Rear gate structure of vehicle

Abstract

To enhance the rigidity of the rear gate of a vehicle while retaining the ornamental design of the rear gate.SOLUTION: A rear gate structure of a vehicle comprises: an outer panel; an inner panel: an outer peripheral skeleton part that is formed along the outer peripheral edge of the inner panel; an inner skeleton part connected with a step to the outer peripheral skeleton part within the outer peripheral skeleton part, and a stiffening plate that can be overlapped with a connection part of the outer peripheral skeleton part with the inner skeleton part. The stiffening plate has an outer junction, an inner junction and a connection stiffening plate part. The outer junction is made to join the inner panel in the outer peripheral skeleton part. The inner junction is made to join the portion of the inner panel that is inner than the inner skeleton part. The connection stiffening plate part is made to join the inner panel in the inner skeleton part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear gate structure for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Some vehicles, such as automobiles, have a rear gate that opens and closes relative to an opening at the rear of the vehicle body. In a rear gate, it is desirable for the outer panel to have a shape that matches the design of the vehicle, so it is difficult to form a skeletal structure in both the inner and outer panels that will deform the panels into a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape, for example. For this reason, in the rear gate, the inner panel is basically deformed into a hat-shaped cross section or the like, and the framework structure is provided only on the inner panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-067057 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-274688 A [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2018 / 110021 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, even if one attempts to increase the rigidity of the rear gate by forming a skeletal structure through deforming the inner panel in this manner, it is not easy to obtain high rigidity, as would be the case, for example, by overlapping the hat cross-sectional shape of the inner panel with the hat cross-sectional shape of the outer panel. As a result, the rear gate may give the impression of insufficient rigidity to passengers opening or closing the rear gate. In the following description, up, down, left, right, front and rear refer to directions in the vehicle with the rear gate closed.

[0005] For example, when closing an open rear gate, an occupant pulls down the central portion of the lower edge of the open rear gate with his / her hand. In order to provide a rear glass in the rear gate, a glass opening is formed in the upper portion of the inner panel and the upper portion of the outer panel. An input from the central portion of the lower edge of the rear gate may cause the rear gate to bend such that the lower portion of the rear gate is bent relative to the upper portion. Furthermore, in the upper portion of the rear gate, if a framework is formed only in the inner panel vertically on both the left and right sides of the glass opening, the upper portion of the rear gate itself may bend and flex due to an input from the central portion of the lower edge of the rear gate.

[0006] In addition, for example, when closing an open rear gate, an occupant may pull down the left end portion or the left end portion of the lower edge of the rear gate, rather than the central portion of the lower edge. The left and right portions of the lower part of the rear gate may bend so as to be twisted with respect to, for example, the central portion of the lower part of the rear gate. Furthermore, the input of a rotational force about the vertical axis in the center of the vehicle width direction of such a rear gate may cause undesirable forces in a direction different from the direction of movement of the cylinder members connecting the left and right edges of the rear gate to the vehicle body and the hinge members supporting the upper edge of the rear gate on the vehicle body so that it can be opened and closed.

[0007] Thus, there is a demand for vehicle rear gates that have increased rigidity while maintaining the design of the rear gate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A vehicle rear gate structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle rear gate structure that is provided to be capable of being opened and closed relative to a rear opening of a vehicle body, the rear gate structure comprising an outer panel that constitutes an outer surface of the vehicle by the rear gate, an inner panel that is provided on the inside of the vehicle with respect to the outer panel and at least an outer periphery of which is joined to the outer panel, a peripheral skeleton portion formed on the inner panel along the outer periphery of the inner panel, and a step-connected portion that is connected to the peripheral skeleton portion on the inside of the peripheral skeleton portion. and a stiffening plate overlaid on a connecting portion between the outer peripheral skeleton and the inner skeleton, the stiffening plate having an outer joint, an inner joint, and a connecting stiffening plate portion between the outer joint and the inner joint, the outer joint overlapping the outer peripheral skeleton and being joined to the inner panel at the outer peripheral skeleton, the inner joint being joined to a portion of the inner panel that is more inward than the inner skeleton, and the connecting stiffening plate portion being joined to the inner panel at the inner skeleton. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, since the stiffening plate is joined to the inner panel, the stiffening plate and the inner panel can increase the stiffness of the rear gate. Moreover, since the stiffening plate and the inner panel increase the stiffness of the rear gate, the outer panel can be formed in such a way as to ensure the design of the rear gate. Moreover, in the present invention, an outer peripheral skeleton is formed on the inner panel along the outer peripheral edge of the inner panel, and an inner skeleton is further formed inside the outer peripheral skeleton. At this time, the inner skeleton is connected to the outer peripheral skeleton with a step. This allows the basic shape of the outer peripheral skeleton to be retained in the portion of the outer peripheral skeleton where the inner skeleton is connected. In contrast, if the inner skeleton is connected to the outer peripheral skeleton without a step, a flat portion formed by the inner skeleton and the outer peripheral skeleton is formed in the connecting portion. As a result, it becomes difficult for the inner panel to obtain rigidity due to the skeleton structure in the flat portion. By providing multiple skeletons in the inner panel, the rigidity of the inner panel itself is partially reduced. In the present invention, it is possible to suppress such a reduction in rigidity in the connecting portion and increase the rigidity of the inner panel itself by using multiple skeletons. Further, in the present invention, a stiffening plate is overlapped on such a connecting portion and joined to the inner panel. In particular, the stiffening plate has an outer joint, an inner joint, and a connecting stiffening plate portion between the outer joint and the inner joint. The outer joint portion of the stiffening plate overlaps with the outer peripheral skeleton portion and is joined to the inner panel at the outer peripheral skeleton portion. The inner joint portion is joined to a portion of the inner panel that is more inward than the inner skeleton portion. The connecting stiffening plate portion is joined to the inner panel at the inner skeleton portion. In this way, by joining the stiffening plate to each of the multiple skeleton portions and further to their inner portions at at least three points at the connecting portion of the multiple skeleton portions of the inner panel, the connecting portion becomes less likely to bend or flex. In this way, the present invention can increase the rigidity of the rear gate while maintaining the design of the rear gate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state in which the rear gate of the automobile of FIG. 1 is open. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the rear gate of FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a schematic state of the rear gate in FIG. 3 in an opened and closed state. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the inner panel of the rear gate in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the central portion of the left edge of the inner panel in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a plurality of stiffening plates provided for the inner panel of FIG. 5 in this embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the left stiffening plate of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a joining state between the left stiffening plate in FIG. 8 and the inner panel. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the left stiffening plate and inner panel of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory view of a modified example of the stiffening plates of FIG. 7, seen from the rear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the rear gate 10 of the automobile 1 of FIG. 1 in an open state. In this embodiment, the front-rear, left-right, top-bottom directions are shown in a state where the rear gate 10 is closed as shown in Fig. 1. The vehicle width direction of the automobile 1 refers to the left-right direction.

[0013] An automobile 1 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is an example of a vehicle. The automobile 1 has a vehicle body 2 that defines a passenger compartment. The automobile 1 has a number of doors for passengers to get in and out of the passenger compartment, as well as a rear gate 10 for accessing a luggage compartment at the rear of the passenger compartment. The upper edge of the rear gate 10 is attached to the roof of the vehicle body 2 by a left hinge member 6 and a right hinge member 7. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rear gate 10 can be opened and closed relative to a rear opening 4 of the vehicle body 2. When the rear gate 10 is opened, a rear opening 4 appears in the body 2 of the automobile 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Passengers can use the rear opening 4 to load and unload luggage from the luggage compartment. The passenger also pulls down the open tailgate 10 to close it. The rear opening 4 of the body 2 of the automobile 1 is closed. Any baggage in the luggage compartment will not fall out of the rear opening 4. 1 and 2 has a pleasing design that makes extensive use of curved shapes, including the outer surface of the tailgate 10. The tailgate 10 harmonizes with other parts of the car 1, such as the left and right tail lamp members 19, and the design of the car 1 is unified overall.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the rear gate 10 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the schematic opened and closed states of the rear gate 10 in FIG.

[0015] The rear gate 10 of the automobile 1 has an outer panel 12 and an inner panel 11, as shown in FIG. The outer panel 12 may have a shape based on a substantially rectangular outline, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. The inner panel 11 is provided on the front side of the automobile 1 with respect to the outer panel 12. The inner panel 11 may be formed in a substantially rectangular shape similar to the outer panel 12. The outer panel 12 and the inner panel 11 are formed to have substantially the same outer shape, and their outer peripheral edges are joined together to form the basic structure of the rear gate 10.

[0016] A left hinge member 6 and a right hinge member 7 are attached to the upper edge of the rear gate 10. The left hinge member 6 and the right hinge member 7 support the rear gate 10 so as to be able to open and close relative to the rear opening 4 of the vehicle body 2.

[0017] A left cylinder member 16 serving as a connecting member is provided on the left edge of the rear gate 10. The upper end of the left cylinder member 16 is attached to the vehicle body 2. The lower end of the left cylinder member 16 is attached to the vertical center of the left edge of the rear gate 10.

[0018] A right cylinder member 16 serving as a connecting member is provided on the right edge of the rear gate 10. The upper end of the right cylinder member 16 is attached to the vehicle body 2. The lower end of the right cylinder member 16 is attached to the vertical center of the right edge of the rear gate 10. 2, the left cylinder member 16 and the right cylinder member 16 support either the left or right edge of the rear gate 10 on the body 2 of the automobile 1. This allows the rear gate 10 to be maintained in the open state even if hands are released from the rear gate 10.

[0019] A striker member 17 is provided on the lower edge of the rear gate 10. The striker member 17 is provided at the left-right center of the lower edge of the rear gate 10. In addition, a latch member 8 is provided on the vehicle body 2 in a lower central portion of the rear opening 4, as shown in FIG. When the rear gate 10 is closed, the striker member 17 engages with the latch member 8, as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 4. This allows the rear gate 10 to be maintained in a closed state.

[0020] 3, the vehicle body 2 is provided with a pair of elastic members 9. The pair of elastic members 9 are provided at the left and right edges of the rear opening 4 of the vehicle body 2, in the vertical center portion. As a result, the left and right edges of the closed rear gate 10 come into contact with the pair of elastic members 9. The closed rear gate 10 is less likely to rattle due to vibrations while the automobile 1 is traveling, etc.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, a rear glass 13 is fitted into a glass opening at the upper part of the outer panel 12, and a plate mounting surface 15 for mounting a license plate is formed in the center of the lower part. A garnish member 14 is attached between the rear glass 13 and the plate mounting surface 15. The garnish member 14 in this embodiment is formed to have the same width as the outer panel 12, and is attached to the outer panel 12 so as to cross the entire width in the left-right direction at the center of the outer panel 12 in the up-down direction. Left and right tail lamp members 19 are provided on the left and right sides of the garnish member 14 on the vehicle body 2. The outer panel 12 and the garnish member 14 are formed into a curved shape, for example with a central portion in the vehicle width direction protruding, in order to match the design of the rear of the automobile 1. The outer panel 12, together with the garnish member 14 and the left and right tail lamp members 19, constitute the outer surface of the rear of the automobile 1 formed by the rear gate 10, and is therefore designed into a shape that matches the design of the automobile 1.

[0022] For this reason, in the rear gate 10, the inner panel 11 is basically deformed into a hat-shaped cross section or the like, and basically only the inner panel 11 is provided with a framework structure. In the rear gate 10, it is difficult to form a framework structure in both the inner panel 11 and the outer panel 12 that will deform the panels into a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape or the like. The rear gate 10 may give the impression of insufficient rigidity to passengers who operate the rear gate 10 to open or close it.

[0023] For example, when closing an open rear gate 10, a passenger pulls down the central portion of the lower edge of the open rear gate 10 with his / her hand, as shown by force Fa in Figures 3 and 4. In order to provide a rear glass 13 in the rear gate 10, glass openings are formed in the upper part of the inner panel 11 and the upper part of the outer panel 12. When an input is applied to the central portion of the lower edge of the rear gate 10, the rear gate 10 can bend so that its lower portion is bent relative to its upper portion. In addition, in the upper part of the rear gate 10, if the framework is formed vertically on both the left and right sides of the glass opening only in the inner panel 11, the upper part of the rear gate 10 itself may bend and flex when subjected to an input from the central part of the lower edge of the rear gate 10.

[0024] In addition, for example, when closing an open rear gate 10, an occupant may pull down the left end portion of the lower edge or the left end portion of the lower edge as in force Fb or force Fc in Figure 3, rather than the central portion of the lower edge of the rear gate 10 as in force Fa in Figures 3 and 4. The left and right portions of the lower part of the rear gate 10 may bend so as to be twisted relative to, for example, the central portion of the lower part of the rear gate 10. Furthermore, due to the input of such a rotational force about the vertical axis at the center of the vehicle width direction of the rear gate 10, an undesirable force in a direction different from the direction of movement may act on the left cylinder member 16 and the right cylinder member 16 that connect the left and right edges of the rear gate 10 to the vehicle body 2. Similarly, an undesirable force in a direction different from the direction of movement may act on the left hinge member 6 and the right hinge member 7 that support the upper edge of the rear gate 10 to the vehicle body 2 so that it can be opened and closed.

[0025] In addition, for example, a force in the width direction of the automobile 1 may be input from the side to the open rear gate 10, as in the case of force Fd in Fig. 3. Such a lateral input Fd may generate a force Fr that rotates the rear gate 10 within the plane of the rear gate 10. As a result, the rear gate 10 may bend so that its entire shape changes from a rectangle to a parallelogram. Furthermore, by inputting a force Fr that rotates the rear gate 10 in a plane, an undesirable force in a direction different from the direction of movement may act on the left cylinder member 16 and the right cylinder member 16 that connect the left and right edges of the rear gate 10 to the vehicle body 2. Similarly, an undesirable force in a direction different from the direction of movement may act on the left hinge member 6 and the right hinge member 7 that support the upper edge of the rear gate 10 on the vehicle body 2 so that it can be opened and closed.

[0026] Thus, the rear gate 10 of the automobile 1 is required to have high rigidity so that the rear gate 10 is not flexed or bent while maintaining the design of the rear gate 10.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the inner panel 11 of the rear gate 10 in FIG. 1, as viewed from the rear.

[0028] In this embodiment, a glass opening 20 overlapping with the rear glass 13 is formed in the upper part of the inner panel 11. In addition, an auxiliary panel 30 joined to the inner panel 11 is provided below the glass opening 20 of the inner panel 11. A window periphery 23 which is the peripheral portion around the glass opening 20 is joined to a window periphery which is the peripheral portion around the glass opening of the outer panel 12 . The inner panel 11 is formed with a plurality of skeleton parts, including a peripheral skeleton part 21, a left vertical inner skeleton part 24, a right vertical inner skeleton part 25, a central connecting skeleton part 26, a left oblique inner skeleton part 27, and a right oblique inner skeleton part 28. The plurality of skeleton parts are formed in the inner panel 11 by extruding a steel plate for the inner panel 11 by press working to deform it into a hat cross-sectional shape.

[0029] The outer peripheral skeleton 21 is formed on the inner panel 11 along the outer peripheral edge of the substantially rectangular inner panel 11. The outer peripheral skeleton 21 is formed in an annular shape along the outer peripheral edge of the substantially rectangular inner panel 11. Further, on the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21, a left cylinder mounting portion 33, a right cylinder mounting portion 34, a striker mounting portion 35, a left hinge mounting portion 31, and a right hinge mounting portion 32 are arranged.

[0030] The left cylinder attachment portion 33 is a portion for attaching the left cylinder member 16 to the center of the left edge of the inner panel 11 of the rear gate 10 by screwing.

[0031] The right cylinder attachment portion 34 is a portion for attaching the right cylinder member 16 to the center of the right edge of the inner panel 11 of the rear gate 10 by screwing.

[0032] The striker attachment portion 35 is a portion for attaching the striker member 17 to the center of the lower edge of the inner panel 11 of the rear gate 10 by screwing.

[0033] The left hinge attachment portion 31 is a portion for attaching the left hinge member 6 to the upper left side of the inner panel 11 of the rear gate 10 by screwing.

[0034] The right hinge attachment portion 32 is a portion for attaching the right hinge member 7 to the upper right side of the inner panel 11 of the rear gate 10 by screwing.

[0035] The left vertical inner skeleton 24 is formed on the lower part of the inner panel 11, inside the outer periphery skeleton 21. The left vertical inner skeleton 24 is formed vertically along the up-down direction on the left side part of the lower part of the inner panel 11. The upper end of the left vertical inner skeleton 24 is connected to the window peripheral portion 23. The lower end of the left vertical inner skeleton 24 is connected to the outer periphery skeleton 21.

[0036] The right vertical inner skeleton 25 is formed on the lower part of the inner panel 11, inside the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The right vertical inner skeleton 25 is formed vertically along the up-down direction on the right side part of the lower part of the inner panel 11. The upper end of the right vertical inner skeleton 25 is connected to the window peripheral portion 23. The lower end of the right vertical inner skeleton 25 is connected to the outer peripheral skeleton 21.

[0037] The central connecting skeleton 26 is formed on the lower part of the inner panel 11, inside the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The central connecting skeleton 26 is formed horizontally along the left-right direction on the lower part of the inner panel 11. The left end of the central connecting skeleton 26 is connected to the left vertical inner skeleton 24. The right end of the central connecting skeleton 26 is connected to the right vertical inner skeleton 25.

[0038] The left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 is formed on the lower part of the inner panel 11, inside the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21. The left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 is formed on the lower part of the inner panel 11 obliquely so as to extend from the left side of the lower end of the left vertical inner skeleton portion 24 toward the upper left direction. The lower end of the left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 is connected to the left vertical inner skeleton portion 24. The upper end of the left vertical inner skeleton portion 24 is joined to the center of the left edge of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21.

[0039] The right oblique inner skeleton portion 28 is formed on the lower part of the inner panel 11, inside the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21. The right oblique inner skeleton portion 28 is formed on the lower part of the inner panel 11 obliquely so as to extend from the right side of the lower end of the right vertical inner skeleton portion 25 toward the upper right direction. The lower end of the right oblique inner skeleton portion 28 is connected to the right vertical inner skeleton portion 25. The upper end of the right vertical inner skeleton portion 25 is joined to the center of the right edge of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21.

[0040] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the central portion of the left edge of the inner panel 11 in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 also shows the outer panel 12 of the rear gate 10. Incidentally, the central portion of the right edge of the inner panel 11 also has a cross section similar to that shown in FIG. 6, as if FIG. 6 were turned over. In FIG. 6, the inner side is the right side and the outer side is the left side.

[0041] 6, the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 having a hat cross-sectional shape has an outer inclined surface 42, a bottom surface portion 41, and an inner inclined surface 43. This provides a hat cross-sectional shape that can function as a skeleton structure. On the outside of the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral frame portion 21, the outer peripheral edge portion 22 of the inner panel 11 is formed. A bottom surface portion 44 of the left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 is formed inside the inner inclined surface 43 of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21. In the AA cross section, the left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 has a bottom surface portion 44 and an inner inclined surface 45. An inner portion 29 of the inner panel 11 is formed on the inner side of the inner inclined surface 45 of the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27, which is more inner than the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27. In the example of FIG. 6, the inner portion 29 of the inner panel 11 has an unbent, flat surface shape formed by the inner panel 11 and the auxiliary panel 30.

[0042] In this manner, in this embodiment, various internal skeleton portions such as the left diagonal internal skeleton portion 27 are connected to the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 on the inside of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 with a step. In addition, in a portion different from the AA cross section in Fig. 6, the internal skeleton is not connected to the inside of the peripheral skeleton 21. The cross section in this case is as shown by the dashed line 48 in Fig. 6. The outer inclined surface 42 and the inner inclined surface 43 of the peripheral skeleton 21 form a hat-shaped cross section symmetrical to the bottom surface 41.

[0043] In contrast to this embodiment, it is also possible to align the bottom surface 41 of the left oblique inner skeleton 27 flush with the bottom surface 41 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21, as shown by reference numeral 49 in FIG. 6. However, when the two bottom surface portions 41 are aligned flush in this manner, a wide bottom surface is formed by these multiple bottom surface portions 41. The outer peripheral skeleton 21 does not have an inner inclined surface 43 at the connection portion where the wide bottom surface is formed. As a result, the rigidity of the portion of the inner panel 11 where the outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the inner skeleton are connected is difficult to increase, even though the outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the inner skeleton are formed in the inner panel 11. The inner panel 11 has a lower rigidity at the connection portion between the outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the inner skeleton than other portions where such connection is not made. In this embodiment, various internal skeleton parts such as the left diagonal internal skeleton part 27 are connected to the peripheral skeleton part 21 with a step. As a result, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of each skeleton part are left as much as possible even in the connecting parts, and a decrease in rigidity at the connecting parts is suppressed. In this embodiment, for example, by forming the peripheral skeleton part 21 along the outer periphery of the inner panel 11, it becomes easier to ensure the rigidity that can be expected.

[0044] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a plurality of stiffening plates provided for the inner panel 11 of FIG. 5 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, in order to stiffen the inner panel 11 and ensure a desired rigidity for the rear gate 10, a plurality of stiffening plates are provided for the inner panel 11. FIG. 7 shows a left stiffening plate 51, a right stiffening plate 52, a lower stiffening plate 55, an upper left stiffening plate 53, and an upper right stiffening plate 54 as stiffening plates. Among these, the left stiffening plate 51, the right stiffening plate 52, and the lower stiffening plate 55 are overlapped on the connection portion between the outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the inner skeleton. The upper left stiffening plate 53 and the upper right stiffening plate 54 are overlapped on the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21. These stiffening plates are joined to the inner panel 11 by spot welding or the like. The stiffening plates are sandwiched between the inner panel 11 and the outer panel 12 of the rear gate 10.

[0045] The left stiffening plate 51 is provided overlapping the connecting portion between the outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the upper end portion of the left diagonal inner skeleton 27. The left stiffening plate 51 also overlaps with the left cylinder mounting portion 33 provided on the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The left stiffening plate 51 is formed to have an outer shape and size of a horizontally elongated, approximately rectangular shape that overlaps with the range of the inner panel 11 from the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 to the window periphery 23.

[0046] The right stiffening plate 52 is provided overlapping the connecting portion between the outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the upper end portion of the right diagonal inner skeleton 28. The right stiffening plate 52 also overlaps with the right cylinder mounting portion 34 provided on the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The right stiffening plate 52 is formed to have an outer shape and size of a horizontally elongated, approximately rectangular shape that overlaps with the range of the inner panel 11 from the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 to the window peripheral portion 23.

[0047] The lower stiffening plate 55 is provided to overlap the connecting portion between the outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the lower end portion of the left vertical internal skeleton 24, and the connecting portion between the outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the right vertical internal skeleton 25. The lower stiffening plate 55 also overlaps with the striker attachment portion 35 provided on the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The lower stiffening plate 55 is formed in a horizontally elongated, approximately rectangular shape and size that overlaps the range from the lower end portion of the left vertical internal skeleton 24 to the lower end portion of the right vertical internal skeleton 25.

[0048] The upper left stiffening plate 53 is provided so as to overlap with the upper left corner portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 that is formed in an annular shape along the outer edge of the inner panel 11. The upper left stiffening plate 53 has a curved long plate shape with an outer shape that is curved in a substantially L-shape along the upper left corner portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The right edge portion of the curved long plate shape of the upper left stiffening plate 53 is closer to the center in the vehicle width direction than the left hinge mounting portion 31. The lower left edge portion of the curved end of the curved long plate shape of the upper left stiffening plate 53 is located on the left side of the glass opening 20. The upper left stiffening plate 53 overlaps with the left hinge mounting portion 31 provided on the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21.

[0049] The upper right stiffening plate 54 is provided so as to overlap with the upper right corner portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 that is formed in an annular shape along the outer edge of the inner panel 11. The upper right stiffening plate 54 has a curved long plate shape with an outer shape that is curved in a substantially L-shape along the upper right corner portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The left edge portion of the curved long plate shape of the upper right stiffening plate 54 is closer to the center in the vehicle width direction than the right hinge mounting portion 32. The right lower edge portion of the curved end of the curved long plate shape of the upper right stiffening plate 54 is located on the right side of the glass opening 20. The upper right stiffening plate 54 overlaps with the right hinge mounting portion 32 provided on the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the left stiffening plate 51 of FIG. The left stiffening plate 51 in Fig. 8 has an outer joint portion 61, an inner joint portion 62, and a connecting stiffening plate portion 63 between the outer joint portion 61 and the inner joint portion 62. The left stiffening plate 51 may be formed so as to have each portion shown in Fig. 8, for example, by extruding a steel plate having the outline of Fig. 8 through press working. The right stiffening plate 52 also has an outer joint portion 61, an inner joint portion 62, and a connecting stiffening plate portion 63, similar to Fig. 8. However, the left and right order is reversed from Fig. 8. In addition, the other stiffening plates shown in Fig. 7 may also basically have an outer joint portion 61, an inner joint portion 62, and a connecting stiffening plate portion 63.

[0051] The outer joint portion 61 is formed in a long plate shape so as to fit along the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral framework portion 21. The outer joint portion 61 stands against the connecting stiffening plate portion 63. A pair of screw holes 64 are formed in the outer joint portion 61 at a portion overlapping with the left cylinder mounting portion 33, for screwing together with the left cylinder mounting portion 33 of the inner panel 11 and the left cylinder member 16.

[0052] The inner joint portion 62 is formed in a plane shape following a portion of the inner panel 11 that is located inside the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27. Here, an example of a plane shape is shown. The inner joint portion 62 is formed with a relatively large surface so that the left stiffening plate 51 reaches the window peripheral portion 23. Note that the left stiffening plate 51 may be formed with a surface that does not reach the window peripheral portion 23, but reaches, for example, the joint portion between the auxiliary panel 30 and the inner panel 11.

[0053] The connecting stiffening plate portion 63 is a basically flat portion between the outer joint portion 61 and the inner joint portion 62. The outer joint portion 61 is bent significantly so as to bend at a substantially right angle to the basically flat connecting stiffening plate portion 63. The inner joint portion 62 is bent slightly to the basically flat connecting stiffening plate portion 63. Basically, the flat connecting stiffening plate part 63 has an upper recess 65 and a lower recess 66 arranged vertically. As a result, the connecting stiffening plate part 63 has an upper edge connecting surface part 67, an upper recess 65, a connecting bone part 68, a lower recess 66, and a lower edge connecting surface part 69 arranged vertically from top to bottom. By having such a three-dimensional structure, the connecting stiffening plate part 63 becomes difficult to bend or twist. The upper edge connecting surface portion 67, the connecting bone portion 68, and the lower edge connecting surface portion 69 are basically flat plate-shaped portions.

[0054] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a joining state between the left stiffening plate 51 and the inner panel 11 in FIG.

[0055] The left stiffening plate 51 is provided so as to overlap the connecting portion between the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 of the inner panel 11 and the upper end portion of the left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 .

[0056] The outer joint portion 61 of the left stiffening plate 51 is provided so as to follow the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral framework portion 21. The outer joint portion 61 overlaps with the left cylinder mounting portion 33. The inner joint portion 62 overlaps with the lower left corner portion of the window peripheral portion 23.

[0057] The right stiffening plate 52 is also provided in a state similar to that shown in FIG. 9, overlapping the connecting portion between the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 of the inner panel 11 and the upper end portion of the right oblique inner skeleton portion 28 .

[0058] In the overlapping state shown in FIG. 9, the left stiffening plate 51 and the inner panel 11 are joined together by spot welding or the like. FIG. 9 shows an example of a plurality of joints 70 between the left stiffening plate 51 and the inner panel 11. In FIG. 9, the outer joint portion 61 is joined to the outer inclined surface 42 which is the outer portion of the outer periphery skeleton portion 21 at three joint portions 70 above, below and between the pair of screw holes 64. The inner joint 62 is joined to the lower left corner of the window peripheral portion 23 at a plurality of joints 70. The inner joint 62 is also joined to the joint portion between the auxiliary panel 30 and the inner panel 11 at a plurality of joints 70. As a result, the inner joint 62 is joined to a portion of the inner panel 11 that is more inward than the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27 at the plurality of joints 70. The connecting stiffening plate portion 63 is joined to the bottom surface portion 44 of the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27 at the lower recess 66. The upper recess 65 may also be joined to the bottom surface portion 41 of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 or the bottom surface portion 44 of the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27.

[0059] By means of multiple joints 70 as shown in Figure 9, the outer joint 61 is joined to the outer inclined surface 42, which is the outer part of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 of the inner panel 11, at the extension of the upper edge connecting surface portion 67, the extension of the connecting bone portion 68, and the extension of the lower edge connecting surface portion 69 of the connecting stiffening plate portion 63. The inner joint 62 is joined to the portion 29 of the inner panel 11 that is inner than the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27 at the extension of the upper edge connecting surface portion 67, the extension of the connecting bone portion 68, and the extension of the lower edge connecting surface portion 69 of the connecting stiffening plate portion 63.

[0060] As a result, the basically flat upper edge connecting surface portion 67 can connect the inner joint portion 70 and the outer joint in a straight line in the shortest possible distance. The upper edge connecting surface portion 67 increases the rigidity between the inner joint portion 70 and the outer joint. The basically flat lower edge connecting surface portion 69 can connect the inner joint portion 70 and the outer joint in a straight line in the shortest possible manner. The lower edge connecting surface portion 69 increases the rigidity between the inner joint portion 70 and the outer joint. The flat connecting bone portion 68 can connect the inner joint portion 70 and the outer joint portion in a straight line in the shortest possible manner. The connecting bone portion 68 increases the rigidity between the inner joint portion 70 and the outer joint portion.

[0061] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the left stiffening plate 51 and the inner panel 11 in FIG. The outer peripheral skeleton 21 and the left diagonal inner skeleton 27 also appear in the BB cross section of Fig. 10 in the same cross sectional shape as the AA cross sectional view of Fig. 6. In Fig. 10, the outer panel 12 of the rear gate 10 is also shown.

[0062] As shown by dashed lines in Figure 10, the connecting stiffening plate portion 63 of the left stiffening plate 51, which is the portion that overlaps with the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 and the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27, is joined to the bottom portion 44 of the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27 at the lower recess 66. The outer joint 61 is joined to the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The inner joint 62 is joined to a portion of the inner panel 11 that is more inward than the left diagonal inner skeleton 27. This portion more inward than the left diagonal inner skeleton 27 includes the window peripheral portion 23, which provides high rigidity, and the joint portion between the auxiliary panel 30 and the inner panel 11. Also, on the cross-sectional line BB shown in Figure 9, one joint 70 of the outer joint 61, one joint 70 of the connecting stiffening plate portion 63, and two joints 70 of the inner joint 62 are arranged in a straight line.

[0063] By combining such joints 70, the upper edge connecting surface 67, the lower edge connecting surface 69, and the connecting bone portion 68 firmly connect the outer joint 61 and the inner joint 62, and can suppress deformation that would change the distance between the outer joint 61 and the inner joint 62. In addition, the left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 is connected to the outer inclined surface 42 of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 through a left stiffening plate 51 that is difficult to deform.

[0064] As described above, according to this embodiment, since stiffening plates such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52 are joined to the inner panel 11, the stiffening plates can increase the stiffness of the rear gate 10. Moreover, since the stiffening plates increase the stiffness of the rear gate 10, the outer panel 12 can be formed in such a way as to ensure the design of the rear gate 10. Moreover, in this embodiment, the outer peripheral skeleton 21 is formed in the inner panel 11 along the outer peripheral edge of the inner panel 11, and further, an inner skeleton such as the left oblique inner skeleton 27 is formed inside the outer peripheral skeleton 21. At this time, both ends of the inner skeleton are connected to the outer peripheral skeleton 21 with a step. Due to the step, the basic shape of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 can be left in the part of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 where the inner skeleton is connected. In contrast, if both ends of the inner skeleton are connected to the outer peripheral skeleton 21 without a step, a large flat part is formed by the inner skeleton and the outer peripheral skeleton 21 at the connecting part. As a result, it is difficult for the inner panel 11 to obtain rigidity due to the skeleton structure in the large flat part. By providing multiple skeletons in the inner panel 11, the rigidity of the inner panel 11 itself is partially reduced. In this embodiment, it is possible to suppress such a reduction in rigidity at the connecting part and increase the rigidity of the inner panel 11 itself by using multiple skeletons. In this embodiment, stiffening plates such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52 are overlapped with such a connecting portion and joined to the inner panel 11. In particular, the stiffening plate has an outer joint 61, an inner joint 62, and a connecting stiffening plate portion 63 between the outer joint 61 and the inner joint 62. The outer joint 61 of the stiffening plate overlaps with the outer inclined surface 42 which is the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21, and is joined to the inner panel 11 at the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21. The inner joint 62 is joined to a portion of the inner panel 11 which is on the inner side of the inner skeleton portion. The connecting stiffening plate portion 63 is joined to the inner panel 11 at the inner skeleton portion. In this way, by joining the stiffening plate to each of the multiple skeleton portions and further to their inner portions at least three points at the connecting portion of the multiple skeleton portions of the inner panel 11, the connecting portion becomes difficult to bend or bend. Moreover, the outer joint portion 61 of the stiffening plates such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52 is joined at the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The outer peripheral skeleton 21 is formed along the outer peripheral edge of the inner panel 11. In the rear gate 10, the outer peripheral edge of the inner panel 11 is basically joined to the outer peripheral edge of the outer panel 12 over the entire circumference. In the rear gate 10, the outer peripheral edge of the inner panel 11 has high rigidity. By joining the stiffening plates to the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 close to the outer peripheral edge having high rigidity, the joint portion is unlikely to move even if an external force acts on the rear gate 10 or the inner panel 11. The attachment state of the stiffening plates to the inner panel 11 is unlikely to change. A force that would peel off the joints between the stiffening plates and the inner panel 11 is unlikely to act on the multiple joints.

[0065] In this embodiment, the inner panel 11 is formed with an attachment portion for a connecting member for supporting the rear gate 10 on the automobile 1, for example, the left cylinder attachment portion 33, on the outer inclined surface 42, which is the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. The outer joint portion 61 of the stiffening plate, such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52, overlaps with the attachment portion and is screwed to the attachment member together with the attachment portion. As a result, for example, a force acting on the stiffening plate through the inner skeleton can be directly transmitted from the stiffening plate to a connecting member, such as the left cylinder member 16, for supporting the rear gate 10 on the automobile 1. In the inner panel 11, since the outer peripheral skeleton 21 is provided around it, the attachment portion for the connecting member cannot be formed at or near the inner skeleton, but the force acting on the inner skeleton can be directly transmitted to the connecting member through the stiffening plate.

[0066] In this embodiment, an upper recess 65 and a lower recess 66 are formed in a vertical line in the connecting stiffening plate portion 63 of the stiffening plate such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52. As a result, an upper edge connecting surface portion 67, an upper recess 65, a connecting bone portion 68, a lower recess 66, and a lower edge connecting surface portion 69 are formed in a vertical line in the connecting stiffening plate portion 63. The connecting stiffening plate portion 63 having such a three-dimensional structure is difficult to bend or twist. The stiffening plate is difficult to deform, and the force acting on the stiffening plate can be transmitted as it is. Moreover, by forming the upper recess 65 and the lower recess 66 in this manner, the connecting stiffening plate portion 63 can be joined to the diagonal inner skeleton portion of the inner panel 11 at least at one of the upper recess 65 and the lower recess 66. In addition, stiffening plates such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52 having the three-dimensional connecting stiffening plate portion 63 are joined to the inner panel 11 at least at the above-mentioned three locations. The cross section formed by the stiffening plate having the three-dimensional connecting stiffening plate portion 63 and the inner panel 11 becomes less likely to deform. The connecting portion of the inner panel 11 between the outer periphery skeleton portion 21 and the internal skeleton portion becomes less likely to deform.

[0067] In this embodiment, the outer joint portion 61 of the stiffening plates such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52 is joined to the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 of the inner panel 11 at the extension portion of the upper edge connecting surface portion 67, the extension portion of the connecting bone portion 68, and the extension portion of the lower edge connecting surface portion 69 of the connecting stiffening plate portion 63. Also, the inner joint portion 62 of the stiffening plate is joined to the portion of the inner panel 11 that is more inward than the diagonal inner skeleton portion at the extension portion of the upper edge connecting surface portion 67, the extension portion of the connecting bone portion 68, and the extension portion of the lower edge connecting surface portion 69 of the connecting stiffening plate portion 63. As a result, an upper edge connecting surface portion 67 and a lower edge connecting surface portion 69 are provided between the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 of the inner panel 11 and the portion located inside the diagonal inner skeleton portion so as to bridge the space between them. Moreover, the connecting bone portion 68 extends between the upper edge connecting surface portion 67 and the lower edge connecting surface portion 69. This makes it easier for the connecting stiffening plate portion 63 of the stiffening plates such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52 to maintain its shape even when an external force is applied. And, by bridging the upper edge connecting surface portion 67 and the lower edge connecting surface portion 69 of the stiffening plate, which can maintain their shape against an external force, the spacing and relative position between the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 of the inner panel 11 and the part inside the diagonal inner skeleton portion can be easily maintained against an external force.

[0068] In this embodiment, the inner joint 62 of the stiffening plates such as the left stiffening plate 51 and the right stiffening plate 52 overlaps with the peripheral portion around the glass opening 20 and is joined to the inner panel 11 at the peripheral portion. The inner joint 62 also overlaps with the joint portion between the inner panel 11 and its auxiliary panel 30 and is joined to the inner panel 11 at the joint portion. This allows the inner joint 62 to be firmly joined to the portion of the inner panel 11 that is on the inside of the diagonal inner skeleton portion. Even if the portion of the inner panel 11 that is on the inside of the diagonal inner skeleton portion is a flat portion without a skeleton portion, the inner joint 62 is firmly joined to the portion of the inner panel 11 that is on the inside of the diagonal inner skeleton portion by being joined to the flat portion at two points, and can be supported.

[0069] In this manner, in this embodiment, the rigidity of the rear gate 10 can be increased while maintaining the design of the rear gate 10.

[0070] For example, when the rear gate 10 is opened or closed, a force Fa shown in FIG. A part of this force Fa can be transmitted to the window peripheral portion 23, which is the peripheral portion around the glass opening 20, for example through the left vertical inner skeleton portion 24 and the right vertical inner skeleton portion 25. Since the window peripheral portion 23 has a strong structure in which the inner panel 11 and the outer panel 12 are overlapped and joined, the force can be further transmitted in the left-right direction to the left stiffening plate 51, the right stiffening plate 52, etc. Further, another part of the force Fa can be transmitted to the left stiffening plate 51, the right stiffening plate 52, and the like through the left diagonal inner skeleton part 27 and the right diagonal inner skeleton part 28, which are arranged in a substantially V-shape. The left stiffening plate 51 is screwed to the left cylinder member 16. The right stiffening plate 52 is screwed to the right cylinder member 16. As a result, the rear gate 10 in this embodiment, which is formed by overlapping the inner panel 11 and the outer panel 12, is less likely to bend or flex when a force Fa is applied. For example, the lower part of the rear gate 10 is less likely to bend or flex relative to the upper part of the rear gate 10. The upper part of the rear gate 10 itself is less likely to bend or flex.

[0071] In addition, for example, when opening or closing the rear gate 10, the passenger may input the force Fb or the force Fc shown in FIG. For example, the force Fb may cause the lower left portion of the rear gate 10 to bend relative to other portions. However, in this embodiment, the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 is joined to the left stiffening plate 51, and is further indirectly joined to the left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 and the window peripheral portion 23 through the left stiffening plate 51. Furthermore, a rectangular frame-shaped skeleton structure is formed by the left vertical inner skeleton portion 24, the window peripheral portion 23, and the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21. The rectangular frame-shaped skeleton structure is further made less likely to deform by the left oblique inner skeleton portion 27 being provided like a diagonal brace. As a result, the outer peripheral framework 21 in the lower left portion of the rear gate 10 in this embodiment is less likely to deform or to bend or flex when the force Fb is applied.

[0072] In addition, for example, a glass opening 20 is formed in the upper part of the inner panel 11 to provide a rear glass 13. Therefore, only the peripheral skeleton part 21 is formed as a skeleton structure in the upper part of the inner panel 11. In this case, the peripheral skeleton part 21 is easily bent at the connection part between the upper part and the lower part. In this embodiment, a left stiffening plate 51 and a right stiffening plate 52 are overlapped and joined to the connection part between the upper part and the lower part of the peripheral skeleton part 21. As a result, the peripheral skeleton 21 is less likely to bend at the connection between its upper and lower parts.

[0073] The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0074] Fig. 11 is a schematic explanatory diagram, seen from the rear, of a modified example of the stiffening plates of Fig. 7. In Fig. 11, a lower stiffening plate 55 among the stiffening plates is modified from that of Fig. 7. 11 is formed to have a horizontally long, substantially rectangular outer shape and size that overlaps with the lower end portion of the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27, the lower end portion of the right diagonal inner skeleton portion 28, and the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21. The lower stiffening plate 55, together with the striker attachment portion 35, is screwed to the striker member 17. In such a lower stiffening plate 55, as shown by the dashed frame in the figure, the left side portion of the lower stiffening plate 55 overlaps the connecting portions of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21, the lower end portion of the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27, and the lower end portion of the left vertical inner skeleton portion 24.

[0075] In this case, the left side portion of the lower stiffening plate 55 can have, for example, an outer joint portion 61, an inner joint portion 62, and a connecting stiffening plate portion 63, similar to the left stiffening plate 51 described above. The outer joint 61 of the left side portion of the lower stiffening plate 55 is joined to the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21, the inner joint 62 is joined, for example, between the lower end portion of the left diagonal internal skeleton portion 27 and the lower end portion of the left vertical internal skeleton portion 24, and the connecting stiffening plate portion 63 may be joined to the lower end portion of the left diagonal internal skeleton portion 27. As a result, even if the lower end portion of the left diagonal inner skeleton portion 27 is connected with a step on the inside of the outer skeleton portion 21, it can be joined to the outer portion of the outer skeleton portion 21 through the left side portion of the lower stiffening plate 55.

[0076] Similarly, the right side portion of the lower stiffening plate 55 may have, for example, an outer joint portion 61, an inner joint portion 62, and a connecting stiffening plate portion 63, similar to the left stiffening plate 51 described above. The outer joint 61 of the right side portion of the lower stiffening plate 55 is joined to the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21, the inner joint 62 is joined, for example, between the lower end portion of the right diagonal inner skeleton portion 28 and the lower end portion of the right vertical inner skeleton portion 25, and the connecting stiffening plate portion 63 may be joined to the lower end portion of the right diagonal inner skeleton portion 28. As a result, even if its lower end portion is connected with a step on the inside of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21, the right diagonal inner skeleton portion 28 can be joined to the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton portion 21 through the right side portion of the lower stiffening plate 55. The left oblique inner skeleton 27 has an upper end portion joined to the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 by a left stiffening plate 51, and a lower end portion joined to the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21 by a lower stiffening plate 55. While the left oblique inner skeleton 27 is formed inside the outer peripheral skeleton 21, both end portions thereof can be connected to the outer portion of the outer peripheral skeleton 21. In such a modified example, the effect of increasing the rigidity of the rear gate 10 can be expected, similar to the embodiment described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1...automobile (vehicle), 2...vehicle body, 4...rear opening, 6...left hinge member, 7...right hinge member, 8...latch member, 9...elastic member, 10...rear gate, 11...inner panel, 12...outer panel, 13...rear glass, 14...garnish member, 15...plate mounting surface, 16...cylinder member, 17...striker member, 19...tail lamp member, 20...glass opening, 21...peripheral skeleton portion, 22...peripheral edge portion, 23...window peripheral portion, 24...left vertical inner skeleton portion, 25...right vertical inner skeleton portion, 26...central connecting skeleton portion, 27...left diagonal inner skeleton portion, 28...right diagonal inner skeleton portion, 29...inner portion, 30 ...Auxiliary panel, 31...left hinge mounting portion, 32...right hinge mounting portion, 33...left cylinder mounting portion, 34...right cylinder mounting portion, 35...striker mounting portion, 41...bottom surface portion, 42...outer inclined surface, 43...inner inclined surface, 44...bottom surface portion, 45...inner inclined surface, 51...left stiffening plate, 52...right stiffening plate, 53...upper left stiffening plate, 54...upper right stiffening plate, 55...lower stiffening plate, 61...outer joint portion, 62...inner joint portion, 63...connecting stiffening plate portion, 64...screw hole, 65...upper recess, 66...lower recess, 67...upper edge connecting surface portion, 68...connecting bone portion, 69...lower edge connecting surface portion, 70...connecting portion

Claims

1. A vehicle rear gate structure that is provided to be capable of being opened and closed relative to a rear opening of a vehicle body, an outer panel that constitutes an outer surface of the vehicle by the rear gate; an inner panel provided on an inner side of the outer panel of the vehicle, at least an outer peripheral edge of which is joined to the outer panel; a peripheral skeleton portion formed on the inner panel along an outer peripheral edge of the inner panel; an inner skeleton portion formed on the inner panel so as to be connected to the outer skeleton portion at a step on the inner side of the outer skeleton portion; a stiffening plate overlapped on a connection portion between the outer peripheral skeleton and the inner skeleton; having The stiffening plate has an outer joint portion, an inner joint portion, and a connecting stiffening plate portion between the outer joint portion and the inner joint portion, The outer joint portion overlaps the outer peripheral skeleton portion and is joined to the inner panel at the outer peripheral skeleton portion, The inner joint portion is joined to a portion of the inner panel that is located on the inner side of the inner skeleton portion, The connecting stiffening plate portion is joined to the inner panel at the inner frame portion. The rear gate structure of a vehicle.

2. The inner panel has an outer periphery framework formed thereon with a mounting portion for a connecting member for supporting the rear gate on the vehicle, The outer joint portion of the stiffening plate overlaps with the mounting portion and is screwed to the mounting member together with the mounting portion. The vehicle rear gate structure according to claim 1.

3. the connecting member is a cylinder member that supports either a left or right edge of the rear gate on a body of the vehicle when the rear gate is opened, the inner skeleton portion is an oblique inner skeleton portion extending from a lower end central portion of the inner panel toward a side edge central portion of the inner panel, The connecting stiffening plate portion of the stiffening plate has an upper recess and a lower recess arranged vertically, so that an upper edge connecting surface portion, the upper recess, a connecting bone portion, the lower recess, and a lower edge connecting surface portion are arranged from top to bottom, The connecting stiffening plate portion is joined to the diagonal inner skeleton portion of the inner panel at at least one of the upper recess and the lower recess.

3. A vehicle rear gate structure according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The outer joint portion of the stiffening plate is joined to the outer peripheral skeleton portion of the inner panel at an extension portion of the upper edge connecting surface portion, an extension portion of the connecting bone portion, and an extension portion of the lower edge connecting surface portion of the connecting stiffening plate portion, The inner joint portion of the stiffening plate is joined to a portion of the inner panel that is on the inner side of the diagonal inner skeleton portion at an extension portion of the upper edge connecting surface portion, an extension portion of the connecting bone portion, and an extension portion of the lower edge connecting surface portion of the connecting stiffening plate portion.

4. A vehicle rear gate structure according to claim 3.

5. The outer panel and the inner panel are formed with a glass opening in which a rear glass of the vehicle is provided, and peripheral portions around the glass opening are joined together, The inner joint portion of the stiffening plate overlaps with the peripheral portion, and is joined to the inner panel at the peripheral portion, thereby being joined to a portion of the inner panel that is on the inner side of the diagonal inner skeleton portion.

5. A vehicle rear gate structure according to claim 4.

6. An auxiliary panel joined to the inner panel is provided around the glass opening of the inner panel, The inner joint portion of the stiffening plate overlaps with a joint portion between the auxiliary panel and the inner panel, and is joined to the inner panel at the joint portion, thereby being joined to a portion of the inner panel that is on the inside of the diagonal inner skeleton portion.

6. A vehicle rear gate structure according to claim 5.

7. The outer peripheral skeleton is formed in the inner panel in an annular shape along an outer peripheral edge of the inner panel, The stiffening plate that is overlapped with the outer peripheral skeleton includes: a left stiffening plate provided on a left edge portion of the annular outer peripheral skeleton; a right stiffening plate provided on a right edge portion of the annular outer peripheral skeleton portion; an upper left stiffening plate provided at an upper left corner portion of the annular outer peripheral skeleton; an upper right stiffening plate provided at an upper right corner portion of the annular outer peripheral skeleton; a lower stiffening plate provided at a lower edge portion of the annular outer peripheral skeleton portion; Among the left stiffening plate, the right stiffening plate, and the lower stiffening plate, at least the left stiffening plate and the right stiffening plate are overlapped on a connecting portion between the outer circumferential skeleton portion and the inner skeleton portion, and have the outer joint portion, the inner joint portion, and the connecting stiffening plate portion.

7. A vehicle rear gate structure according to claim 6.

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