Vehicles With Rear Hatch Assemblies

• US 20100314903A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Voyer, Craig Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/104 where lower door part optionally moves independently, or follows as component the movement of the entire door structure, e.g. by being hinged in a door frame or releasably connected to upper door part

Abstract

A rear hatch assembly of a vehicle includes a hatch frame pivotally connected to a vehicle body at a first pivot axis such that the hatch frame is capable of movement relative to the vehicle body about the first pivot axis. A tailgate is pivotally connected to the hatch frame at a second pivot axis such that the tailgate is capable of movement relative to the hatch frame about the second pivot axis.

Claims

1. A rear hatch assembly of a vehicle, the rear hatch assembly comprising:

a hatch frame pivotally connected to a vehicle body at a first pivot axis such that the hatch frame is capable of movement relative to the vehicle body about the first pivot axis; and

a tailgate pivotally connected to the hatch frame at a second pivot axis such that the tailgate is capable of movement relative to the hatch frame about the second pivot axis.

2. The rear hatch assembly of claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis moves about the first pivot axis as the hatch frame moves about the first pivot axis.

3. The rear hatch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a rear window carried by the hatch frame.

4. The rear hatch assembly of claim 3, wherein the rear window is retractable into the tailgate.

5. The rear hatch assembly of claim 4, wherein the rear window moves about the second pivot axis when retracted into the tailgate.

6. The rear hatch assembly of claim 3, wherein the rear window is carried by the hatch frame as the hatch frame moves about the first pivot axis.

7. The rear hatch assembly of claim 1, wherein tailgate engages latching structure carried by the hatch frame to inhibit movement of the tailgate relative to the hatch frame as the hatch frame moves about the first pivot axis.

8. The rear hatch assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are substantially parallel.

9. A hatch assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a hatch frame;

a tailgate carried by the hatch frame, the tailgate being moveable relative to the hatch frame; and

a window configured to retract into the tailgate.

10. The hatch assembly of claim 9, wherein the hatch frame is pivotally connected to a vehicle body at a first pivot axis such that the hatch frame is capable of movement relative to the vehicle body about the first pivot axis.

11. The hatch assembly of claim 10, wherein the tailgate is pivotally connected to the hatch frame at a second pivot axis such that the tailgate is capable of movement relative to the hatch frame about the second pivot axis.

12. The hatch assembly of claim 11, wherein the second pivot axis moves about the first pivot axis as the hatch frame moves about the first pivot axis.

13. The hatch assembly of claim 12, wherein the rear window moves about the second pivot axis when retracted into the tailgate.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a hatch frame connected to the vehicle body, the hatch frame being moveable relative to the vehicle body; and

a window connected to the hatch frame, the window being moveable relative to the vehicle body and the hatch frame.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the hatch frame is connected to the vehicle body such that the hatch frame is rotatable upward to an open position.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a tailgate carried by the hatch frame as the hatch frame rotates to the open position, the tailgate being moveable relative to the hatch frame between a tailgate open position and a tailgate closed position.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the tailgate is pivotally connected to the hatch frame.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the window is retractable into the tailgate.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the tailgate engages latching structure carried by the hatch frame to inhibit movement of the tailgate relative to the hatch frame as the hatch frame rotates to the open position.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 further comprising:

a rear hatch latch mechanism configured to prevent movement of the hatch frame;

a tailgate latch mechanism configured to prevent movement of the tailgate; and

a window retract mechanism configured to move the window.