Tailgate Taillight Recess Support to Prevent Sagging Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle tailgate assemblies suffer from taillight sagging due to the weight of the taillight, creating a visible gap between the taillight and its recess, which affects the vehicle's aesthetic appearance.

Innovation Solution

A tailgate assembly design with a transverse taillight recess and a handle connected to the tailgate outer panel via fixing portions, featuring an abutting portion on the housing to prevent rotation and sagging, ensuring alignment and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the taillight is mounted into the taillight recess without additional support structures, then the installation is simple and the structure is compact, but the taillight sags due to its own weight after long-term use, creating visible gaps and affecting aesthetics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetaillight position stabilityVSAvoidmounting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure is segmented into distinct functional elements: the handle assembly with fixing portions for primary attachment, and the abutting portion on the housing for secondary support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, providing stable taillight positioning without requiring a complex integrated mounting system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The abutting portion extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, providing support in a different dimensional orientation than the vertical fixing portions. This dimensional change allows the taillight housing to be supported along its length, preventing sagging without adding vertical complexity to the mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the handle is connected only to the tailgate outer panel, then the connection is simple, but the taillight housing can rotate and sag due to insufficient support points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetaillight housing stabilityVSAvoidfixing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the fixing structure have different functions: the first fixing portions on the handle provide primary attachment to the tailgate outer panel, while the abutting portion on the housing provides localized support against rotation and sagging. This local differentiation of functions achieves comprehensive stability without requiring a uniformly complex fixing structure throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The handle serves multiple functions: it acts as both the operating mechanism for opening the tailgate and as a mounting structure for the taillight assembly. By merging these functions, the patent eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets or supports, achieving stable taillight positioning without increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4703165A1Vehicle comprising tailgate assembly with transverse taillight recess
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4703165A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4703165A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4703165A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle (V) comprising a tailgate assembly (A) with a transverse taillight recess (210). The tailgate assembly comprises: a tailgate outer panel (200) provided with a taillight recess (210) extending along the transverse direction (Y), a taillight (300) mounted into the taillight recess (210), and comprising a housing (320, and a handle (400) for pushing the tailgate assembly (A), the handle (400) being provided in the taillight recess (210) and connected to the housing (320), wherein the handle (400) is connected to the tailgate outer panel (200) by a first fixing portion (430); wherein the housing (320) comprises an abutting portion (322) provided below the first fixing portion (430) along the vertical direction (Z), and abutting against the tailgate outer panel (200) along the longitudinal direction (X).The tailgate assembly according to the present disclosure prevents the taillight from sagging by providing an abutting portion on the housing of the taillight.