This invention relates generally to an endgate for a motor vehicle, and, more particularly, to an endgate and hinge assembly that allows the endgate to swing alternately about a lateral axis and an upright axis.
The tailgate at the back of a wagon, truck, or station wagon is usually hinged along a lateral axis at the bottom of the tailgate to pivot downward for convenience in loading or unloading cargo. A door at the back of a vehicle hinged along a lateral axis at the top to open upward is often referred to as a hatch or lift gate.
In certain cases it is helpful and preferred that the vehicle have an endgate that can swing like a door about a vertical axis to facilitate access to the cargo area.
A more recent need exists in the automotive industry for a hinge assembly that supports an endgate such that the gate can swing both about a lateral axis and, like a door, about a upright axis at the option of the user. Each hinge for this multiple purpose should be substantially identical, easily installed, occupy a small space and available at low cost.
An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into the body of a motor vehicle includes an endgate for opening and closing the passageway and several brackets, each bracket being secured to the endgate and body and defining a lateral axis and an upright axis. The first bracket is secured to the body at a first lateral side of the passageway. The second bracket is secured to the body at a second lateral side of the passageway opposite the first side such that the lateral axis of the second bracket is aligned with the lateral axis of the first bracket. The third bracket is secured to the body at the first lateral side and at an elevation spaced from an elevation of the first bracket such that the upright axis of the third bracket is aligned with the upright axis of the first bracket.
Each bracket includes a body-side strap for securing the bracket to the body, a first pivot pin supported on the body-side strap and aligned with the respective lateral axis, a gate-side strap for securing the bracket to the endgate, and a second pivot pin secured to the body-side strap and aligned with the respective upright axis.
The first pivot pin supports the gate-side strap for rotation about the lateral axis, either upward or downward. The second pivot pin supports the gate-side strap for rotation about the upright axis.
The assembly provides dual axis hinging having minimum weight and low cost. It enables the endgate to be removed from its assembled position on the vehicle with the use of simple tools.
The endgate with the brackets can be installed in the vehicle prior to paint shop operations and set dimensionally in the body shop of the assembly center, thereby avoiding the need to provide for additional corrosion protection.
An embodiment contemplates a method for reliably restricting the angular range of door travel on a vehicle such that contact between the door and a specialized, unusually wide vehicle body is prevented.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
As shown in
Each endgate gimbal bracket 26 includes a body-side strap 40, formed with attachment holes 42 for removeably securing the body-side strap 40 to the posts 20, 22, and lugs 44, 46, which are mutually parallel and extend rearward from strap 40. A first pivot pin 48, aligned with axis 28, is supported on lugs 44, 46. Each endgate gimbal bracket 26 further includes a gate-side strap 50, formed with attachment holes 52 for securing the strap 50 to the endgate 12, and lugs 54, 56, which are mutually parallel and extend laterally from strap 50. A second pivot pin 60, in the form of a knurled shoulder pin having a square cross section and flat sides, is fitted between and in contact with lugs 44, 46, thereby preventing pin 60 from rotating due to contact with lugs 44, 46. Pin 60 is secured to the gate-side strap 50 by shoulder bolts 66, which are inserted into holes 62 formed in lugs 54, 56 and engage screw threads formed in pin 60. Pin 60 supports gate-side strap 50 as it pivots on body-side strap 40 about axis 28 and as it pivots on body-side strap 40 about axis 30.
A latch 68, secured to the endgate 12, engages a striker 70, located on post 22, thereby securing the endgate in a closed position and preventing its pivoting about axes 14, 16.
In operation, endgate 12 swings about axis 14 to the open position shown in
The brackets 32, 34, 36 assembled as shown in
Although the term “endgate” has been used in this description, the invention is applicable also to a tailgate hinged at the top to open downward, to a lift gate or hatch hinged at the top to open upward, and to a door hinged at the side for convenience in loading or unloading cargo.
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3020084 | Sylvester | Feb 1962 | A |
6938941 | Thiele et al. | Sep 2005 | B2 |
7258373 | Plett et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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19745032 | Apr 1998 | DE |
202005013033 | Apr 2006 | DE |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20090250577 A1 | Oct 2009 | US |