Tailgate Trim Assembly for Uniform Rear Gap Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing full-plastic tailgate assemblies in vehicles face challenges in maintaining a uniform vertical gap between the tailgate middle trim and the tailgate lower trim due to manufacturing tolerances, affecting the external aesthetics and perceived quality of the rear vehicle body.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an adjusting component, such as an adjusting rib, on the upper-end and lower-end connecting portions of the tailgate trim, which extends over the transverse length, allowing for adjustment of the vertical gap to ensure uniformity and improve aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the tailgate middle trim and tailgate lower trim are designed as two independent components connected by snap-fit or gluing, then the tailgate trim can be easily assembled and repaired, but the vertical gap between the two trims cannot remain uniform due to manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is designed with flexibility to allow dynamic adjustment of the vertical gap. The connecting portion can bend or deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, enabling the gap to be adjusted to a uniform state while maintaining the independent component structure for easy assembly and repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure allows for parameter adjustment in the vertical gap dimension. By incorporating an adjustable connecting portion, the gap size can be modified during assembly or maintenance to achieve uniformity, while the overall independent component design remains intact for ease of manufacture and repair.
2Shape
If the vertical gap between tailgate middle trim and tailgate lower trim is made adjustable, then the aesthetics of the rear vehicle body is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment function is merged into the existing connecting portion structure. The connecting portion serves dual purposes: mechanical connection between the two trims and adjustment of the vertical gap. This integration avoids adding separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby improving aesthetics while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting portion is designed to be self-adjusting through its flexible or deformable structure. During assembly or under normal operating conditions, the connecting portion automatically adjusts to achieve uniform gap distribution, eliminating the need for complex external adjustment mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a tailgate trim, a tailgate assembly, and a vehicle. The tailgate trim is adapted to be connected to an outer side of a tailgate inner panel of the tailgate assembly, and comprises at least a tailgate middle trim and a tailgate lower trim. The tailgate middle trim comprises a lower-end connecting portion bent inward from a lower end of the tailgate middle trim, the tailgate lower trim comprises an upper-end connecting portion bent inward from an upper end of the tailgate lower trim, and the tailgate trim further comprises an adjusting component disposed on the upper-end connecting portion and/or the lower-end connecting portion and extending over at least a part of the transverse length of the tailgate trim, such that a vertical gap between the tailgate middle trim and the tailgate lower trim remains uniform. The present disclosure overcomes the defect of the prior art in which it is difficult to remain the above-mentioned vertical gap uniform, thus effectively improving the aesthetics of the rear side of the vehicle body.