Multi-position tailgate and support system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11518449-B2
Application number	US-202017007339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2020
Priority date	Aug 31, 2020
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a tailgate configured to pivot relative to a vehicle body between a closed position, a fully open position, and a secondary position that is between the closed position and the fully open position. The assembly further includes a cable device having a tailgate connector and a vehicle connector. The tailgate connector is coupled to the tailgate. The vehicle connector couples to a sidewall of the vehicle in first position to support the tailgate in the fully open position. The vehicle connector couples to the sidewall of the vehicle in a second position to support the tailgate in a secondary position. The first position is vertically below the second position. The assembly still further includes a bracket that blocks removal of the tailgate from the vehicle body when the tailgate is in the fully open position and when the tailgate is in the secondary position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tailgate assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a tailgate configured to pivot relative to a vehicle body between a closed position, a fully open position, and a secondary position that is between the closed position and the fully open position;
at least one cable device having a tailgate connector and a vehicle connector, the tailgate connector coupled to the tailgate, the vehicle connector coupled to a sidewall of the vehicle in a first position to support the tailgate when the tailgate is in the fully open position, the vehicle connector coupled to the sidewall of the vehicle in a second position to support the tailgate when the tailgate is in the secondary position, the first position vertically below the second position; and
a bracket configured to block removal of the tailgate from the vehicle body when the tailgate is in the fully open position and when the tailgate is in in the secondary position,
wherein the bracket is configured such that removing the bracket from the tailgate is necessary to decouple the tailgate from the vehicle.

2. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tailgate pivots relative to the vehicle body about a pivot axis, wherein the bracket extends circumferentially about the pivot axis.

3. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the bracket extends circumferentially at least 180 degrees about the pivot axis.

4. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the bracket includes a hook-shaped finger portion that extends at least partially about the pivot axis.

5. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a mechanical fastener that secures the bracket to the tailgate.

6. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable device includes a cable extending from the tailgate connector to the vehicle connector.

7. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical fastener, wherein the vehicle connector includes an aperture that receives the mechanical fastener to secure the vehicle connector to the sidewall when the tailgate is in the fully open position, wherein the aperture receives a striker when the tailgate is in the secondary position.

8. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable device extends linearly from the tailgate connector to the vehicle connector when the tailgate is in the fully open position and when the tailgate is in the secondary position.

9. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket, when secured to the tailgate, is configured to block removal of the tailgate from the vehicle body when the tailgate is in the fully open position, the secondary position, and all positions between the fully open position and the secondary position.

10. A tailgate support system, comprising:
a cable extending from a tailgate connector to a vehicle connector;
the tailgate connector configured to couple to a tailgate of a vehicle;
the vehicle connector configured to couple to a vehicle sidewall at a first position when the tailgate is in a fully open position, and to couple to the vehicle sidewall at a second position when the tailgate is in a secondary position, the second position vertically higher than the first position,
the vehicle connector including an aperture that receives a mechanical fastener when the vehicle connector is coupled to the vehicle sidewall at the first position, the aperture receiving a striker of the vehicle to couple the vehicle connector to the vehicle sidewall in the second position; and
a bracket configured to block removal of the tailgate from a vehicle body of the vehicle when the tailgate is in the fully open position and when the tailgate is in the secondary position,
wherein the bracket is configured such that removing the bracket from the tailgate is necessary to decouple the tailgate from the vehicle.

11. The tailgate support system of claim 10 , wherein the bracket is secured to the tailgate and the bracket is configured such that detaching the bracket from the tailgate is necessary to remove the tailgate from the vehicle body.

12. A method of attaching a tailgate to a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a tailgate support system having a tailgate connector, a vehicle connector, and a cable member extending therebetween;
supporting a tailgate in a fully open position using the tailgate support system, the tailgate support system having the tailgate connector coupled to a tailgate and the vehicle connector coupled to a sidewall of a vehicle in a first position when supporting the tailgate in the fully open position;
decoupling the vehicle connector from a vehicle sidewall;
coupling the vehicle connector to a striker of the vehicle sidewall in a second position that is vertically above the first position; and
supporting the tailgate in a secondary position when the vehicle connector is coupled to the striker, wherein the tailgate is pivotably coupled to the vehicle, and further comprising using a bracket attached to the tailgate to block the tailgate from decoupling from a vehicle body of the vehicle when the tailgate is in the fully open position and when the tailgate is in the secondary position,
wherein the bracket is configured such that removing the bracket from the tailgate is necessary to decouple the tailgate from the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising supporting a sheet of material on an uppermost area of the tailgate when the tailgate is in the secondary position.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the tailgate pivots relative to the vehicle body about a pivot axis, wherein the bracket includes a hook-shaped finger portion that extends at least partially about the pivot axis of the tailgate.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the bracket blocks the tailgate from decoupling from the vehicle at all positions between the fully open position and the secondary position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dzurnak Jessica Lee
• Kistler William Julian
• Lamberson Matthew Paul
• Sullivan Brian Kenneth

Classifications

• B62D33/0273

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D33/03 Primary

  by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05C17/36 Primary

  comprising a flexible member, e.g. chains · CPC title

• B62D33/037

  Latching means therefor · CPC title

• E05Y2900/546

  Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards · CPC title