WIRE PROTECTION ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A vehicle assembly includes a hinge and a wire guard assembly mounted to the hinge. A method for protecting a wire may involve providing a tailgate assembly that includes a door subassembly pivotally coupled to a frame subassembly. The door subassembly and the frame subassembly may pivot together between a tailgate-closed position and a tailgate-open position. The method may involve pivoting the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly to provide an access opening to the cargo bed; and electrically connecting the door subassembly using a wire passed through a wire guard assembly.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to a wire guard assembly for a vehicle, and more particularly to a wire guard assembly mounted to a hinge, such as a tailgate hinge. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Many motor vehicles typically include cargo spaces for carrying various types of cargo. A pickup truck, for example, includes a bed that defines the pickup's cargo area. A tailgate typically encloses one end of the bed. The tailgate can be moved to an open position to provide access to the cargo area. SUMMARY

[0003] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly including: a hinge; and a wire guard assembly mounted to the hinge.

[0004] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly further including a wire housed in the wire protection assembly.

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly, wherein the wire protection assembly includes a first piece secured to at least one second piece, wherein the wire is contained between the first piece and the at least one second piece.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the wire guard assembly is clamped to the hinge.

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the hinge is a gooseneck hinge.

[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the wire protection assembly is a polymer-based material.

[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the hinge is configured to pivot a door subassembly of a liftgate about a vertically extending axis.

[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly further including a wire extending through an opening in the wire guard assembly to the door subassembly, the opening aligned with the vertically extending axis.

[0011] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly further including: a frame subassembly of a tailgate; a door subassembly of the tailgate, the door subassembly pivotally connected to the frame subassembly by the hinge; and a wire at least partially housed within the wire guard assembly, the wire extending between the frame subassembly and the door subassembly.

[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly, wherein the hinge is a first hinge and further including a second hinge pivotally connecting the liftgate door subassembly to the frame subassembly.

[0013] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the first hinge is vertically below the second hinge when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position, wherein the wire and the wire protection assembly are disposed between the first hinge and the second hinge.

[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly further including a connector connecting the first hinge to the second hinge, wherein the wire protection assembly is disposed around the connector.

[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly, wherein the frame subassembly includes a driver-side portion having a driver-side outer panel, a passenger-side portion having a passenger-side outer panel, the door subassembly including a door outer panel, the door subassembly being pivotable relative to the frame subassembly between a door closed position and a door open position, the door outer panel being disposed between the driver-side outer panel and the passenger-side outer panel when the door subassembly is in the door closed position such that the door subassembly separates the driver-side outer panel from all portions of the passenger-side outer panel.

[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle assembly, wherein the door subassembly and the frame subassembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position, the door subassembly being pivotable relative to the frame subassembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position, the first axis being transverse to the second axis.

[0017] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the door subassembly, in the door open position, provides an access opening to the cargo bed that extends vertically downward to at least a vertically lowermost side of the driver-side outer panel and the passenger-side outer panel.

[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein no portion of the door outer panel horizontally overlaps any portion of the driver-side outer panel or the passenger-side outer panel.

[0019] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method for protecting a wire, including: providing a tailgate assembly including a door subassembly pivotally coupled to a frame subassembly, the door subassembly and the frame subassembly pivotable together between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position; pivoting the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly to provide an access opening to the cargo bed; and electrically connecting the door subassembly using a wire routed through a wire protection assembly.

[0020] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a method including mounting the wire guard assembly to a hinge that pivotally couples the door subassembly to the frame subassembly.

[0021] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a method further including clamping the wire protection assembly to the hinge during mating.

[0022] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a method further including pivoting the wire guard assembly with the hinge as the door subassembly is pivoted relative to the frame subassembly.

[0023] The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including their various aspects or respective individual features, may be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

[0024] The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings accompanying the detailed description may be briefly described as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a motor vehicle equipped with a cargo space and having a tailgate assembly with a door subassembly when the tailgate assembly is in a tailgate closed position relative to the cargo space. Fig. 2 illustrates the motor vehicle from Fig. 1 with the tailgate assembly in an open tailgate position. Fig. 3 illustrates the motor vehicle from Fig. 1 with the tailgate assembly door subassembly in a door open position. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tailgate assembly in the position of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tailgate assembly in the position of Fig. 3 with a view from the cargo area to the outside. Fig. 6 is a close-up view of a wire guard assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure when the wire guard assembly is mounted to a hinge of the tailgate assembly. Fig. 7 illustrates a hinge system of the tailgate assembly together with the wire guard assembly of Fig. 6. Fig. Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of the wire protection assembly of Fig. 6 together with a wire. Fig. Figure 9 illustrates an exploded view of the wire protection assembly and the wire of Fig. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] This disclosure describes in detail an exemplary wire guard assembly for a tailgate of a vehicle. The tailgate may include a door subassembly. The door subassembly may be opened to provide an opening that, among other things, helps a user access cargo within a truck bed.

[0026] The wire protection assembly can be used to protect a wire that extends from another part of the tailgate to the door subassembly.

[0027] Fig. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10 according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. The vehicle 10, in this example, is a pickup truck having a bed 14 provided by a pair of sidewalls 18, a front wall 22, and a tailgate assembly 26.

[0028] The tailgate assembly 26 includes, among other things, a frame subassembly 30 and a door subassembly 34. The tailgate assembly 26 is movable about a first axis A1 relative to the load floor 14 between a tailgate closed position, in Fig. 1, and a position with the tailgate open, in Fig. 2, pivotable. The exemplary tailgate assembly 26 is vertically oriented in the tailgate closed position and horizontally oriented in the tailgate open position. For the purposes of this disclosure, vertical and horizontal refer to the ground and a typical orientation of the vehicle 10 during operation.

[0029] The door subassembly 34 is in a door-closed position and is locked to the frame subassembly 30 when the frame subassembly 30 and the door subassembly 34 pivot between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position. Thus, the frame subassembly 30 and the door subassembly 34 pivot together when the tailgate assembly 26 pivots between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position.

[0030] When the tailgate assembly 26 is in the tailgate closed position, the door subassembly 34 is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly 30 about a second axis A2. The door subassembly 34 can be pivoted between a door closed position, Fig. 1, and a position with the door open, in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, can be pivoted back and forth. In this example, the first axis A1 is a horizontally extending axis. The second axis A2 runs perpendicular to the first axis A1 and is a vertically extending axis.

[0031] The door subassembly 34, in the door-open position, provides an access opening O to the load floor. In this example, the access opening O to the load floor extends vertically downward at least to a floor 38 of the load floor 14.

[0032] As in Fig. 4, a user 42 can access the load bed 14 through the access opening O to the load bed provided by the door subassembly 34 in the door-open position. Placing the door subassembly 34 in the door-open position allows the user 42 to move closer to the load bed 14 than if the tailgate assembly 26 were, for example, in the tailgate-open position. Fig. 2 would be moved. The access opening O to the loading area can also provide a space for the user 42 to enter the loading area 14 in order to remove a load.

[0033] The frame subassembly 30 includes, among other things, a driver-side section 50, a passenger-side section 54, and a connecting member 58. The driver-side section 50, the passenger-side section 54, and the connecting member 58 pivot together when the frame subassembly 30 is moved between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position. A portion of the connecting member 58 slopes vertically downward to help retain the connecting member 58 below the floor 38 of the bed 14.

[0034] The driver-side section 50 includes an outer panel 62 and the passenger-side section 54 includes an outer panel 66. When the tailgate assembly 26 is in the tailgate closed position Fig. 1, the plates 62 and 66 can be seen by a person standing behind the vehicle 10. However, the connecting element 58 is hidden, for example, behind a bumper 70 or a panel.

[0035] The door subassembly 34 includes an outer panel 74 which is also visible to a user when the tailgate assembly 26 is in the tailgate closed position. Fig. 1. When the door subassembly 34 is in the door closed position, the outer panel 74 of the door subassembly 34 separates the outer panel 62 of the driver side section 50 from all portions of the outer panel 66 of the passenger side section 54. When the door subassembly 34 is in the door open position, the access opening O to the load floor extends downward to the vertically lowermost side of the outer panel 62 of the driver side section 50 and the outer panel 66 of the passenger side section 54.

[0036] It should be noted that no portion of panel 62 or panel 66 horizontally overlaps the outer panel 74 of the door subassembly 34. That is, the outer panel 62 of the driver-side portion 50 does not include a portion that extends vertically below the panel 74 of the door subassembly 34, and the outer panel 66 of the driver-side portion 54 does not include a portion that extends vertically below the outer panel 66 of the door subassembly 34. Instead, the door subassembly 34 is integrated into the tailgate assembly 26 using only two parting lines 78 that extend vertically across the tailgate assembly 26. Thus, the door subassembly 34 is integrated into the tailgate assembly 26 with relatively little aesthetic disruption.

[0037] With reference to Fig. 5-9 and with further reference to Fig. 1-4, the door subassembly 34 is pivotally coupled to the frame subassembly 30 via a hinge system, which in this example includes two hinges 82 and a connecting element. The connecting element 84 connects the rotation of the hinges 82 to one another.

[0038] In this example, the door subassembly 34 is pivotally coupled to the passenger-side portion 54. In another example, the door subassembly 34 is pivotally coupled to the driver-side portion 50.

[0039] The hinges 82 are gooseneck hinges in this example. The hinges 82 allow the door subassembly 34 to pivot relative to the frame subassembly 30 and pivot widely away from the access opening O to the cargo area. The hinges 82 can include two door locking positions, such as 45 and 90 degrees. The door subassembly 34 can pivot 100 degrees when transitioning from the door-closed position to a fully open position. One of the hinges 82 is located vertically above the other of the hinges 82.

[0040] The door subassembly 34 may be electronically locked and may include one or more lights 86 and electronic handles 87. In some examples, a power drive unit along with a rearview camera may be included in the door subassembly 34. These and other devices may require power and data communication capability from the vehicle 10.

[0041] Thus, a wire 90 may extend from the frame subassembly 30 to the door subassembly 34. The wire 90 may extend from another part of the vehicle 10 to the frame subassembly 30. The wire 90 electrically connects the door subassembly 34 to other parts of the vehicle 10.

[0042] Wire 90 may include multiple individual wires or bundled strands of wire. Wire 90 may be used to provide power from frame subassembly 30 to door subassembly 34. Wire 90 may be used instead of, or in addition to, communicating data to and from door subassembly 34.

[0043] The wire 90 is routed to the door subassembly 34, which can pivot 90 degrees or more through thousands of opening and closing cycles over the life of the vehicle. To help maintain the integrity of the wire 90 and maintain the correct positioning of the wire 90, the tailgate assembly 26 includes a wire guard assembly 88 in which the wire 90 is housed.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment, the wire guard assembly 88 is mounted to one of the hinges 82 and rotates with the hinge 82 as the door subassembly 34 is moved between the door open position and the door closed position. That is, the hinge 82 and the wire guard assembly 88 rotate together, rather than the hinge 82 rotating relative to the wire guard assembly 88. When the wire guard assembly 88 of the exemplary embodiment is mounted to the hinge 82, the wire guard assembly 88 is disposed vertically between the hinges 82.

[0045] The wire guard assembly 88 may be a polymer-based material. The wire guard assembly 88 extends over a portion of the hinge 82 and may be molded with a plurality of clips 92 that can be used to clamp the wire guard assembly 88 to the hinge 82. In other examples, the wire guard assembly 88 could be attached in other ways, such as via one or more mechanical fasteners.

[0046] The wire guard assembly 88 can keep the wire 90 spaced from the 180° folded flanges of the door subassembly 34 and the frame subassembly 30.

[0047] The wire guard assembly 88, in this example, includes a first piece 94 and a second piece 98. In another example, additional pieces could be used. In the exemplary embodiment, the first piece 94 is secured to the second piece 98 to contain the wire 90. The first piece 94 and the second piece 98 may be secured to each other via clips 102, which may be molded-in clips.

[0048] For example, in Fig.As shown in Figure 7, the wire 90 extends through an opening 106 to the wire guard assembly 88 to the frame subassembly 30. The opening 106 is generally aligned with the axis A2, which may help reduce fatigue of the wire 90 when the door subassembly 34 is moved between the door open position and the door closed position. The wire guard assembly 88 may be connected to the door subassembly 34 as the wire 90 exits the wire guard assembly 88 to the door subassembly 34.

[0049] The foregoing description is intended to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that certain modifications may be covered within the scope of the present disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should be read carefully to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.

Claims

[1] Vehicle assembly comprising: a hinge; and a wire guard assembly mounted to the hinge. [2] The vehicle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a wire housed in the wire protection assembly, the wire protection assembly optionally including a first piece secured to at least one second piece, the wire being contained between the first piece and the at least one second piece. [3] The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the wire guard assembly is clipped to the hinge. [4] The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the hinge is a gooseneck hinge. [5] The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the wire protection assembly is a polymer-based material. [6] The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the hinge is configured to pivot a door subassembly of a liftgate about a vertically extending axis, and optionally further comprising a wire extending through an opening in the wire guard assembly to the door subassembly, the opening being aligned with the vertically extending axis. [7] The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a tailgate frame subassembly; a tailgate door subassembly, the door subassembly being pivotally connected to the frame subassembly by the hinge; and a wire at least partially housed within the wire guard assembly, the wire extending between the frame subassembly and the door subassembly. [8] The vehicle assembly of claim 7, wherein the hinge is a first hinge and further comprising a second hinge pivotally connecting the tailgate door subassembly to the frame subassembly, and wherein the first hinge is optionally located vertically below the second hinge when the tailgate is in a tailgate closed position, the wire and the wire protection assembly being disposed between the first hinge and the second hinge. [9] The vehicle assembly of claim 8, further comprising a connecting member connecting the first hinge to the second hinge, wherein the wire protection assembly is disposed around the connecting member. [10] The vehicle assembly of claim 7, wherein the frame subassembly includes a driver-side portion having a driver-side outer panel, a passenger-side portion having a passenger-side outer panel, the door subassembly including a door outer panel, the door subassembly being pivotable relative to the frame subassembly between a door-closed position and a door-open position, the door outer panel being disposed between the driver-side outer panel and the passenger-side outer panel when the door subassembly is in the door-closed position such that the door subassembly separates the driver-side outer panel from all portions of the passenger-side outer panel, and the door subassembly optionally providing an access opening to the cargo bed in the door-open position.which extends vertically downwards at least to a vertically lowest side of the driver-side outer panel and the passenger-side outer panel. [11] The vehicle assembly of claim 10, wherein the door subassembly and the frame subassembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position, the door subassembly being pivotable relative to the frame subassembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position, the first axis being transverse to the second axis. [12] The vehicle assembly of claim 10, wherein no portion of the door outer panel horizontally overlaps any portion of the driver-side outer panel or the passenger-side outer panel. [13] A method of protecting a wire, comprising: Providing a tailgate assembly including a door subassembly pivotally coupled to a frame subassembly, the door subassembly and the frame subassemblies are pivotable together between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position; Pivoting the door subassembly relative to the frame subassembly to provide an access opening to the cargo area; and Electrically connecting the door subassembly using a wire passed through a wire protection assembly. [14] The method of claim 13, further comprising mounting the wire guard assembly to a hinge pivotally coupling the door subassembly to the frame subassembly, and optionally further comprising clamping the wire guard assembly to the hinge during the coupling. [15] The method of claim 14, further comprising pivoting the wire guard assembly with the hinge as the door subassembly is pivoted relative to the frame subassembly.

Images