Gate structure

Abstract

To provide a gate structure that can restrict a gate from excessively rotating and prevent the gate from interfering with a vehicle component at the time of opening the gate of a vehicle.SOLUTION: In a gate structure disposed on a load carrying platform of a vehicle, a gate 10 includes support portions 13 disposed in the gate 10, and engagement portions 14 movably disposed on the support portions 13. When the gate 10 is opened, the engagement portions 14 protrude from the gate 10 and are restricted from moving in the protruding state, thereby being brought into contact with a contact target member of the vehicle to restrict the gate 10 from rotating.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gate structure provided on a cargo bed of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a vehicle with a bed as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (a so-called flatbed truck) is provided with tailgates on the bed. The tailgates are provided at the rear and left and right sides of the bed and rotate around hinges at the bottom ends. When loading and unloading cargo onto the bed, the tailgates are rotated downward to open the bed, making it easier to access the bed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-144164 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, for example, when loading and unloading luggage onto a cargo platform, the gate may be rotated downward to open the gate in order to facilitate access to the cargo platform. At this time, some workers may open the gate in a free-falling state. In this case, the gate rotates with such force that the stopper provided for the gate cannot fully stop it and it may interfere with vehicle parts of the vehicle, causing damage to the vehicle parts.

[0005] In order to stop the swing-up door from turning when it is opened without damaging it, the stopper must be made of a material that is easily elastically deformed, such as rubber, and the stopper cannot protrude beyond the vehicle width line. Also, some vehicle parts must be placed as close to the vehicle width line as possible due to the space under the loading platform. Therefore, depending on the type of vehicle, it may be difficult to avoid the swing-up door interfering with the vehicle parts with the current stopper.

[0006] The present invention has been devised to solve such problems, and aims to provide a tailgate structure that can restrict excessive rotation of the tailgate when the tailgate of a vehicle is opened, and prevent the tailgate from interfering with vehicle parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve at least part of the above problems, and can be realized in the following aspects or application examples. The gate structure according to this application example is a gate structure provided on the bed of a vehicle, and the gate comprises a support portion provided on the gate and a locking portion movably provided on the support portion, and when the gate is opened, the locking portion protrudes from the gate and is restricted in its movement in the protruding state, and abuts against an abutment target member of the vehicle to restrict the rotation of the gate.

[0008] According to this application example, when the door flap is opened, the locking portion provided on the door flap protrudes from the door flap and is restricted in its movement in the protruding state, thereby abutting against an abutment target member of the vehicle and restricting the rotation of the door flap. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to this embodiment, when the door hinge is opened, the locking portion restricts the rotation of the door hinge, so that it is possible to prevent the door hinge from interfering with vehicle components. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]1A and 1B are diagrams showing the gate structure of the first embodiment, in which (a) is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the gate in a closed state (a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1B), (b) is an outer view of the gate in a closed state (a view seen from the outside of the side of the vehicle), and (c) is an inner view of the gate in an open state (a view seen from the outside of the side of the vehicle). [Diagram 2] 6A and 6B are side views of a vehicle to which the door hinge structures shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 are applied, in which (a) is a side view of the door hinge in a closed state, and (b) is a side view of the door hinge in an open state. [Diagram 3] 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the gate structure shown in FIG. 1, in which (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the gate in a closed state (cross-sectional view taken along the arrow BB in FIG. 1B), and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the gate in an open state (cross-sectional view taken along the arrow CC in FIG. 1C). [Figure 4] 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views for explaining the action of the tilt structure shown in FIG. 1 during rotation, where FIG. 2A shows the tilt structure of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2B shows the tilt structure of a conventional structure. [Diagram 5] 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views showing a gate structure of a second embodiment, in which FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing the gate in a closed state, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing the gate in an open state. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the action of the tilt structure shown in FIG. 5 during rotation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is merely an example, and is not intended to exclude various modifications or application of techniques not specified in the following embodiment. Each configuration of this embodiment can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, they can be selected or combined as necessary.

[0012] [1. First embodiment] [1.1.Device configuration] As shown in Fig. 2(a), the vehicle according to this embodiment is a vehicle 1 equipped with a loading platform 3 behind a cab 2, i.e., a flatbed truck. The loading platform 3 is mounted on a frame 4, and side guards 10L, 10R, and 10RR are provided on both the left and right side edges and the rear edge of the loading platform 3, respectively. Rear wheels 6 and side guards 7 between the front wheels 5 and the rear wheels 6 are provided below both the left and right side edges of the loading platform 3, and a rear bumper 8 is provided below the rear edge of the loading platform 3. Note that in Fig. 2 and Figs. 1 and 3 to 6 described below, directions are indicated by arrows, with F indicating the front of the vehicle, R indicating the rear of the vehicle, UP indicating the upper side, DW indicating the lower side, IN indicating the inside of the vehicle, and OUT indicating the outside of the vehicle, respectively.

[0013] Each of the gates 10L, 10R, and 10RR can be opened and closed by rotating about a hinge 16 provided at the bottom end of each gate. Fig. 2(a) shows a state in which the gates 10L, 10R, and 10RR are all closed, and Fig. 2(b) shows a state in which only the gate 10R is open. The flap structure of this embodiment is applied to flap structures 10L, 10R on both the left and right side edges of the loading platform 3. Here, the description focuses on the flap 10R on the right side edge of the loading platform 3, but since the structures of the left and right flap structures 10L, 10R are symmetrical and configured in the same way, the left and right flap structures 10L, 10R will be described as flap 10 without distinguishing between them.

[0014] 1(a), (b) and 3(a), the gate 10 includes an outer panel 11 and an inner panel 21, and a recess 12 is formed in the outer panel 11. In this embodiment, the recess 12 is formed in two locations, at the front and rear of the vehicle 1. Each recess 12 includes a bottom wall portion 12a parallel to the outer panel 11, side wall portions 12b and 12c erected perpendicular to the bottom wall portion 12a on both sides of the bottom wall portion 12a in the vehicle front-rear direction, and an inclined wall portion 12d formed vertically above the bottom wall portion 12a.

[0015] A shaft portion (support portion) 13 is fixed near the vertically upper inclined wall portion 12d within the recess 12, the shaft portion (support portion) 13 penetrating the side walls 12b, 12c and extending horizontally in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Further, within the recess 12, an interference prevention rod (locking portion) 14 having a base end portion 14a at the vertically upper portion thereof pivotally supported by a shaft portion 13 is stored. The interference prevention rod 14 is a rod-shaped member for preventing interference with vehicle parts 9 (see FIG. 4) when the gate 10 is opened, but since it locks the gate 10 when the gate 10 is opened, it is also called a locking part. The shaft part 13 supports the interference prevention rod 14, so it is also called a support part.

[0016] The interference prevention rod 14 is a rod-shaped member for preventing interference with the vehicle parts 9 when the gate 10 is opened, and is made of a metal material such as iron. A buffer material 15 made of an elastic material such as rubber is attached to the vertically lower tip 14b of the interference prevention rod 14. Since the center of gravity of the interference prevention rod 14 is below the shaft portion 13, when the gate 10 is rotated to open, the interference prevention rod 14 protrudes outward from the recess 12 while rotating relative to the gate 10 with its tip portion 14b held vertically downward, as shown in Figure 4(a).

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3(b) , just before the tailgate 10 rotates approximately 180°, the side edge surface 14c of the interference prevention rod 14 abuts against the inclined wall portion 12d formed in the recess 12, and the relative rotation of the interference prevention rod 14 with respect to the tailgate 10R is restricted. In this state, when the tip portion 14b of the interference prevention rod 14 provided on the tailgate 10 abuts against a contact target member on the vehicle side, further rotation of the tailgate 10 is restricted. In this embodiment, the side guard 7 is applied to the contact target member in the front of the vehicle 1, and the rear wheel 6 is applied to the contact target member in the rear of the vehicle 1. Note that the contact target points of the interference prevention rod 14 are indicated by points P1 and P2 in FIG. 2(a). As shown in the figure, the contact target points of the rear wheel 6 are tires.

[0018] [1.2. Actions and Effects] Since the tilt structure according to this embodiment is configured as described above, it is possible to obtain the following actions and effects.

[0019] When the door flap 10 is rotated open, the interference prevention rod 14 protrudes outward from the recess 12 while rotating relative to the door flap 10 with its tip end 14b held vertically downward as shown in Fig. 4(a). Just before the door flap 10 rotates approximately 180°, the side edge surface 14c of the interference prevention rod 14 abuts against the inclined wall portion 12d formed in the recess 12, restricting the relative rotation of the interference prevention rod 14 with respect to the door flap 10. In this state, when the tip end 14b of the interference prevention rod 14 abuts against the side guard 7 or the rear wheel 6, which are the contact target members on the vehicle side, further rotation of the door flap 10 is restricted.

[0020] The outer surfaces of the side guard 7 and rear wheel 6, which are the components to be abutted, are located near the full width of the vehicle 1, and the tailgate 10 is restricted in its rotation before rotating approximately 180° (before reaching the vehicle width line), which is located outside the tip 14b of the interference prevention rod 14 in the vehicle width direction. 4(b), the present gate 10 can avoid interference with the vehicle component 9, which is arranged at the very edge of the vehicle width line of the vehicle 1 and would otherwise interfere with the conventional gate 40 even if restricted by the stopper 17. Therefore, damage to the vehicle component 9 can be avoided.

[0021] In this embodiment, the tip 14b of the interference prevention rod 14 is fitted with a cushioning material 15, so that when the tip 14b of the interference prevention rod 14 comes into contact with the vehicle-side contact target member, that is, the side guard 7 or the rear wheel 6, a cushioning effect is obtained by the cushioning material 15. This also has the effect of avoiding or reducing the risk of damage to the contact target member. In addition, since the contact target portion of the rear wheel 6 is the tire, the tip 14b of the interference prevention rod 14 comes into contact with the contact target portion more softly. When the gate 10 is rotated in the opposite direction to close it, the interference prevention rod 14 rotates relative to the gate 10 in the opposite direction to that described above as the gate 10 rotates, and is accommodated in the recess 12 when the gate 10 is closed.

[0022] [2. Second embodiment] [2.1.Device configuration] The vehicle according to this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the configurations of the support portions and the locking portions are different from those in the first embodiment, but the locations of the support portions and the locking portions are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0023] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5(a), an outer panel 31 and an inner panel 22 are provided at the upper part of the gate 30, and a tubular portion 32 is formed on the outer panel 31, the axial direction of which is inclined and which opens obliquely upward. In this embodiment as well, tubular portions (support portions) 32 are formed at two locations, one at the front and one at the rear of the vehicle 1. An interference prevention rod (contact portion) 33 is provided inside each tubular portion 32 so as to be able to freely appear and disappear.

[0024] The interference prevention rod 33 is a rod-shaped member for preventing interference with the vehicle parts 9 when the gate 30 is opened, but since it locks the gate 30 when the gate 30 is opened, it is also called a locking part. The tubular part 32 supports the interference prevention rod 33, so it is also called a support part. The cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical portion 32 and the interference prevention rod 33 may be rectangular or circular.

[0025] The outer diameter of the interference prevention rod 33 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 32, but a reduced diameter portion 34 having an inner diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion 32 is provided near the open end 32a of the cylindrical portion 32, and an expanded diameter portion 35 having an outer diameter larger than that of the interference prevention rod 33 is provided at the base end of the interference prevention rod 33. The outer diameter of the expanded diameter portion 35 of the interference prevention rod 33 is larger than the inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion 34 of the cylindrical portion 32, so that even if the tip of the interference prevention rod 33 protrudes outward from the open end 32a of the cylindrical portion 32, the expanded diameter portion 35 is engaged with the reduced diameter portion 34, and the interference prevention rod 33 will not come off from the cylindrical portion 32.

[0026] 6, when the swing arm 30 is rotated open, the open end 32a of the tubular portion 32 of the interference prevention rod 33 faces vertically downward when the rotation angle of the swing arm 30 approaches 90°, and the interference prevention rod 33 protrudes from the tubular portion 32 under its own weight. When the swing arm 10 rotates approximately 180° or before that, the tip end 33a of the interference prevention rod 33 abuts against the target contact member on the vehicle side (the side guard 7 or the rear wheel 6), and further rotation of the swing arm 30 is restricted.

[0027] When the tip 33a of the interference prevention rod 33 abuts against the contact objects 6, 7 on the vehicle side, as shown in Figure 5 (b), the interference prevention rod 33 receives a reaction force from the contact objects 6, 7, and the axis of the interference prevention rod 33 becomes misaligned relative to the axis of the tubular portion 32. As a result, the frictional force at the contact point between the interference prevention rod 33 and the tubular portion 32 increases, and the protruding interference prevention rod 33 does not move into the tubular portion 32.

[0028] [2.2. Actions and Effects] Since the flap structure of this embodiment is configured as described above, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the flap 30 from interfering with the vehicle components 9 even when the vehicle components 9 are positioned very close to the width line of the vehicle 1, and thus it is possible to avoid damage to the vehicle components 9 caused by interference by the flap 30. When the gate 30 is rotated in the opposite direction to close it, the interference prevention rod 33 returns to the cylinder 32 in the opposite direction to the above due to its own weight during the rotation of the gate 30, and is housed in the cylinder 32 when the gate 30 is closed.

[0029] [3.Other] Although not specifically provided in each of the above embodiments, an interlocking stopper may be provided that, when the gates 10, 30 are closed and locked in the closed state, in conjunction with this, restricts the movement of the interference prevention rods (contact portions) 14, 33 within the recess 12 or the cylinder 32. In this case, when the gates 10, 30 are unlocked, the interlocking stopper of the interference prevention rods 14, 33 is also released from the restriction, and the interference prevention rods 14, 33 become able to protrude outward from within the recess 12 or the cylinder 32 in conjunction with the opening operation of the gates 10, 30. Such an interlocking stopper can prevent unnecessary movement of the interference prevention rods 14, 33 while traveling.

[0030] In the above embodiments, an example has been described in which the interference prevention structure having the support parts 13, 32 and the interference prevention rods (locking parts) 14, 33 is applied to the flap parts 10L, 10R on both the left and right side edges of the cargo bed 3, but the interference prevention structure may be applied to the flap part 10RR on the rear edge of the cargo bed 3. In this case, the rear bumper 8 can be the contact target member. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 vehicle 2. Cab 3 Cargo platform 4 Frames 5 Front wheel 6 Rear wheel (contact part) 7 Side guard (contact part) 8 Rear bumper 9. Vehicle Parts 10,10L,10R,10RR,30,40 Teasing 11,31 Outer panel 12 Recess 12a Bottom wall 12b,12c Side wall part 12d Slanted wall section 13 Shaft part (support part) 14 Interference prevention rod (locking part) 14a Proximal end 14b Tip 14c Side edge surface 15 Cushioning material 16 Hinge 21,22 Inner panel 32 Cylindrical part (support part) 32a Open end 33 Interference prevention rod (contact part) 33a Tip 34 Reduced diameter part 35 Expanded diameter part

Claims

[Claim 1] A tailgate structure provided on a vehicle bed, The tilt includes a support portion provided on the tilt and a locking portion movably provided on the support portion, When the door is opened, the locking portion protrudes from the door and is restricted in movement in the protruding state, and abuts against a contact target member of the vehicle to restrict rotation of the door. A tilt structure characterized by:

Images