GB2473488A

GB2473488A - Tailgate system

Info

Publication number: GB2473488A
Application number: GB0916060A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jesper Lundstroem; Lars E Mattsson
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2009-09-14
Filing date: 2009-09-14
Publication date: 2011-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-14
Also published as: GB0916060D0; GB2473488B

Abstract

The invention relates to a tailgate system for a vehicle 12, comprising a tailgate 10, wherein the tailgate 10 is movable in a closed and in an opened position. The tailgate 10 provides an extension element 18, wherein in the closed position of the tailgate 10 the extension element 18 is in an unused position and in the opened position of the tailgate 10 the extension element 18 is movable out of the unused position to an used position, wherein in the used position the extension element 18 is being adapted to enlarge the size of the tailgate 10. The tailgate extension 18 may be pivot mounted or slidably mounted at the tailgate 10. The angle between the tailgate 10 and the tailgate extension 18 in the use position may be changeable. A motor vehicle comprising the tailgate system is also claimed. The system may be useful to protect a person at the rear of the vehicle from rain or sun rays, such as during a `tailgate party'.

Description

Tailgate system

Description

The invention relates to a tailgate system for a vehicle, especially a car, for example a station wagon.

A tailgate system provides a tailgate shaped as a door for closing the back of a vehicle, especially the trunk of a vehicle. Such a tailgate system is described for example in EP 1 449 697 A2, which is pivot mounted to the body of the vehicle. A disadvantage of the known tailgate systems is that in an opened position of the tailgate the tailgate only covers the trunk of the vehicle but not the persons standing outside the vehicle being working at the trunk, for example searching for articles or groceries bags deposited in the trunk.

It is the object of the invention to provide a tailgate system, which provides an increased functionality, especially an increased functionality for the persons standing outside the vehicle being working at the trunk.

The solution of the object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given by the dependent claims.

The tailgate system according to the invention comprises a tailgate, wherein the tailgate is movable in a closed position and in an opened position. The tailgate provides an extension element, wherein in the closed position of the tailgate the extension element is in an unused position and in the opened position of the tailgate the extension element is movable out of the unused position, wherein in the used position the extension element is being adapted to enlarge the size of the tailgate.

In the closed position the tailgate covers the trunk of the vehicle and in the opened position the tailgate is deviated in the direction to the roof of the vehicle and the trunk is not covered by the tailgate anymore and a person standing outside of the vehicle may reach inside the trunk via the back of the vehicle.

Advantageously, the tailgate comprises an extension element, which is movable mounted at the tailgate. In the closed position of the tailgate the extension element is preferably stored at the tailgate or within the tailgate.

In the opened position of the tailgate the extension element is movable in a position, so that the peripheral area of the tailgate is enlarged by the extension element. The extension element is positioned at the side of the tailgate being opposed to the side of the tailgate adjoining the roof of the vehicle. The extension element may be a plate or sheet of a metal material, textile material or plastic material. In an opened position of the tailgate not only the trunk of the vehicle is covered but also the persons standing outside the vehicle being working at the trunk, for example loading or unloading the trunk or searching for articles or groceries bags deposited in the trunk, are covered by the extension element being moved out of the tailgate. The extension element may be used as a rain protection element and/or a sun protection element. If the trunk is loaded with cargo when it is pouring with rain the extension element may easily be extended from the tailgate. The extension element may also protect persons from rain and sun when having tailgate parties or coffee breaks sitting in the trunk. The inventive extension element therefore essentially increases the functionality of a tailgate system.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the unused position the extension element is covered by the tailgate. Preferably, in the unused position the extension element is positioned parallel to the longitudinal side of the tailgate in that the extension element is rested against the inner surface of tailgate directed to the inside of the trunk or the extension element is integrated within the tailgate, preferably integrated in a storage room within the tailgate. Preferably, in the unused position the extension element is not in a field of vision for a person standing outside the vehicle. Moreover, the extension element does not need much space for storing the extension element in the unused position. The extension element does not need space of the trunk and does not bother the persons inside the vehicle.

To realize a movability of the extension element, the extension element is preferably pivot mounted and/or slidable mounted at the tailgate. The extension element is preferably pivot mounted at the side of the tailgate being opposed to the side of the tailgate adjoining the roof of the vehicle. By the pivot mounting the extension element may be deviateable from the unused position to the used position. Moreover, the extension element may be slidable mounted to the tailgate, wherein the extension element may be slidable movable parallel to the longitudinal side of the tailgate to move the extension element from the unused position to the used position.

To realize a slidable movement of the extension element, the extension element is preferably slidable mounted at the tailgate by guide rails. Preferably, two guide rails are provided. The guide rails may be positioned at the inner surface of the tailgate directed to the inside of the trunk or the guide rails may be positioned within the tailgate, especially within a storage room within the tailgate. The guide rails enable a very easy movability of the extension element.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the extension element provides at least one articulated joint. Preferably, two articulated joints are provided. The articulated joint is preferably fixed with one side to the tailgate and with the other side to the extension element, so that in the used position of the extension element the articulated joint is overstretching the longitudinal side of the extension element. Thus, the articulated joint enables a perfect guiding of the extension element from an unused position to an used position. By using articulated joints, guide rails for moving the extension element are not needed anymore.

Moreover, the articulated joint may provide stability to the extension element especially in the used position.

In the used position the extension element is preferably positionable parallel to the tailgate, more preferably positionable parallel to the longitudinal extension of the tailgate. Thus, the extension element provides an extension of the longitudinal side of the tailgate. Preferably, in this used position the angle between the tailgate and the extension element is about 1800. The parallel extension of the tailgate provides a very functional rain protection system.

Moreover, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention in the used position the angle between the tailgate and the extension element is changeable. A changeable angle means that in the used position the extension element may be folded up or down based on the parallel position of the extension element to the tailgate. Thus, the angle between the tailgate and the extension element is preferably < 180°. The changeability of the angle is especially advantageous when using the extension element as a sun protection element, since the position of the extension element may be adjusted depending from the solar radiation.

Preferably, the extension element substantially extends about the whole width of the tailgate. This enables optimized protection functionality of the extension element.

To reach optimized sun protection functionality of the extension element the extension element preferably provides a transparency of �= 10 %. Most preferred the extension element provides a transparency of 0 %, so that the sunlight is completely restrained to transmit through the extension element. Preferably, the extension element is made of a material with a transparency of �= 10 % or the material of the extension element is coated by a film with a transparency of �= 10 %.

Further, it is preferred that the extension element provides a handle. The handle enables a better usability for a user to move the extension element from the unused position to the used position.

Moreover, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a tailgate system as described above.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to preferred embodiments described hereinafter.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a standard tailgate system; Fig. 2 shows a first schematic view of a tailgate system according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a second schematic view of a tailgate system according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows a third schematic view of a tailgate system according to the invention; Fig. 5 shows a fourth schematic view of a tailgate system according to the invention; Fig. 1 shows a standard tailgate system according to the prior art comprising a tailgate 10 positioned at the back of a vehicle 12, especially at the trunk 14 of the vehicle 12, which is movable in a closed position and in an opened position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The standard tailgate system only provides a tailgate 10, which in the opened position may cover the inside of the trunk 14, but a person 16 standing outside the vehicle 12 in front of the trunk 14 is not covered by the tailgate 10. For example, if it is raining, the person 16 standing outside the vehicle is getting wet.

To overcome this problem the tailgate system according to the invention provides an extension element 18, as shown in Fig. 2. In the closed position of the tailgate 10 the extension element 18 is in an unused position, in which the extension element 18 is covered by the tailgate 10 (not shown) . In the opened position of the tailgate 10 the extension element 18 is movable out of the unused position to an used position, wherein in the used position the extension element 18 is being adapted to enlarge the size of the tailgate 10, so that the person 16 standing in front of the trunk 14 is covered by the extension element 18. The extension element 18 as shown in Fig. 2 is used as a rain protection element, wherein the extension element 18 is positioned parallel to the tailgate 10, especially with an angle of 180° between the tailgate 10 and the extension element 18. But, the angle between the tailgate and the extension element 18 is also changeable as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 shows the extension element 18 with an angle < 180° to the tailgate 10, wherein for example the extension element 18 is folded down in the direction to the trunk 14. By changing the angle between the extension element 18 and the tailgate 10 the extension element 18 may be adjusted optimal depending from the solar radiation.

Fig. 4 shows a tailgate system according to the invention, wherein the extension element 18 is slidable mounted at the tailgate 10 by guide rails (not shown).

The extension element 18 may be slidable movable parallel to the longitudinal side of the tailgate 10 to move the extension element 18 from the unused position to the used position, shown by arrow 20. The extension element 18 is integrated within the tailgate 10, preferably integrated in a storage room 22 within the tailgate 10. Preferably, the extension element 18 is provided only at a section of the tailgate 10 and not along the whole longitudinal side of the tailgate 10, wherein the section is provided at the side of the tailgate 10 opposed to the side of the tailgate adjoining the roof 26 of the vehicle 12, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows the extension element 18 providing two articulated joints 24. The articulated joints 24 are fixed with one side to the tailgate 10 and with the other side to the extension element 18, so that in the used position of the extension element 18 the articulated joints 24 are overstretching the longitudinal side of the extension element 18. By using articulated joints 24, guide rails for moving the extension element 18 are preferably not needed anymore.

For an easy handling of the extension element 18 the extension element 18 provides a handle 28 for the user, with which the extension element 10 may be pulled by the user from the unused position to the used position.

Ref erencesigns Tailgate 12 Vehicle 14 Trunk 16 Person 16 Extension element Arrow 22 Storage Room 24 Articulated joint 26 Roof 28 Handle