Patent Application
20180065560
This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a new and improved tailgate assembly incorporating a lightweight and easy-to-deploy cantilevered step.
It is well known in the art to provide a tailgate of a motor vehicle with a deployable step which may be utilized to more easily access the cargo bed of the motor vehicle when the tailgate is open and the step is deployed. One example of such a structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,302,719, assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC of Dearborn, Michigan.
This document relates to a tailgate assembly incorporating a step subassembly with a cantilevered step. The tailgate subassembly with the deployable cantilevered step is simpler in design, less expensive to produce, lighter in weight and functionally easier to utilize than prior step gate designs.
In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a tailgate assembly is provided. That tailgate assembly comprises a tailgate and a step subassembly. The step subassembly includes a rail, a step carried on the rail and a pivot subassembly connecting the rail to the tailgate. In addition, the tailgate assembly includes a molding that is carried on the rail. The step subassembly is displaceable between (a) a stowed position wherein the step is contained within the tailgate and concealed by the molding and (b) a deployed position wherein the step is extended from the tailgate for use.
The rail may be substantially L-shaped. Thus, the rail may include a first leg extending along a first axis and a second leg extending along a second axis. The molding may be carried on the first leg and the step may be carried on the second leg. In some embodiments, the first leg is substantially perpendicular to the second leg. The pivot subassembly may connect a proximal end of the first leg to the tailgate. In such a construction, the distal end of the first leg may be connected to a first end of the second leg. The second leg may have a length Li and the step may have a length L2 where L1>L2. In addition, the second end of the second leg may extend beyond the step. Further, the molding may extend along the first axis beyond the distal end of the first leg.
The pivot subassembly may include a first pivot pin extending along a first pivot axis and a second pivot pin extending along a second pivot axis. The first pivot axis may be offset and perpendicular to the second pivot axis.
Further, the pivot subassembly may include a base secured to the tailgate, a yoke carried on the base, a receiver pivotally connected to the yoke by the first pivot pin and a guide slot in the receiver. The second pivot pin may connect the rail to the receiver. In addition, a guide pin may be provided on the rail. That guide pin is received in the guide slot. The guide pin functions in conjunction with the guide slot to limit the arc about which the step subassembly may be pivoted about the second pivot pin thereby ensuring that when fully deployed, the step is oriented in a proper position for accessing a cargo bed of the motor vehicle to which the tailgate assembly is connected.
In accordance with an additional aspect, a tailgate assembly is provided that comprises a tailgate, a step subassembly and a pivot subassembly. That pivot subassembly connects the step assembly to the tailgate. The pivot subassembly includes a first pivot pin extending along a first pivot axis and a second pivot pin extending along a second pivot axis. The first pivot axis may be offset from and perpendicular to the second pivot axis.
The pivot subassembly may also include a base secured to the tailgate and a receiver pivotally connected to the base by the first pivot pin. The second pivot pin may pivotally connect the step subassembly to the receiver. In addition, a guide slot may be provided in the receiver and a guide pin may be provided on the step subassembly. The guide pin is received and held in the guide slot and functions as a stop when the step is fully deployed to ensure proper orientation of the step for use by an operator in accessing the load bed of the motor vehicle to which the tailgate assembly is connected.
In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the tailgate assembly. As it should be realized, the tailgate assembly is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the tailgate assembly as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the tailgate assembly and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the tailgate assembly, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
Reference is now made to
In the illustrated embodiment, the rail 16 is substantially L-shaped and includes a first leg 24 and a second leg 26 (See
The pivot subassembly 20 connects a proximal end 28 of the first leg 24 to the tailgate 12. A distal end 30 of the first leg 24 is connected to a first end 32, of the second leg 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the second leg 26 has a length Li and the step 18 has a length L2 where L1>L2. It should also be appreciated that the second end 34 of the second leg 26 extends beyond the step 18. In addition, the molding 22 extends along the first axis Al beyond the distal end 30 of the first leg 24 so that the molding 22 is of sufficient length to close the access opening 36 to the internal compartment 25 of the tailgate 12 when the step subassembly 14 is in the stowed position (See
As best illustrated in
In addition, the receiver 50 includes an arcuate guide slot 54. Further, the first leg 24 of the rail 16 includes a guide pin 56 that is received in and slides along the guide slot 54. As will be appreciated from the following description, the guide pin 56 functions with the guide slot 54 to limit the arc about which the step 18 may be pivoted about the pivot pin 42 thereby ensuring that the step is properly oriented for use when it is in the fully deployed position shown in
Reference is now made to
When one wishes to deploy the step subassembly 14, one releases the latch 58, schematically illustrated in
Next the step subassembly 14 is displaced into the fully deployed position by pivoting the rail 16 downward in the direction of action arrow B through an arc of approximately 1-60 degrees as determined by the arcuate guide slot 54 until the step 18 is in the fully deployed position and oriented for use. (Note this pivoting action takes place about the second pivot axis PA2.) As illustrated in
Following the full deployment of the step subassembly 14 as illustrated in
In summary, the tailgate assembly 10 provides a number of benefits and advantages. The tailgate assembly 10 incorporates a step subassembly 14 including a single rail 16 and a step 18 that is cantilevered to that rail. In contrast, prior art step gates have incorporated steps supported between two rails. Advantageously, the single rail design requires less material and is less expensive to produce. In fact, the rail 16 and the step 18 may be integrally formed from a single piece of material. This not only reduces production costs but also reduces the weight of the step subassembly 14 and, therefore, the weight of the overall tailgate assembly 10. This allows one to more easily and conveniently manipulate the tailgate 12 and step subassembly 14 during use.
It should also be appreciated that the cantilevered step 18 is open at one end making it easier to use. Further, while the useable width of a prior art tailgate step is limited by the thickness of the tailgate since the step extends at right angles between the walls of the tailgate, the step 18 of the present invention is contained and held within the internal compartment 25 at an acute angle which allows the width dimension of the step to be increased for the user's benefit.
It should also be appreciated that the molding 22 of the step subassembly 14 is mounted to the first leg 24 of the rail 16 away from the step 18 that is mounted to the second leg 26 of the rail. Thus, the molding 22 is protected from being stepped on when a user utilizes the step 18. In contrast, the molding in prior art step gates is secured to the bottom of the step where a user might accidentally roll his weight upon the molding, occasionally disengaging or possibly even damaging the molding.
The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
