Retractable Tailgate Shield for Weather and Sun Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many vehicles with upward-opening tailgates lack effective protection from inclement weather and sunlight due to their design, which undermines the coverage provided by traditional tailgates.
Innovation Solution
A retractable shield connected to the tailgate that can be moved between stowed and deployed positions, using pivotable or slidable mechanisms to enhance protection by extending rearwardly when needed, with anchors and fasteners securing the shield in place and biasing members ensuring automatic deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the tailgate opens in an upward (vertical) direction, then the tailgate structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but the protection offered to the interior of the vehicle and users from inclement weather and sunlight is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is designed to be movable between a stowed position (concealed by the door body) and a deployed position (exposed from the door body). The shield can be repositioned based on environmental conditions to dynamically adjust protection levels while maintaining the simple upward-opening tailgate structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tailgate system is divided into two functional components: the door body that opens upward and the separate shield that can be independently deployed. This segmentation allows the door body to maintain its simple structure while the shield provides additional protective functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a retractable shield is added to the tailgate, then protection from weather and sunlight is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is concealed within the door body when in the stowed position, with the door body defining a receptacle that receives the shield. This nesting approach allows the shield to be integrated into the existing tailgate structure without requiring separate mounting space, minimizing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member automatically repositions the shield from the stowed position to the deployed position when the anchor is removed from the receptacle, eliminating the need for motors, actuators, or complex control systems. The system uses spring-loaded automation to reduce mechanical complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the shield is automatically deployed using a biasing member, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is pre-loaded to automatically reposition the shield to the deployed position when the anchor is removed from the receptacle. This self-actuating mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually manipulate complex deployment systems, providing ease of operation with minimal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor acts as an intermediary that controls the shield's position. When the anchor is inserted into the receptacle, it holds the shield in the stowed position; when removed, the biasing member automatically deploys the shield. This simple interaction provides intuitive operation without complex controls.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The retractable shield effectively increases protection from weather and sunlight by automatically deploying to provide a barrier when required, enhancing the functionality of upward-opening tailgates.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing member may be configured to apply a biasing force to the fastener such that, upon removal of the anchor from the receptacle, the shield is automatically repositioned from the stowed position into the deployed position
Implementation Method 2
The anchors may be reconfigurable between a contracted configuration, in which the anchors are configured for insertion into the channels, and an expanded configuration, in which the anchors are configured to secure the shield within the channels
Data Source
AI summary
A tailgate for a vehicle that includes a door body and a shield that is connected to the door body such that the shield is repositionable between a stowed (retracted) position, in which the shield is concealed by the door body, and a deployed (advanced) position, in which the shield is exposed from the door body. In various embodiments of the disclosure, it is envisioned that the shield may be pivotably (rotatably) connected to the door body or that the shield may be slidably connected to the door body.