Vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism using plunger
US7552958B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE05Y2900/546
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism including a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions and a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate. A drive lever may be pivotally connected at one end thereof to the tailgate lever arm and pivotally connected at an opposite end thereof to a bell crank. The bell crank may be pivotally anchored at one end thereof to a vehicle body, and a plunger damper may be anchored to the vehicle body adjacent the bell crank. With the mechanism configured as discussed above, rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates the tailgate lever arm to impart movement to the drive lever and the bell crank to thereby contact and actuate a plunger of the plunger damper to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.