GB2402696A - Tailgate assembly for motor vehicles - Google Patents
Tailgate assembly for motor vehicles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2402696A GB2402696A GB0313477A GB0313477A GB2402696A GB 2402696 A GB2402696 A GB 2402696A GB 0313477 A GB0313477 A GB 0313477A GB 0313477 A GB0313477 A GB 0313477A GB 2402696 A GB2402696 A GB 2402696A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- tailgate
- edge
- height
- vehicle
- hand edge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims 4
- 208000008930 Low Back Pain Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J5/00—Doors
- B60J5/10—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear
- B60J5/101—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
- B60J5/102—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans comprising door or part of door being pivotable downwards about horizontal axis to open position
- B60J5/103—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans comprising door or part of door being pivotable downwards about horizontal axis to open position where lower door part moves independently from other door structures, e.g. by being hinged on the vehicle body
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J5/00—Doors
- B60J5/10—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
A tailgate assembly comprising an upper tailgate member 11 adapted for pivotal connection at an upper edge to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle for movement between a closed and open position and a lower tailgate member 12 for pivotal connection at a lower edge to part of the body structure for movement between a closed and an open position wherein an upper edge of the lower tail gate member has a step formed in it such that the height h1 of the lower tailgate 12 on one side of the step is less than the height h2 of the lower tailgate 12 on the other side of the step. The tailgate 12 thus enables a shorter person to reach over the tailgate 12 more easily.
Description
Motor Vehicles This invention relates to motor vehicles and in particular
to such vehicles having a tailgate to permit access to a rear luggage area of the vehicle.
It is well known, e.g. from GB-A-2375998, to provide a motor vehicle having a body structure and a rear mounted tailgate assembly connected to the body structure, the tailgate assembly comprising an upper tailgate member pivotally connected at an upper edge to the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position and a lower tailgate member pivotally connected at a lower edge to the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position. Such tailgates are commonly referred to as split tailgates.
It is a problem with such a prior art tailgate assembly that the upper edge of the lower tailgate is relatively high from the ground when the lower tailgate member is closed and the upper tailgate is open to allow goods or other items to be placed into a luggage space located in the rear portion of the motor vehicle. This can be a particular problem if the person trying to load items into the luggage space is relatively short.
It is a further problem with such a prior art tailgate assembly that when the lower tailgate is lowered into an open position, in which it extends substantially horizontally away from the rear of the motor vehicle, the distance between the upper edge of the tailgate which is now the edge furthermost from the luggage space and the rear edge of the luggage space is relatively large. This requires a person seeking to retrieve an item from the luggage space to lean over by a considerable amount in order to reach it. If the item is heavy this will place a considerable strain on the lower back of the person seeking to retrieve the item which is clearly undesirable.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved tailgate assembly for a motor vehicle which overcomes or minimises the problems associated with the prior art. À
Àe À À . . .: . À . À .e. . À . . . According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tailgate assembly for a motor vehicle comprising an upper tailgate member adapted for pivotal connection at an upper edge to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle for movement between a closed position and an open position and a lower tailgate member for pivotal connection at a lower edge to part of the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position wherein an upper edge of the lower tailgate member has a step formed in it such that the height of the lower tailgate on one side of the step is less than the height of the lower tailgate on the other side of the step. The lower tailgate may be of an asymmetric shape.
The step in the lower tailgate may be located at or near to a midpoint of the lower tailgate.
A lower edge of the upper tailgate member may have a step formed in it to match the step formed in the upper edge of the lower tailgate. The upper tailgate may be of an asymmetric shape.
The step in the upper tailgate may be located at or near to a midpoint of the upper tailgate.
A line of juncture between the upper and lower tailgates may have a stepped profile corresponding to the steps in the edges of the upper and lower tailgates.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having a body structure and a rear mounted tailgate assembly connected to the body structure, the tailgate assembly comprising an upper tailgate pivotally connected at an upper edge to the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position and a lower tailgate pivotally connected at a lower edge to the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position wherein the upper and lower tailgates are both of an - 3 asymmetric shape with respect to a plane positioned on a vertical centre line of the motor vehicle.
The lower tailgate may have a left hand edge, a right hand edge and an upper edge and the height of the lower tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the left hand edge may be different from the height of the lower tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the right hand edge.
The height of the lower tailgate near to the left hand edge may be less than the height near to the right hand edge. Alternatively, the height of the lower tailgate near to the left hand edge may be more than the height of the lower tailgate near to the right hand edge.
to The upper tailgate may have a left hand edge, a right hand edge and a lower edge and the height of the upper tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the left hand edge is different from the height of the lower tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the right hand edge.
The height of the upper tailgate near to the left hand edge may be more than the height of the upper tailgate near to the right hand edge. Alternatively, the height of the upper tailgate near to the left hand edge may be less than the height of the upper tailgate near to the right hand edge.
A tailgate release mechanism may be provided to allow a person to selectively release the upper and lower tailgates from the closed position. Preferably, the release mechanism is operable in a first mode to release only the upper tailgate from the closed position and is further operable in a second mode to release the lower tailgate.
The tailgate release mechanism may include a handle which is positioned on the lower tailgate near to an upper edge of the lower tailgate. Where the height of the lower tailgate near to the left hand edge is less than the height near to the right hand edge, the À À . À À e :. :.. - 4
handle is preferably positioned near to the upper edge and towards the right hand edge of the lower tailgate. Alternatively, where the height of the lower tailgate near to the left hand edge is more than the height of the lower tailgate near to the right hand edge, the handle is preferably mounted near to the upper edge and towards the left hand edge of the lower tailgate. N Advantageously, the upper tailgate may overlie the lower tailgate when both tailgates are in the closed position so that the upper tailgate can be opened without opening the lower tailgate.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig.1 is a rear view of a motor vehicle having a tailgate assembly in accordance with one aspect of the invention; and Fig.2 is an enlarged view of the tailgate assembly shown in Fig. 1.
With reference to the drawings there is shown a motor vehicle 5 having a rear mounted split tailgate assembly 10 for providing access to a luggage compartment (not shown) at the rear of the motor vehicle 5.
The split tailgate assembly 10 comprises an upper tailgate member or tailgate 11 and a lower tailgate member or tailgate 12 which are shown in Fig.1 in a closed position in which the upper tailgate 11 overlies the lower tailgate 12 so that the upper tailgate 11 can be opened without opening the lower tailgate 12. This allows items to be placed in or removed from the luggage space by opening only the upper tailgate 11.
In the closed position the upper and lower tailgates 11 and 12 extend substantially vertically up the rear of the motor vehicle. In practice there may be a small inclination of particularly the upper tailgate 11 with respect to absolute definitions of vertical and horizontal but for the purposes of this description the tailgates 11, 12 will be assumed to be
-
À À À À . .: À À : À :. .: - 5 vertically positioned when in the closed position and extend substantially horizontally away from the rear of the motor vehicle 5 when in the open position.
The upper tailgate 11 is adapted by means of hinges (not shown) for pivotal connection at an upper edge to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle 5 for movement between the closed and open positions. The upper tailgate 11 also has left and right edges and a lower edge which forms a line of juncture with an upper edge of the lower tailgate 12 when the upper and lower tailgates 11 and 12 are closed.
The lower tailgate 12 is adapted by means of hinges (not shown) for pivotal connection at a lower edge to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle 5 for movement between the closed and open positions.
The upper edge of the lower tailgate 12 has a step formed in it such that the height of the lower tailgate 12 on one side of the step is less than the height of the lower tailgate 12 on the other side of the step. The lower edge of the upper tailgate 11 has a complementary step formed in it such that the height of the upper tailgate 11 on one side of the step is less than the height of the upper tailgate 11 on the other side of the step. That is to say, the line of juncture between the upper and lower tailgates 11 and 12 has a stepped profile corresponding to the steps in the edges of the upper and lower tailgates 11 and 12.
As shown in the drawing the height h1 of the lower tailgate 12 near to the left hand edge is less than the height h2 near to the right hand edge but it will be appreciated that the height of the lower tailgate near to the left hand edge could alternatively be more than the height of the lower tailgate near to the right hand edge. In either case, the height of the lower tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the left hand edge is different from the height of the lower tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the right hand edge.
-
:: À À .. . :. :: A. À.e:e À - 6 The upper and lower tailgates 11 and 12 are therefore both of an asymmetric shape about any vertical plane extending between the upper and lower edges of the two tailgates 11, 12. For example consider the vertical plane X-X shown on Fig. 1 extending vertically down the centre-line of the rear of the motor vehicle 5 and coincident with a centre-line of the two tailgates 11, 12. It can be seen that the shape of the upper and lower tailgates to the left hand side of the plane X-X is different to the shape of the tailgate 11 to the right hand side of the plane X-X and that the steps in the upper and lower tailgates are located at or near to a midpoint of the respective tailgate.
The tailgate assembly 10 is also provided with a release mechanism to release the upper and lower tailgates from the closed position. The release mechanism is operable in two modes. In a first mode only the upper tailgate 11 is released and the lower tailgate 12 remains latched. This allows items to be placed in or removed from the luggage space without the need to move the lower tailgate 12. In a second mode the lower tailgate 12 is also released and so both of the tailgates 11, 12 can then be moved to their restive open positions.
The release mechanism includes a handle 15 which is positioned near to the upper edge of the lower tailgate 12 on the side of the lower tailgate where the height between lower and upper edges is greatest. That is to say, if the height of the right hand side of the lower tailgate is greater than the height of the left hand side then the handle is positioned near to the upper and right hand edges of the lower tailgate 12. In so positioning the handle 15 higher on the lower tailgate 12 the lower tailgate can be more easily closed since the handle is the maximum distance from the hinges and leverage is improved. I By providing a step in the lower tailgate 12 several advantages are obtained over a conventional split tailgate assembly. Firstly, when the upper tailgate 11 is opened to allow items to be placed in the luggage compartment without opening the lower tailgate 12 the height of the lower tailgate 12 on one side is lower than it would conventionally be and so it À À ÀÀÀ: À.: .: À : . À. :' :. À- i is easier to place items in the luggage space. Secondly, when both of the tailgates 11, 12 are open there is less distance to reach over into the luggage space on the side of the motor vehicle 5 where the lower tailgate 12 has less height than would be the case with a conventional split tailgate. This is likely to reduce the risk of lower back pain to a person having to place or remove a heavy item in the luggage space. In addition, the lower height of the lower tailgate 12 at one side increases rear visibility from the motor vehicle particularly when reversing the motor vehicle. In this respect it may be preferable to use a lower tailgate having the low height side on the left for a right hand drive motor vehicle and on the right for a left hand drive motor vehicle.
Although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to a specific embodiment of the invention it will be appreciated that it is not so limited and that various modifications or alternatives could be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
À:.e::. :: - 8
Claims (8)
1. A tailgate assembly for a motor vehicle comprising an upper tailgate member adapted for pivotal connection at an upper edge to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle for movement between a closed position and an open position and a lower tailgate member for pivotal connection at a lower edge to part of the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position wherein an upper edge of the lower tailgate member has a step formed in it such that the height of the lower tailgate on one side of the step is less than the height of the lower tailgate on the other side of the step.
2. A tailgate as claimed in claim 1 in which the step in the lower tailgate is located at or near to a midpoint of the lower tailgate.
3. A tailgate as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which a lower edge of the upper tailgate member has a step formed in it to match the step formed in the upper edge of the lower tailgate.
4. A tailgate as claimed in claim 3 in which the step in the upper tailgate is located at or near to a midpoint of the lower tailgate.
5. A tailgate as claimed in claim 3 or in claim 4 in which a line of juncture between the upper and lower tailgates has a stepped profile corresponding to the steps in the edges of the upper and lower tailgates.
6. A motor vehicle having a body structure and a rear mounted tailgate assembly connected to the body structure, the tailgate assembly comprising an upper tailgate pivotally connected at an upper edge to the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position and a lower tailgate pivotally connected at a lower edge to the body structure for movement between a closed position and an À À :-.e:.
:e:e À - 9 - open position wherein the upper and lower tailgates are both of an asymmetric shape with respect to a plane positioned on a vertical centre line of the motor vehicle.
7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6 in which the lower tailgate has a left hand edge, a right hand edge and an upper edge and the height of the lower tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the left hand edge is different from the height of the lower tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the right hand edge.
8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the upper tailgate overlies the lower tailgate when both tailgates are in the closed position so that the upper tailgate can be opened without opening the lower tailgate.
8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7 in which the height of the lower tailgate near to the left hand edge is less than the height near to the right hand edge.
9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7 in which the height of the lower tailgate near to the left hand edge is more than the height of the lower tailgate near to the right hand edge.
10. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9 in which the upper tailgate has a left hand edge, a right hand edge and a lower edge and the height of the upper tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the left hand edge is different from the height of the lower tailgate between its upper and lower edges near to the right hand edge.
11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10 when dependent upon claim 8 in which the height of the upper tailgate near to the left hand edge is more than the height of the upper tailgate near to the right hand edge.
12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10 when dependent upon claim 9 in which the height of the upper tailgate near to the left hand edge is less than the height of the upper tailgate near to the right hand edge.
I. 2:. .' - 1 0 13. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 6 to 12 in which a tailgate release mechanism is provided to allow a person to selectively release the upper and lower tailgates from the closed position.
14. A vehicle as claimed in claim 13 in which the release mechanism is operable in a first mode to release only the upper tailgate from the closed position and is further operable in a second mode to release the lower tailgate.
15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 in which the tailgate release mechanism includes a handle which is positioned on the lower tailgate near to an upper edge of the lower tailgate.
16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15 when dependent upon claim 8 in which the handle is positioned near to the upper edge and towards the right hand edge of the lower tailgate.
17. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15 when dependent upon claim 9 in which the handle is mounted near to the upper edge and towards the left hand edge of the lower tailgate.
18. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 6 to 17 in which the upper tailgate overlies the lower tailgate when both tailgates are in the closed position so that the upper tailgate can be opened without opening the lower tailgate.
19. A tailgate assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
: , : . . ..
:., ; . . Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A motor vehicle having a body structure and a rear mounted ta,igate assembly connected to the body structure, the tailgate assembly comprising an upper tailgate pivotally connected at an upper edge to the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position and a lower tailgate pivotally connected at a lower edge to the body structure for movement between a closed position and an open position wherein the upper and lower tailgates are both of an asymmetric shape with respect to a plane positioned on a vertical centre line of the motor vehicle.
2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which an upper edge of the lower tailgate member has a step formed in it such that the height of the lower tailgate on one side of the step is less than the height of the lower tailgate on the other side of the step and a lower edge of the upper tailgate member has a step formed in it to match the step formed in the upper edge of the lower tailgate.
3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2 in which the step in the lower tailgate and the step in the uccer ta.lc,ate a. e located at or nca. to a midpoint of the tower tal!c,ate.
4. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim in which a tailgate release mechanism is provided to allow a person to selectively release the upper and lower tailgates from the closed position.
5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 in which the release mechanism is operable in a first mode to release only the upper tailgate from the closed position and is further operable in a second mode to release the lower tailgate.
6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 in which the tailgate release mechanism includes a handle which is positioned on the lower tailgate near to an upper edge of the lower tailgate. lid
7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which an upper edge of the lower tailgate member has a step for m ed in it such that the height of the lower tailgate on one side of the step is less than the height of the lower tailgate on the other side of the step and a lower edge of the upper tailgate member has a step formed in it to match the step formed in the upper edge of the lower tailgate and a tailgate release mechanism which is provided to allow a person to selectively release the upper and lower tailgates from the closed position, the tailgate release mechanism including a handle which is positioned near to the upper edge and towards higher side of the lower tailgate.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0313477A GB2402696B (en) | 2003-06-11 | 2003-06-11 | Motor vehicles |
| CNU2004200655931U CN2740452Y (en) | 2003-06-11 | 2004-06-11 | Motor vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0313477A GB2402696B (en) | 2003-06-11 | 2003-06-11 | Motor vehicles |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0313477D0 GB0313477D0 (en) | 2003-07-16 |
| GB2402696A true GB2402696A (en) | 2004-12-15 |
| GB2402696B GB2402696B (en) | 2006-02-22 |
Family
ID=27589879
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0313477A Expired - Lifetime GB2402696B (en) | 2003-06-11 | 2003-06-11 | Motor vehicles |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN2740452Y (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2402696B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2505682B (en) | 2012-09-06 | 2015-10-14 | Jaguar Land Rover Ltd | A system for controlling the doors of a power split tailgate |
| JP6298832B2 (en) * | 2013-12-27 | 2018-03-20 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | vehicle |
| CN107985034A (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2018-05-04 | 常熟市汽车饰件股份有限公司 | The injection tail-gate and vehicle of vehicle |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4861093A (en) * | 1987-11-13 | 1989-08-29 | Chapman Fred L | Tailgate assembly |
| US5597195A (en) * | 1995-06-02 | 1997-01-28 | Meek; Keith C. | Rampable tailgate |
-
2003
- 2003-06-11 GB GB0313477A patent/GB2402696B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2004
- 2004-06-11 CN CNU2004200655931U patent/CN2740452Y/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4861093A (en) * | 1987-11-13 | 1989-08-29 | Chapman Fred L | Tailgate assembly |
| US5597195A (en) * | 1995-06-02 | 1997-01-28 | Meek; Keith C. | Rampable tailgate |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2402696B (en) | 2006-02-22 |
| GB0313477D0 (en) | 2003-07-16 |
| CN2740452Y (en) | 2005-11-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) |
Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20131128 AND 20131204 |
|
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Expiry date: 20230610 |