Liftgate inner die cast with integrated glass urethane bonding surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9409468-B2
Application number	US-201414577241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle liftgate includes a die-cast inner panel. The inner panel includes an upper section and a lower section. The lower section defines a rim, pair of taillight cans, and pair of first bridge members. The rim is disposed about a periphery of the lower section. The rim has a generally “U” shaped cross-section that protrudes in a fore direction from a fore face of the lower section to define a trough in an aft face of the lower section. Each taillight can has an inner portion and an outer portion separated by the trough. Each inner and outer portion has a side wall and a back wall. The side walls offset the back walls in the fore direction from the aft face. Each first bridge member spans the trough between a respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liftgate for a vehicle, the liftgate comprising:
an inner panel including:
an upper section having a header member and a pair of supports extending from opposite ends of the header member;
a lower section coupled to the supports and spaced apart from the header member by the supports to partially define a window aperture, the lower section defining:
a rim disposed about a periphery of the lower section, the rim having a generally “U” shaped cross-section that protrudes in a fore direction from a fore face of the lower section to define a trough in an aft face of the lower section;
a pair of taillight cans, each taillight can having an inner portion and an outer portion separated by the trough, each inner and outer portion having a side wall and a back wall, the side walls offset the back walls in the fore direction from the aft face; and
a pair of first bridge members, each first bridge member spans the trough between a respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can.

2. The liftgate of claim 1 , wherein the first bridge members are flush with a surrounding portion of the aft face.

3. The liftgate of claim 2 , wherein the first bridge members are upper bridges that span between the respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can proximate to a top of the taillight can, and wherein at least one bonding surface is disposed about an upper periphery of each taillight can and across each upper bridge, the bonding surface forming a seal between a window pane and the inner panel.

4. The liftgate of claim 2 , further comprising:
an outer panel;
wherein the first bridge members are upper bridges that span between the respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can proximate to a top of the taillight can; and
wherein at least one bonding surface is disposed about an upper periphery of each taillight can and across each upper bridge, the bonding surface forming a seal between the inner and outer panels along an upper periphery of a respective one of the taillight cans.

5. The liftgate of claim 2 , further comprising:
an outer panel;
wherein the first bridge members are lower bridges that span between the respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can proximate to a bottom of the taillight can; and
wherein the inner panel includes a pair of bonding surfaces, each of the bonding surfaces forming a seal between the inner and outer panels along a lower periphery of a respective one of the taillight cans and across each lower bridge.

6. The liftgate of claim 5 , wherein the lower section defines a pair of second bridge members, and wherein the second bridge members are upper bridges that span between the respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can proximate to a top of the taillight can.

7. The liftgate of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer panel;
wherein the inner panel includes a pair of bonding surfaces, each of the bonding surfaces forming a seal between the inner and outer panels along a periphery of a respective one of the taillight cans;
wherein each first bridge member extends from a base of the trough in the aft direction a distance that is less than a distance from the base of the trough to the a periphery of the taillight can; and
wherein the outer panel includes a pair of flanges that extend into a respective one of the taillight cans to overlap with a respective one of the first bridge members.

8. The liftgate of claim 7 , wherein the first bridge members are upper bridges that span between the respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can proximate to a top of the taillight can.

9. The liftgate of claim 7 , wherein the first bridge members are lower bridges that span between the respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can proximate to a bottom of the taillight can.

10. The liftgate of claim 9 , wherein the lower section defines a pair of second bridge members, and wherein the second bridge members are upper bridges that span between the respective set of the inner and outer portions of each taillight can proximate to a top of the taillight can.

11. The liftgate of claim 1 , wherein the first bridge members have a solid cross-section when cut along the trough.

12. The liftgate of claim 1 , wherein the inner panel has a surface texture having a depth value of at least a 0.003″ and a draft value of at least 4.5°.

13. The liftgate of claim 1 , wherein the taillight cans are integrally formed with the rim and the first bridge members.

14. A liftgate for a vehicle, the liftgate comprising:
an outer panel; and
an inner panel including:
an upper section having a header member and a pair of supports extending from opposite ends of the header member;
a lower section coupled to the supports and spaced apart from the header member by the supports to partially define a window aperture, the lower section including:
a peripheral wall that extends about the periphery of the lower section;
an inner wall that is interior of the peripheral wall;
a trough having a generally “U” shaped cross-section that protrudes in a fore direction from the peripheral wall and the inner wall to separate the inner wall from the peripheral wall;
a pair of taillight cans, each taillight can having an inner cavity and an outer cavity, the inner cavity protruding into the peripheral wall, the outer cavity protruding into the inner wall;
a pair of upper bridges, each upper bridge is a solid mass that spans the trough between the inner wall and the peripheral wall proximate to an upper periphery of a respective taillight can; and
a pair of lower bridges, each lower bridge is a solid mass that spans the trough between the inner wall and the peripheral wall proximate to a lower periphery of the respective taillight can;

a pair of first bonding surfaces, each of the first bonding surfaces disposed along the lower periphery of the respective taillight can and a respective one of the lower bridges to form a seal between the inner and outer panels; and
a pair of second bonding surfaces, each second bonding surface is disposed along the upper periphery of the respective taillight can and across a respective one of the upper bridges.

15. The liftgate of claim 14 , wherein each lower bridge extends from a base of the trough in the aft direction a distance that is less than a distance from the base of the trough to the lower periphery of the taillight can; and
wherein the outer panel includes a pair of flanges that extend into a respective one of the taillight cans to overlap and seal with a respective one of the lower bridges.

16. The liftgate of claim 14 , wherein each lower bridge extends from a base of the trough in the aft direction to be flush with the lower periphery of the respective taillight can.

17. The liftgate of claim 14 , wherein each upper bridge extends from a base of the trough in the aft direction a distance that is less than a distance from the base of the trough to the upper periphery of the taillight can; and
wherein the outer panel includes a pair of flanges that extend into a respective one of the taillight cans to overlap and seal with a respective one of the upper bridges.

18. The liftgate of claim 14 , wherein each upper bridge extends from a base of the trough in the aft direction to be flush with the upper periphery of the respective taillight can.

19. The liftgate of claim 14 , wherein the inner panel has a surface texture having a dept

Assignees

• Rejc Scott W
• Eberle Jr Clifford L
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Rejc Scott W
• Eberle Jr Clifford L

Classifications

• B60J5/107 Primary

  constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements · CPC title

• B60Q1/0035

  relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60J5/101

  for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans · CPC title

• B60J5/0483

  lightweight metal, e.g. aluminum, magnesium · CPC title