Frame structure for vehicle tailgate
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle closure structure comprising:
- a frame having a double-hat shape including a raised section and an inner flange and an outer flange flanking the raised section, the raised section extending longitudinally along at least a top edge and a bottom edge of the frame;
a structural cladding adjacent and connected to the raised section of the frame along both the top edge and the bottom edge of the frame for spreading any loads applied to the structural cladding to both the top edge and the bottom edge of the frame; and
a skin adjacent and connected to the outer flange of the frame.
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Abstract
A tailgate assembly adapted to be mounted along an open edge of a vehicle'"'"'s load-carrying bed includes a stamped sheet metal frame having a reinforced cross-sectional shape with an inner side facing an associated vehicle'"'"'s load-carrying bed and an outer side opposite the inner side. The tailgate assembly further includes a skin attached to the outer side of the frame.
68 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle closure structure comprising:
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a frame having a double-hat shape including a raised section and an inner flange and an outer flange flanking the raised section, the raised section extending longitudinally along at least a top edge and a bottom edge of the frame; a structural cladding adjacent and connected to the raised section of the frame along both the top edge and the bottom edge of the frame for spreading any loads applied to the structural cladding to both the top edge and the bottom edge of the frame; and a skin adjacent and connected to the outer flange of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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6. A vehicle load-carrying bed comprising:
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a generally rectangular bed floor; a front wall extending upwardly adjacent a front edge of the bed floor; a first side wall extending upwardly adjacent a first side edge of the bed floor; a second side wall extending upwardly adjacent a second, opposite side edge of the bed floor; and a dual-axis tailgate positioned along a rear edge of the bed floor and extending between the first and second sidewalls, the tailgate pivotally movable about an axis generally parallel with the rear edge of the bed floor and about an axis generally parallel with a vehicle bed edge of the first side wall, the tailgate including; a sheet metal frame having an upper embossed area and a lower embossed area for increasing the rigidity of the tailgate, the frame defining an opening between the upper and lower embossed areas for receiving a control mechanism therein; a cladding formed of sheet molding compound attached to a first side of the frame facing the front wall, the cladding fixedly attached to the frame upper embossed area and to the frame lower embossed area; a skin attached to a second, opposite side of the frame, the skin defining a handle opening aligned with the frame opening for receiving a handle connected to the control mechanism; and a cap received over the frame upper embossed area and secured against the cladding and the skin. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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7. A tailgate assembly mounted along an open edge of a vehicle'"'"'s open load-carrying bed, the tailgate assembly comprising:
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a stamped sheet metal frame having a reinforced cross-sectional shape with an inner side facing an associated vehicle'"'"'s load-carrying bed and an outer side opposite the inner side, the frame pivotally connected to a wall forming the vehicle'"'"'s open load-carrying bed, the frame including a first raised section extending longitudinally adjacent a top edge of the frame and second raised section extending longitudinally adjacent a bottom edge of the frame which together form the reinforced cross-sectional shape, the frame defining an opening therethrough between the first and second raised sections; a window pane-less skin attached to the outer side of the frame; and a structural cladding attached to the inner side of the frame and substantially covering the inner side. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification