Reinforcing structure for vehicle tailgate

Abstract

A vehicle tailgate 5, which has a window frame part 5a in an upper part thereof and which opens and closes a rear opening in a vehicle body, has a reinforcement member 15b that is joined to an inner panel 10 and reinforces a lower corner part of the window frame part 5a. In the inner panel 10, there is formed a raised part 21 that bulges toward the vehicle-body side in the vicinity of both vehicle-width-direction side edges of the inner panel 10 and extends vertically over the window frame part 5a and a body section 5b below the window frame part 5a. The reinforcement member 15b is provided over the window frame part 5a and the body section 5b so as to overlap the raised part 21 and is joined to the inner panel 10 at a plurality of welding locations, including the lower corner part. The welding locations between the reinforcement member 15b and the inner panel 10 include a first welding point 20a for welding at least the reinforcement member 15b and an inclined surface 22, which is a side surface of the raised part 21.

Description

Reinforcing Structure for Vehicle Tailgate

[0001] The present invention relates to a reinforcing structure for a vehicle tailgate.

[0002] Many vehicles including a flip-up tailgate at a rear portion of the vehicle are provided with a hinge at an upper portion of the tailgate, and the hinge swingably supports the upper portion of the tailgate to an upper edge of a rear opening of a vehicle body. Further, for example, a structure is adopted in which a latch is provided at a lower portion of the tailgate, a striker is provided at a lower edge of the rear opening of the vehicle body, and the lower portion of the tailgate is fixed to the vehicle body.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle that includes a tailgate at a rear portion of a vehicle body and further includes a reinforcing member provided on a side edge of an opening of the vehicle body to improve vehicle body rigidity.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-280243

[0005] As described above, in a vehicle having a structure in which a lower portion of a tailgate is fixed by a latch and a striker, when the tailgate is closed, a load is applied to the lower portion particularly via the latch and the striker, and the load acts such that a vertically intermediate portion of the tailgate bends in a front-rear direction.

[0006] Accordingly, it is conceivable to provide a reinforcing member at a vertically intermediate portion of an inner panel of the tailgate. The reinforcing member is joined to the inner panel at several locations by, for example, spot welding.

[0007] However, when the tailgate is closed, the tailgate bends in the vehicle front-rear direction in the vicinity of the reinforcing member, so there is a possibility that a welded portion between the tailgate and the reinforcing member is likely to peel off after long-term use.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcing structure for a vehicle tailgate that improves welding strength in a reinforcing member of the tailgate.

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the vehicle tailgate reinforcing structure of the present invention is a vehicle tailgate reinforcing structure that opens and closes a rear opening of a vehicle body, having a window frame portion at the top, and comprises an outer panel constituting an outer panel, an inner panel joined to the outer panel, and a reinforcing member joined to the inner panel to reinforce the lower corner portion of the window frame portion, wherein the inner panel has raised portions that bulge toward the vehicle body side near both side edges in the vehicle width direction of the inner panel and extend vertically across the window frame portion and the main body portion below the window frame portion, the reinforcing member is provided overlapping the raised portions and spanning the window frame portion and the main body portion, and is joined to the inner panel at a plurality of welding locations including the lower corner portion, and the welding locations between the reinforcing member and the inner panel include at least a first welding location that welds the reinforcing member to the side surface of the raised portion.

[0010] According to the vehicle tailgate reinforcement structure of the present invention, a reinforcing member that reinforces the lower corner of the window frame is superimposed on a raised portion that bulges outward toward the vehicle body formed on the inner panel of the tailgate, and the welding location between the reinforcing member and the inner panel includes at least a first welding location between the reinforcing member and the side surface of the raised portion, so that when a load is applied such that the middle part of the tailgate in the vertical direction flexes in the front-rear direction when the tailgate is closed, the weld separation at the first welding location becomes less likely. Therefore, the welding strength between the inner panel and the reinforcing member in the tailgate can be improved.

[0011] This is an external view of the rear of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a rear view showing the structure of the corner portion of the tailgate. This is a front view showing the structure of the corner portion of the tailgate. This is a perspective view showing the shape of the reinforcing member. This is a front view showing the shape of the reinforcing member.

[0012] The following describes a reinforcing structure for the tailgate of a vehicle embodying the present invention.

[0013] Figure 1 is an external view of the rear of a vehicle 1 employing the reinforcing structure of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a rear view showing the structure of the corner portion of the tailgate 5 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a view of the right rear corner portion of the tailgate 5, excluding the outer panel 11, as seen from the rear. Figure 3 is a front view showing the structure of the corner portion of the tailgate according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a view of the right rear corner portion of the tailgate 5 as seen from the front. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the shape of the reinforcing member 15b. Figure 5 is a front view showing the shape of the reinforcing member 15.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, a vehicle 1 employing the reinforcing structure of the embodiment of the present invention has an opening 3 (rear opening) at the rear of the vehicle body 2 and is equipped with a tailgate 5 that covers the opening 3. The left and right upper parts of the tailgate 5 are supported via hinges 6 to the upper edge of the opening 3 of the vehicle body 2 so as to be able to swing in the vertical direction.

[0015] A latch 7 is provided at the bottom of the tailgate 5.

[0016] On the other hand, a striker 8 is provided at the lower edge of the opening 3 of the vehicle body 2. The striker 8 is formed, for example, by bending a round bar into a U shape and is positioned to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0017] In vehicle 1, when the tailgate 5 is open upwards, moving the lower part of the tailgate 5 downwards causes the striker 8 and the latch 7 to engage, locking the tailgate 5 in the closed position.

[0018] The tailgate 5 comprises an inner panel 10 and an outer panel 11 made of steel plate, and a roughly rectangular rear window 12, with a width in the vehicle width direction slightly smaller than the width of the tailgate 5, is fitted into the top.

[0019] The tailgate 5 is provided with reinforcing members 15a and 15b, which are plate-shaped members, that surround the middle section in the vertical direction, specifically the lower left and right corners of the rear window 12. The reinforcing members 15a and 15b are provided across the window frame section 5a of the tailgate 5 and the main body section 5b below it. The reinforcing member 15a, which surrounds the lower left corner of the rear window 12, and the reinforcing member 15b, which surrounds the lower right corner of the rear window 12, are approximately symmetrical in shape.

[0020] The structure of the mounting portion of the reinforcing member 15b on the right side of the vehicle will be explained below using Figures 2 to 5, but the reinforcing member 15a on the left side of the vehicle has a similar shape and mounting structure, being symmetrical to the left.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the reinforcing members (15a) and 15b are made of steel plate and are attached to the inner panel 10 at multiple points by spot welding (welding points 20) on the interior side of the inner panel 10 (the interior side when the tailgate 5 is closed).

[0022] The inner panel 10 has a raised portion 21 that protrudes (bulges) toward the interior of the vehicle so as to abut without gap against a weatherstrip (not shown) provided on the vehicle body 2 side at the outer circumference of the opening 3, and its upper surface is a flat weatherstrip contact surface 21a (sealing surface). The raised portion 21 has, for example, a width of several centimeters (width in the vehicle width direction) and protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle by several centimeters. At the left and right ends of the tailgate 5, the raised portion 21 extends vertically from near the upper end to near the lower end of the tailgate 5.

[0023] Furthermore, both the left and right sides of the raised portion 21 are inclined with respect to the vehicle's front-rear direction, and have inclined surfaces 22 and 23. The raised portion 21 protrudes gently together with the inclined surfaces 22 and 23, and the raised portion 21, consisting of the weatherstrip contact surface 21a and the inclined surfaces 22 and 23, protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle such that the width of the protrusion on the left and right sides gradually decreases, that is, the inclined surfaces 22 and 23, which are the sides of the raised portion 21, protrude toward each other toward the top of the raised portion 21.

[0024] The reinforcing members 15a and 15b are bent to match the uneven shape of the inner panel 10, including the raised portion 21, and are provided so as to overlap the raised portion 21.

[0025] On the outer periphery of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b, the reinforcing members 15a and 15b are spot-welded to the inner panel 10 at welding points 20 that are appropriately spaced apart from each other.

[0026] At the lower ends of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b, a first welding point 20a is provided on the inclined surface 22 on the inside in the vehicle width direction, which is inclined with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and a second welding point 20b is provided on the inclined surface 23 on the outside in the vehicle width direction. The first welding point 20a and the second welding point 20b at the lower ends of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b are provided on the inclined surfaces 22 and 23 on both sides of the weatherstrip contact surface 21a.

[0027] Furthermore, the inner panel 10 is equipped with two beads (inner panel first bead 30 and inner panel second bead 31) that protrude toward the passenger compartment.

[0028] The inner panel first bead 30 and the inner panel second bead 31 are provided on the inclined surface 22 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the raised portion 21, and extend perpendicular to the direction in which the raised portion 21 extends (vertical direction).

[0029] The first inner panel bead 30 is provided at a position corresponding to the lower ends of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b, and the second inner panel bead 31 is provided parallel to the first inner panel bead 30 at a position several centimeters above it.

[0030] The reinforcing members 15a and 15b are provided with a first reinforcing member bead 32 (bead) that is bent in the same shape as the first inner panel bead 30 provided on the inner panel 10 and abuts against the first inner panel bead 30. Furthermore, the reinforcing members 15a and 15b are provided with a second reinforcing member bead 33 that is bent in the same shape as the second inner panel bead 31 and abuts against the second inner panel bead 31. The first welding point 20a at the lower end of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b is positioned on the first bead (on the first reinforcing member bead 32 and the first inner panel bead 30). In addition, a third welding point 20c is provided on the second reinforcing member bead 33 of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b.

[0031] As described above, the tailgate 5 of the vehicle in this embodiment is provided with plate-shaped reinforcing members 15a and 15b that reinforce the inner panel 10 at the left and right positions of its vertical center, surrounding the lower corners of the rear window 12. The reinforcing members 15a and 15b are joined to the inner panel 10 at multiple locations by spot welding.

[0032] The inner panel 10 has a raised portion 21 that bulges inward towards the passenger compartment near the lower corner of the rear window 12. The reinforcing members 15a and 15b are provided spanning the window frame portion 5a and the main body portion 5b, and are positioned to cover the raised portion 21 at the lower left corner of the rear window 12.

[0033] The side surface of the raised portion 21 of the inner panel 10 is inclined with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and the first welding point 20a that joins the inner panel 10 and the reinforcing members 15a and 15b is located on this inclined surface 22.

[0034] The tailgate 5 in this embodiment is open in the vertical direction and has a latch 7 at its lower end. Therefore, when the tailgate 5 is closed, a load is applied to the lower part, causing the middle section of the tailgate 5 in the vertical direction to bend in the front-rear direction.

[0035] In this embodiment, reinforcing members 15a and 15b are provided in the middle of the tailgate 5 in the vertical direction, and furthermore, the first welding point 20a that joins the reinforcing members 15a and 15b to the inner panel 10 is provided on the side surface of the raised portion 21, more specifically on the inclined surface of the raised portion 21 that is inclined with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Therefore, when a load is applied so that the middle of the tailgate 5 in the vertical direction flexes in the longitudinal direction, the direction in which the first welding point 20a is peeled off is inclined with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal direction, making it difficult for the weld to peel off at the first welding point 20a. Thus, the welding strength between the inner panel 10 and the reinforcing members 15a and 15b in the tailgate 5 can be improved.

[0036] Furthermore, since the first welding point 20a is located on the inclined surface 22 on the vehicle width side of the raised portion 21 that rises on the vehicle interior side of the inner panel 10, the welding points between the reinforcing members 15a and 15b and the inner panel 10 can be positioned by utilizing the side surface of the raised portion 21 that rises on the inner panel 10.

[0037] Furthermore, since the first welding point 20a is located on the first inner panel bead 30 provided on the inner panel 10, the strength of the inner panel 10 near the first welding point 20a can be increased, and the deflection of the inner panel 10 can be suppressed, thereby further increasing the welding strength of the first welding point 20a.

[0038] Furthermore, since a second welding point 20b for welding reinforcing members 15a and 15b is provided on the inclined surface opposite the first welding point 20a in the vehicle width direction (outside in the vehicle width direction) with respect to the weatherstrip contact surface 21a, the reinforcing members 15a and 15b can be firmly joined to the inner panel 10 with respect to the raised portion 21, and the strength of the inner panel 10 can be further improved by the reinforcing members 15a and 15b.

[0039] Furthermore, since the first welding point 20a and the second welding point 20b are located at the same position in the vertical direction of the vehicle, the inner panel 10 can be firmly joined by reinforcing members 15a and 15b at the vertical positions of the first welding point 20a and the second welding point 20b, thereby improving its strength.

[0040] Furthermore, since the first welding point 20a and the second welding point 20b are located at the lower ends of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b, when a load is applied to the intermediate vertical portion of the tailgate 5 to bend in the front-rear direction when the tailgate 5 is closed, the separation of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b from the inner panel 10 can be effectively suppressed, and the reinforcing members 15a and 15b can be joined more firmly.

[0041] In this embodiment, the area near the left and right lower corners of the rear window 12 in the middle of the vertical direction of the tailgate 5 is joined by reinforcing members 15a and 15b. Therefore, the strength of the two locations on the left and right sides of the tailgate 5, where stress tends to concentrate, can be effectively improved by the two reinforcing members 15a and 15b.

[0042] This concludes the description of the embodiments, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above. For example, the shape of the reinforcing members 15a and 15b, the number and position of the welding points, etc., can be appropriately set according to the shape of the inner panel.

[0043] Furthermore, the detailed positions and number of reinforcing members 15a and 15b can be appropriately set according to the shape of the tailgate 5.

[0044] 1 Vehicle 2 Body 3 Opening (rear opening) 5 Tailgate 10 Inner panel 5a Window frame 5b Main body 15a, 15b Reinforcement member 20a First welding point (first welding location) 20b Second welding point (second welding location) 21 Raised portion 21a Weatherstrip contact surface (sealing surface) 22 Inclined surface (side) 32 Reinforcement member first bead (bead)

Claims

1. A reinforcing structure for the tailgate of a vehicle which opens and closes a rear opening of the vehicle body having a window frame portion at the top, comprising: an outer panel constituting an outer body; an inner panel joined to the outer panel; and a reinforcing member joined to the inner panel to reinforce the lower corner portion of the window frame portion, wherein the inner panel has raised portions formed thereon near both side edges in the vehicle width direction of the inner panel that bulge toward the vehicle body and extend vertically across the window frame portion and the main body portion below the window frame portion, the reinforcing member is provided overlapping the raised portions and spanning the window frame portion and the main body portion, and is joined to the inner panel at a plurality of welding locations including the lower corner portion, and the welding locations between the reinforcing member and the inner panel include at least a first welding location that welds the reinforcing member and the side surface of the raised portion.

2. The reinforcing structure for the tailgate of a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the raised portion has a sealing surface at its top against which a weatherstrip extending vertically around the rear opening of the vehicle body abuts, and the reinforcing member is joined at the first welding location to a side surface of the raised portion located inward in the vehicle width direction from the sealing surface.

3. The reinforcing structure for the tailgate of a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing member has a bead that abuts against the side surface of the raised portion, and the first welding location is positioned on the bead.

4. The reinforcing structure for a vehicle tailgate according to claim 2, characterized in that the welding location between the reinforcing member and the inner panel includes a second welding location in which the side surface of the raised portion on the opposite side in the vehicle width direction from the first welding location, with the sealing surface in between, is welded to the reinforcing member.

5. The reinforcing structure for the tailgate of a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the first welding point and the second welding point are located at the same position in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

6. The reinforcing structure for the tailgate of a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the first welding point and the second welding point are located at the lower end of the reinforcing member.

7. The reinforcing structure for the tailgate of a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the side surfaces of the raised portion are inclined surfaces that are inclined toward the front and rear of the vehicle so as to move toward the top of the raised portion toward each other.

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