interfere with the rear bumper. One related technology addresses this interference issue by including a gap between the tailgate and the rear bumper to allow for clearance. However, this gap can negatively impact the overall aesthetics of the vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a hinge assembly and vehicle, which aims to improve the overall aesthetics of the vehicle while addressing the issue of the tailgate easily interfering with the rear bumper.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application proposes a hinge assembly for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a body, a rear bumper mounted on the body, and a tailgate movably connected to the body. The hinge assembly includes: a hinge assembly for connecting the tailgate to the body; a transmission member, one end of which is connected to the hinge assembly; and a blocking member for movably connecting to the rear bumper, the other end of which is connected to the blocking member. Under the constraint of the hinge assembly, the tailgate is movable between a closed position and a fully open position. When the tailgate is in the closed position, the blocking member is in its initial position and covers the gap between the tailgate and the rear bumper. During the opening of the tailgate, the tailgate, through the hinge assembly and the transmission member, causes the blocking member to flip, thereby avoiding the tailgate.

[0006] In this application, by setting up a hinge assembly, firstly, when the tailgate is closed, the gap between the tailgate and the rear bumper can always be covered by the cover, thus ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. Secondly, the tailgate will not interfere with the rear bumper during opening. Thirdly, during the opening process, the hinge assembly and transmission components provide driving force to the cover, allowing the cover to move with the tailgate, avoiding movement impact or interference between the tailgate and the cover, thereby realizing the function of using the cover to cover the gap and avoid the tailgate. In this way, the tailgate does not interfere with the rear bumper, while ensuring the normal opening and closing of the tailgate, thus improving the safety and reliability of the tailgate's flip-up mechanism. Furthermore, it also ensures the vehicle's aesthetic appearance.

[0007] In some embodiments, the hinge assembly includes a body mounting component, a first connecting component, and a tailgate mounting component. The body mounting component is used to be fixedly connected to the body, and the tailgate mounting component is used to be fixedly connected to the lower tailgate. The two ends of the first connecting component are respectively connected to the body mounting component and the tailgate mounting component at a first hinge point and a second hinge point. The transmission component includes a connecting seat and a transmission rod. The connecting seat is fixed to the shielding member. The first end of the transmission rod is rotatably connected to the connecting seat, and the second end is rotatably connected to the first connecting member. During the opening of the lower tailgate, the first connecting member drives the transmission rod to generate a downward motion component, thereby causing the blocking member to flip.

[0008] In some embodiments, the transmission rod is connected to the middle position of the first connecting member, or the transmission rod is connected to the first connecting member at the second hinge point; During the opening of the lower tailgate, the first connector rotates around the first hinge point, causing the second end of the transmission rod to move along an arc-shaped trajectory and generate a downward motion component.

[0009] In some embodiments, the transmission rod is a straight rod or an arc rod.

[0010] In some embodiments, the lower tailgate is movable between the closed position, the intermediate position, and the maximum open position, constrained by the hinge assembly. In the closed position, the tailgate mounting member has a first angle with the horizontal plane; At the intermediate position, the tailgate mounting component has a second included angle with the horizontal plane, and the first included angle is equal to the second included angle; As the lower tailgate moves from the intermediate position to the maximum opening position, the angle between the tailgate mounting component and the horizontal plane gradually increases.

[0011] In some embodiments, the hinge assembly further includes a second connector, the two ends of which are connected to the body mounting member and the tailgate mounting member at a third hinge point and a fourth hinge point, respectively, and the length of the first connector is not equal to the length of the second connector.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first connector is closer to the connector base than the second connector.

[0013] In some embodiments, the hinge assembly further includes a single-axis hinge disposed on the shield, the single-axis hinge being used to connect the shield to the rear bumper.

[0014] In some embodiments, the hinge assembly further includes a resilient reset member mounted on the single-axis hinge, the resilient reset member being used to cause the blocking member to tend to move back to the initial position.

[0015] Secondly, this application proposes a vehicle comprising: a body; a rear bumper mounted on the body; a lower tailgate; and the hinge assembly described in the first aspect. The hinge assembly connects the lower tailgate to the body, and the cover is movably connected to the rear bumper. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a partial structural diagram of a vehicle from a first-view perspective, provided as an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a partial structural diagram of a vehicle from a second perspective, provided as an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 A partial structural diagram of a vehicle with its lower tailgate removed, as shown in a third-person perspective, according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a hinge assembly provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of one structure of a hinge assembly provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 A simplified trajectory diagram of the first connector of the hinge assembly provided in an embodiment of this application driving the transmission rod to move when it moves; Figure 7 A motion trajectory diagram of a simplified structure of a hinge assembly provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0017] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows: 1-Vehicle; 10-Hinge assembly; 100- Rear bumper; 200-Lower back door; 300-Shielding component; 400-Dual-axis hinge; 500-Hinge assembly, 510-Body mount, 520-Tailgate mount, 530-First connector, 540-Second connector, O1-First hinge point, O2-Second hinge point, O3-Third hinge point, O4-Fourth hinge point, O5-Fifth hinge point; 600 - Transmission component, 610 - Connecting seat, 620 - Transmission rod. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0019] In the description of this application, it should be understood that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this patent. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms according to the specific circumstances.

[0020] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as implying or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0021] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0022] Currently, vehicles have become widespread in ordinary households and integrated into people's daily lives, with people using vehicles for travel more and more frequently. The tailgate is a structure on a vehicle used to cover the trunk, also known as a luggage compartment lid. In traditional vehicles with a lower tailgate, the tailgate is connected to the vehicle body, allowing it to open downwards relative to the body; that is, the tailgate can flip downwards relative to the vehicle body.

[0023] In some vehicles with a power tailgate, when the tailgate is closed, the bottom of the tailgate abuts against the rear bumper. When the tailgate is open, this bottom can easily interfere with the rear bumper. One related technology addresses this interference issue by including a gap between the tailgate and the rear bumper to allow for clearance. However, this gap can negatively impact the overall aesthetics of the vehicle.

[0024] Based on this, this application proposes a hinge assembly and vehicle, which aims to improve the overall aesthetic performance of the vehicle while addressing the issue of the lower tailgate easily interfering with the rear bumper.

[0025] The vehicle provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation details.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a partial structural diagram of vehicle 1 from a first-view perspective, provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of vehicle 1 from a second perspective, according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of a vehicle 1 provided in an embodiment of this application with the lower tailgate 200 removed, viewed from a third-person perspective. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a hinge assembly 10 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Please see Figures 1 to 4In a first aspect, this application proposes a hinge assembly 10. The hinge assembly 10 is used in a vehicle 1, which includes a body (not shown), a rear bumper 100 mounted on the body, and a lower tailgate 200 movably connected to the body. The hinge assembly 10 includes a hinge component 500, a transmission member 600, and a cover member 300. The hinge component 500 connects the lower tailgate 200 to the body, the cover member 300 is movably connected to the rear bumper 100, and one end of the transmission member 600 is connected to the hinge component 500, and the other end is connected to the cover member 300. Under the constraint of the hinge assembly 500, the lower tailgate 200 can move between the closed position and the maximum open position. When the lower tailgate 200 is in the closed position, the obstruction 300 is in the initial position and covers the gap between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100. During the opening of the lower tailgate 200, the lower tailgate 200 drives the obstruction 300 to flip through the hinge assembly 500 and the transmission component 600 to avoid the lower tailgate 200.

[0028] In this application, the vehicle body is the main structure of vehicle 1, and the interior of the vehicle body has a passenger compartment, while the rear of the vehicle body has a tailgate opening. The vehicle body is typically assembled from multiple sheet metal parts prepared using sheet metal processing techniques. The vehicle body can also serve as a mounting base for other accessories of vehicle 1, such as the chassis, doors, tailgate, and headlights.

[0029] The rear bumper 100 is connected to the vehicle body. Specifically, the rear bumper 100 is connected to the rear of the vehicle body. The rear bumper 100 can absorb and buffer the impact forces of the vehicle in the front-to-rear direction, thereby protecting the safety of the vehicle body and occupants and reducing damage to the vehicle 1 and its occupants. In addition, the rear bumper 100 usually has a certain shape, serving a decorative purpose to improve the overall aesthetics of the vehicle 1. The rear bumper 100 is usually made of PP plastic material, which can reduce the weight of the vehicle 1 on the one hand, and improve the buffering effect on the other.

[0030] The lower tailgate 200 is movably connected to the vehicle body. Thus, the lower tailgate 200 can flip downwards relative to the vehicle body. It should be noted that in this application, vehicle 1 may have only one lower tailgate 200, with a downward-opening tailgate structure. When the lower tailgate 200 is closed, it can completely seal the tailgate opening of the vehicle body. Alternatively, in some embodiments, vehicle 1 may have both a lower tailgate 200 and an upper tailgate, with the upper tailgate flipping upwards relative to the vehicle body and the upper tailgate flipping downwards relative to the vehicle body, with a split-opening tailgate structure. When the lower tailgate 200 is closed, it can seal a portion of the tailgate opening of the vehicle body; when both the lower tailgate 200 and the upper tailgate are closed, the tailgate opening can be completely sealed. This application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0031] The hinge assembly 10 of this application includes a hinge assembly 500, a transmission member 600, and a blocking member 300. The hinge assembly 500 is used to connect the vehicle body and the lower tailgate 200, thereby enabling the lower tailgate 200 to flip relative to the vehicle body between a closed position and a maximum open position.

[0032] The obstruction member 300 refers to a component that can cover the gap between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100. In other words, in this application, to solve the interference problem between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100 when the lower tailgate 200 is open, a gap is provided between the bottom of the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100. This gap can allow for rotation space at the bottom of the lower tailgate 200. Furthermore, when the lower tailgate 200 is in the closed position, the obstruction member 300 is in its initial position and covers the gap between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100. In this way, the gap is not visible, and the appearance performance of the vehicle 1 is also maintained.

[0033] The obstruction member 300 is movably connected to the rear bumper 100. For example, the obstruction member 300 can be connected to the rear bumper 100 via a single-axis hinge, a double-axis hinge, a multi-link hinge assembly, etc. It is easily understood that the obstruction member 300 can flip relative to the rear bumper 100 under the drive of an external force. Furthermore, the hinge assembly 10 also includes a transmission member 600, one end of which is connected to the hinge assembly 500, and the other end is connected to the obstruction member 300. Thus, the hinge assembly 500 and the transmission member 600 can provide a driving force to the obstruction member 300 to flip. During the movement of the lower tailgate 200, the hinge assembly 500 moves, thereby driving the obstruction member 300 to move via the transmission member 600.

[0034] The following details the flipping process of the cover 300. When the lower tailgate 200 is in the closed position, the cover 300 is in its initial position and covers the gap between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100. Since the lower tailgate 200 is connected to the vehicle body via the hinge assembly 500, the hinge assembly 500 itself will also move when the lower tailgate 200 is opened. Furthermore, one end of the transmission member 600 is connected to the hinge assembly 500, and the other end is connected to the cover 300. In this way, the movement of the hinge assembly 500 will drive the movement of the transmission member 600, which in turn will cause the cover 300 to flip. At this time, the cover 300 flips along with the opening of the lower tailgate 200, so that the cover 300 will not obstruct the opening process of the tailgate 200, thus allowing the lower tailgate 200 to open normally. As the tailgate 200 closes, based on the same principle, the hinge assembly 500 moves, which in turn provides a driving force to the blocking member 300 for reverse flipping via the transmission component 600. This causes the blocking member 300 to rotate, gradually returning to its initial position. Finally, after the tailgate 200 is closed, the blocking member 300 also returns to its initial position, once again blocking the gap between the tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100.

[0035] Therefore, by setting the hinge assembly 10, firstly, when the lower tailgate 200 is in the closed state, the gap between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100 can always be covered by the cover 300, thus ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1. Secondly, the lower tailgate 200 will not interfere with the rear bumper 100 during opening. Thirdly, during the opening process, the lower tailgate 200 provides driving force to the cover 300 through the hinge assembly 500 and the transmission component 600, so that the cover 300 can move with the movement of the lower tailgate 200, avoiding movement impact or movement interference between the lower tailgate 200 and the cover 300, thereby realizing the function of using the cover 300 to cover the gap and avoid the lower tailgate 200. In this way, the lower tailgate 200 does not interfere with the rear bumper 100, and at the same time, it can ensure the normal opening and closing of the lower tailgate 200, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the lower tailgate flipping. In addition, it can also ensure the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1.

[0036] It should be noted that in this application, when the lower tailgate 200 is in the closed position, the obstruction 300 is in its initial position and covers the gap between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100. That is, the obstruction 300 has an initial position ( Figures 1 to 4(The location of the middle blocking member 300). When the lower tailgate 200 is in the closed state, one end of the blocking member 300, which is in the initial position, is movably connected to the rear bumper 100, and the other end abuts against the bottom of the lower tailgate 200. In this design, the blocking member 300 can move with the lower tailgate 200. When the lower tailgate 200 returns to the closed position, the blocking member 300 will also return to the initial position.

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of one possible structure of a hinge assembly 500 provided in an embodiment of this application. For example... Figures 2 to 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the hinge assembly 500 includes a body mounting member 510, a tailgate mounting member 520, and a first connecting member 530. The body mounting member 510 is used for fixed connection to the body, the tailgate mounting member 520 is used for fixed connection to the lower tailgate 200, and the two ends of the first connecting member 530 are connected to the body mounting member 510 and the tailgate mounting member 520 at a first hinge point O1 and a second hinge point O2, respectively. The transmission member 600 includes a connecting seat 610 and a transmission rod 620. The connecting seat 610 is fixed to the cover member 300, and the first end of the transmission rod 620 is rotatably connected to the connecting seat 610, and the second end is rotatably connected to the first connecting member 530. During the opening of the lower tailgate 200, the first connecting member 530 drives the transmission rod 620 to generate a downward motion component, thereby causing the cover member 300 to flip.

[0038] In this embodiment, the body mounting member 510 is used to connect to the body and its position remains fixed. The two ends of the first connecting member 530 are connected to the body mounting member 510 and the tailgate mounting member 520 at a first hinge point O1 and a second hinge point O2, respectively. The first connecting member 530 can rotate relative to the body mounting member 510 around the first hinge point O1, and the tailgate mounting member 520 can rotate relative to the first connecting member 530 around the second hinge point O2. The tailgate mounting member 520 is used to connect to the lower tailgate 200. Therefore, during the opening or closing of the lower tailgate 200, the first connecting member 530 and the tailgate mounting member 520 of the hinge assembly 500 will undergo changes in angle and / or position due to movement.

[0039] Specifically, the second end of the transmission rod 620 is rotatably connected to the first connecting member 530, and the first end is rotatably connected to the connecting seat 610 fixed on the cover member 300. When the tailgate 200 is opened, the first connecting member 530 rotates, thereby driving the transmission rod 620 to move, causing the transmission rod 620 to generate a downward motion component (please refer to...). Figure 6This motion component can provide a driving force to the cover 300, allowing the cover 300 to flip as the lower tailgate 200 opens, thus avoiding impact or interference between them. Based on the same principle, when the lower tailgate 200 closes, the first connecting member 530 also rotates, driving the transmission rod 620 to move, generating an upward motion component. This motion component can provide a driving force to the cover 300, allowing it to flip in the opposite direction as the lower tailgate 200 closes, returning the cover 300 to its initial position.

[0040] Under the action of the hinge assembly 500 and transmission component 600 in the aforementioned structure, the blocking member 300 can flip as the lower tailgate 200 opens to avoid it. Simultaneously, it can flip in the opposite direction as the lower tailgate 200 closes to return to its initial position. In this way, the blocking member 300 can effectively block gaps and avoid the lower tailgate 200. This ensures that the lower tailgate 200 does not interfere with the rear bumper 100, while also guaranteeing its normal opening and closing, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the lower tailgate flipping. Furthermore, it also maintains the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1.

[0041] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the connecting seat 610 serves not only to connect with the transmission rod 620, but also as a lever arm for force transmission. Thus, the downward motion component generated by the transmission rod 620, in conjunction with this lever arm, forms a torque that acts on the blocking member 300, causing the blocking member 300 to generate a driving force for rotation.

[0042] Furthermore, one end of the transmission rod 620 is rotatably connected to the first connecting member 530, and the other end is rotatably connected to the blocking member 300. That is, both ends of the transmission rod 620 are movable ends. This increases the degree of freedom of the transmission rod 620, allowing it to better provide a path for transmitting driving force to the blocking member 300, thereby improving the convenience and reliability of the blocking member 300's rotation.

[0043] In one specific embodiment, the transmission rod 620 is connected to the middle position of the first connector 530 (not shown in the figure), or, as... Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, the transmission rod 620 is connected to the first connecting member 530 at the second hinge point O2. During the opening of the lower tailgate 200, the first connecting member 530 rotates around the first hinge point O1, causing the second end of the transmission rod 620 to move along an arc-shaped trajectory and generate a downward motion component.

[0044] In this embodiment, the transmission rod 620 is connected to the middle position of the first connecting member 530. This is because the middle position of the first connecting member 530 is relatively far from the first hinge point O1, allowing for a larger positional change during movement. This, in turn, causes a larger displacement of the transmission rod 620, ensuring that the blocking member 300 is driven by the transmission rod 620 throughout its entire rotation stroke. This improves the reliability and stability of the blocking member 300's rotation.

[0045] Alternatively, the transmission rod 620 can be connected to the first connecting member 530 at the second hinge point O2. This ensures, on the one hand, that the transmission rod 620 generates a large displacement, so that the blocking member 300 is driven by the transmission rod 620 throughout its entire rotational stroke. On the other hand, the existing hinge point allows for the connection between the transmission rod 620 and the first connecting member 530, thus improving the ease of connection between the two.

[0046] Figure 6 This is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating the trajectory of the transmission rod 620 driven by the movement of the first connector 530 of the hinge assembly 500 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 In this paper, taking the connection between the transmission rod 620 and the first connecting member 530 at the second hinge point O2 as an example, the process of the transmission rod 620 generating a downward motion component is explained.

[0047] like Figure 6 As shown, the two ends of the first connecting member 530 are connected to the body mounting member 510 and the tailgate mounting member 520 at the first hinge point O1 and the second hinge point O2, respectively, and the tailgate mounting member 520 also has a fourth hinge point O4. The solid line represents the state of the hinge assembly 500 when the lower tailgate 200 is in the initial closed position, and the dashed line represents the state of the hinge assembly 500 when the lower tailgate 200 is in a position between the closed position and the maximum open position. The transmission rod 620 and the connecting seat 610 are hinged at the fifth junction point O5. (See attached diagram) Figure 6It can be seen that when the tailgate mounting component 520 moves from O2"O4 to O2"O4'', it indicates that the tailgate 200 is in the opening process. At this time, the first connecting component 530 moves, which in turn drives the second end of the transmission rod 620 to move along an arc-shaped trajectory around the second hinge point O2. As a result, the transmission rod 620 generates a downward motion component towards the fifth hinge point O5. This motion component is then converted into torque through the lever arm of the connecting seat 610, driving the blocking component 300 to flip. Based on the same principle, when the tailgate 200 is in the closing process (the tailgate mounting component 520 moves from O2"O4'' to O2O4), the first connecting component 530 moves, which in turn drives the second end of the transmission rod 620 to move along an arc-shaped trajectory around the second hinge point O2. As a result, the transmission rod 620 generates an upward motion component towards the fifth hinge point O5. This motion component is then converted into torque through the lever arm of the connecting seat 610, driving the blocking component 300 to flip in the opposite direction. This achieves the function of using the blocking component 300 to cover the gap and avoid the lower tailgate 200. This ensures that the lower tailgate 200 does not interfere with the rear bumper 100, while also guaranteeing the normal opening and closing of the lower tailgate 200, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the lower tailgate 200 during tilting. Furthermore, it also maintains the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1.

[0048] In some embodiments, the transmission rod 620 is a straight rod or an arc-shaped rod. A straight rod has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and helps reduce production costs. An arc-shaped rod facilitates better design of the force transmission path. Furthermore, when other vehicle components are present near the transmission rod 620, using an arc-shaped rod helps to avoid these components. Of course, the transmission rod 620 can also have other shapes, such as an arched rod, etc., and can be flexibly designed according to actual needs; this application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0049] Figure 7 This is a motion trajectory diagram of a simplified structure of a hinge assembly 500 provided in an embodiment of this application. Solid lines represent the state of the hinge assembly 500 when the lower tailgate 200 is in the initial closed position; dashed lines represent the state of the hinge assembly 500 when the lower tailgate 200 is in the intermediate position; and single-dot dashed lines represent the state of the hinge assembly 500 at a certain position between the intermediate position and the maximum open position of the lower tailgate 200.

[0050] like Figure 7As shown, in some embodiments, the tailgate 200 is movable between a closed position, a transition position, and a fully open position, constrained by the hinge assembly 500. In the closed position, the tailgate mounting member 520 has a first angle with the horizontal plane; in the transition position, the tailgate mounting member 520 has a second angle with the horizontal plane, the first angle being equal to the second angle. As the tailgate 200 moves from the transition position to the fully open position, the angle between the tailgate mounting member 520 and the horizontal plane gradually increases.

[0051] This embodiment proposes one mode of movement for the lower tailgate 200 under the constraint of the hinge assembly 500. The lower tailgate 200 can move between a closed position, a transition position, and a fully open position. When the lower tailgate 200 moves from the closed position to the transition position, the first included angle is equal to the second included angle. That is, when the lower tailgate 200 moves from the closed position to the transition position, the tailgate mounting member 520 will perform an approximately translational movement, and the movement trajectory of the lower tailgate 200 is the same as the movement trajectory of the tailgate mounting member 520. Therefore, the lower tailgate 200 will perform an approximately translational movement. Furthermore, the posture of the lower tailgate 200 when it is in the transition position is the same as the posture of the lower tailgate 200 when it is in the closed position.

[0052] Based on the above-described movement process, in this embodiment, the lower tailgate 200, constrained by the hinge assembly 500, will first move from the closed position to the intermediate position. Furthermore, the lower tailgate 200 exhibits the same posture in the intermediate and closed positions, meaning it moves both downwards and backwards simultaneously. Thus, in the initial stage of opening, the top of the lower tailgate 200 quickly moves away from the surface on the vehicle body that abuts against it. This mitigates the problem of the top of the lower tailgate 200 easily rubbing or interfering with the vehicle body, thereby reducing the risk of wear and tear over long-term use.

[0053] like Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the hinge assembly 500 further includes a second connector 540, the two ends of which are connected to the body mounting member 510 and the tailgate mounting member 520 at a third hinge point O3 and a fourth hinge point O4, respectively. The length of the second connector 540 is not equal to the length of the first connector 530.

[0054] In this embodiment, the hinge assembly 500 further includes a second connector 540. The body mounting member 510, the first connector 530, the tailgate mounting member 520, and the second connector 540 in the hinge assembly 500 are connected sequentially, forming four hinge points. Therefore, the hinge assembly 500 constitutes a four-bar linkage. In this structure, the first connector 530 and the second connector 540 jointly restrict the movement of the tailgate mounting member 520, thereby allowing the lower tailgate 200 to move between the closed position, the intermediate position, and the maximum open position. During the movement of the hinge assembly 500, the body mounting member 510, connected to the body, remains fixed and acts as the "frame" in the four-bar linkage. The first connector 530 and the second connector 540 are connected to the body mounting member 510, acting as "rockers" in the four-bar linkage and rotatable around the body mounting member 510. The tailgate mounting component 520 is connected to the lower tailgate 200, and is also hinged to the other end of the first connecting component 530 and the other end of the second connecting component 540. The tailgate mounting component 520 acts as a "link" in the four-bar linkage. It is easy to understand that the movement trajectory of the lower tailgate 200 is the same as that of the tailgate mounting component 520.

[0055] The lengths of the first connector 530 and the second connector 540 are not equal (for example, the length of the second connector 540 is greater than the length of the first connector 530). Thus, when the tailgate 200 is opened or closed by an external force, the first connector 530 and the second connector 540 rotate relative to the vehicle body mounting member 510, thereby driving the tailgate mounting member 520 to move, which in turn drives the lower tailgate 200 to move. When the lower tailgate 200 moves from the closed position to this intermediate position, the lower tailgate 200 performs an approximately translational movement. When the lower tailgate 200 moves from the intermediate position to the maximum opening position, the lower tailgate 200 performs a flipping movement until the lower tailgate 200 is fully open.

[0056] The specific movement trajectory is as follows: Figure 7 As shown. Please refer to... Figure 7 Under the action of this four-bar linkage, the lower tailgate 200 will have a transition position. The quadrilateral formed by O1, O2', O4', and O3 represents the shape of the hinge assembly 500 when the lower tailgate 200 is in the transition position. Figure 7It can be seen that the tailgate mounting component 520 has the same posture when the lower tailgate 200 is in the closed position and when it is in the intermediate position. That is, O2O4 and O2' O4' are in a parallel state. The posture of the tailgate mounting component 520 can also represent the posture of the lower tailgate 200. Therefore, the posture of the lower tailgate 200 is the same in the above two positions. When the lower tailgate 200 moves from the intermediate position to the fully open position, the tailgate mounting component 520 will gradually flip from this parallel posture (O2O4 and O2' O4' are parallel). That is, the lower tailgate 200 will gradually rotate from the intermediate position until the lower tailgate 200 is fully opened.

[0057] In this way, under the constraint of the hinge assembly 500 of the four-bar linkage, the lower tailgate 200 will first move from the closed position to the intermediate position, and the lower tailgate 200 will make a near translational movement between the intermediate position and the closed position. This can improve the problem that the top of the lower tailgate 200 is prone to friction or interference with the body, and thus improve the problem that it is prone to wear and tear under long-term use.

[0058] It should be noted that in some other embodiments, the hinge assembly 500 can also be a five-bar linkage. By reasonably setting the parameters of the five-bar linkage, the movement of the tailgate 200 between the closed position, the intermediate position, and the maximum open position can also be realized, thereby improving the problem that the top of the tailgate 200 is prone to friction or interference with the vehicle body, and thus improving the problem of wear and tear caused by long-term use.

[0059] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the first connecting member 530 is closer to the connecting seat 610 than the second connecting member 540. In this embodiment, along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1, the first connecting member 530 is located between the second connecting member 540 and the connecting seat 610. This improves the convenience of connecting the transmission rod 620 to the first connecting member 530. Furthermore, after the transmission rod 620 is connected to the first connecting member 530, it will not hinder the movement of the second connecting member 540, thereby avoiding motion interference between them.

[0060] In some embodiments, the hinge assembly 10 further includes a single-axis hinge (not shown) disposed on the cover 300, the single-axis hinge being used to connect the cover 300 and the rear bumper 100.

[0061] In this embodiment, the tilting motion of the shield 300 relative to the rear bumper 100 can be achieved by setting a single-axis hinge. The single-axis hinge structure is simple and helps to reduce costs. Optionally, in other embodiments, the shield 300 and the rear bumper 100 can also be connected by a dual-axis hinge, a multi-link hinge assembly, or other structures. This application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0062] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, the hinge assembly 10 also includes a dual-axis hinge 400 disposed on the cover 300. The cover 300 is connected to the rear bumper 100 via the dual-axis hinge 400, thereby enabling the cover 300 to rotate relative to the rear bumper 100.

[0063] In some embodiments, the hinge assembly 10 further includes a resilient reset member (not shown) mounted on a single-axis hinge, the resilient reset member being used to cause the blocking member 300 to have a tendency to move back to its initial position.

[0064] In this embodiment, the cover 300 is connected to the rear bumper 100 via a single-axis hinge, and the tailgate 200 is connected to the vehicle body via a hinge assembly 500. Thus, the cover 300 can rotate relative to the rear bumper 100 via the single-axis hinge, and the tailgate 200 can rotate relative to the vehicle body via the hinge assembly 500. Simultaneously, the hinge assembly 500 and the transmission member 600 can also drive the cover 300 to rotate. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 is also equipped with an elastic reset member, which is mounted on the single-axis hinge. Thus, when the tailgate 200 is closed, the cover 300 is in its initial position. During the opening of the tailgate 200, the tailgate 200 drives the cover 300 to rotate via the hinge assembly 500 and the transmission member 600. During the closing process of the lower tailgate 200, the lower tailgate 200 drives the blocking member 300 to rotate in the opposite direction through the hinge assembly 500 and the transmission member 600. At the same time, the elastic reset member also provides a force to the blocking member 300 to rotate in the opposite direction. Finally, after the lower tailgate 200 is closed, the blocking member 300 returns to its initial position and blocks the gap between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100 again.

[0065] In summary, in this embodiment, by providing an elastic reset member on the single-axis hinge, the blocking member 300 can move along with the lower tailgate 200 under the action of the hinge assembly 500 and the transmission member 600. Furthermore, the hinge assembly 500, the transmission member 600, and the elastic reset member can work together on the blocking member 300, driving it back to its initial position when the lower tailgate 200 is closed, thereby further improving the reliability of the blocking member 300's rotation. Additionally, the elastic reset member helps eliminate the movement gap caused by assembly errors in the blocking member 300, thus helping to avoid noise generated when the blocking member 300 rotates.

[0066] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the elastic reset member is mounted on a single-axis hinge, and the elastic reset member generates an elastic force due to the angular change between the two components rotating relative to each other in the single-axis hinge. In other embodiments, the elastic reset member can also be mounted between the shield 300 and the rear bumper 100. When the elastic reset member is mounted between the shield 300 and the rear bumper 100, the elastic reset member generates an elastic force due to the angular change between the shield 300 and the rear bumper 100.

[0067] Secondly, this application provides a vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 includes a body, a rear bumper 100, a tailgate 200, and the hinge assembly 10 described in the first aspect. The rear bumper 100 is mounted on the body, specifically at the rear of the body. The hinge assembly 500 connects the tailgate 200 to the body, and the cover 300 is movably connected to the rear bumper 100.

[0068] The vehicle 1 of this application uses the hinge assembly 10 described in the first aspect. First, when the lower tailgate 200 is closed, the gap between the lower tailgate 200 and the rear bumper 100 is always covered by the cover 300, thus ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1. Second, the lower tailgate 200 does not interfere with the rear bumper 100 during opening. Third, during opening, the lower tailgate 200 provides driving force to the cover 300 through the hinge assembly 500 and the transmission component 600, allowing the cover 300 to move with the lower tailgate 200, avoiding movement impact or interference between the lower tailgate 200 and the cover 300, thereby achieving the function of covering the gap and avoiding interference with the lower tailgate 200. In this way, the lower tailgate 200 does not interfere with the rear bumper 100, while ensuring the normal opening and closing of the lower tailgate 200, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the lower tailgate's flip-up mechanism. In addition, it can also ensure the aesthetic appearance of vehicle 1.

[0069] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle including a body, a rear bumper mounted on said body, and a tailgate movably connected to said body, characterized in that, The hinge assembly includes: A hinge assembly for connecting the lower tailgate to the vehicle body, the hinge assembly including a vehicle body mounting component, a tailgate mounting component, and a first connecting component, the vehicle body mounting component for fixed connection to the vehicle body, the tailgate mounting component for fixed connection to the lower tailgate, and the two ends of the first connecting component being connected to the vehicle body mounting component and the tailgate mounting component at a first hinge point and a second hinge point, respectively. The transmission component includes a transmission rod, the second end of which is rotatably connected to the first connecting member; A shielding component is used to be movably connected to the rear bumper, and the first end of the transmission rod is rotatably connected to the shielding component. Under the constraint of the hinge assembly, the lower tailgate can move between a closed position and a maximum open position; when the lower tailgate is in the closed position, the obstruction is in its initial position and covers the gap between the lower tailgate and the rear bumper; during the opening of the lower tailgate, the first connector drives the transmission rod to generate a downward movement component, causing the obstruction to flip over to avoid the lower tailgate.

2. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission component further includes a connecting seat, which is fixed to the shielding member, and the first end of the transmission rod is rotatably connected to the connecting seat.

3. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission rod is connected to the middle position of the first connecting member, or the transmission rod is connected to the first connecting member at the second hinge point; During the opening of the lower tailgate, the first connector rotates around the first hinge point, causing the second end of the transmission rod to move along an arc-shaped trajectory and generate a downward motion component.

4. The hinge assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The transmission rod can be a straight rod or an arc rod.

5. The hinge assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, Under the constraint of the hinge assembly, the lower tailgate can move between the closed position, the intermediate position, and the maximum open position; In the closed position, the tailgate mounting member has a first angle with the horizontal plane; At the intermediate position, the tailgate mounting component has a second included angle with the horizontal plane, and the first included angle is equal to the second included angle; As the lower tailgate moves from the intermediate position to the maximum opening position, the angle between the tailgate mounting component and the horizontal plane gradually increases.

6. The hinge assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The hinge assembly further includes a second connector, the two ends of which are connected to the body mounting component and the tailgate mounting component at a third hinge point and a fourth hinge point, respectively. The length of the first connector is not equal to the length of the second connector.

7. The hinge assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first connector is closer to the connector base than the second connector.

8. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge assembly further includes a single-axis hinge disposed on the shield, the single-axis hinge being used to connect the shield to the rear bumper.

9. The hinge assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The hinge assembly also includes an elastic reset member mounted on the single-axis hinge, the elastic reset member being used to cause the blocking member to tend to move back to the initial position.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, include: Body; The rear bumper is mounted on the vehicle body; Lower back door; as well as The hinge assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; The hinge assembly connects the lower tailgate to the vehicle body, and the cover is movably connected to the rear bumper.

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