Fold-Up Tailgate Fence for Securing Extended Cargo
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tailgates on vehicles often fail to secure cargo when extended, allowing it to slide out during transit due to the cargo obstructing the gate's closure.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle tailgate assembly with a slidable and pivotal fence that deploys from a stowed state to a deployed state, featuring a main fence and side fences that lock into position to prevent cargo from sliding out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tailgate is lowered to a horizontal position to load extended cargo, then cargo loading flexibility is improved, but cargo security deteriorates because the tailgate cannot close to a vertical position
Solution Approach 1:
The tailgate assembly is segmented into the tailgate itself and a separate deployable fence system. The fence can be independently deployed from a stowed position within a cavity to a deployed position that extends beyond the tailgate, creating a segmented barrier that secures cargo even when the tailgate remains horizontal.
Solution Approach 2:
The fence transitions from a static stowed position within the tailgate cavity to a dynamic deployed position through sliding and pivoting mechanisms. This dynamic transformation allows the fence to adapt its configuration based on whether the tailgate is vertical or horizontal, providing security in both states.
2Reliability
If a barrier fence is deployed to prevent cargo from sliding out, then cargo security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional slidable and pivotal mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The fence assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the main fence panel provides the primary barrier, while side fences with slidable and pivotal mechanisms provide both structural support and the security barrier function. This merging reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fence system employs a nested configuration where the main fence and side fences are stored within a cavity in the tailgate when not in use. The side fences nest against the main fence, and the entire assembly fits within the tailgate's internal cavity, minimizing space requirements and reducing apparent complexity when stowed.
3Reliability
If the main fence slides out of the cavity to an extended position, then cargo containment is improved, but the mechanism requires additional sliding and locking components increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding mechanism incorporates automatic locking features that engage when the fence reaches its extended position. The gravity-assisted pivoting and sliding actions reduce the need for complex motorized or manually-operated locking mechanisms, allowing the system to self-regulate its position based on the tailgate's orientation.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention may include a vehicle tailgate assembly comprising a tailgate with an inside wall, a top edge orthogonal to the inside wall, and a cavity having an opening in the top edge. The assembly may further comprise of a fence mounted to the tailgate in a slidable and pivotal manner between a stowed state and a deployed state. Embodiments of the present invention may further include a method of loading cargo onto a vehicle bed with a tailgate. The method may include lowering the tailgate to a horizontal position, loading the cargo into the vehicle bed, sliding the main fence out of the cavity, rotating the at least one side fence to an at least orthogonal position relative to the main fence, pivoting the main fence about a main fence hinge axis, and locking the at least one side fence to the tailgate.