Vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism using lever driven rotary damper
US7654600B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 2007 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2028 |
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 to the lever arm and to a bell crank at opposite ends thereof. The bell crank may be connected to a shaft of a rotary gear pivotally anchored to a vehicle body. A rotary damper may be anchored to the vehicle body and include a damper gear connected to a shaft thereof. The damper gear may be rotatably meshed with the rotary gear. Rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates the lever arm to move the drive lever and the bell crank to thereby rotate the rotary gear which rotates the damper gear to actuate the rotary damper to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.