Motor vehicle with a tailgate

• US 6,676,186 B2
• Filed: 06/26/1999
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Greif, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coletta, Lori L
• Application Number:
  US09/344,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,662 Days
• Field of Search: 296/50, 296/56, 296/146.8, 296/106, 296/146.4, 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 318/445, 318/283, 318/266, 318/466, 318/446
• US Class Current: 296/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/101 for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/006 with means for detecting obstacles outside the doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/432 with acoustical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/483 for detection during opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/532 Emergency braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/81 User displays
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/73 Single use of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A vehicle with a tailgate (5) or the like, the vehicle being defined in that the tailgate (5) has a sensor for sensing objects at least during the opening operation.

Claims

1. A vehicle with a tailgate, wherein the tailgate has means for sensing objects located in a tail region of the vehicle during an opening or closing operation of the tailgate, wherein when the vehicle is at a speed above a predetermined value, in particular slightly greater than zero, the means act as a parking aid, and when the vehicle speed is equal to zero, the means act as an opening brake for the opening of the tailgate.

2. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means have a plurality of sensing characteristics, a first of said sensing characteristics being employed for the parking aid, and a second of said sensing characteristics being employed for the opening brake.

3. A vehicle with a tailgate, wherein the tailgate has means for sensing objects at least during an opening operation of the tailgate, wherein the sensing means comprises radar, infrared or ultrasonic sensors, the tailgate further comprising a braking actuator for braking the tailgate, and a control device operatively connected to said sensing means and said braking actuator for braking an opening movement of the tailgate.

4. The vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said braking actuator is a friction brake.

5. The vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said braking actuator is a gas-pressure means.

6. The vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said braking actuator is a cable.

7. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said braking actuator is a Bowden wire.

8. The vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said braking actuator is brake shoes.

9. A vehicle with a tailgate, wherein the tailgate has operating means for sensing objects located in a tail region of the vehicle during an opening operation or a closing operation of the tailgate;

and when one of said objects is sensed during the opening operation or the closing operation, the opening operation or the closing operation is braked or stopped, or a warning signal is transmitted, and wherein the operating means are provided as radar, infrared or ultrasonic sensors,

wherein said operating means has a first sensor for the sensing of said objects and a second sensor for sensing the opening position of the tailgate, wherein, when the operating means function as an opening brake, the sensing of the objects by the first sensor is only permitted from an initial value of opening position of the tailgate.

10. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operating means are arranged on the bottom border of the tailgate.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, further comprising braking means which brake or interrupt the opening operation or the closing operation of the tailgate when one of said objects is sensed.

12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operating means for sensing one of said objects are also adapted for sensing other vehicles which are parking.

13. A vehicle with a tailgate, wherein the tailgate has operating means for sensing objects located in a tail region of the vehicle during an opening operation or a closing operation of the tailgate;

and when one of said objects is sensed during the opening operation or the closing operation during a stationary condition of the vehicle, the opening operation or the closing operation is braked or stopped, or a warning signal is transmitted; and

wherein during movement of the vehicle, the operating means serves as a parking aid for transmitting a warning signal upon a sensing of one of said objects.

14. A vehicle with a tailgate, wherein the tailgate has operating means for sensing objects located in a tail region of the vehicle during a closing operation of the tailgate;

and when one of said objects is sensed during the closing operation in a stationary condition of the vehicle, the closing operation is braked, the closing operation is stopped, or a warning signal is transmitted; and

when one of said objects is sensed during a condition of movement of the vehicle, the operating means serves as a parking aid by transmitting a warning signal upon a sensing of one of said objects.