Tail door assembly, vehicle comprising same and method for connecting tail lamp wire harness

Abstract

The invention relates to a tail door assembly, a vehicle comprising the tail door assembly and an installation method of the tail door assembly. The tail door assembly comprises a tail door inner plate which is provided with a first through hole; the tail door outer plate is fixed to the outer side of the tail door inner plate and provided with a second through hole aligned with the first through hole; the tail lamp comprises a shell, a reflecting part and a tail lamp wire harness, the shell is fixed to the outer side of the tail door outer plate and provided with an opening aligned with the second through hole, the reflecting part comprises a body and a protruding part extending out of the body and penetrating through the opening and the second through hole, the tail lamp wire harness is arranged in the shell, and a wire harness connector is arranged at the end of the tail lamp wire harness; a harness connector is secured to the projection through the opening and the second through hole to align with the first through hole. According to the tail door assembly, the connector of the vehicle main wire harness can be directly connected to the tail lamp wire harness connector in the approximately linear direction after penetrating through the through hole of the tail door inner plate, the assembling structure is simplified, and the connecting efficiency of the tail lamp wire harness and the vehicle main wire harness is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of vehicle body construction, and more particularly, to a tailgate assembly, a vehicle comprising such a tailgate assembly, and a method for connecting a tail lamp wiring harness in such a tailgate assembly. BACKGROUND

[0002] A tailgate assembly of a vehicle comprises a tailgate inner panel, a tailgate outer panel fixed to an outer side of the tailgate inner panel, and a tail lamp fixed to an outer side of the tailgate outer panel, and a main wiring harness of the vehicle needs to pass through the tailgate inner panel and the tailgate outer panel to connect with the tail lamp wiring harness. When the tail lamp wiring harness needs to be connected during the vehicle assembly process, the connector at the end of the tail lamp wiring harness needs to be removed from the socket arranged on the tail lamp housing, and the tail lamp wiring harness needs to be pulled out until the tail lamp wiring harness connector is fixed to the through hole position on the tailgate inner panel, for example, by a clamping method, and then the connector of the main wiring harness of the vehicle is connected with the tail lamp wiring harness connector.

[0003] The existing tail lamp wiring harness connection method needs to design a longer tail lamp wiring harness to facilitate pulling out the tail lamp wiring harness for connection, which not only increases the material cost, but also may cause unnecessary wear or entanglement problems during the opening and closing of the tailgate due to the excessive length of the tail lamp wiring harness. In addition, the process of pulling out the tail lamp wiring harness connector, pulling out the wiring harness and bending, fixing the wiring harness connector to the through hole of the tailgate, and finally connecting with the main wiring harness of the vehicle is relatively complex, not only time-consuming but also increasing the maintenance difficulty and time cost. SUMMARY

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide a tailgate assembly capable of shortening the length of the tail lamp wiring harness and simplifying the connection steps of the tail lamp wiring harness, thereby saving costs.

[0005] To this end, the first aspect of the present application provides a tailgate assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a tailgate inner panel provided with a first through hole; a tailgate outer panel fixed to an outer side of the tailgate inner panel and provided with a second through hole aligned with the first through hole; and a tail lamp comprising a housing, a reflector and a tail lamp wiring harness, wherein the housing is fixed to an outer side of the tailgate outer panel and provided with an opening aligned with the second through hole, the reflector comprises a body fixed to an inner part of the housing and a protruding portion extending from the body and passing through the opening and the second through hole, and the tail lamp wiring harness is arranged in the inner part of the housing, and an end of the tail lamp wiring harness is provided with a wiring harness connector fixed to the protruding portion through the opening and the second through hole to align with the first through hole.

[0006] According to an optional embodiment of the present application, the wiring harness connector is fixed to the protruding portion by clamping, screwing, riveting, gluing or welding.

[0007] According to an optional embodiment of the present application, the wiring harness connector comprises a plug-in portion adapted to be plugged with a connector of a main wiring harness of the vehicle, and a plurality of clamping portions extending from the plug-in portion to the protruding portion and clamped with the protruding portion.

[0008] According to an optional embodiment of the present application, the plurality of clamping portions comprises at least one elastic clamping arm, and the protruding portion comprises a clamping slot clamped with the clamping arm, so that the wiring harness connector and the protruding portion are limited in two different directions.

[0009] According to an optional embodiment of the present application, the clamping portion further comprises at least one protruding block, and the protruding portion further comprises a limiting hole clamped with the protruding block, so that the wiring harness connector and the protruding portion are limited in another direction different from the two directions.

[0010] The second aspect of the present application provides a vehicle comprising the tailgate assembly according to the first aspect of the present application.

[0011] The third aspect of the present application provides a method for connecting a tail lamp wiring harness in the tailgate assembly according to the first aspect of the present application, comprising: making a connector of a main wiring harness of the vehicle pass through the first through hole and plug in a straight line to the wiring harness connector of the tail lamp wiring harness.

[0012] Therefore, the tailgate assembly according to the present application protrudes a part of the reflector inside the tail lamp housing from the opening at the rear of the housing for fixing the tail lamp wiring harness connector, so that the tail lamp wiring harness connector is aligned with the through hole on the tailgate inner panel, thereby enabling the connector of the main wiring harness of the vehicle to be directly connected to the tail lamp wiring harness connector in a substantially straight line after passing through the through hole of the tailgate inner panel, which simplifies the assembly structure and improves the connection efficiency of the tail lamp wiring harness and the main wiring harness of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Other features and advantages of the present application will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components.

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle, in which the position of the tailgate assembly according to the present application is shown;

[0015] Figure 2 is a rear view of an embodiment of the tailgate assembly according to the present application;

[0016] Figure 3 is a front view of the tailgate assembly, in which the enlarged portion shows the through hole of the tailgate inner panel through which the tail lamp wiring harness connector can be seen;

[0017] Figure 4 is an XZ sectional view of the tailgate assembly at the tail lamp wiring harness connector position;

[0018] Figure 5 is an assembly view of the tail lamp wiring harness connector and the vehicle main wiring harness connector;

[0019] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tail lamp wiring harness connector and the vehicle main wiring harness connector after assembly;

[0020] Figure 7 is a YZ sectional view of the tail lamp wiring harness connector and the protruding portion of the tail lamp reflector;

[0021] Figure 8 is an XZ sectional view of the tail lamp wiring harness connector and the protruding portion of the tail lamp reflector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The implementation and use of specific embodiments will now be discussed in detail with reference to the figures. It should be appreciated that the specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to implement and use the application and do not limit the scope of the application.

[0023] In this specification, when describing the positional relationship of the structures of various components, directional expressions such as "upper", "lower", and the like are not absolute, but are relative. These directional expressions are appropriate when the various components are arranged as shown in the figures, but should be changed accordingly when the positions of the various components in the figures are changed.

[0024] In this specification, "front" and "rear" are defined with reference to the front-rear direction of the X direction of the vehicle V. In addition, the X direction represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V (i.e., the direction of travel of the vehicle V), the Y direction represents the lateral direction of the vehicle V (i.e., the direction that is at a 90-degree angle with respect to the direction of travel), and the Z direction represents the vertical direction of the vehicle V.

[0025] A preferred embodiment according to the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 to 3 , the tailgate assembly 100 according to the present application includes a tailgate inner panel 200, a tailgate outer panel 300 mounted to the outer side of the tailgate inner panel 200, and a tail lamp 400 mounted to the tailgate outer panel 300. More specifically, the tailgate outer panel 300 is provided with a tail lamp groove 310 extending in the Y direction, the tail lamp 400 elongated in the Y direction is mounted to the tail lamp groove 310, and is connected to the main wiring harness 110 (refer to Figure 5 ) of the vehicle at positions adjacent to both Y direction ends thereof to obtain power supply.

[0027] In order to enable the wiring harness 414 of the tail lamp 400 to be connected to the main wiring harness 110 of the vehicle, as Figure 3 andFigure 4 As shown, the tailgate inner panel 200 is provided with a first through hole 210 through which a connector 120 (hereinafter referred to as a first connector 120) of a main wire harness 110 of the vehicle can pass, and the tailgate outer panel 300 is provided with a second through hole 320 aligned with the first through hole 210.

[0028] The tail lamp 400 includes a housing 411 and a lamp shade 412 which jointly define a chamber 410, the housing 411 being fixed to the outer side of the tailgate outer panel 300 and provided with a first opening 413 aligned with the second through hole 320, and a bezel 420 provided inside the chamber 410, a reflector 430 clamped to the bezel 420, a carrier 440 and a light guide 450. The bezel 420 can not only enhance the overall appearance of the tail lamp, but also assemble the components inside the tail lamp together. The carrier 440 is located above the reflector 430 and clamps the front part of the light guide 450 together with the reflector 430, and the rear wall of the bezel 420 is provided with a second opening 421 through which the rear part of the light guide 450 passes.

[0029] As shown, Figures 4 to 6 The reflector 430 includes a substantially plate-shaped body 431 and a protruding portion 432 extending forward from the body 431 and passing through the first opening 413 and the second through hole 320. The body 431 is used to reflect the light emitted by the light source (such as LED) and direct it in a specific direction. The tail lamp wire harness 414 is provided in the chamber 410, and the tail lamp wire harness connector 460 (hereinafter referred to as a second connector 460) is provided at the end of the tail lamp wire harness 414, the second connector 460 being fixed to the protruding portion 432 through the first opening 413 and the second through hole 320 to be aligned with the first through hole 210.

[0030] The fixing manner between the second connector 460 and the protruding portion 432 is not limited, and the second connector 460 can be fixed to the lower side of the protruding portion 432 by, for example, clamping, screwing, riveting, gluing or welding.

[0031] In the embodiment shown, as shown, Figures 5 to 7 The second connector 460 includes a plug-in portion 461 for plug-in cooperation with the first connector 120 of the vehicle V and a plurality of clamping portions 462 for clamping to the protruding portion 432, wherein the plug-in portion 461 includes a shell 466 defining a receiving cavity 463 for receiving the first connector 120, and the clamping portions 462 extend from the top wall 467 of the shell 466 to the protruding portion 432 and are clamped to the protruding portion 432. Preferably, the first connector 120 is provided as a male connector, and the second connector 460 is provided as a female connector.

[0032] As shown, Figure 4 ,Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of clamping portions 462 include at least one, preferably two, L-shaped elastic clamping arms 464 extending from the top wall 467 to the protruding portion 432, and the protruding portion 432 correspondingly includes a clamping groove 433 clamping matched with the clamping arms 464, the clamping arms 464 can pass through the hollow portion 4332 formed in the bottom surface of the protruding portion 432 by elastic deformation and clamp into the clamping groove 433, so that the second connector 460 and the protruding portion 432 are limited to each other in the Z direction and the Y direction. In addition, the clamping portion 462 further includes at least one protrusion 465 protruding from the top wall 467 towards the protruding portion 432, and the protruding portion 432 correspondingly includes a limiting hole 434 clamping matched with the protrusion 465, so that the second connector 460 and the protruding portion 432 are limited to each other in the X direction, so that the second connector 460 and the protruding portion 432 are tightly fixed to each other by limiting in three different directions.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, when the tail lamp wire harness 414 in the tail gate assembly 100 needs to be electrically connected during the vehicle assembly process, the first connector 120 of the main wire harness 110 of the vehicle V can be inserted into the first through hole 210 and directly inserted into the second connector 460 of the tail lamp wire harness 414 along a straight line. Figures 3 to 6

[0034] Therefore, in the tail gate assembly of the present application, the protruding portion 432 for fixing the second connector 460 extends from the body 431 of the reflector 430, which utilizes the structure of the reflector 430 itself, without the need to add additional support / socket to fix the second connector 460, thereby simplifying the structure of the tail gate assembly. In addition, when connecting the tail lamp wire harness 414, the second connector 460 does not need to be removed, which reduces the bending and re-fixing steps of the tail lamp wire harness 414, reduces the risk of damage to the wire harness, and improves the connection efficiency of the tail lamp wire harness 414 and the vehicle main wire harness 110.

[0035] The technical content and technical features of the present application have been disclosed above, but it can be understood that under the creative idea of the present application, those skilled in the art can make various changes and improvements to the disclosed concepts above, but all of them belong to the protection scope of the present application.

[0036] The above description of the embodiments is exemplary rather than limiting and the scope of protection of the present application is defined by the claims.​

Claims

1. A tailgate assembly (100) for a vehicle (V), characterized in that, The tailgate assembly (100) comprises: a tailgate inner panel (200) provided with a first through hole (210); a tailgate outer panel (300) fixed to an outer side of the tailgate inner panel (200) and provided with a second through hole (320) aligned with the first through hole (210); and a tail lamp (400) comprising a housing (411), a reflector (430) and a tail lamp harness (414), wherein, the housing (411) is fixed to an outer side of the tailgate outer panel (300) and provided with an opening (413) aligned with the second through hole (320), the reflector (430) comprises a body (431) fixed to an inner side of the housing (411) and a protrusion (432) extending from the body (431) and passing through the opening (413) and the second through hole (320), the tail lamp harness (414) is arranged in the housing (411), and an end of the tail lamp harness (414) is provided with a harness connector (460) fixed to the protrusion (432) through the opening (413) and the second through hole (320) to be aligned with the first through hole (210).

2. The tailgate assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein, The harness connector (460) is fixed to the protrusion (432) by clamping, screwing, riveting, gluing or welding.

3. The tailgate assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein, The harness connector (460) comprises: a plug-in part (461) adapted to plug-in cooperate with a connector (120) of a main harness (110) of the vehicle (V); and a plurality of clamping parts (462) extending from the plug-in part (461) to the protrusion (432) and clamping cooperate with the protrusion (432).

4. The tailgate assembly (100) according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of clamping parts (462) comprises at least one elastic clamping arm (464); the protrusion (432) comprises a clamping groove (433) clamping cooperating with the clamping arm (464) to limit the harness connector (460) and the protrusion (432) to each other in two different directions.

5. The tailgate assembly (100) according to claim 4, wherein the clamping part (462) further comprises at least one protrusion (465); the protrusion (432) further comprises a limiting hole (434) clamping cooperating with the protrusion (465) to limit the harness connector (460) and the protrusion (432) to each other in another direction different from the two directions.

6. A vehicle (V), characterized in that The method comprises: making the connector (120) of the main harness (110) of the vehicle (V) pass through the first through hole (210) and plug-in to the harness connector (460) of the tail lamp harness (414) along a straight line.

7. A method for connecting a tail light wiring harness (414) in a tailgate assembly (100) of a vehicle (V), the tailgate assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, ​

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