REAR VEHICLE TAILGATE SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH AN OPEN POSITION LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

A vehicle rear hatch system comprising a hatch (4) for closing a rear trunk (10), having a pivoting device (6) at the front allowing this hatch (4) to be fully rotated towards the front of the vehicle by positioning it above a roof panel (2), this system including a suction cup (20) fixed to the rear part of the hatch (4), and a vacuum system that applies a vacuum to this suction cup (4) when it is attached to the roof panel (2) with the hatch (4) rotated. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: REAR VEHICLE FLAP SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH AN OPEN POSITION HOOK-ON DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear flap system for a motor vehicle equipped with a latching system in the open position, as well as a motor vehicle comprising this rear flap system and a method of operating this vehicle.

[0002] Some motor vehicles have a rear boot lid equipped with a rear window, including at the front a pivoting device fixed at the level of the roof, which opens in the usual way to a height slightly above that of the roof, providing access to the boot facing the rear of the vehicle.

[0003] The rear flaps generally include a system for holding them in the normal open position comprising weight-balancing cylinders for the flap so that it can be opened with little effort, which at the end of the stroke maintain this open position.

[0004] One possible use of this type of vehicle is to utilize the additional space under the tailgate in the open position to load the trunk with objects protruding from its closed position, and to drive with the tailgate open, held in its normal open position by its retaining system. This results in an increase in trunk volume, allowing driving under specific conditions due to the tailgate remaining open.

[0005] However, depending on the kinematics of the opening hinges of the rear flap, some flaps allow a very large tilting which allows the entire flap to be folded down by turning it forward, to place it above the roof by clearing the top of the trunk to an unlimited height.

[0006] In this case, the trunk can be loaded with objects without height limit, which offers new transport possibilities with passenger vehicles of the sedan or station wagon type which are not intended for transporting bulky objects.

[0007] However, taxiing with a flap completely turned forward requires effective retention of the flap in this position, easy and quick to implement, which also guarantees effective holding in all conditions in order to avoid stalling problems, in particular with the speed of the vehicle which applies significant aerodynamic forces on this flap.

[0008] It is known to use a bar or strap attached on one side to the shutter and on the other side to the vehicle body, however this type of accessory requires handling above the vehicle which is not always practical, and entails risks in the event that it is poorly attached on one side or the other.

[0009] Furthermore, this accessory carries a risk of damaging the vehicle's bodywork, particularly the paintwork, through contact or snagging on the vehicle's exterior surfaces. Moreover, if the accessory is permanently stored in the vehicle, it occupies space in the trunk, and if it is not, the transport of bulky items must be planned in advance, thus limiting the possibilities.

[0010] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0011] To this end, it proposes a vehicle rear hatch system comprising a rear trunk closing hatch, having at the front a pivoting device allowing this hatch to be turned completely towards the front of the vehicle by positioning it above a roof panel, this hatch system being remarkable in that it includes a suction cup fixed to the rear part of the hatch, and a vacuum system which applies a vacuum in this suction cup when it is glued to the roof panel with the hatch turned over.

[0012] One advantage of this shutter system is that the suction cup with its vacuum control constitutes a simple and effective means remaining fixed to the rear of the shutter, which after turning it forward allows it to come to rest on the pavilion, and then to control the vacuum which locks this position.

[0013] A flap fixing is obtained which completely frees the top of the trunk, does not limit the height of the transported objects, is always available, does not require any additional accessories and does not entail any risk of damaging the vehicle's bodywork.

[0014] The shutter system according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which may be combined with each other.

[0015] Advantageously, the depressurization system includes an automatic actuation device in case of flap tilting.

[0016] In this case, advantageously the automatic actuation device includes a minimum speed threshold above which it applies the vacuum.

[0017] Advantageously, the minimum speed threshold is between 10 and 30 km / h.

[0018] Furthermore, advantageously the automatic actuation device includes a maximum speed threshold which limits the speed of the vehicle when it is activated.

[0019] Advantageously, in the closed shutter position the suction cup is retracted into a housing of the shutter without protruding from its outer surface.

[0020] In this case, advantageously the suction cup is held by a mechanism allowing an outward movement of the flap, which during the reversal The completeness of this flap compensates for the distance with the pavilion to apply the suction cup opening to it.

[0021] Moreover, advantageously a complete reversal of the flap simultaneously actuates the mechanism of the suction cup's exit movement.

[0022] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a rear trunk closure flap, remarkable in that this flap is part of a flap system comprising any one of the preceding characteristics.

[0023] The invention also relates to a method of operating this vehicle, remarkable in that the complete reversal of the flap forward automatically controls the vacuum system according to predetermined conditions.

[0024] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following description given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig-1] is a side view of a vehicle equipped with a flap system according to the invention;

[0026] [Fig.2] is a detail view of the flap in its closed position with its suction cup retracted; and

[0027] [Fig.3] is a diagram showing the operation of this shutter system.

[0028] Throughout the document, the upper or top direction is relative to a vehicle placed on a horizontal ground, the front direction AV is relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0029] Figures 1 and 2 show a vehicle comprising a rear trunk opening flap 4 including at the front pivots 6 arranged at the rear end of the roof 2, having a kinematic allowing a complete turning of this flap forward into position A where it is placed on this roof.

[0030] By completely clearing the area above the trunk 10, a new use of the vehicle is obtained, allowing for the exceptional transport of objects 12 without height limitations, for journeys under specific conditions. In particular, furniture, a refrigerator, a plant, or a shrub of a certain height can be transported at limited speed.

[0031] The flap 4 has, in the center of its rear portion, a suction cup 20 with its opening facing outwards, which, in the rest position with the flap 4 closed, is fully retracted into a housing in the bodywork, without protruding from the outer surface of the flap. A hatch 22 formed as an extension of the bodywork closes the housing for the suction cup 20 in order to protect it, maintain the continuity of the bodywork, and preserve the aesthetics of the vehicle.

[0032] The suction cup 20 is held in the flap 4 by a mechanism allowing a small outward movement S, so that when this flap is fully turned around the suction cup, the suction cup can be lowered to compensate for the remaining distance between the outer surface of the flap and the pavilion 2, and the opening of the suction cup can be applied to this pavilion.

[0033] In particular the movements of releasing the hatch 22 and of exiting the suction cup 20 can be combined to obtain with the same manual or automated maneuver these movements which are accomplished together.

[0034] A vacuum system 24 connected to the suction cup 20 by a pipe 26 then applies a vacuum in this suction cup which allows its adhesion to the pavilion 2 to be locked.

[0035] The [Fig.3] shows successive operations including the user 30 wishing to transport objects 12 with the flap 4 turned forward, who performs an operation of turning 34 of the flap of the vehicle 32 forward, and an operation of gluing control 50 of the suction cup 20 on the roof 2 to perform this gluing automatically.

[0036] In particular, the operation of turning over the flap 34 or the operation of controlling the sticking of the suction cup 50 can control the positioning of this suction cup 20 with its small exit movement S, by a manual activation of its exit mechanism, or an automatic activation linked to the vehicle control system.

[0037] The operation of turning over the flap 34 causes an inquiry into the state of the vehicle control system 36, which if it is not ready gives a refusal 38 which does not command the vacuum system 40.

[0038] If the vehicle is ready, the interrogation 36 gives an acceptance 42 which is delivered to an interrogation on the speed of the vehicle 44 to check if it exceeds a minimum speed threshold Vmin 46, in the positive case delivering an agreement to an activation command 48 of the vacuum system 24.

[0039] The activation control 48 also receives information from the suction cup 50 sticking control coming from the user 30, in order to, with the agreement of the minimum speed threshold reached 46, carry out an activation of the vacuum system 24.

[0040] In a subsequent operation, a control of the activation of the vacuum system 52 maintains this activation for a vehicle speed exceeding the minimum speed threshold Vmin, controlled by the interrogation on the vehicle speed 44, to apply this activation only with sufficient speeds requiring a safety mechanism for the returned flap 4, in order to prevent aerodynamic forces from lifting it.

[0041] In the event that the vehicle speed falls below the minimum speed threshold Vmin, advantageously between 10 and 30 km / h, in particular a speed of At 20 km / h, the vacuum system is deactivated, which prevents it from operating unnecessarily.

[0042] Simultaneously, the activation control of the vacuum system 52 provides a limitation of the vehicle's speed to a maximum speed Vmax, preventing the application of excessive aerodynamic forces on the inverted flap 4. In particular, a maximum speed of 80 km / h results in relatively low aerodynamic forces, avoiding any risk of stalling.

[0043] With a minimum of operations, some of which can be automated with motorizations, such as the complete forward tilting of the flap 4, the release S of the suction cup 20 and the activation of the vacuum system 24, a rapid locking of this flap on the roof 2 is obtained, which ensures the safety of the vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle rear hatch system comprising a rear trunk (10) closure hatch (4), having a pivoting device (6) at the front allowing this hatch (4) to be turned completely towards the front of the vehicle by placing it above a roof canopy (2), characterized in that it comprises a suction cup (20) fixed on the rear part of the hatch (4), and a vacuum system (24) which applies a vacuum in this suction cup (4) when it is glued to the canopy (2) with the hatch (4) turned over.

2. Flap system according to claim 1, characterized in that the depressurization system (24) includes an automatic actuation device in case of tilting of the flap (4).

3. Damper system according to claim 2, characterized in that the automatic actuation device has a minimum speed threshold (Vmin) above which it applies vacuum.

4. Flap system according to claim 3, characterized in that the minimum speed threshold (Vmin) is between 10 and 30 km / h.

5. Flap system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the automatic actuation device includes a maximum speed threshold (Vmax) which limits the speed of the vehicle when it is actuated.

6. Shutter system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the closed shutter (4) position the suction cup (20) is retracted into a housing of this shutter (4) without protruding from its outer surface.

7. Shutter system according to claim 6, characterized in that the suction cup (20) is held by a mechanism allowing an outward movement (S) of the shutter (4), which during the complete reversal of this shutter (4) compensates for the distance with the pavilion (2) to apply the opening of the suction cup (20) to it.

8. Flap system according to claim 7, characterized in that a complete reversal of the flap (4) simultaneously actuates the exit movement mechanism (S) of the suction cup (20).

9. Motor vehicle comprising a rear flap (4) for closing a trunk (10), characterized in that this flap (4) is part of a flap system according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Method of operating a vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the complete reversal of the flap (4) forward automatically controls the vacuum system (24) according to predetermined conditions.

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