Self-adjust able anti-chucking device

• US 20060097550A1
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Wang, John, Rogers, David
• Application Number:
  US10/983,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097550A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/207
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 7/04 Arrangements affording protection against rattling with buffering action E05F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards

Abstract

A self-adjustable anti-chucking device for a vehicle liftgate includes a wedge portion that is attachable to the liftgate and a base portion that is attachable to a vehicle body. The wedge portion includes a wedge-shaped slider block that is biased by a resilient member. The base portion includes an oblique surface shaped to contact a surface of the slider block. When the liftgate is closed and latched, the friction between the slider block and the oblique surface and the biasing force of the resilient member securely hold the liftgate in place. If the liftgate shifts position, the biasing force of the resilient member will cause the slider block to shift to compensate for any change in the liftgate position relative to the vehicle body.

Claims

1. An anti-chucking device for a vehicle liftgate, comprising:

a base portion having a first surface;

a sliding block having a second surface; and

a resilient member having a biasing force that biases the sliding block, wherein the first surface and the second surface contact each other when the vehicle liftgate is in a closed position to push the sliding block against the biasing force of the resilient member.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wedge platform that supports the sliding block.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the wedge platform includes a channel in which the sliding block moves, and wherein the resilient member is disposed in the channel.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first surface is an oblique surface and the second surface is a slanted frictional surface.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the oblique surface and the frictional surface is textured.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a bumper disposed on the base portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

8. A vehicle structure comprising:

a liftgate movable between an open position and a closed position;

a vehicle body having at least one pillar; and

at least one anti-chucking device oriented on at least one side of the liftgate, said at least one anti-chucking device comprising

a base portion disposed on said at least one pillar and having an oblique surface,

a wedge portion attached on at least one side of the liftgate, the wedge portion having

a wedge platform,

a sliding block supporting the sliding block, wherein the sliding block has a slanted frictional surface, and

a resilient member having a biasing force that biases the sliding block, wherein the oblique surface and the frictional surface contact each other when the liftgate is in the closed position to push the sliding block against the biasing force of the resilient member.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein said at least one anti-chucking device comprises a first anti-chucking device oriented on a first side of the liftgate and a second anti-chucking device oriented on a second side of the liftgate.

10. The structure of claim 8, wherein the wedge platform includes a channel in which the sliding block moves, and wherein the resilient member is disposed in the channel.

11. The structure of claim 8, wherein at least one of the frictional surface and the oblique surface is textured

12. The structure of claim 8, further comprising a bumper disposed on the base portion to absorb contact force from the wedge portion.