Low profile rear lamp applique assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11203285-B2
Application number	US-201916977922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2019
Priority date	Mar 6, 2018
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

A rear liftgate assembly with at least one rear lamp applique assembly and process for manufacturing same. The lamp applique assembly includes a rear lamp applique housing with at least one attachment surface for attaching to an outer panel of the liftgate assembly. A plurality of integrated snap attachment features are provided to connect the lamp applique assembly to the outer panel, thereby eliminating additional bonding and fasteners. A self-sealing wire harness connected accepts an integrated lamp connector, thereby eliminating the need for access openings, to further minimize water intrusion, and eliminate gaskets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liftgate with integrated light assembly, comprising:
at least one outer panel coupled to at least one inner panel;
a rear lamp applique assembly connected to said outer panel;
a housing of said rear lamp applique including at least one first attachment surface;
a second attachment surface provided on said at least one outer panel conforming to said at least one first attachment surface,
at least one reflector of said rear lamp applique connected to said housing;
at least one lighting source of said rear lamp applique operably coupled to said at least one reflector;
at least one self-sealing connector operable to connect a wire harness to said housing of said rear lamp applique and creating a weather resistant seal without gaskets between said rear lamp applique and said outer panel.

2. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one integrated snap attachment feature connecting the rear lamp applique housing to said outer panel.

3. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an inboard assembly pivot and at least one locator to guide the conforming first and second attachment surfaces together to automatically engage said at least one locator and provide active connecting of said self-sealing connector into an assembled position.

4. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is bonded to the inner panel using adhesive.

5. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear lamp applique assembly is connected to said outer panel with adhesive around the periphery of said housing providing both attachment and water tight sealing within a bond path area.

6. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a light emitting diode circuit board and a diffuser bezel coupled to said reflector adjacent to a lamp lens.

7. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one anti-theft fastener connecting a housing of said rear lamp applique to said outer panel.

8. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said self-sealing connector includes a sealing feature incorporating a detent to selectively connect said self-sealing connector to said outer panel and allow a water tight seal.

9. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said self-sealing connector incorporates a detent ring and allows a predetermined amount of float for tolerance variations during installation to the outer panel.

10. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of locator pins incorporated with said rear lamp applique to align to respective recesses in said outer panel for guiding installation of said rear lamp applique to said liftgate.

11. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one mounting clip to align to and extend through an aperture of said outer panel for guiding installation of said rear lamp applique to said liftgate.

12. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said self-sealing connector is a lateral connector that eliminates hand access installation holes and allows a water tight seal.

13. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein the self-sealing connector is a self-sealing ¼ turn wire harness connector coupled to said outer panel, a wire harness, and which connects to an integrated lamp connector, wherein the connector is a lateral connector, straight connector connection, or said housing pivots to a linear connection.

14. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear lamp applique is attached to said outer panel without adhesive.

15. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear lamp applique is positioned within a pocket of said liftgate and a depth is minimized to less than about 50 millimeters from a surface of said housing to allow maximum section depth for said inner panel to maximize stiffness of said liftgate.

16. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the rear lamp applique is a predetermined length and the self-sealing connector is located at a region that is a predetermined percentage of the length of a longitudinal length line through said housing, wherein a distance from said longitudinal length line is about 20 to 40 percent from either end of the line.

17. A liftgate with integrated light assembly, comprising:
at least one outer panel bonded to at least one inner panel with adhesive;
at least one rear lamp applique housing with at least one first conforming attachment surface that correlates to at least one second conforming attachment surface of said outer panel;
at least one integrated snap attachment feature that connects the rear lamp applique housing to said outer panel without threaded attachments, datum pins and adhesive;
a connector operable to connect a wire harness to said rear lamp applique without requiring an access panel and creating a weather resistant seal without gaskets between said rear lamp applique and said outer panel; and
wherein the connector is a lateral connector, a straight connector connection, or said housing pivots to a linear connection.

18. The liftgate with integrated light assembly of claim 17 , wherein the housing of the rear lamp applique is a predetermined length and the connector is located at a region that is a predetermined percentage of the length of a longitudinal length line through said housing, wherein a distance from said longitudinal length line is about 15 to 50 percent from either end of the line to maximize strengthening structural properties of said liftgate.

19. A liftgate assembly, comprising:
at least one outer panel bonded to at least one inner panel;
at least one rear lamp applique housing with at least one first conforming surface and a plurality of attachment features to allow connection to said outer panel;
at least one integrated lamp snap hook connecting the rear lamp applique housing to said outer panel;
at least one assembly pivot region located inboard with respect to said liftgate to guide movement of said housing relative to said outer panel;
at least one self-engaging connector operable to connect a wire harness to said rear lamp applique;
wherein the housing of the rear lamp applique is a predetermined length and the connector is located at a region that is a predetermined percentage of the length of a longitudinal length line through said housing, wherein a distance from said longitudinal length line is about 15 to 50 percent from either end of the line; and
wherein the first conforming surface on the rear lamp applique aligns to a conforming surface on the liftgate assembly during pivotal movement of said rear lamp applique housing to operably guide said housing to an assembled position to the outer panel such that active connection is done with the assembly of the rear lamp applique into position with respect to said outer panel.

Assignees

• Magna Exteriors Inc

Inventors

• Cobb Brian M

Classifications

• B60Q1/0088 Primary

  Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195) · CPC title

• B60Q1/304

  Adaptations of signalling devices having a part on the vehicle body and another on the boot door · CPC title

• F21S43/37

  Attachment thereof · CPC title

• F21S43/14

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• B60J5/10

  arranged at the vehicle rear (B60J5/04 takes precedence {; bonnets or lids B62D25/10; tail gates for pick-up trucks B62D33/0273; counterbalancing E05F; springs, e.g. pneumatic F16F}) · CPC title