Material protection assembly for a vehicle tailgate

Abstract

A vehicle assembly includes a tailgate latch bolt and a tailgate door subassembly. The door subassembly has a latch configured to engage the latch bolt to hold the door subassembly in a closed-door position. The door subassembly has a recessed area that receives the latch bolt when the door subassembly pivots from an open-door position to a closed-door position. A material guard extends into the recessed area when the door subassembly is in the closed-door position.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to a tailgate of a vehicle and, more particularly, to a material guard that can prevent material from entering gaps within the tailgate. 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 forms the truck'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 bed. SUMMARY

[0003] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly including: a striker of a liftgate assembly; a door subassembly of the liftgate assembly, the door subassembly having a latch configured to engage the striker to maintain the door subassembly in a door closed position, the door subassembly having a recessed area that receives the striker when the door subassembly is pivoted from a door open position to a door closed position; and a material guard extending into the recessed area when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

[0004] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the locking bolt is located behind the material protection.

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the material protector overmolds a flange.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the striker is part of a striker bracket, wherein the material guard is mounted to a flange of the striker bracket.

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly, wherein the striker is a first striker and the material shield is a first material shield associated with the first striker, wherein the striker mount includes the first striker and a second striker, wherein a second material shield is mounted to the striker mount, wherein the second material shield is associated with the second striker.

[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the striker is mounted to a frame subassembly of the tailgate assembly.

[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly, wherein the door subassembly is hinged to the frame subassembly and configured to pivot relative to the frame subassembly about a vertically extending axis, wherein the material guard extends horizontally from the frame subassembly into the recessed area when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly, wherein the door subassembly is hinged to the frame subassembly and configured to pivot relative to the frame subassembly about a vertically extending axis, wherein the material shield extends upwardly from the frame subassembly into the recessed area when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

[0011] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly further including: a frame subassembly of a liftgate, the door subassembly pivotally connected to the frame subassembly by at least one hinge, the material guard being disposed at an interface between the door subassembly and the frame subassembly.

[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly including: a frame subassembly including a driver-side portion and a passenger-side portion; a door subassembly pivotable relative to the frame subassembly between a door-closed position and a door-open position, the door subassembly disposed between the driver-side portion and the passenger-side portion when the door subassembly is in the door-closed position such that the door subassembly isolates the driver-side portion from all subportions of the passenger-side portion; a latch system configured to secure the door subassembly in the door-closed position relative to the frame subassembly; and a material guard attached to the latch system.

[0013] 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.

[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly, wherein the door subassembly, in the door open position, provides a cargo access opening that extends vertically downward to at least a vertically lowermost side of a driver-side outer panel of the driver-side portion and a passenger-side outer panel of the passenger-side portion.

[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the material guard is attached to a striker bolt mount of the locking system.

[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a vehicle assembly wherein the material protector overmolds the striker retainer.

[0017] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method for protecting areas of a tailgate, 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 from a door closed position to an open position to provide a bed access opening; receiving a striker of the frame subassembly within a recess of the door subassembly when the door subassembly is pivoted from the door open position to the door closed position;and preventing dirt from entering the recess using a material guard extending from the frame subassembly;

[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a method further including overmolding the material shield over a flange of a striker retainer.

[0019] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein the material shield is a first material shield and the flange is a first flange, and further including overmolding a second material shield over a second flange of the striker retainer.

[0020] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a method wherein the striker is located behind the material guard when the tailgate assembly is in the tailgate closed position and the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

[0021] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a method wherein the material protection extends horizontally when the tailgate assembly is in the tailgate closed position and the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

[0022] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a method wherein the material shield extends vertically upward when the tailgate assembly is in the tailgate closed position and the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

[0023] The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including their various aspects or 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 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 a door subassembly of the tailgate assembly in a door open position. Fig. Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the tailgate assembly in the position shown Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 5 illustrates a view of the tailgate in the position shown in Fig. 3, which protrudes from inside the loading area of ​​the motor vehicle. Fig. 6 illustrates a striker bolt bracket from the tailgate assembly Fig. 1, which holds two material protections. Fig. Figure 7 illustrates a close-up perspective view of a portion of the motor vehicle with the tailgate assembly in the tailgate open position as shown in Fig. 2 shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] This disclosure describes in detail a material protection for a tailgate.

[0026] 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. The material protection assembly may be used to prevent material from entering areas between the door subassembly and another section of the tailgate.

[0027] With reference to Fig. 1-4, a vehicle 10 according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is a pickup truck. The vehicle 10 includes a bed 14 provided by a pair of sidewalls 18, a front wall 22, and a tailgate assembly 26. The bed 14 can accommodate various types of cargo, including materials such as mulch, rocks, soil, etc.

[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 are pivoted 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 is pivoted 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. The first axis A1 in this example is a horizontal axis. The second axis A2 runs perpendicular to the first axis A. ı and is a vertically extending axis. For the purposes of this disclosure, horizontal and vertical refer to the ground and a general orientation of the vehicle 10 during normal operation.

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

[0032] As in Fig. 4, a user 42 may access the load bed 14 through the load bed access opening O 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 loading area access opening O can also provide a clearance for the user 42 to enter the loading area 14 in order to load or 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 may slope vertically downward to 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 subsections of the outer panel 66 of the passenger side section 54. When the door subassembly 34 is in the door open position, the bed access opening O 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 passenger-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] The door subassembly 34 is pivotally coupled to the frame subassembly 30 via a hinge system, which in this example includes two hinges 82. 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.

[0038] 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 bed access opening O. The hinges 82 can include two door stay positions, approximately at forty-five and ninety degrees. The door subassembly 34 can pivot one hundred 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.

[0039] With reference now to Fig. 5-7 and with further reference to Fig. 1-4, when the door subassembly 34 is in the door-closed position, a locking system is used to secure the door subassembly 34 to the frame subassembly 30. The exemplary locking system includes at least one upper latch 86 that engages a respective upper striker 90 to hold the door subassembly 34 in the door-closed position.

[0040] In this example, a striker bracket 94 is mounted on an interior side 98 of the driver-side portion 50. The exemplary striker bracket 94 includes two upper strikers 90. The door subassembly 34 includes two of the upper latches 86—each configured to engage one of the two upper strikers 90.

[0041] A lower striker 102 is also mounted to the connecting member 58 of the frame subassembly 30 at the bottom of the bed access opening O. A lower latch 106 on the bottom of the door subassembly 34 can engage the lower striker 102 mounted on the connecting member 58.

[0042] The door subassembly 34 includes a recessed area 110 associated with each of the upper striker pins 90 and the lower striker pin 102. The recessed areas 110 allow the upper striker pins 90 and the lower striker pin 102 to be received by the respective upper latches 86 and lower latch 106 when the door subassembly 34 pivots to the door-closed position. The recessed areas 110 provide clearance.

[0043] The tailgate assembly 26 includes material guards 114 disposed at an interface 118 between the door subassembly and the frame subassembly. In this example, a material guard 114 extends into each of the recessed areas 110 when the door subassembly 34 is in the door-closed position.

[0044] When the door subassembly 34 is in the door-closed position, the material guards 114 prevent material from moving into the gaps formed by the recessed areas 110. The material may be, for example, mulch, rocks, building materials, leaves, etc. Preventing material from moving into the recessed areas 110 can help keep the material within the bed 14 and prevent the material from interfering with the operation of the upper latches 86 and the lower latch 106. The material guards 114 can also prevent water from flowing directly into the recessed areas 110, particularly the recessed area 110 associated with the lower latch 106.

[0045] When the tailgate assembly 26 is in the tailgate open position, the material guards 114, in addition to preventing material from moving into the recessed areas 110, may provide a relatively flat work surface extending along an interior side of the tailgate assembly 26.

[0046] The material guards 114 face the load bed 14 and are located in front of the respective upper locking pins 90 when the tailgate assembly 26 is in the tailgate closed position. The upper locking pins 90 are located behind the respective material guard 114 when the tailgate assembly 26 is in the tailgate closed position.

[0047] In this example, the material guards 114 are mounted along the inner side 98 of the driver-side portion 50 to corresponding flanges 122 of the striker bolt 94. The material guards 114, in this example, overmold the flanges 122, thereby securing the material guards 114 relative to the flanges 122. The overmolding of the material guards 114 structurally distinguishes the material guards 114 from other material guards that are not overmolded. This means that a person skilled in the art would be able to structurally distinguish material guards that are overmolded from material guards that are not overmolded.

[0048] The material guards 114 may be a rubber material, such as ethylene propylene rubber. When the door subassembly 34 is pivoted into the door-closed position, the material guards 114 may act as buffers, providing the door subassembly 34 with a relatively soft interface against which to close.

[0049] When the door subassembly 34 is in the door closed position, the material guards 114 disposed along the inner side 98 of the driver-side portion 50 extend horizontally from the frame subassembly 30 into the recessed areas 110. The material guard 114 on the vertical underside of the door subassembly 34 extends upwardly from the frame subassembly 30 into the recessed area 110 when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

[0050] As previously mentioned, 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. Sealing flaps 148 are attached to the tailgate assembly 26 to prevent material from entering these parting lines 78. However, the sealing flaps 148 do not extend to overlap the recessed areas 110.

[0051] The upper latches 86 and the lower latch 106 may be electronic latches. The door subassembly 34 may include an electronic handle 152 that a user can pull to trigger the upper latches 86 and the lower latch 106 for operation.

[0052] 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 encompassed 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 latch bolt of a tailgate assembly; a door subassembly of the tailgate assembly, the door subassembly having a latch configured to engage the striker to hold the door subassembly in a door-closed position, the door subassembly having a recessed area that receives the striker when the door subassembly is pivoted from a door-open position to a door-closed position; and a material guard that extends into the recessed area when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. [2] Vehicle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking bolt is located behind the material protection and wherein the material protection optionally overmolds a flange. [3] The vehicle assembly of claim 2, wherein the striker is part of a striker bracket, wherein the material guard is mounted to a flange of the striker bracket, and optionally wherein the striker is a first striker and the material guard is a first material guard associated with the first striker, wherein the striker bracket includes the first striker and a second striker, wherein a second material guard is mounted to the striker bracket, wherein the second material guard is associated with the second striker. [4] The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the striker is mounted to a frame subassembly of the tailgate assembly, and optionally wherein the door subassembly is hinged to the frame subassembly and configured to pivot relative to the frame subassembly about a vertically extending axis, the material guard extending horizontally from the frame subassembly into the recessed area when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. [5] The vehicle assembly of claim 4, wherein the door subassembly is hinged to the frame subassembly and configured to pivot relative to the frame subassembly about a vertically extending axis, the material guard extending upwardly from the frame subassembly into the recessed area when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. [6] The vehicle assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a frame subassembly of a tailgate, wherein the door subassembly is pivotally connected to the frame subassembly by at least one hinge, wherein the material guard is arranged at an interface between the door subassembly and the frame subassembly. [7] Vehicle assembly comprising: a frame subassembly including a driver-side section and a passenger-side section; a door subassembly pivotable relative to the frame subassembly between a door-closed position and a door-open position, the door subassembly being disposed between the driver-side portion and the passenger-side portion when the door subassembly is in the door-closed position such that the door subassembly separates the driver-side portion from all subportions of the passenger-side portion; a locking system configured to secure the door subassembly in the door-closed position relative to the frame subassembly; and a material protection attached to the locking system. [8] The vehicle assembly of claim 7, 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. [9] The vehicle assembly of claim 7, wherein the door subassembly in the door open position provides a bed access opening extending vertically downward to at least a vertically lowermost side of a driver-side outer panel of the driver-side portion and a passenger-side outer panel of the passenger-side portion. [10] The vehicle assembly of claim 7, wherein the material protection is attached to a locking bolt holder of the locking system and optionally wherein the material protection overmolds the locking bolt holder. [11] A method for protecting areas of a tailgate, comprising: 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 from a door closed position to a door open position to provide a bed access opening; Receiving a striker pin of the frame subassembly within a recess of the door subassembly when the door subassembly is pivoted from the door open position to the door closed position; and Prevent dirt from entering the recess using a material guard extending from the frame subassembly. [12] The method of claim 11, further comprising overmolding the material protection over a flange of a locking bolt, and optionally wherein the material protection is a first material protection and the flange is a first flange, and further comprising overmolding a second material protection over a second flange of the locking bolt. [13] The method of claim 11, wherein the striker bolt is located behind the material guard when the tailgate assembly is in the tailgate closed position and the door subassembly is in the door closed position. [14] The method of claim 11, wherein the material guard extends horizontally when the tailgate assembly is in the tailgate closed position and the door subassembly is in the door closed position. [15] The method of claim 11, wherein the material guard extends vertically upward when the tailgate assembly is in the tailgate closed position and the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

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