DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein relate to a modular tailgate assembly and a vehicle body structure to mount at least one of a lift-up tailgate assembly and drop-down tailgate assembly thereon.
BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, a tailgate of a vehicle is a door at the rear of the vehicle which can be moved from a closed position to an open position to load and unload the goods or things or objects and the like to the vehicle, and the tailgate can be moved from the open position to the closed position to restrict the movement of goods or things or objects and the like from the vehicle to outside of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The two types of tailgate are a lift-up type tailgate and a drop down type tailgate. In some vehicles (sports utility vehicles and the like), the tailgate (lift-up tailgate) is connected to a rear portion of the vehicle body structure. Other vehicles such as pickup trucks, station wagons and the like, have tailgate (drop down tailgate) connected to a rear portion of a cargo compartment that is mounted to a chassis of the vehicle. The vehicle body structure required for drop-down type (half door) and lift-up type tailgate construction requires different tools, dies and/or fixtures for each construction which in turn leads to high investment costs. Further, the assembly of tailgate (lift-up tailgate or drop down tailgate) to the vehicle body structure is complex. Further, mounting the lift-up tailgate or the drop down tailgate to the same vehicle body structure is difficult and is one of the challenges posed to the original equipment manufacturers (OEM’S)
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for a modular tailgate assembly for a vehicle, which obviates aforementioned drawbacks. Further, there exists a need for a drop-down tailgate assembly for a vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks. Further, there exists a need for a lift-up tailgate assembly for a vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks. Furthermore, there exists a need for a common body structure for a vehicle, which mounts at least one of a drop-down tailgate assembly and a lift-up tailgate assembly, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
[004] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a modular tailgate assembly for a vehicle.
[005] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a common body structure for a vehicle, which mounts at least one of a drop-down tailgate assembly and a lift-up tailgate assembly to the vehicle.
[006] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a drop-down tailgate assembly for a vehicle.
[007] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a lift-up tailgate assembly for a vehicle.
[008] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a modular tailgate for a vehicle, where the modular tailgate is at least one of a lift-up tailgate assembly and a drop-down tailgate assembly which can be assembled to a same vehicle body structure by changing the mounting hinge points on the vehicle body structure.
[009] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a modular tailgate assembly for a vehicle, which provides flexibility to a user (customer) to choose between a lift-up tailgate assembly and a drop down tailgate assembly on the same vehicle body structure as per their utility.
[0010] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a modular tailgate assembly for a vehicle, which provides better aesthetics due to hidden tailgate latch in a drop down tailgate assembly.
[0011] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a modular tailgate assembly for a vehicle, which has reduced investment cost for tools, dies and/or fixtures, and less number of tools, dies and/or fixtures for making the modular tailgate assembly (lift-up tailgate assembly and drop-down tailgate assembly).
[0012] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the 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
[0013] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0014] Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of a lift-up tailgate assembly and a body structure of a vehicle in assembled condition, where the lift-up tailgate assembly is in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0015] Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of the lift-up tailgate in an open position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0016] Fig. 3 depicts a perspective view of a drop-down tailgate assembly and the body structure in assembled condition, where the l drop-down tailgate assembly is in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0017] Fig. 4 depicts a perspective view of the drop-down tailgate assembly in an open position, where a canopy is to be assembled to the body structure of vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0018] Fig. 5 depicts an exploded view of the modular tailgate assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0019] Fig. 6 depicts a exploded view of the lift-up tailgate assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0020] Fig. 7 depicts an exploded view of the drop-down tailgate assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0021] Fig. 8a depicts a cross-sectional view of the lift-up tailgate assembly and the body structure in assembled condition along the line A-A of fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0022] Fig. 8b depicts a cross-sectional view of lift-up tailgate assembly and the body structure in assembled condition along the line B-B of fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0023] Fig. 9a depicts a cross-sectional view of a canopy and the body structure in assembled condition along the line A-A of fig. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0024] Fig. 9b depicts a cross-sectional view of the drop-down tailgate assembly and the body structure in assembled condition along the line B-B of fig. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] 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.
[0026] The embodiments herein achieve a modular tailgate assembly for a vehicle. Further, embodiments herein achieve a lift-up tailgate assembly and a drop-down tailgate assembly for a vehicle. Furthermore, embodiments herein achieve a common body structure for a vehicle, which is used to mount at least one of a lift-up tailgate assembly and a drop-down tailgate assembly to the vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 9b, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0027] Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of a lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100) and a body structure B of a vehicle in assembled condition, where the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100) is in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100) in an open position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100) is a door at a rear end of a vehicle and is moved from a closed position to an open position to load and/or unload the goods or things or articles or objects and the like to the vehicle, and also the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100) can be moved from the open position to the closed position to restrict the movement of goods or things or articles or objects and the like from the vehicle to outside of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100) is movably connected to the body structure B of the vehicle between the open position and the closed position. Fig. 5 depicts an exploded view of the modular tailgate assembly 100 (100A), according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. Fig. 6 depicts an exploded view of the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100), according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100) includes a tailgate upper panel assembly 102X, a tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y (100B), a plurality of tailgate hinge elements 102H, at least one tailgate latch assembly 102L, a tailgate latch mounting box 102B, at least one first sealing element S1 (as shown in fig. 9a), least one second sealing element S2 (as shown in fig. 9b) and may include other standard components as present in a standard tailgate assembly. In an embodiment, the tailgate upper panel assembly 102X includes a tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA and a tailgate upper outer panel 102UB connected to the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA. In an embodiment, the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA includes an upper inner panel 102UR, a first side inner panel 102US and a second side inner panel 102P. The upper inner panel 102UR of the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA is configured to extend between the first side inner panel 102US and the second side inner panel 102P of the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA along a widthwise direction of the vehicle. One end of the first side inner panel 102US of the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA is connected to corresponding portion of the upper inner panel 102UR of the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA and another end of the first side inner panel 102US is connected to corresponding portion of an tailgate lower inner panel 102LA of the tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y (100B). One end of the second side inner panel 102UP of the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA is connected to corresponding another portion of the upper inner panel 102UR of the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA and another end of the second side inner panel 102UP is connected to corresponding another portion of the tailgate lower inner panel 102LA of the tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y (100B). The second side inner panel 102UP of the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA is parallel and spaced away with respect to the first side inner panel 102US of the tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA. In an embodiment, the tailgate lower assembly 102Y (100B) includes a tailgate lower inner panel 102LA and a tailgate lower outer panel 102LB connected to the tailgate lower inner panel 102LA. The plurality of tailgate hinges 102H is used for movably connecting the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A to corresponding portion B1 of the body structure B of the vehicle. The tailgate latch assembly 102L is used to lock the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A at the closed position. The tailgate latch mounting box 102B is used for mounting the tailgate latch assembly 102L. The first sealing element S1 adapted to be seal at a portion between corresponding portion of said body structure B and said tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA of said tailgate upper panel assembly 102X. The second sealing element S2 adapted to seal at a portion between corresponding portion of said body structure ZB and said tailgate lower inner panel 102LA of said tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y.
[0028] Fig. 3 depicts a perspective view of a drop-down tailgate assembly 100B (100) and the body structure B in assembled condition, where the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B (100) is in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The drop-down tailgate assembly 100B (100) is a door at a rear end of the vehicle. The drop-down tailgate 100B (100) is moved from a closed position to an open position to load and/or unload the goods or things or articles or objects and the like to the vehicle, and also the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B can be moved from the open position to the closed position to restrict the movement of goods or things or articles or objects and the like from the vehicle to outside of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The drop-down tailgate assembly 100B is movably connected to the body structure B of the vehicle between the open position and the closed position. Fig. 7 depicts an exploded view of the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B (100), according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B (102Y) includes a tailgate assembly 102M, at least one tailgate latch assembly 102N, a plurality of tailgate hinge elements 102Q, at least one sealing element S3 (as shown in fig. 9b) and may include other standard components as present in a standard tailgate assembly. In an embodiment, the tailgate assembly 102M of the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B includes a tailgate inner panel 102MA (102LA) and a tailgate outer panel 102MB (102LB) adapted to be connected to the tailgate inner panel 102MA. The tailgate latch assembly 102N is used sideways to lock the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B at the closed position. The plurality of tailgate hinge elements 102Q of the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B is used for movably connecting the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B to corresponding bottom portion of the body structure B of the vehicle. The sealing element S3 adapted to seal at least a portion between corresponding portion of the body structure B and said tailgate inner panel 102MA. The canopy C is connected to the body structure B and disposed above the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B to cover the portion above the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B. The striker mounting is made as dummy for drop-down tailgate assembly 100B (100) and provision given for lift-up tailgate assembly 100A.
[0029] The body structure B of the vehicle is configured to mount at least one of the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A and the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B. The body structure B defines a portion B1 adapted to facilitate at least one of movable mounting of the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A (100) and mounting of the canopy C, where the canopy C is connected to the portion B1 of the body structure B when the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B is movably connected to the vehicle body structure B, a portion B2 adapted to facilitate mounting of the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B (100) and a plurality of side portions B3 adapted to facilitate mounting of a canopy C (as shown in fig. 3, fig. 4 and fig. 9a).
[0030] In an embodiment, the modular tailgate assembly 100 (100A and 100B) comprises a tailgate upper panel assembly 102X and a tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y (100B). In an embodiment, the tailgate upper panel assembly 102X includes tailgate upper inner panel 102UA and a tailgate upper outer panel 102UB connected to the tailgate upper inner panel 102UA. In an embodiment, the tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y (100B) includes a tailgate lower inner panel 102LA and a tailgate lower outer panel 102LB connected to the tailgate lower inner panel 102LA. In an embodiment, the tailgate upper assembly 102X is connected to the tailgate lower assembly 102Y to form a lift-up tailgate assembly 100A adapted to be movably connected to the body structure B of the vehicle in a first predefined condition. The first predefined condition occurs when a user requires a lift-up tailgate type vehicle. In an embodiment, the tailgate lower assembly 102Y forms a drop-down tailgate assembly 100B adapted to be movably connected to the body structure B of the vehicle in a second predefined condition. The tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y is same (common) for said lift-up tailgate assembly 100A and said drop-down tailgate assembly 100B. The second predefined condition occurs when the user requires a drop-down tailgate type vehicle. The drop-down tailgate 100B is a half tailgate and the canopy C is connected to the body structure B and disposed above the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B to cover the portion above the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B.
[0031] 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 modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

,CLAIMS:We claim,
1. A lift-up tailgate assembly 100A for a vehicle, said lift-up tailgate assembly 100A comprising:
a tailgate upper panel assembly 102X comprising a tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA and a tailgate upper outer panel 102UB adapted to be connected to said tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA;
a tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y comprising a tailgate lower inner panel 102LA adapted to be connected to said tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA and a tailgate lower outer panel 102LB adapted to be connected to said tailgate lower inner panel 102LA;
a plurality of tailgate hinge elements 102H adapted to movably connect said lift-up tailgate assembly 100A to a corresponding portion B1 of a body structure B of the vehicle; and
at least one tailgate latch assembly 102L.
2. The lift-up tailgate assembly 100A as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y comprises,
a first side inner panel 102US;
a second side inner panel 102UP; and
an upper inner panel 102UR adapted to extend between said first side inner panel 102US and said second side inner panel 102UP,
wherein
one end of said first side inner panel 102US is adapted to be connected to corresponding portion of the upper inner panel 102UR and another end of said first side inner panel 102US is adapted to be connected to corresponding portion of said tailgate lower inner panel 102LA of said tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y; and
one end of said second side inner panel 102UP is adapted to be connected to corresponding another portion of said upper inner panel 102UR and another end of said second side inner panel 102UP is adapted to be connected to corresponding another portion of said tailgate lower inner panel 102LA of said tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y.
3. The lift-up tailgate assembly 100A as claimed in claim 2 comprises at least one first sealing element S1 adapted to be seal at a portion between corresponding portion of said body structure B and said tailgate upper inner panel assembly 102UA of said tailgate upper panel assembly 102X.
4. The lift-up tailgate assembly 100A as claimed in claim 3 comprises at least one second sealing element S2 adapted to seal at a portion between corresponding portion of said body structure ZB and said tailgate lower inner panel 102LA of said tailgate lower panel assembly 102Y.
5. The lift-up tailgate assembly 100A as claimed in claim 4 comprises a tailgate latch mounting box 102B adapted to mount said tailgate latch assembly 102L.
6. A drop-down tailgate assembly 100B for a vehicle, said drop-down tailgate assembly 100B comprising:
a tailgate assembly 102M;
a plurality of tailgate hinge elements 102Q adapted to movably connect said drop-down tailgate assembly 100B to corresponding portion B2 of a body structure B of the vehicle; and
a plurality of tailgate latch assemblies 102N.
7. The drop-down tailgate assembly 100B as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tailgate assembly 102M comprises,
a tailgate inner panel 102MA; and
a tailgate outer panel 102MB adapted to be connected to said tailgate inner panel 102MA.
8. The drop-down tailgate assembly 100B as claimed in claim 7 comprises at least one sealing element S3 adapted to seal at least a portion between corresponding portion of the body structure B and said tailgate inner panel 102MA.
9. A body structure B for a vehicle, said body structure B is configured to:
mount at least one of a lift-up tailgate assembly 100A and a drop-down tailgate assembly 100B.
10. The body structure B as claimed in claim 9 defines a portion B1 adapted to facilitate at least one of movable mounting of the lift-up tailgate assembly 100A thereof and mounting of a canopy C thereof, where the canopy C is connected to the portion B1 of the body structure B when the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B is movably connected to the vehicle body structure B.
11. The body structure B as claimed in claim 10 defines,
a portion B2 adapted to facilitate mounting of the drop-down tailgate assembly 100B; and
a plurality of side portions B3 adapted to facilitate mounting of the canopy C.
12. A modular tailgate assembly 100 for a vehicle, said tailgate assembly 100 comprising:
a tailgate upper assembly 102X comprising a tailgate upper inner panel 102UA and a tailgate upper outer panel 102UB adapted to be connected to said tailgate upper inner panel 102UA;
a tailgate lower assembly 102Y comprising a tailgate lower inner panel 102LA and a tailgate lower outer panel 102LB adapted to be connected to said tailgate lower inner panel 102LA,
wherein
said tailgate upper assembly 102X is adapted to be connected to said tailgate lower assembly 102Y to form a lift-up tailgate assembly 100A adapted to be connected to a body structure B of the vehicle in a first predefined condition;
said tailgate lower assembly 102Y is configured to form a drop-down tailgate assembly 100B adapted to be connected to the body structure B of the vehicle in a second predefined condition; and
said tailgate lower assembly 102Y is same for said lift-up tailgate assembly 100A and said drop-down tailgate assembly 100B.