Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Variable capacity of body
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-10
2001-09-25
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Variable capacity of body
C296S057100, C296S146800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293602
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to motor vehicles. More particularly, the present invention pertains to hinged closure panels for motor vehicles. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiment and/or use which is shown and described for purposes of illustration, the present invention relates to a pick-up truck having a tailgate attached to the body for rotation about a horizontal pivot axis about a lower edge of the tailgate and a concealed panel structure which substantially closes a gap between the tailgate and a bed of the pick-up truck when the tailgate is placed in a lowered position.
2. Discussion
It is well known in the art to provide a vehicle, such as a pick-up truck, with a tailgate which is attached to the body of the vehicle for rotation about a horizontal pivot axis about a lower edge of the tailgate. Typically, such vehicles are designed in a manner wherein a relatively small gap between the tailgate and the bed or floor of the vehicle exists when the tailgate is placed in the lowered position. Accordingly, vehicle designers must consider both the configuration of the tailgate and the vehicle bumper so as to avoid interferences between the two that would inhibit the lowering of the tailgate into a lowered, horizontal position.
Construction of the vehicle in this manner significantly limits the ability of the vehicle designer to configure the tailgate and the bumper in an aesthetically pleasing manner. For example, if a relatively large (i.e., deep) bumper was desired, the bumper would typically be positioned below the location of the lowered tailgate so as to avoid the possibility of interference between the tailgate and the bumper. Designs of this type, however, permit the hinge line of the tailgate to be viewed and do not provide flexibility in the vertical positioning of the bumper.
Gooseneck hinges may be employed to couple the tailgate to the vehicle body where the bumper is configured or positioned in a manner which interferes with the tailgate. This approach, however, swings the tailgate away from the bed or floor of the vehicle as the tailgate is lowered and causes the creation of a large gap between the tailgate and the bed or floor of the vehicle. Large gaps between the tailgate and the bed or floor of the vehicle are not desirable for a number of reasons, the primarily one being the negative impact on the appearance of the vehicle when the tailgate is lowered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a tailgate assembly having a construction which permits a vehicle designer to configure the tailgate and the bumper in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tailgate assembly which employs a sliding panel to substantially eliminate a gap between a tailgate and a vehicle end surface.
In one form, the present invention provides a tailgate assembly for a vehicle having a tailgate structure, a hinge structure, a guide track and a panel structure. The hinge structure couples the tailgate structure to the vehicle body and is operable for rotating the tailgate structure between a generally vertical raised position and a generally horizontal lowered position. The guide track is coupled to at least one of the hinge structure and the tailgate structure. The panel structure is in sliding engagement with the guide track such that the panel structure is movable along the guide track between a retracted position wherein the panel structure is at least partially disposed between the inner member and the outer member and an extended position adapted to substantially close a horizontal gap between the tailgate structure and the body of the vehicle. Placement of the tailgate structure in the raised position causes the panel structure to move along the guide track to the retracted position. Placement of the tailgate structure in the lowered position causes the panel structure to move along the guide track to the extended position.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Calcaterra Mark P.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Dayoan D. Glenn
Gutman Hilary
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