Tailgate subassembly for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019241110-A1
Application number	US-201916269279-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 6, 2019
Priority date	Feb 6, 2018
Publication date	Aug 8, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tailgate subassembly for a vehicle includes a tailgate and a flexible elongated pulling element. In an open position of the tailgate, the flexible elongated pulling element extends downwardly at least partially from a starting region on an inner face of the tailgate and on the end side comprises a grip portion for a user. In order to provide improved means for closing a tailgate of a vehicle, the elongated pulling element is coupled to a retraction device which is designed to pull up the grip portion in the direction of the starting region when the tailgate is moved into a closed position.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A tailgate subassembly for a vehicle comprising:
a tailgate; and an elongated pulling element which in an open position of the tailgate extends downwardly at least partially from a starting region on an inner face of the tailgate and on an end side comprises a grip portion for a user; characterized in that the elongated pulling element is coupled to a retraction device which is designed to pull up the grip portion in a direction of the starting region when the tailgate is moved into a closed position.

2 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retraction device is designed to retract the elongated pulling element at least partially into an interior of the tailgate.

3 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the retraction device is designed to extend the grip portion relative to the starting region when the tailgate is moved into the open position.

4 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the retraction device is adapted to pull the grip portion toward the starting region until the grip portion is arranged closer to the starting region than a lower edge of the tailgate and to extend the grip portion relative to the starting region until the grip portion is spaced further apart from the starting region than the lower edge.

5 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the retraction device comprises a rotatably mounted roller element for at least partially rolling up the elongated pulling element.

6 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the elongated pulling element is configured from flexible material.

7 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a handle for the user is arranged in the grip portion.

8 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the retraction device comprises an actuator unit that moves the elongated pulling element, said actuator unit being coupled to a sensor unit that detects an angular position of the tailgate.

9 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed claim 8 , wherein a force which acts between the tailgate and a vehicle structure, when the tailgate is moved, is able to be transmitted by a force transmission mechanism to the retraction device in order to drive this retraction device.

10 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein a force is able to be transmitted from a hinge region of the tailgate to the retraction device by the force transmission mechanism in order to drive the retraction device when the tailgate is moved.

11 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retraction device comprises an actuator unit that moves the elongated pulling element, said actuator unit being coupled to a sensor unit that detects an angular position of the tailgate.

12 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed claim 11 , wherein a force which acts between the tailgate and a vehicle structure, when the tailgate is moved, is able to be transmitted by a force transmission mechanism to the retraction device in order to drive this retraction device.

13 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein a force is able to be transmitted from a hinge region of the tailgate to the retraction device by the force transmission mechanism in order to drive the retraction device when the tailgate is moved.

14 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retraction device is designed to extend the grip portion relative to the starting region when the tailgate is moved into the open position.

15 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the retraction device is adapted to pull up the grip portion to the starting region until the grip portion is arranged closer to the starting region than a lower edge of the tailgate and to extend the grip portion relative to the starting region until the grip portion is spaced further apart from the starting region than the lower edge.

16 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retraction device comprises a rotatably mounted roller element for at least partially rolling up the elongated pulling element.

17 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the elongated pulling element is configured from flexible material.

18 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 17 , wherein a handle for the user is arranged in the grip portion.

19 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed claim 1 , wherein a force which acts between the tailgate and a vehicle structure, when the tailgate is moved, is able to be transmitted by a force transmission mechanism to the retraction device in order to drive this retraction device.

20 . The tailgate subassembly as claimed in claim 19 , wherein a force is able to be transmitted from a hinge region of the tailgate to the retraction device by the force transmission mechanism in order to drive the retraction device when the tailgate is moved.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Grosch Guenter Hans

Classifications

• B60N3/023 Primary

  movable · CPC title

• E05F15/627

  operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables (using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619) · CPC title

• E05Y2900/532

  Back doors or end doors · CPC title

• E05F11/04

  with cords, chains or cables · CPC title

• E05B1/0015

  Knobs or handles which do not operate the bolt or lock, e.g. non-movable; Mounting thereof · CPC title