Vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism using lever driven rotary damper

• US 7,654,600 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Stratten, Eric L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/756,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 296/50, 296/56, 296/26.08, 296/146.4, 296/26.11, 296/57.1, 296/51, 493/86, 292/201, 292/216
• US Class Current: 296/50
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/234 direction dependent
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/516 for trucks or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/544 Tailboards or sideboards
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism including a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions, and a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate. A drive lever may be pivotally connected to the lever arm and to a bell crank at opposite ends thereof. The bell crank may be connected to a shaft of a rotary gear pivotally anchored to a vehicle body. A rotary damper may be anchored to the vehicle body and include a damper gear connected to a shaft thereof. The damper gear may be rotatably meshed with the rotary gear. Rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates the lever arm to move the drive lever and the bell crank to thereby rotate the rotary gear which rotates the damper gear to actuate the rotary damper to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate.

Claims

1. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism comprising:

a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions;

a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate; and

a drive link pivotally connected at one end thereof to said tailgate lever arm and pivotally connected at an opposite end thereof to a bell crank, said bell crank being connected to a shaft of a rotary damper anchored to a vehicle body,

wherein rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates said tailgate lever arm to impart movement to said drive link and said bell crank to thereby actuate said rotary damper to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate.

2. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the tailgate from an opened to a closed position simultaneously rotates said tailgate lever arm to impart movement to said drive link and said bell crank to thereby actuate said rotary damper to assist with closing of the tailgate.

3. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said rotary damper is anchored to a vehicle rear sill.

4. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said mechanism partially protrudes through a cutout in the vehicle rear sill.

5. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism is disposed adjacent a vehicle D-pillar.

6. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism is disposed at an intermediate location along a width of the tailgate.

7. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said drive link, bell crank, and rotary damper is disposed generally within a vehicle rear sill.

8. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein movement of at least one of said tailgate, said tailgate lever arm, said drive link, and said bell crank directly or indirectly causes actuation of said rotary damper.

9. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising:

a control device operably coupled with the rotary damper and adapted to monitor movement of at least one of said tailgate, said tailgate lever arm, said drive link, and said bell crank and actuate the rotary damper upon movement of at least one of said tailgate, said tailgate lever arm, said drive link, and said bell crank.

10. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the tailgate movement assist mechanism is disposed between sidewalls of the vehicle body.

11. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotary damper includes a torsion rod that provides lift assistance during closure of the tailgate.

12. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the torsion rod is disposed inside the rotary damper.

13. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the tailgate is at least partially restricted from further rotation when in the open position by one of a cable or tailgate pivot bracket.

14. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the tailgate lever arm includes a U-shaped connection for attachment with said drive link.

15. A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said tailgate includes internal deployable steps.