DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of tailgates for vehicles.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Conventionally, a tailgate of a vehicle is of metallic materials. More specifically, an inner panel and an outer panel of the conventional tailgate are of sheet panels, typically of stamped steel panels. However, the metallic tailgates are heavy and have a high manufacturing cost. Further, such tailgates are susceptible to dents and corrosion. The metallic tailgates adversely affect the styling flexibility of the vehicle. Additionally, the usage of steel possesses several manufacturing concerns related to material, process, styling flexibility, and the like. In some cases, the heavy tailgates reduce the payload capacity of the vehicle as the payload capacity is compromised to maintain fuel efficiency.
Another approach involves use of composite materials for the tailgate. In this approach, the inner and outer panels of the tailgates are of composite materials. The usage of composite material reduces the overall weight of the tailgate, and provides styling flexibility, and dent and corrosion resistance. However, the usage of composite materials too has certain demerits such as high initial investment, high part cost, high service cost, need to outsource, and frequent requirement of supplier's technical support.
Therefore, there is felt a need for a tailgate for an automobile that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional tailgates.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a hybrid tailgate assembly for automobiles.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a hybrid tailgate assembly that is light in weight.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a hybrid tailgate assembly that provides styling flexibility.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a hybrid tailgate assembly that is cost effective.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a hybrid tailgate assembly that has improved corrosion and dent resistance.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a hybrid tailgate assembly. The assembly comprises a metallic inner panel and a non-metallic outer panel attached to the inner panel. The assembly comprises a spoiler and a windscreen. The spoiler is attached to an operative top portion of the inner panel. The windscreen is connected to the inner panel, and circumscribes a recess formed on the inner panel.
The outer panel is attached to the inner panel via an adhesive layer.
In an embodiment, the inner panel is of a sheet metal.
In another embodiment, the outer panel is of a composite material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A hybrid tailgate assembly for a vehicle, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of the hybrid tailgate assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Hybrid tailgate
102 – Outer panel
104 – Inner panel
105 – Cavity
106 – Rear wind screen
108 – Spoiler
110, 112 – Adhesive layer
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a”, "an", and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises", "comprising", and “including” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being "mounted on", "connected to", or "coupled to" another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element.
Conventionally, a tailgate is of either metallic materials or composite materials. The metallic tailgates are heavy, has high manufacturing cost, and are susceptible to dents and corrosion. Further, the tailgates of composite materials has certain demerits such as high initial investment, high part cost, high service cost, need to outsource, and frequent requirement of supplier's technical support.
The present disclosure envisages a hybrid tailgate assembly that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks of conventional tailgates.
The hybrid tailgate assembly, of the present disclosure, is now described with reference to Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 1, a tailgate assembly 100 (hereinafter also referred to as assembly) is shown.
The assembly 100 comprises an inner panel 104, an outer panel 102, a spoiler 108, and a windscreen 106.
The inner panel 104 is metallic. In an embodiment, the inner panel 104 is of a sheet metal. In another embodiment, the inner panel 104 is of aluminium or steel.
In an embodiment, the inner panel 104 comprises a plurality of metallic reinforcements configured on an operative inner surface of the inner panel 104. The reinforcements are provided to accommodate hinges, latches, gas struts, and thrust pads. The hinges, latches, gas struts, and thrust pads are secured to the inner panel 104 by spot welding.
The inner panel 104 has a recess 105 configured proximal to an operative top portion of the inner panel 104. The spoiler 108 is attached to the operative top portion of the inner panel 104. More specifically, the spoiler 108 is attached to the inner panel 104 at a portion above the recess 105 on the inner panel 104. In an embodiment, the spoiler 108 is attached to the inner panel 104 via an adhesive layer 110.
In an embodiment, the spoiler 108 is of plastic.
The windscreen 106 is attached to the inner panel 104 such that the windscreen 106 circumscribes the recess 105 of the inner panel 104. In an embodiment, the windscreen 106 is attached to the inner panel 104 and to an operative lower portion of the spoiler 108 using an adhesive layer.
The outer panel 102 is of a non-metallic material. In an embodiment, the outer panel 102 is of a composite material. In another embodiment, the outer panel 102 is of plastic. The outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 104. In an embodiment, the outer panel 102 is attached to an operative lower portion of the inner panel 104 below the recess 105 and the windscreen 106.
The outer panel 102 can be attached to the inner panel 104 using various means. In an embodiment, the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 104 using an adhesive layer 112.
In an embodiment, the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 104 and to an operative lower portion of the windscreen 106 suing adhesives.
In an embodiment, the size of the outer panel 102 is half of the size of the inner panel 104.
The inner panel 104 is formed using a sheet metal forming process such as stamping. The outer panel 102 is formed using plastic moulding processes.
The hybrid tailgate assembly, of the present disclosure, is light in weight. The weight of the tailgate assembly 100 is 22% lesser as compared to conventional metallic tailgates. As the inner panel 104 is of a sheet metal, the performance of the assembly 100 is equivalent as the conventional metallic tailgates. As compared to conventional composite tailgates, the assembly 100 is cost effective. Further, the assembly 100 is corrosion and dent resistant since the outer panel 102 is of non-metallic material. The assembly 100 has improved styling flexibility due to non-metallic outer panel 102.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a hybrid tailgate assembly for a vehicle that:
• is light in weight;
• provides styling flexibility;
• is cost effective; and
• has improved corrosion and dent resistance.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments 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.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments 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 preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A hybrid tailgate assembly (100) for a vehicle, said tailgate assembly (100) comprising:
a metallic inner panel (104); and
a non-metallic outer panel (102) attached to said inner panel (104).
2. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner panel (104) is of a sheet metal.
3. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer panel (102) is of a composite material.
4. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said outer panel (102) is of plastic.
5. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assembly (100) includes a spoiler (108) attached to an operative top portion of said inner panel (104), wherein said spoiler (108) is of plastic.
6. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said spoiler (108) is attached to said inner panel (104) via an adhesive layer (110).
7. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assembly (100) includes a windscreen (106) connected to said inner panel (104), and circumscribing a recess (105) formed on said inner panel (104).
8. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer panel (102) is attached to an operative lower portion of said inner panel (104).
9. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said outer panel (102) is attached to said inner panel (104) via an adhesive layer (112).
10. The tailgate assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner panel (104) comprises a plurality of metallic reinforcements configured on an operative inner surface of said inner panel (104).