DESC:CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[001] This Application is based on and derives the benefit of Indian Provisional Application 202321053805 filed on 10th August 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The embodiments herein generally relate to vehicle doors and more particularly, to a system and a method for reinforcing a vehicle tailgate (liftgate).
BACKGROUND
[003] Generally, a tailgate is a door usually provided for a boot (trunk) of the vehicle to cover and protect a boot space of the vehicle. One end of the tailgate is hinged to a roof portion of the vehicle to facilitate movement of the tailgate between one of an open position and a closed position, and another end of the tailgate is provided with a latch to lock the tailgate to a floor portion of the vehicle in the closed position of the tailgate. Usually, the tailgate comprises an inner panel and an outer panel which are reinforced by struts. In a typical coupe vehicle, a tailgate overhang between the hinge to the latch is twice than the tailgate overhang of a typical sport utility vehicle (SUV). It is necessary for the tailgate to be stiff enough to withstand the forces acting on the tailgate such as bending force and twisting force. While moving the tailgate between the open position and the closed position, the tailgate is subjected to bending force. For example, a middle section of the tailgate in which a tail lamp is adapted to be accommodated by a cavity section provided on an outer tailgate panel for mounting the tail lamp thereon is subjected to more bending force. Also, the tail lamp occupy a major volume of the middle section of the tailgate and thus the middle section is prone to bend or deform. The struts impart strength to the tailgate to prevent bending of the middle section of the tailgate. However, conventional strut reinforcement in the tailgate is not effective enough to overcome the bending force acting on the tailgate, specifically at the middle section of the tailgate.
[004] During movement of the tailgate to the closed portion, a force generated on closing the tailgate has to be transferred from the hinge of the tailgate to the floor portion of the vehicle. However, in conventional tailgates the entire force does not transfer to the floor portion of the vehicle due to lack of force or load transfer path in the tailgate.
[005] Therefore, there exists a need for a system and a method for reinforcing a vehicle tailgate, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
[006] The principal object of embodiments herein is to provide a system and a method for reinforcing a vehicle tailgate.
[007] Another object of embodiments herein is to restrict bending of a mid-section of the vehicle tailgate.
[008] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a load transfer path between a hinge of the vehicle tailgate to a floor of the vehicle while moving the vehicle tailgate from an open position to a closed position.
[009] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a plurality of reinforcement members spot welded to inner and outer tailgate panels of the vehicle tailgate, which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
[0010] These and other objects of embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with following description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0012] Fig. 1 illustrates a plurality of reinforcement members spot welded to an inner tailgate panel of a vehicle tailgate, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0013] Fig. 2 illustrates an outer tailgate panel hemmed to the inner tailgate panel and the reinforcement members are spot welded to the outer tailgate panel for reinforcing the vehicle tailgate, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] Fig. 3 illustrates cross-sections taken at different locations of the reinforcement members connected to the inner tailgate panel, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0015] Fig. 4 depicts a front view of a first reinforcement member, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0016] Fig. 5 illustrates cross-sections taken at different locations of the first reinforcement member, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0017] Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the vehicle tailgate showing the reinforcement members supporting the outer tailgate panel at its mid-section at which a tailgate is mounted thereon, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0018] Fig. 7 depicts a flowchart indicating steps of a method for reinforcing the vehicle tailgate, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0020] The embodiments herein achieve a system and a method for reinforcing a vehicle tailgate. Referring now to the Figs. 1 through 7, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0021] Fig. 1 illustrates a plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) spot welded to an inner tailgate panel (12) of a vehicle tailgate (10), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the system (100) includes a plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) for reinforcing the vehicle tailgate (10). For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the system (100) is explained herein with below reference to reinforcing the vehicle tailgate (10) such as a curved tailgate of a coupe vehicle. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to use/practice the components of the system (100) for reinforcing tailgate or any other doors of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) or any other type of vehicles without otherwise deterring the intended function of the system (100) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings.
[0022] The plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) are adapted to connect the inner tailgate panel (12) with the outer tailgate panel (14) thereby reinforcing the vehicle tailgate (10). When the vehicle tailgate (10) is moved from an open position to a closed position, the plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) are adapted to restrict bending or deformation of the tailgate panels (12, 14) at least at its mid-section (12M, 14M) (as shown in fig. 1) in which a tail lamp (20) is mounted onto the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14). The tail lamp (20) is adapted to be accommodated by an elongated cavity section (14P) (as shown in fig. 6) defined on the outer tailgate panel (14), where the cavity section (14P) extends along a widthwise direction of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) are connected to the inner tailgate panel (12) and the outer tailgate panel (14) by spot welding. It is also within the scope of the invention to connect the plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) to the inner tailgate panel (12) and the outer tailgate panel (14) by any other permanent joints or temporary joints. In an embodiment, the plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) includes a plurality of first reinforcement members (102) and a plurality of second reinforcement members (104) (as shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2).
[0023] Each first reinforcement member (102) is connected to the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding. One end (102A) (as shown in fig. 1) of each first reinforcement member (102) is connected to a respective hinge mounting bracket (16) of the vehicle tailgate (10) and another end (102B) (as shown in fig. 1) of each first reinforcement member (102) is connected to a lower section (12L) (as shown in fig. 1) of the inner tailgate panel (12) near to its bottom end (12BB). Each hinge mounting bracket (16) is affixed at an upper section (12U) (as shown in fig. 1) of the inner tailgate panel (12). Each first reinforcement member (102) is parallel and spaced away from another first reinforcement member (102). Each first reinforcement member (102) is adapted to transfer impact load from respective hinge mounting bracket (16) to a vehicle floor panel via the lower section (12L) of the inner tailgate panel (12) while moving the vehicle tailgate (10) from the open position to the closed position. Each first reinforcement member (102) is adapted to be disposed between the inner tailgate panel (12) and the outer tailgate panel (14) near to its corresponding side. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, each first reinforcement member (102) is considered to be a vertical reinforcement pillar.
[0024] In an embodiment, each first reinforcement member (102) includes an upper section (102X), an intermediate section (102Y) and a lower section (102Z) (as shown in fig. 4). The upper section (102X) of each first reinforcement member (102) is adapted to be connected to the respective hinge mounting bracket (16) and the upper section (12U) the inner door panel (12) by spot welding. The intermediate section (102Y) of each first reinforcement member (102) is adapted to be connected to the mid-section (12M) of the inner tailgate panel (12) and the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14) by spot welding. The lower section (102Z) of each first reinforcement member (102) is adapted to be connected to the lower section (12L) of the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding. A cross section of each of the upper section (102X), the intermediate section (102Y) and the lower section (102Z) of each first reinforcement member (102) defines a hat shape or a C-shape (as shown in fig. 2, fig, 3 & fig. 5). Further, each first reinforcement member (102) defines a plurality of locating holes (102XL, 102YL, 102ZL) (as shown in fig. 4) adapted to receive a corresponding locating member therethrough to facilitate alignment of the first reinforcement member (102) with respect to the inner tailgate panel (12). The plurality of locating holes (102XL, 102YL, 102ZL) of each first reinforcement member (102) includes a first locating hole (102YL), a second locating hole (102ZL) and a third locating hole (102XL) provided on the intermediate section (102Y), the lower section (102Z) and the upper section (102X) respectively. The plurality of locating holes (102XL, 102YL, 102ZL) of each first reinforcement member (102) are adapted to balancing the overhang during assembly of the first reinforcement member (102) to the inner sill (202). Further, each first reinforcement member (102) includes a plurality of cut outs (102S) (as shown in fig. 4) defined on the lower section (102Z) for weight reduction of the reinforcement member (102).
[0025] The plurality of second reinforcement members (104) are adapted to be disposed between the mid-section (12M) of the inner tailgate panel (12) and the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14), and are positioned between the first reinforcement members (102). Each second reinforcement member (104) is connected to the mid-section (12M) of the inner tailgate panel (12) and the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14) by spot welding thereby connecting the outer tailgate panel (14) to the inner tailgate panel (12). Each second reinforcement member (104) is parallel and spaced away from another second reinforcement member (104). For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, each second reinforcement member (104) is considered to be a center reinforcement bracket. A cross section of each second reinforcement member (104) defines a C shape or hat shape configuration (as shown in fig. 2 & fig. 3).
[0026] Fig. 7 depicts a flowchart indicating steps of a method (200) for reinforcing the vehicle tailgate (10), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. At step (202), the method (200) includes connecting each first reinforcement member to an inner tailgate panel (12) of the vehicle tailgate (10). At step (204), the method (200) includes connecting each second reinforcement member (104) to the inner tailgate panel (12) at its mid-section (12M). At step (206), the method (200) includes hemming the inner tailgate panel (12) with an outer tailgate panel (14) of the vehicle tailgate (10). At step (208), the method (200) includes connecting each first reinforcement member (102) and each second reinforcement member (104) to the outer tailgate panel (14) at its mid-section (14M) to connect the inner tailgate panel (12) with the outer tailgate panel (14) thereby reinforcing the vehicle tailgate (10).
[0027] The method step (202) includes aligning each first reinforcement member (102) with respect to the inner tailgate panel (12) by inserting each locating member into a corresponding locating hole defined in each of the first reinforcement member (102) and the inner tailgate panel (12); connecting an upper section (102X) of each first reinforcement member (102) to a respective hinge mounting bracket (16) and an upper section (12A) of the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding; connecting an intermediate section (102Y) of each first reinforcement member (102) to the mid-section (12M) of the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding; and connecting a lower section (102Z) of each first reinforcement member (102) to a lower section (12B) of the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding.
[0028] The technical advantages of system (100) for reinforcing the vehicle tailgate (10) are as follows. The reinforcement members (102, 104) are adapted to reinforce the vehicle tailgate (10) particularly a curved tailgate. The reinforcement members (102, 104) are adapted to restrict deformation (bending) of the vehicle tailgate (10). The reinforcement members (102, 104) are inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
[0029] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
List of Reference Numerals
10 – Vehicle tailgate
12 – Inner tailgate panel
12U- Upper section of the inner tailgate panel
12L – Lower section of the inner tailgate panel
12M – Mid-section of inner tailgate panel
12BB- Bottom end of the inner tailgate panel
14 – Outer tailgate panel
14P – Cavity section of the outer tailgate panel
14M – Mid-section of the outer tailgate panel
16 - Hinge mounting bracket
20- Tail lamp
100 - System for reinforcing the vehicle tailgate
102- First reinforcement member
102A – One end of the first reinforcement member
102B – Another end of the first reinforcement member
102X - Upper section of the first reinforcement member
102Y - Intermediate section of the first reinforcement member
102Z – Lower section of the first reinforcement member
102XL, 102YL, 102ZL – Plurality of locating holes of the first reinforcement member
102S – Cut outs of the first reinforcement member
104 – Second reinforcement member
200 – Method for reinforcing the vehicle tailgate
202, 204, 206, 208 - Steps of the method

CLAIMS:We claim,

1. A system (100) for reinforcing a vehicle tailgate (10), the system (100) comprising:
a plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) adapted to connect an inner tailgate panel (12) with an outer tailgate panel (14) of the vehicle tailgate (10) thereby reinforcing the vehicle tailgate (10),
wherein
the plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) are adapted to restrict bending or deformation of the tailgate panels (12, 14) at least at its mid-section (12M, 14M) in which a tail lamp (20) is mounted onto the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14).
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) includes a plurality of first reinforcement members (102), wherein one end (102A) of each first reinforcement member (102) is connected to a respective hinge mounting bracket (16), and another end (102B) of each first reinforcement member (102) is connected to a lower section (12L) of the inner tailgate panel (12) near to its bottom end (12BB),
wherein
each first reinforcement member (102) is adapted to transfer an impact load from the respective hinge mounting bracket (16) to a vehicle floor panel via the lower section (12L) of the inner tailgate panel (12) while moving the vehicle tailgate (10) from an open position to a closed position; and
each of the first reinforcement members (102) is adapted to be disposed between the inner tailgate panel (12) and the outer tailgate panel (14) near to its corresponding side.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of reinforcement members (102, 104) includes a plurality of second reinforcement members (104) adapted to be disposed between the mid-section (12M) of the inner tailgate panel (12) and the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14), and are positioned between the first reinforcement members (102),
wherein
each second reinforcement member (104) is connected to the mid-section (12M) of the inner tailgate panel (12) and the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14) by spot welding.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first reinforcement member (102) includes:
an upper section (102X) adapted to be connected to the respective hinge mounting bracket (16) and an upper section (12U) the inner door panel (12) by spot welding;
an intermediate section (102Y) adapted to be connected to the mid-section (12M) of the inner tailgate panel (12) and the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14) by spot welding; and
a lower section (102Z) adapted to be connected to the lower section (12L) of the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cross section of each of the upper section (102X), the intermediate section (102Y) and the lower section (102Z) of each first reinforcement member (102) defines a hat shape or a C-shape; and
each first reinforcement member (102) is parallel and spaced away from another first reinforcement member (102).
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a cross section of each second reinforcement member (104) defines a hat shape or a C-shape; and
each second reinforcement members (104) is parallel and spaced away from another second reinforcement members (104);
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each first reinforcement member (102) defines a plurality of locating holes (102XL, 102YL, 102ZL) adapted to receive a corresponding locating member therethrough to facilitate alignment of the first reinforcement member (102) with respect to the inner tailgate panel (12).

8. A method (200) for reinforcing a vehicle tailgate (10), the method (200) comprising:
connecting each first reinforcement member to an inner tailgate panel (12) of the vehicle tailgate (10);
connecting each second reinforcement member (104) to the inner tailgate panel (12) at its mid-section (12M);
hemming the inner tailgate panel (12) with an outer tailgate panel (14) of the vehicle tailgate (10); and
connecting each first reinforcement member (102) and each second reinforcement member (104) to the outer tailgate panel (14) at its mid-section (14M) to connect the inner tailgate panel (12) with the outer tailgate panel (14) thereby reinforcing the vehicle tailgate (10),
wherein
the first and second reinforcement members (102, 104) are adapted to restrict bending or deformation of the tailgate panels (12, 14) at least at its mid-section (12M, 14M) in which a tail lamp (20) is mounted onto the mid-section (14M) of the outer tailgate panel (14).
9. The method (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein connecting each first reinforcement member to the inner tailgate panel (12) of the vehicle tailgate (10) includes:
aligning each first reinforcement member (102) with respect to the inner tailgate panel (12) by inserting each locating member into a corresponding locating hole (102XL, 102YL, 102ZL) defined in each of the first reinforcement member (102) and the inner tailgate panel (12);
connecting an upper section (102X) of each first reinforcement member (102) to a respective hinge mounting bracket (16) and an upper section (12A) of the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding;
connecting an intermediate section (102Y) of each first reinforcement member (102) to the mid-section (12M) of the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding; and
connecting a lower section (102Z) of each first reinforcement member (102) to a lower section (12B) of the inner tailgate panel (12) by spot welding.