trucks

Abstract

Trucks, comprising: a loading space (10) into which a load is arranged to be loaded, the loading space (10) comprising: a loading area (11) with a top onto which the load is loaded; a loading compartment lid having a lower end portion rotatably arranged at an end portion of the loading surface (11) to selectively rotate and adapted to open or close a rear part of the loading compartment (10); and a loading compartment flap holding device (14) arranged between the loading area (11) and the loading compartment flap and configured to adjust an opening angle of the loading compartment flap with respect to the loading area (11), wherein the loading compartment flap holding device (14) comprises: a locking guide (141) having one end connected to the load compartment lid and having a guide slot (141a); a lever (143) having a shaft portion (143b) arranged to pass through the guide slot (141a) and configured to selectively limit a rotational amount of the locking guide (141); and a hinge bracket (142) connected to the loading surface (11) and rotatably supporting the shaft portion (143b) of the lever (143), wherein the locking guide (141) comprises a plurality of locking grooves (141b) provided on an inner peripheral surface of the guide slot (141a) and spaced apart from each other along the same, and wherein the lever (143) comprises a locking projection (143c) configured to project radially outward from the shaft portion (143b) of the lever (143) to selectively engage with one of the plurality of locking grooves (141b) in accordance with rotation of the lever (143).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the invention

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a truck having a cargo compartment flap configured to open a cargo compartment in a rearward direction or a transverse direction thereto. State of the art

[0002] In general, a truck is a vehicle with a cargo space at the rear for loading cargo.

[0003] The cargo space may include a loading floor having a top surface onto which the cargo is loaded, a pair of side flaps having lower ends pivotably disposed at both side ends of the loading area to enable the cargo space to be opened laterally, and a tailgate having a lower end pivotably disposed at a rear end of the loading floor to enable the cargo space to be opened in a rearward direction.

[0004] The valves generally rotate 180° with respect to their lower ends to open or to maintain an open state at about 90° by a chain or the like.

[0005] From the generic US 9 784 348 B2 a truck is known, comprising: a loading space into which a load is arranged to be loaded, wherein the loading space comprises the following: a loading surface having a top side onto which the load is loaded; a loading space flap having a lower end portion which is rotatably arranged at an end portion of the loading surface in order to rotate selectively and is arranged to open or close a rear part of the loading space; and a loading space flap holding device which is arranged between the loading surface and the loading space flap and is arranged to adjust an opening angle of the loading space flap with respect to the loading surface.

[0006] US 8,740,279 B1 discloses a tailgate comprising first and second frames, doors, and sets of touchpads. The frames are coupled to the vehicle to selectively pivot about a first axis and can be selectively coupled to the vehicle via respective frame latches. The doors are coupled to the respective frames to selectively pivot about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and relative to the frames and can be selectively coupled to the frames via respective door latches. The sets of touchpads can be operably connected to the respective doors and frame and door latches.Actuation of one or both sets of touchpads in different configurations may facilitate opening of one or both doors independently or together in a first configuration pivoting about the first axis with the respective frames or in a second configuration pivoting about the second axis relative to the respective frames.

[0007] US 1 193 514 A describes a tailgate consisting of a three-sided frame, a flap hinged to the upper crossbar of the frame, notched sector wings attached to the ends of the flap and a bracket hinged to the frame supports with inwardly directed arms that can engage in the notches of the sector wings.

[0008] US 1 634 224 A also shows a combination of a vehicle floor and a tailgate with hinge portions attached to the floor, hinge portions attached to the tailgate, means pivotally connecting the first-mentioned hinge portions to the second-mentioned hinge portions, arcuate plates provided by the second-mentioned hinge portions and having spaced-apart recesses formed therein. Means are provided which are slidably carried by the first-mentioned hinge portions and have portions adapted to selectively engage the recesses, and means for actuating the latter means, the actuating means comprising a pivotably mounted actuating lever, a hinged connection between the actuating lever and the latter means, and a spring element which controls the actuation of the actuating lever in one direction.

[0009] The information disclosed in this Background to the Invention section is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be construed as an acknowledgment or any form of indication that this information constitutes prior art that would be already known to a person skilled in the art. BRIEF OVERVIEW

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved truck which is designed to adjust the opening angle of a cargo area tailgate differently.

[0011] The problem is solved by a truck having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments can be found in the subclaims.

[0012] Further aspects of the invention within the scope of the patent claims are set forth in part in the following description, are partly apparent from the description or can be learned from practical embodiment of the invention.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention, a truck may comprise a cargo space into which cargo is loaded, the cargo space comprising a loading floor having a top surface onto which the cargo is loaded, a cargo door having a lower end portion rotatably arranged at an end portion of the cargo space to rotate and configured to open or close a rear part of the cargo space, and a cargo door holding device configured to adjust an opening angle of the cargo door.The cargo lid retaining device comprises a locking guide, one end of which is connected to the cargo lid and which has a guide slot; a lever having a shaft portion which is arranged to pass through the guide slot and is configured to selectively limit a rotation amount of the locking guide; and a hinge bracket which is connected to the loading surface and rotatably supports the shaft portion of the lever, wherein the locking guide comprises a plurality of locking grooves which are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the guide slot and spaced apart from one another along this guide slot, and wherein the lever comprises a locking projection which is configured to project radially outward from the shaft portion of the lever in order to selectively engage one of the plurality of locking grooves in accordance with a rotation of the lever.

[0014] The load compartment lid may comprise a tailgate having a lower end portion rotatably disposed at a rear end portion of the loading area so that the loading space opens in the rearward direction thereof.

[0015] The load compartment lid may comprise a pair of side flaps having lower end portions pivotably disposed at both side end portions of the loading area to open the load compartment laterally.

[0016] The load compartment lid may include a pair of hinge brackets configured to rotatably support both sides of the lever.

[0017] The pair of hinge brackets may comprise a pair of hinge parts spaced apart from each other and between which the locking guide is arranged.

[0018] The lever may connect the pair of shaft sections and include a gripping portion extending laterally with respect to the pair of shaft sections.

[0019] Each of the shaft portions may include the locking projection, the locking guide may include a pair of locking guides corresponding to the pair of shaft portions, and the hinge bracket may include a hinge bracket corresponding to one side shaft portion of the pair of shaft portions and another hinge bracket corresponding to the other side shaft portion of the pair of shaft portions.

[0020] The vehicle may further comprise a spring configured to elastically support the lever to allow the lever to rotate in one direction.

[0021] The spring may comprise a spiral elastic portion and a pair of leg members arranged to project from both sides of the elastic portion supported by the lever and the hinge bracket.

[0022] The devices of the present invention have, within the scope of the claims, other features and advantages which will be apparent from or more particularly set forth in the accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and the following detailed description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES Fig. 1 is a perspective view exemplifying a state in which a rear end portion of a bed of a truck is closed by a tailgate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view exemplifying a state in which the rear end portion of the bed of the truck according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is opened; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cargo door retaining device mounted on the truck according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cargo door retaining device mounted on the truck according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cargo door retaining device mounted on the truck according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 6 is a side view illustrating an exemplary folding operation of the tailgate mounted on the truck according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] It should be understood that the accompanying drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and represent a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrating the basic principles of the present invention. The specific inventive design features contained herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended use or environment of use.

[0024] In the drawing figures, reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the various figures of the drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures and described below. Although the present invention(s) are described in connection with exemplary embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present invention(s) to these exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention(s) are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0026] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in detail with reference to the attached drawing figures.

[0027] Referring to the Fig. 1 and the Fig. 2, a lorry may comprise a loading space 10 which must be configured for loading cargo.

[0028] The cargo space 10 includes a loading floor 11 having a top surface onto which the cargo is loaded, a pair of side flaps 12 having lower end portions rotatably disposed at both side end portions of the loading floor 11 and configured to open the cargo space 10 sideways, and a tailgate 13 having a lower end portion rotatably disposed at a rear end portion of the loading floor 11 and configured to open the cargo space 10 in the rearward direction thereof.

[0029] Furthermore, the truck comprises a tailgate holding device 14 which is configured to allow a user to select an opening angle of the tailgate 13.

[0030] As in Fig. 3, the tailgate holding device 14 includes a locking guide 141 configured to extend downward in an arc shape from the tailgate 13 in the rearward direction, a lever 143 configured to allow the user to selectively rotate the tailgate 13, and a pair of hinge brackets 142 arranged so that both end portions of the lever 143 are rotatable.

[0031] As in the Fig. 4 and the Fig. 5, the locking guide 141 includes a guide slot 141a arranged in a downward arc shape in the rearward direction, and locking grooves 141b arranged concavely in an outer peripheral surface of the guide slot 141a. The locking grooves 141b are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The locking guide 141 is arranged between two hinge parts 142a of the hinge bracket 142, which will be described below, and the shaft portions 143b and a locking projection 143c, which will be described below, are arranged on the inside of the guide slot 141a.

[0032] The lever 143 includes a pair of shaft portions 143b provided at its two end portions and rotatably mounted on the two hinge brackets 142, a gripping portion 143a configured to connect the two shaft portions 143b and protrude in a lateral direction (a downward direction in the drawing) with respect to the shaft portions 143b to allow the user to easily rotate the lever 143, and the locking projection 143c configured to protrude radially outward from the shaft portion 143b to selectively engage one of the locking grooves 141b. Furthermore, the lever 143 includes a cap 144 fixed to one end portion of the penetrating shaft portion 143b and disposed on the hinge bracket 142 to prevent separation of the shaft portion 143b from the hinge bracket 142.

[0033] The above-described locking guide 141 extends rearward on both sides of a rear side of the tailgate to correspond to the two shaft portions 143b, and the pair of hinge brackets 142 are arranged on both sides of the loading floor 11 to correspond to the two shaft portions 143b and the two locking guides 141.

[0034] Since the pair of hinge brackets 142 are fixed to both sides of the rear end portion of the loading platform 11, one side shaft portion of the two shaft portions 143b is rotatably arranged on one hinge bracket 142 of the pair of hinge brackets 142, and the other side shaft portion is rotatably arranged on the other hinge bracket 142.

[0035] The hinge brackets 142 each include a pair of hinge parts 142a configured to extend downward and rearward at an inclination. The hinge parts 142a provided in the hinge bracket 142 are spaced apart from each other, and the above-described locking guide 141 is disposed between the hinge parts 142a. The shaft portion 143b penetrates the lower portions of the hinge parts 142a to be arranged, and hinge holes 142b are provided in the hinge parts 142a, which are configured to rotatably support the shaft portion 143b.

[0036] Accordingly, one lateral shaft section of the shaft section pair 143b passes through the hinge holes 142b of the hinge parts 142a provided in one of the two hinge brackets 142 to be arranged, and the other lateral shaft section passes through the hinge holes 142b of the hinge parts 142a provided in the other hinge bracket 142.

[0037] Furthermore, the trunk lid holding device 14 includes a spring 145 (elastic member) configured to elastically support the lever 143 so that the lever 143 rotates in one direction. The spring 145 includes an elastic portion 145a formed in a spiral shape and configured to generate an elastic force, and a pair of leg portions 145b configured to extend to both sides of the elastic portion 145a, which is supported by the hinge bracket 142 and the lever 143.

[0038] The following describes a folding process of the tailgate 13 in the truck described above.

[0039] When the tailgate 13 closes a rear side of the cargo space 10, since the locking projection 143c remains in a state of engaging with the locking groove 141b, the state in which the tailgate 13 closes the rear side of the cargo space 10 is maintained by the locking projection 143c and the locking groove 141b.

[0040] When a user grasps the gripping portion 143a and rotates the lever 143 in one direction, the locking projection 143c rotates around the shaft portion 143b, which is to be separated from the locking groove 141b. The rear of the cargo area 10 opens immediately when the user rotates the tailgate 13 in a rearward direction. The spring 145, which is configured to support the lever 143, is immediately elastically deformed.

[0041] When the user rotates the tailgate 13 to a desired predetermined angle to open the rear of the cargo space 10, thereby releasing a force applied to the gripping portion 143a, the spring 145 is elastically restored, whereby the lever 143 is inserted into and engaged with the locking groove 141b, which locking groove 141b is configured to rotate in an opposite direction and in which the locking projection 143c is provided at a corresponding position between the locking grooves 141b.

[0042] Accordingly, the tailgate 13, as shown in Fig. 6, the rear of the cargo space 10 can be opened at various angles set by the user using the locking projection 143c and the locking groove 141b.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cargo door retaining device 14 is mounted on the tailgate 13, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the cargo door retaining device 14 may also be mounted on a side door 12. Furthermore, the cargo door retaining device 14 may also be mounted on both the tailgate 13 and the side door 12.

[0044] As apparent from the above description, a truck according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can maintain a state in which a door is opened at various angles by a cargo door holding device.

[0045] For the sake of clarity and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top", "bottom", "up", "down", "front", "rear", "backward", "inside", "outside", "inward", "outside", "internal", "external", "inward", "outer", "forward" and "backward" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with respect to the positions of the features illustrated in the figures.

Claims

[1] Goods vehicle, comprising: a loading space (10) into which a load is arranged to be loaded, the loading space (10) comprising: a loading surface (11) with a top onto which the load is loaded; a loading compartment flap having a lower end portion rotatably arranged at an end portion of the loading surface (11) to selectively rotate and adapted to open or close a rear part of the loading compartment (10); and a loading compartment flap holding device (14) arranged between the loading area (11) and the loading compartment flap and configured to adjust an opening angle of the loading compartment flap with respect to the loading area (11), wherein the loading compartment flap holding device (14) comprises: a locking guide (141) having one end connected to the load compartment lid and having a guide slot (141a); a lever (143) having a shaft portion (143b) arranged to pass through the guide slot (141a) and configured to selectively limit a rotational amount of the locking guide (141); and a hinge bracket (142) connected to the loading surface (11) and rotatably supporting the shaft portion (143b) of the lever (143), wherein the locking guide (141) comprises a plurality of locking grooves (141b) provided on an inner peripheral surface of the guide slot (141a) and spaced apart from each other along the latter, and wherein the lever (143) comprises a locking projection (143c) configured to project radially outward from the shaft portion (143b) of the lever (143) to selectively engage with one of the plurality of locking grooves (141b) in accordance with rotation of the lever (143). [2] A truck according to claim 1, wherein the loading space flap comprises a tailgate (13) having a lower end portion rotatably disposed at a rear end portion of the loading surface (11) so that the loading space (10) selectively opens in a rearward direction of the loading space (10). [3] A truck according to claim 1, wherein the loading flap comprises a pair of side flaps (12) having lower end portions rotatably disposed on first and second side end portions of the loading surface (11) to open the loading space (10) laterally. [4] A truck according to claim 1, wherein the guide slot (141a) has an arc shape extending downwardly and rearwardly from the load compartment lid. [5] A truck according to claim 1, wherein the hinge bracket (142) comprises a pair of hinge parts (142a) spaced apart from each other and between which the locking guide (141) is arranged. [6] A truck according to claim 5, wherein each of the two hinge parts (142a) comprises a hinge hole (142b) through which the shaft portion (143b) of the lever (143) is rotatably mounted. [7] Truck according to claim 1, wherein the locking guide (141) is formed in multiple forms, forming a first locking guide (141) and a second locking guide (141), and wherein the hinge bracket (142) is formed in multiple shapes, forming a first hinge bracket (142) and a second hinge bracket (142), and wherein the shaft portion (143b) of the lever (143) is formed in a multiple shape and forms a first and second shaft portion (143b), wherein the first shaft portion (143b) is rotatably arranged on the first hinge bracket (142) and the second shaft portion (143b) is rotatably arranged on the second hinge bracket (142). [8] A truck according to claim 7, wherein the lever (143) comprises a gripping portion (143a) extending from the first and second shaft portions (143b) and projecting in a lateral direction with respect to the first and second shaft portions (143b). [9] A truck according to claim 7, wherein the first and second shaft portions (143b) each comprise the locking projection (143c) configured to project radially outwardly from the first and second shaft portions (143b) of the lever (143) to selectively engage with one of the plurality of locking grooves (141b) of the first and second locking guides (141) in accordance with the rotation of the lever (143). [10] A truck according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member (145) elastically supporting the lever (143) to allow the lever (143) to rotate in a predetermined direction. [11] A truck according to claim 10, wherein the elastic element (145) comprises: a spiral elastic portion (145a); and a pair of leg portions (145b) configured to protrude from a first side and a second side of the elastic portion (145a) and supported by the lever (143) and the hinge bracket (142).

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