Tailgate latching architecture for cost and performance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9656697-B2
Application number	US-201514746260-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2015
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle includes a cargo box having an opening and opposed apertures on opposite sides of the opening. The vehicle further includes a tailgate having locks retaining a pair of outwardly-biased pins in retracted positions when the tailgate is open. The locks engage the cargo box and release the pins when the tailgate is closed whereby the pins shift outwardly into the apertures when the tailgate is closed. A release lever selectively retracts the pins to permit the tailgate to be opened.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle assembly comprising:
a vehicle cargo box having a U-shaped rear opening:
a tailgate movably coupled to the vehicle cargo box for movement between open and closed positions relative to the rear opening;
a latch system including first and second latches adapted to selectively retain the tailgate in a closed position;
first and second bushings having openings, wherein the first and second bushings are mounted to the vehicle cargo box whereby the openings are located adjacent opposite edges of the tailgate when the tailgate is in its closed position;
and wherein the first and second latches each include lock pins that are adapted to shift from retracted positions to extended positions in which the lock pins engage the openings in the bushings to retain the tailgate in a closed position, and wherein the lock pins are adapted to shift from the extended positions to the retracted positions to disengage the lock pins from the openings and permit the tailgate to be opened, and wherein the lock pins are biased towards the extended positions, and wherein the first and second latches each include retaining members that releasably retain the lock pins in their retracted positions when the tailgate is in its open position, and wherein the retaining members release the lock pins when the tailgate is closed whereby the lock pins shift to their extended positions and engage the openings in the bushings to retain the tailgate in its closed position, wherein the retaining members move between engaged positions in which the retaining members retain the lock pins in their retracted positions, and released positions in which the retaining members permit movement of the lock pins from their retracted positions to their extended positions, and wherein the retaining members are biased towards their engaged positions.

2. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the lock pins define pin axes and shift linearly along the pin axes between the extended and retracted positions.

3. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the retaining members operably engage the vehicle cargo box to retain the retaining members in their released positions when the tailgate is in its closed position.

4. The vehicle assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
the retaining members are rotatably mounted to the tailgate.

5. The vehicle assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the retaining members include extensions that protrude outwardly from the tailgate and engage the vehicle cargo box when the tailgate is in a closed position to retain the retaining members in their released positions.

6. The vehicle assembly of claim 5 , including:
coil springs biasing the lock pins towards their extended positions; and

torsion springs rotatably biasing the retaining members towards their engaged positions.

7. The vehicle assembly of claim 6 , including:
a release member movably mounted to a central portion of the tailgate;
linkages interconnecting the release member and the lock pins such that movement of the release member in a first direction shifts the lock pins from their extended positions to their retracted positions whereby the lock pins disengage from the openings in the bushings upon movement of the release member in the first direction.

8. The vehicle assembly of claim 7 , including:
an outside release lever operably connected to the release member, the outside release lever being movably mounted on an outer side of the tailgate whereby outward movement of the outside release lever moves the release member in the first direction to disengage the lock pins from the bushings.

9. The vehicle assembly of claim 7 , including:
a powered actuator operably connected to the release member to shift the release member the first direction upon actuation of the powered actuator.

10. The vehicle assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the openings in the bushings are defined by cylindrical inner surfaces formed in the bushings.

11. The vehicle assembly of claim 10 , wherein:
the lock pins have end portions comprising cylindrical outer surfaces and tapered tip portions adjacent the cylindrical outer surfaces.

12. The vehicle assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the retaining members are rotatably mounted to the tailgate and rotate about axes that are parallel to axes of the lock pins.

13. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle cargo box includes spaced apart upright structures defining a spaced apart vertical side of the U-shaped rear opening, the upright structures having rearwardly-facing rear faces and inwardly-facing inner faces adjacent the rear faces, and wherein the bushings are located on the inner faces, and wherein the tailgate includes outwardly-facing opposite side faces that are positioned directly adjacent the inner faces when the tailgate is in its closed position.

14. The vehicle assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
the retaining members engage at least one of the rear faces and the inner faces when the tailgate is in its closed position to cause the retaining members to release the lock pins when the tailgate is in its closed position.

15. A pickup comprising:
a cargo box having an opening and opposed apertures near the opening;
a tailgate including locks retaining a pair of outwardly-biased pins in retracted positions when the tailgate is opened, the locks engaging the cargo box, causing the locks to automatically release the pins when the tailgate is closed whereby the pins shift outwardly into the apertures when the tailgate is closed, and:
a lever selectively retracting the pins.

16. A pickup comprising:
a cargo box having an opening and opposed apertures near the opening;
a tailgate including locks that retain a pair of outwardly-biased pins in retracted positions when the tailgate is opened, the locks engaging the cargo box and releasing the pins when the tailgate is closed whereby the pins shift outwardly from the tailgate into the apertures when the tailgate is closed,
a lever selectively retracting the pins; and wherein:
the locks are pivotably mounted to the tailgate and include extensions that contact the cargo box when the tailgate is closed to retain the locks in disengaged positions in which the locks permit the pins to shift outwardly into the apertures.

17. The pickup of claim 16 , wherein:
the locks are rotatably biased towards engaged positions in which the locks engage the pins and retain the pins in retracted positions in which the pins cannot engage the apertures.

18. The pickup of claim 16 , wherein:
the pins are movably mounted to the tailgate and shift linearly along a straight line between retracted and extended positions.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Puscas Livianu Dorin
• Krishnan Venkatesh

Classifications

• E05C9/042

  with pins engaging slots · CPC title

• E05C9/043

  with crank pins and connecting rods · CPC title

• B62D33/037 Primary

  Latching means therefor · CPC title

• E05C9/16

  with crank pins and connecting rods {(E05C9/043 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B62D33/0273

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