Tailgate Seal Flap for Variable Truck Bed Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The gap between the tailgate and the truck bed of pickup trucks allows debris, dirt, and moisture to infiltrate, causing unloading issues and environmental damage, and existing seals are not effective in sealing various gap widths while allowing easy tailgate removal.
Innovation Solution
A tailgate seal with a tapered sealing area and flexible fins, combined with a debris blocking device featuring a resilient flap and adhesive-backed fastening tape, which can be easily removed to allow tailgate operation, effectively seals the gap between the tailgate and truck bed, accommodating various gap widths and irregularities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid seal or metal bracket is used to seal the gap between tailgate and truck bed, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible seal member made of elastomeric material that can deform to conform to irregularities in the truck bed and tailgate surfaces. This flexible membrane approach provides effective sealing without requiring complex rigid structures, metal brackets, or extensive hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is designed with varying thickness parameters - thicker in some regions to accommodate larger gaps and irregularities, and thinner in other regions for flexibility and ease of installation. This parameter variation allows the seal to adapt to different gap widths while maintaining a simple overall structure
2Reliability
If a permanent seal is installed to prevent debris infiltration, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in tailgate removal
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed with dynamic characteristics - it remains firmly attached during normal operation to provide effective sealing, but can be easily removed when the tailgate needs to be taken off for unloading. The elastomeric material allows the seal to be temporarily displaced without damage, enabling easy tailgate removal while maintaining sealing effectiveness during use
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member can be temporarily displaced or removed during tailgate removal operations and then reinstalled afterward. This allows the sealing function to be discarded temporarily when needed for unloading operations and recovered afterward, maintaining both sealing effectiveness and ease of operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seal is made thick to accommodate various gap widths, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to difficulty in installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member features variable thickness - thicker sections to accommodate larger gaps and irregularities in the truck bed and tailgate, and thinner sections in other areas. This parameter variation provides adaptability to different gap widths while keeping the overall structure flexible and manageable for installation and removal operations
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material provides flexibility that allows the seal to bend and conform to irregular surfaces regardless of thickness variations. This flexibility maintains ease of installation and removal even when thicker sections are needed to accommodate larger gaps
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 solution prevents debris and moisture infiltration, ensures easy tailgate removal, and maintains a secure seal across different truck models and surface irregularities without the need for metal brackets or hardware, providing a cost-effective and durable sealing solution.
Implementation Method 1
adhesive backed flexible fastening tape disposed on a bottom side of the flap. The adhesive backed fastening tape couples the flap to the tail gate and the bed.
Data Source
AI summary
The tail gate seal or debris blocking device includes a flap, with adhesive backed fastening tape disposed on a bottom side along each edge of the flap. The adhesive backed fastening tape couples the flap to the tail gate, and in an alternate example allows the tail gate to be removed by disengaging two halves of a removable fastening device that are removably coupled together.