Tail door assembly and vehicle comprising same

Abstract

A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes: a tailgate inner panel provided with a rear window opening; the tail door outer plate is assembled to the outer side of the tail door inner plate below the rear window opening and comprises a top landing edge fixed to the tail door inner plate; the rear window glass is assembled to the rear window opening on the outer side of the tail door inner plate, the lower edge part of the rear window glass at least partially covers the top landing edge, and a gap is formed between the lower edge part of the rear window glass and the top landing edge; the tailgate assembly further includes a shutter fixed to the lower edge portion, the shutter configured to fill a portion of the gap and project rearward relative to the roof landing in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Through the arrangement of the shielding piece, when a user stands behind the vehicle to observe, the gap between the lower edge part of the rear window glass and the top landing edge of the tail door outer plate is difficult to see, so that the integrity and the aesthetic property of the appearance modeling of the rear part of the vehicle are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of vehicle body construction, and more specifically, to a tailgate assembly and a vehicle including such a tailgate assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In modern automotive design, the tailgate assembly is an important part of the overall vehicle appearance. It not only needs to meet basic functional requirements such as ease of opening and closing and sealing, but also needs to take into account the overall aesthetic appeal.

[0003] The vehicle tailgate assembly includes an inner tailgate panel, a rear window glass, and an outer tailgate panel. The inner tailgate panel is designed in two parts, with the upper part angled to accommodate the installation angle of the rear window glass and featuring a rear window opening for mounting the glass. The rear window glass is secured to the outer side of the inner tailgate panel through this opening, forming a complete closed surface. The outer tailgate panel is fitted to the outer side of the inner tailgate panel below the rear window opening.

[0004] However, during actual assembly, it was found that because both the rear window glass and the tailgate outer panel are made of relatively hard materials, manufacturers typically leave a gap of about 5 millimeters between them to prevent the lower edge of the rear window glass from directly contacting and damaging the top edge of the tailgate outer panel due to vibrations or accidental collisions during daily use. However, this noticeable gap affects the overall integrity and aesthetics of the tailgate and even the entire vehicle's exterior design. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a tailgate assembly that can improve aesthetics.

[0006] To this end, a first aspect of the present invention provides a tailgate assembly for a vehicle, comprising: an inner tailgate panel having a rear window opening; an outer tailgate panel fitted to the outer side of the inner tailgate panel below the rear window opening and including a top lap fixed to the inner tailgate panel; and a rear window glass fitted to the rear window opening on the outer side of the inner tailgate panel, wherein a lower edge portion of the rear window glass at least partially covers the top lap and is spaced apart from the top lap; the tailgate assembly further includes a shield fixed to the lower edge portion, the shield being configured to fill a portion of the gap and projecting rearwardly relative to the top lap in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0007] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the lower edge portion includes an inner surface oriented toward the top edge, an outer surface oriented in the opposite direction to the inner surface, and a bottom end face connecting the inner surface and the outer surface. The shielding member includes a connecting portion and a shielding portion. The connecting portion is fixedly connected to the inner surface, and the shielding portion is fixedly connected to the rear side of the connecting portion along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and abuts against the bottom end face to at least partially shield the gap.

[0008] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the connecting portion is glued to the inner surface by structural adhesive.

[0009] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the hardness of the material of the connecting portion is greater than the hardness of the material of the shielding portion.

[0010] According to an optional embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion is made of plastic material, and / or the shielding portion is made of rubber material.

[0011] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the blocking portion is fixedly connected to the connecting portion by crimping.

[0012] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the minimum distance between the shielding member and the top edge is 2mm to 3mm.

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

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the tailgate assembly according to the present invention has several beneficial effects, especially: by setting the above-mentioned shielding member, when viewed from behind the vehicle, it is difficult to see the gap between the lower edge of the rear window glass and the top edge of the tailgate outer panel, thus improving the integrity and aesthetics of the rear appearance of the vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood through the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle, showing the location of the tailgate assembly according to the invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a rear view of a tailgate assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the tailgate assembly;

[0019] Figure 4 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional diagram showing the section cut through surface AA;

[0020] Figure 5 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional diagram of another perspective cut through surface AA in the middle. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The implementation and use of specific embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of particular ways of implementing and using the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0022] In this specification, the directional expressions used to describe the structural positions of various components, such as "up" and "down," are not absolute but relative. These directional expressions are appropriate when the components are arranged as shown in the figure, but they should be changed accordingly when the positions of the components in the figure change.

[0023] In this specification and accompanying drawings, the X-direction represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (i.e., the direction of travel, or the front-to-back direction), the Y-direction represents the lateral direction of the vehicle (i.e., the direction at a 90-degree angle relative to the direction of travel), and the Z-direction represents the vertical direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, "inner" and "outer" are defined with reference to the vehicle's interior and exterior directions. For example, the "inner side" of a component refers to the side of the component that faces inwards towards the vehicle's interior; for a tailgate assembly, this typically refers to the side that faces forwards. The "outer side" of a component refers to the side of the component that faces outwards towards the vehicle's exterior; for a tailgate assembly, this typically refers to the side that faces backwards.

[0024] A preferred embodiment of the tailgate assembly D according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the tailgate assembly D of the present invention includes an inner tailgate panel 100, a rear window glass 300, and an outer tailgate panel 200. In the closed state, the inner tailgate panel 100 includes an inclined upper portion 101 and a generally vertical lower portion 102. The upper portion 101 has a rear window opening 110, and the rear window glass 300 is fitted to the rear window opening 110 on the outside of the inner tailgate panel 100. More specifically, the rear window glass 300 includes a central transparent portion 320 that matches the shape of the rear window opening 110, and a non-transparent portion 330 surrounding the central transparent portion 320. The non-transparent portion 330 is formed, for example, by coating a blackening layer onto transparent glass and is fixedly connected to the outside of the inner tailgate panel 100 by structural adhesive 510. The outer tailgate panel 200 is fitted to the outside of the inner tailgate panel 100 below the rear window opening 110 and includes a generally vertical body 220 and a top edge 210 extending upward and inwardly from the body 220. Taillights 222 are mounted to both ends of the main body 220 in the Y direction. The top edge 210 is fixed to the bottom of the upper half 101 of the tailgate inner panel 100, for example by means of adhesive. The lower edge portion 310 of the rear window glass 300 at least partially covers the top edge 210 and is separated from the top edge 210 by a gap G.

[0026] According to the invention, the tailgate assembly D further includes a shield 400 that extends in the entire Y direction of the tailgate assembly and is fixed to the lower edge portion 310 of the rear window glass 300 to fill a portion of the aforementioned gap G, and protrudes slightly rearward in the X direction relative to the top overlap 210 of the tailgate outer panel 200.

[0027] More specifically, the lower edge portion 310 of the rear window glass 300 includes an inner surface 311 oriented toward the top edge 210, an outer surface 312 oriented in the opposite direction to the inner surface 311, and a bottom end face 313 connecting the inner surface 311 and the outer surface 312. The shielding member 400 includes a connecting portion 410 and a shielding portion 420. The connecting portion 410 is fixedly connected to the inner surface 311, and the shielding portion 420 is fixedly connected in the X direction to the rear side of the connecting portion 410 and abuts against the bottom end face 313 to at least partially shield the gap G.

[0028] The material of the connecting portion 410 is preferably harder than the material of the shielding portion 420. For example, the connecting portion 410 is made of plastic, and / or the shielding portion 420 is made of rubber. Therefore, the connecting portion 410 can improve the overall strength of the shielding member 400, while the shielding portion 420 can easily fit against the bottom end face 313 of the lower edge portion 310 of the rear window glass 300 to form a edging, and can absorb energy through its own elastic deformation when, for example, the rear window glass 300 is squeezed by the tailgate outer panel 200 or the taillight due to vehicle bumps, thus playing a buffering function.

[0029] When manufacturing the shield 400, the connecting part 410 and the shield 420 are manufactured separately. Then, the shield 420 is fixedly connected to the rear side of the connecting part 410 by means of, for example, pressing to form the entire shield 400. Then, the connecting part 410 of the shield 400 is glued to the inner surface 311 of the lower edge portion 310 of the rear window glass 300 by means of, for example, structural adhesive 500.

[0030] The minimum distance d between the cover 400 and the top overlap 210 of the tailgate outer panel 200 is set to, for example, 2mm to 3mm, preferably to about 2.5mm.

[0031] The installation of the cover 400 improves the aesthetics of the tailgate assembly D, making the rear appearance of the vehicle look more harmonious and unified, while reducing the entry of dust, moisture, etc. into the tailgate assembly through the gap G.

[0032] The technical content and features of the present invention have been disclosed above. However, it is understood that those skilled in the art can make various changes and improvements to the above-disclosed concept under the creative idea of ​​the present invention, but all of these shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0033] The above description of the embodiments is exemplary and not restrictive, and the scope of protection of the present invention is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A tailgate assembly (D) for a vehicle (V), comprising: Tailgate inner panel (100), wherein the tailgate inner panel (100) is provided with a rear window opening (110); A tailgate outer panel (200), said tailgate outer panel (200) being fitted to the outside of the tailgate inner panel (100) below the rear window opening (110), and including a top overlap (210) fixed to the tailgate inner panel (100); and A rear window glass (300) is fitted to the rear window opening (110) on the outside of the inner panel (100) of the tailgate, wherein the lower edge portion (310) of the rear window glass (300) at least partially covers the top lap (210) and is separated from the top lap (210) by a gap (G); The tailgate assembly (D) is characterized in that it further includes a cover (400) fixed to the lower edge portion (310), the cover (400) being configured to fill a portion of the gap (G) and projecting rearward relative to the top edge (210) in the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle (V).

2. The tailgate assembly (D) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower edge portion (310) includes an inner surface (311) oriented toward the top edge (210), an outer surface (312) oriented in the opposite direction to the inner surface (311), and a bottom end face (313) connecting the inner surface (311) and the outer surface (312). The shielding member (400) includes a connecting part (410) and a shielding part (420). The connecting part (410) is fixedly connected to the inner surface (311), and the shielding part (420) is fixedly connected to the rear side of the connecting part (410) along the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle (V) and abuts against the bottom end face (313) to at least partially shield the gap (G).

3. The tailgate assembly (D) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting part (410) is glued to the inner surface (311) by structural adhesive (500).

4. The tailgate assembly (D) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The material of the connecting part (410) has a higher hardness than the material of the shielding part (420).

5. The tailgate assembly (D) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The connecting part (410) is made of plastic material, and / or the shielding part (420) is made of rubber material.

6. The tailgate assembly (D) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The shielding part (420) is fixedly connected to the connecting part (410) by crimping.

7. The tailgate assembly (D) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The minimum distance (d) between the shield (400) and the top overlap (210) is 2 mm to 3 mm.

8. A vehicle (V), characterized in that, Includes the tailgate assembly (D) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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