FORM - 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
"COMPLETE SPECIFICATION"
(SEE SECTION 10; RULE 13)
"TAILGATE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE"
MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED
AN INDIAN COMPANY,
R&D CENTER, AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR,
89, M.I.D.C., SATPUR,
NASHIK-422 007,
MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES AND ASCERTAINS THE NATURE OF THIS INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED

FIELD OF INVENTION:-
The present invention is related to tailgate handle assembly of a motor vehicle with cargo. More particularly, the present invention is related to a sliding actuator with a variable latching-unlatching behavior for tail gate of a motor vehicle with cargo.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:-
An actuator assembly is a mechanical device for moving or controlling a mechanism or system. It is operated by a source of energy, usually in the form of human effort, an electric current, hydraulic fluid pressure and like and converts that energy into some kind of motion/action. In a motor vehicle with cargo tailgate actuator assembly is used to open / unlatch the tailgate of a cargo. Generally such actuators on a motor vehicle for opening the tailgate of a cargo are manually operated. To meet the functionality, a variety of tailgate actuators is available in public domain with varying degree of success.
Korean patent application No. KR20030039484 discloses a device for opening and shutting a tailgate of a vehicle provided to open and shut with little force by directly connecting each rod extended from a handle unit with a locking assembly. A device for opening and shutting a tailgate of a vehicle includes a handle unit, an actuator, a locking assembly. A rod extended from the handle unit is directly connected with a side of a locking bracket of the locking assembly, and the actuator is formed as one body with the locking assembly.
US patent No. US6994390 describes an electro-mechanical actuator for the release of tailgate latch mechanism to open the tailgate by remote control in combination with a module that slows or stops the descent of the tailgate to prevent it from crashing down. The actuator permits both manual and remote controlled opening of the tailgate and is suitable for after-market installation. Unintentional opening of the tailgate sends a warning to the operator. Another patent No. US5174619 educates on tailgate handle assembly with sliding and pivoting lever. A laterally extending lever is slidably actuated on the housing

from a locked mode to an unlocked mode manually by rotation of the key cylinder, or electrically via a power actuator and then provided by manual lift-pulling on the handle, to thereby lift a latch rod extending between the lever and the latch mechanism to actuate the latter.
None of these prior art talk about the pop-up feel provided to the user while unlatching the tailgate manually. In addition these systems are complex in construction, involve lot of components/parts and involve huge cost. Further, none of the system talks about reduction in the effort required to unlatch the tailgate.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION:-
The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved tailgate actuator assembly for a motor vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tailgate actuator assembly comprising minimum number of components.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tailgate actuator assembly requiring less effort for its operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tailgate actuator assembly that imparts pop-up feel to the user during its operation.
Further object of the present invention is to provide an improved tailgate actuator assembly that imparts safety to the user during its operation.
Still further object of the invention is to provide an cost effective tailgate actuator assembly for a vehicle.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION:-
Accordingly the invention provides a tailgate actuator assembly for a motor vehicle for mounting on the tailgate of cargo vehicle comprises a hinged handle flap

having a lever at other side; an actuator assembly incorporated under and in communication with the said handle flap lever; the said actuaor assembly consists of a tailgate handle lever functionally coupled to an actuator, having inverted three side memers of T- shape lever with a stopper or dome on the top flange of the vertcal member of the said T- shape lever disposed on hinge with coil spring bias; the said stopper or dome of the actuator provided with dome / bell shaped profile over which the said handle lever slides and enabled to push the top flange to cause clock wise rotation of the said actuator when the said handle flap lifted; two connecting link members one left hand and other right hand side hinged at each end of the said straight line members of said actuator for releasing the end strikers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE F1GURES:-
The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings, wherein
Figure 1 shows cargo of a vehicle with tailgate incorporated with the actuator assembly.
Figure 2 shows exploded view of handle assembly on the tailgate under which the actuator assembly is fitted.
Figure 3 shows exploded and isometric vies of the actuator assembly in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:-
Referring to figure 1, tailgate handle assembly (3) is mounted on the tailgate (2) of cargo vehicle (1). The tailgate handle assembly (3) comprises of a handle portion (4) and a handle flap (5). The actuator assembly (6) of the present invention is incorporated under and in communication with the handle flap (5) as shown in figure 3. The tailgate actuaor assembly (6) comprises of tailgate

handle lug/lever functionally coupled to an actuator (7), having inverted three side memers of T- shape lever with a stopper or dome on the top flange of the vertcal member of the said T- shape lever, disposed on hinge with coil spring biasand tailgate handle (4), actuator disposed on hinge (8), actuator includes a stopper or dome (9), and coil spring (10) disposed on the hinge (8) and functionally coupled to the actuator (7).The said actuator set to rotate in anti-clock direction due to spring bias.
The top flange (12) of the actuator (7) is provided with dome / bell shaped profile (9) over which the handle lever (13) slides and pushes it. This dome/bell shaped profile (9) imparts the pop-up feel to the user intimating him that the tailgate latch is opened and tailgate is going to drop down.
When the tailgate handle flap (5) is pulled outward by the user, it pushes the actuator (7) inside to rotate about the mounting pivot point hinge (8) to operate the connected links (11) to release the end strikers (not shown in figures). The actuator (7) is pushed by tailgate handle flap (5) to rotate it about its hinge point to pull the linkages (11) on LH and RH Side. Once linkages are pulled the end strikers LH/RH are released to open the tailgate lock of Cargo Box. While unlatching/ opening tailgate,because of dome / bell shaped profile on the top flange of actuator, the feel of pop-up is felt by the user, thus intimating the user that tailgate latch is opened and tailgate is going to drop down. This intimation alerts the user and drop down of the tailgate on the wrist of the user is avoided. The lever (13) slides on the top flange (12) reaches a high point on the dome shaped profile and then drops suddenly,making a distinct sound and a pop-up feeling. This feature of top flange of the actuator makes to reduce the opening effort to 1.8-2.0Kgf from 2.7-2.9Kgf without any cost impact.
The said actuator assembly was tested in comparison with the actuator assembly without dome/bell shaped actuator assembly for the opening effort and the results obtained are as tabulated under.

Sr. No. Opening force for actuator
assembly without dome
shaped profile, N Opening force for actuator
assembly of the present
invention with dome shaped
profile, N
1. 27.53 16.90
2. 30.08 18.70
3. 27.83 18.80
4. 30.95 18.08
5. 29.56 20.20
Average 29.19 18.54
Tests for the opening effort were conducted on the actuator assembly of the present invention having a dome/bell shaped profile on the upper flange and a conventional actuator assembly without dome/bell shaped profile. It was found that the actuator assembly of the present invention was 35 - 40% more effective in reducing the opening effort.

WE CLAIM:-
1. A tailgate actuator assembly for a motor vehicle for mounting on the tailgate of cargo vehicle comprises a hinged handle flap having a lug/ lever at other side;an actuator assembly incorporated under and in communication with the said handle flap lever;the said actuaor assembly consists of a tailgate handle lever functionally coupled to an actuator,having inverted three side memers of T- shape lever with a stopper or dome on the top flange of the vertcal member of the said T- shapelever disposed on hinge with coil spring bias; the said stopper or dome of the actuator provided with dome / bell shaped profile over which the said handle lever slides and enabled to push the top flange to cause clock wise rotation of the said actuator when the said handle flap lifted; two connecting link members one left hand and other right hand side hinged at each end of the said straight line members of said actuator for releasing the end strikers.
2. A tailgate actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said actuator set to rotate in anti-clock direction due to spring bias.
3. A tailgate actuator assembly as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the tailgate of cargo provided with handle portion hinged with the said handle flap .