Tailgate assembly with cargo zone illumination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018257545-A1
Application number	US-201715457101-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2017
Priority date	Mar 13, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tailgate assembly includes a tailgate body having a first receiver at a first lateral end and a second receiver at a second later end, a first light module held in the first receiver and a second light module held in the second receiver. The tailgate assembly may also include a third light module. The light modules illuminate a cargo area on the ground adjacent the tailgate and may be removed to a remote location if desired. A related illumination method is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A tailgate assembly, comprising:
a tailgate body including a first receiver at a first lateral end; and a first light module held in said first receiver.

2 . The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first light module includes a first housing carrying a first light source, a first battery to power said first light source and a first terminal to charge said first battery.

3 . The tailgate assembly of claim 2 , wherein said first receiver includes a first charging connector mating with said first terminal when said first light module is held in said first receiver.

4 . The tailgate assembly of claim 3 , further including a first releasable connection feature releasably securing said first light module to said first receiver.

5 . The tailgate assembly of claim 4 , wherein said first releasable connection feature is a first magnet.

6 . The tailgate assembly of claim 5 , wherein said tailgate body includes a second receiver at a second lateral end and a second light module is held in said second receiver.

7 . The tailgate assembly of claim 6 , wherein said second light module includes a second housing carrying a second light source, a second battery to power said second light source and a second terminal to charge said second battery.

8 . The tailgate assembly of claim 7 , wherein said second receiver includes a second charging connector mating with said second terminal when said second light module is held in said second receiver.

9 . The tailgate assembly of claim 8 , further including a second releasable connection feature releasably securing said second light module to said second receiver.

10 . The tailgate assembly of claim 9 , wherein said second releasable connection feature is a second magnet.

11 . The tailgate assembly of claim 8 , wherein said tailgate body includes a distal end and a third light module is held on said distal end.

12 . A method of illuminating a cargo zone around a motor vehicle, comprising:
providing a first light module at a first lateral end of a tailgate body; and providing a second light module at a second lateral end of said tailgate body whereby said cargo zone is illuminated across an area of ground adjacent said first lateral end and said second lateral end.

13 . The method of claim 12 , including providing a third light module at a distal end of said tailgate body between said first light module and said second light module whereby said cargo zone is illuminated across said area of ground adjacent said distal end.

14 . The method of claim 13 , including providing said first light module with a first light source and a first battery to power said first light source.

15 . The method of claim 14 , including connecting said first light module to said first lateral end by a first releasable connector feature.

16 . The method of claim 15 , including charging said first battery when said first light module is connected to said first lateral end of said tailgate body.

17 . The method of claim 16 , including releasing said first releasable connection feature, removing said first light module from said first lateral end of said tailgate body and positioning said first light module at a remote location to light a designated area.

18 . The method of claim 17 , including holding said first light module at said remote location with a first magnet carried on said first light module.

19 . The method of claim 13 , including incorporating bi-color white/red light emitting diodes into said third light module and operating said third light module as a brake light when said motor vehicle is being driven.

20 . The method of claim 12 , including concealing said first light module and said second light module from view when said tailgate body is closed.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Miranda Nieto Jorge Adolfo

Classifications

• B60Q3/40

  specially adapted for specific vehicle types · CPC title

• B60Q1/2607

  comprising at least two indicating lamps · CPC title

• B60Q3/30

  for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments · CPC title

• B60Q1/0029

  Spatial arrangement · CPC title

• B60Q1/307 Primary

  mounted on loading platforms · CPC title