Rear Closure Assembly for a Passenger Vehicle

• US 20100264689A1
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lounds, Daniel William
• Granted Patent: US 8,020,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.800
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/103 where lower door part moves independently from other door structures, e.g. by being hinged on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/10 Bonnets or lids , e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles for truck beds B60J7/1607; for boats B63B19/12; doors arranged at the vehicle rear B60J5/10; inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05; for protecting non-occupants of a vehicle B60R21/38

Abstract

A passenger vehicle is provided with a body having an interior with a passenger compartment and a rear cargo region accessed through a rear opening. A liftgate and tailgate are pivotally coupled to the body at an upper and lower periphery of the opening respectively, and engage one another to enclose the opening. The liftgate and tailgate each enclose a portion of the opening in a closed position and provide access to the rear cargo area in an open position. A passenger vehicle is provided with a vehicle body having an interior and a rear opening with a first and second region facing generally upwards and rearwards respectively, both regions providing access to the rear cargo area. A rear closure assembly encloses the opening, provides access to the rear cargo area, and has first and second members pivotally connected to the body to enclose the first and second regions respectively.

Claims

1. A passenger vehicle comprising:

a body having an interior with a passenger compartment and a rear cargo region with a rear opening for providing access thereto;

a liftgate pivotally coupled to the body at an upper periphery of the rear opening; and

a tailgate pivotally coupled to the body at a lower periphery of the rear opening for engaging the liftgate to collectively enclose the rear opening.

2. The passenger vehicle of claim 1 wherein the liftgate encloses a first portion of the rear opening in a closed position and provides access to the rear cargo area in an open position;

and

wherein the tailgate encloses a second portion of the rear opening in a closed position and provides access to the rear cargo area in an open position.

3. The passenger vehicle of claim 2 wherein the liftgate and tailgate engage one another when in their respective closed positions to collectively enclose the rear opening of the rear cargo area.

4. A passenger vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a front end and a rear end, the vehicle body having an interior with a passenger compartment and a rear cargo region, the vehicle body having a rear opening for providing access to the rear cargo region;

a first closure member operably coupled to the vehicle body at an upper peripheral region of the rear opening for enclosing a first portion of the rear opening in a closed position and providing access to the rear cargo area in an open position;

a second closure member operably coupled to the vehicle body at a lower peripheral region of the rear opening for enclosing a second portion of the rear opening in a closed position and providing access to the rear cargo area in an open position;

wherein the first and second closure members engage one another when in their respective closed positions to collectively enclose the rear opening of the rear cargo area.

5. The passenger vehicle of claim 4 further comprising a latch assembly for operably and releasably coupling the first closure member to the second closure member.

6. The passenger vehicle of claim 4 further comprising at least one latch assembly to retain the first closure member in the closed position, the latch assembly having a first portion oriented at a lateral end of the first closure member, and a second portion at a corresponding side peripheral region of the rear cargo opening.

7. The passenger vehicle of claim 6 further comprising a handle oriented on the first closure member, operably connected to the latch assembly of the first closure member to release the first closure member from the closed position to the open position.

8. The passenger vehicle of claim 6 further comprising at least one latch assembly to retain the second closure member in the closed position, the latch assembly having a first portion oriented at a lateral end of the second closure member, and a second portion at a corresponding side peripheral region of the rear cargo opening.

9. The passenger vehicle of claim 8 further comprising a handle oriented on the second closure member, operably connected to the latch assembly of the second closure member to release the second closure member from the closed position to the open position.

10. The passenger vehicle of claim 8 wherein the first and second closure member are movable to one of the open and closed positions independently of the other closure member.

11. The passenger vehicle of claim 4 further comprising at least one latch assembly to retain the second closure member in the closed position, the latch assembly having a first portion oriented at a lateral end of the second closure member, and a second portion at a side peripheral region of the rear cargo opening.

12. The passenger vehicle of claim 4 further comprising at least one tie down member extending from the second closure member for securing cargo to the second enclosure member.

13. The passenger vehicle of claim 4 further comprising at least one overload attachment, the overload attachment extending from a side peripheral region of the rear cargo opening to a corresponding lateral side of the second closure member.

14. The passenger vehicle of claim 13 wherein the overload attachment further comprises a cable attachment.

15. The passenger vehicle of claim 13 wherein the overload attachment further comprises a gas strut.

16. A passenger vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a front end, a rear end, a top end, an interior, and a rear opening having a first region facing generally upwards and a second region facing generally rearward, both regions for providing access to the interior; and

a rear closure assembly for selectively enclosing the rear opening and providing access to the interior, the rear closure assembly having a first member pivotally connected to the vehicle body to selectively enclose the first region, the rear closure assembly having a second member pivotally connected to the vehicle body to selectively enclose the second region.

17. The passenger vehicle of claim 16 further comprising at least one latch assembly connected to the first member of the rear closure assembly and the vehicle body for releasably retaining the first member in a closed position and enclosing the first region.

18. The passenger vehicle of claim 17 further comprising a latch assembly for releasably retaining the second member to the first member of the rear closure assembly, the first and second members collectively enclosing the rear opening when the single latch assembly is engaged.

19. The passenger vehicle of claim 17 further comprising at least one latch assembly connected to the second member of the rear closure assembly and the vehicle body for releasably retaining the second member in a closed position and enclosing the second region.

20. The passenger vehicle of claim 16 wherein the first member provides both access and enclosure of the first region of the rear opening while the second member provides both access and enclosure of the second region of the rear opening, and the position of the first and second members are independent of one another.