Patent Application
20160280122
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-059426, filed Mar. 23, 2015, entitled “Vehicle With Load-Carrying Platform,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to a vehicle with a load-carrying platform that provides the load-carrying platform in a rear portion.
Among vehicles provided with a load-carrying platform in a rear portion, a vehicle is known that provides a load-carrying platform extension means referred to as a bed extender to the load-carrying platform in order to increase a carrying capacity of the load-carrying platform.
From this state, the bed extender 111 is inversely moved 180° with a fulcrum portion 191 as a rotation center.
As a result, as illustrated in
Due to a difference in weight between the tailgate 137 and the bed extender 111, the tailgate 137 and the bed extender 111 exhibit different behaviors during travel. When the behaviors differ, a load on the lock mechanism increases. Increasing a rigidity of the lock mechanism 149 to handle the increase in the load invites enlargement and weight increasing of the lock mechanism 149.
In seeking weight reduction of the vehicle, a structure is sought that handles the difference in behaviors between the tailgate 137 and the bed extender 111 without inviting enlargement of the lock mechanism.
The present invention has as a task to provide a vehicle with a load-carrying platform that can mitigate a load on an elastic band (corresponding to the conventional lock mechanism) that affixes a bed extender to a tailgate.
In one embodiment, a vehicle with a load-carrying platform includes a load-carrying platform that is provided in a vehicle rear portion and has a tailgate that can open and close; and a bed extender that has both ends axially supported by a side gate provided to the load-carrying platform, the bed extender being rotatable between a stowed state in contact with the load-carrying platform and an extended state in contact with the tailgate in an open position, the extended state effectively extending a load-carrying space in the vehicle rear portion to include the open tailgate. An elastic band is provided so a rear portion of the tailgate and a rear portion of the bed extender enter a tensioned state when the bed extender is in the extended state. A regulating cord is provided that regulates the elastic band from stretching beyond a predetermined distance. A rotation regulation mechanism is provided to the tailgate and the bed extender that regulates further rotational movement by the tailgate and the bed extender making contact when the tailgate closes.
In some aspects of embodiment, the rotation regulation mechanism can be made from a gate-side stopper member that is connected to the tailgate and has a front-facing stopper surface and an extender-side stopper member that is connected to the bed extender and has a rear-facing stopper surface. The bed extender can be connected to the tailgate and have a predetermined space opened between the front-facing stopper surface and the rear-facing stopper surface.
In further aspects, the gate-side stopper member can be integrally formed with a wire bracket that holds the tailgate in the open position.
In further aspects, the rotation regulation mechanism can include an elastic member that abuts either the front-facing stopper surface or the rear-facing stopper surface.
In still further aspects, the gate-side stopper member can be further integrally formed with an installation portion of the elastic band.
In still further aspects, the gate-side stopper member can be provided in correspondence to a diagonal surface formed in a corner portion between a rear surface of the bed extender and a side surface of the bed extender on the left or right. The gate-side stopper can be provided on an upper surface of the tailgate.
In other aspects, the extender-side stopper member can be provided on a rear surface of a member positioned downward when the bed extender is in its extended state.
In further aspects, the extender-side stopper member can be provided on a chamfered portion formed in a corner portion between a rear surface of the bed extender and a side surface of the bed extender on the left or right. The extender-side stopper member can include a plate bent in an L-shape.
In another embodiment, a bed extender system for a vehicle with a load-carrying platform can include an extender-side stopper member that is connected to the bed extender and has a rear-facing stopper surface, an elastic member, and a gate-side stopper member having a front-facing stopper surface. The gate-side stopper member can be configured to mount to a vehicle surface and abut the elastic member, the elastic member further abutting the extender-side stopper member to regulate rotation of the bed extender.
In further aspects, the gate-side stopper member can be further integrally formed with an installation portion for the elastic band.
In further aspects, the extender-side stopper member can be provided on a rear surface of a member positioned downward when the bed extender is in its extended state.
In further aspects, the extender-side stopper member can be provided on a chamfered portion formed in a corner portion between a rear surface of the bed extender and a side surface of the bed extender on the left or right.
In further aspects, the extender-side stopper member can include a plate bent in an L-shape.
In further aspects, the gate-side stopper member is integrally formed with a wire bracket for being connected to a tailgate configured to move between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the wire bracket is configured to hold the tailgate in the open position.
In still further aspects, the rotation regulation mechanism can be configured to regulate further rotational movement by the tailgate and the bed extender making contact when the tailgate closes.
In yet another embodiment, a rotation regulation mechanism for a bed extender of a vehicle with a load-carrying platform can include an extender-side stopper member with a rear-facing stopper surface, the extender-side stopper member configured for attachment to the bed extender; an elastic member; and a gate-side stopper member having a front-facing stopper surface, the gate-side stopper member configured for attachment to a tailgate of the vehicle and to abut the elastic member, the elastic member further abutting the extender-side stopper member to regulate motion of the stopper members, the bed extender and the tailgate.
In further aspects, the gate-side stopper member can be integrally formed with an installation portion configured to receive an elastic band.
In further aspects, the extender-side stopper member can include a plate bent in an L-shape.
Various advantages of embodiments of the invention may be realized. For example, where the bed extender is fixed to the tailgate by the elastic band, both can be continuously placed in the tensioned state to suppress generation of noise due to rattling. Independent movements of the bed extender relevant to the tailgate can be regulated by the regulating cord even with regard to excessive movement while optimizing a tension load. The bed extender and the tailgate can be prevented from rotating in the same direction by the rotation regulation mechanism.
In embodiments where the predetermined space is opened in a connected state, the weight of the bed extender is not applied to the gate-side stopper member. Because the gate-side stopper member does not have to bear the weight of the bed extender, its size can be significantly reduced.
In some embodiments, an impact force generated in conjunction with interference can be absorbed by the elastic member, greatly reducing noise.
In embodiments where the gate-side stopper member is integrally formed with the wire bracket, and optionally further integrally formed with the installation portion of the elastic band, different components share fixtures. By sharing fixtures, a component count can be reduced, costs can be reduced, and assembly properties can be improved.
In embodiments where the extender-side stopper member is provided on the rear surface below the fulcrum portion of the bed extender, the stopper member can efficiently regulate return rotation movement by the bed extender.
Embodiments with particular designs for the extender-size stopper member can simplify configuration, reduce costs, and eliminate projection.
Other benefits of the features described herein will be recognized by those of skill in the art.
As illustrated in
Additionally, a bed extender 20 is connected to a rear portion of the side gate 12. The bed extender 20 is axially supported by the side gates 12, 12 at fulcrum portions 16, 16.
The bed extender 20 in a stowed state resting on the load-carrying platform 11 comes to rest on the tailgate 13 by being inverted with the fulcrum portions 16, 16 as rotation centers. This position, illustrated in
While the bed extender 20 may be of any shape, an exemplary shape as illustrated in
A vibration-dampening cap 46 can be installed at one end of the posts 21 to 24. The cap 46 may be made of an elastic substance such as soft plastic or rubber in order to act to dampen the vibrations at the interface between the load-carrying platform 11 and the posts 21 to 24 when the bed extender 20 is stowed. Similarly, another vibration-dampening end cap 47 can be installed on the other end of the posts 21 to 24 that abuts an upper surface of the tailgate 13 when the bed extender 20 is in the extended state.
As illustrated in
The upper pipe 25 can be made from a transverse portion 31 that extends in a vehicle-width direction; chamfered portions 32, 32 that extend diagonally forward from both ends of this transverse portion 31; and extending portions 33, 33 that extend to a vehicle front from respective tips of these chamfered portions 32, 32. The middle pipe 26 and the lower pipe 27 can be similarly apportioned.
As shown, the chamfered portions 32, 32 are provided between a rear surface of the bed extender 20 and side surfaces of the bed extender 20 on the left and right. As a result, triangular spaces 34, 34 made by connecting the rear surface of the bed extender 20 and the side surfaces of the bed extender 20 on the left and right are formed in the corner portions.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The elastic band 36 has the ring 39 on an upper side fixed to the post 21 using an oval fixing plate 43. The oval fixing plate 43 is fixed to the post 21 with two fasteners 44, 44, one each above and below the metal ring 39. Each fastener 44 may be, for example, a screw or bolt. The oval fixing plate 43 is affixed securely to withstand the pull of the ring 39 away from the post 21.
The rotation regulation mechanism 50 comprises a gate-side stopper member 51 installed on the tailgate 13 side and an extender-side stopper member 65 installed on the bed extender 20 side.
The gate-side stopper member 51 has integrated on a rear portion the band installation portion 37 of a tongue shape that detachably hooks the metal ring 41 on the bottom. Moreover, the gate-side stopper member 51 has integrated on a front portion a wire bracket 52 that locks a lower end of the gate wire 15.
The vibration-dampening cap 47 is on the other end (lower end in this diagram) of the posts 21 to 24 and secures a predetermined space (space D in
As illustrated in
The main body portion 56 is integrally formed with the tongue-shaped band installation portion 37. A lower end portion of the gate wire 15 that supports the tailgate is locked by a bolt 57 to the wire bracket 52.
The surface 58 of the standing wall portion 55 that is facing the front of the vehicle acts as a stopper surface 58. In this example, an elastic member 59 that protrudes further forward is attached to the front-facing stopper surface 58. Because an external force to the vehicle rear is applied to the standing wall portion 55, the standing wall portion 55 is reinforced by bridging a stay 61 between the base portion 54 and the standing wall portion 55 and bridging a stay 62 between the standing wall portion 55 and the main body portion 56. The elastic member 59 may be provided on a rear-facing stopper surface 67.
Furthermore, the extender-side stopper member 65 is connected to a rear surface 27a of the lower pipe 27. This extender-side stopper member 65 is made from a bent plate 66 in an L-shape in a plan view, and a rear surface becomes the rear-facing stopper surface 67. The L-shape may be a V-shape.
The gate-side stopper member 51 and the extender-side stopper member 65 comprising the rotation regulation mechanism 50 of the form described above are disposed in the triangular space 34 illustrated in
The rotation regulation mechanism 50 is housed in the triangular space 34, and the rotation regulation mechanism 50 does not protrude sideways from the side surface of the bed extender 20.
As illustrated in
Note that the elastic member 59 may be omitted. If omitted, the predetermined space D is set as between the rear-facing stopper surface 67 and the front-facing stopper surface 58.
Because the predetermined space D is set, a weight of the bed extender 20 is not applied to the gate-side stopper member 51, a rigidity of the gate-side stopper member 51 can be decreased, and reducing a weight of the gate-side stopper member 51 can be easily achieved.
An operation of the rotation regulation mechanism 50 of the present invention is next described.
As illustrated in
Note that the extender-side stopper member 65 is provided on the rear surface 27a of a member (the lower pipe 27 in this example) positioned downward in a usage time when the bed extender 20 is inverted relative to the fulcrum portion 16 provided on the side gate 12, that is, below the fulcrum portion 16.
Because of this, a first line 72 that passes through a first point 71 on the rear-facing stopper surface 67 and the fulcrum portion 16 extends downward to the vehicle rear. Moreover, a second line 74 that passes through a second point 73 on the front-facing stopper surface (elastic member 59) and the hinge pin 14 extends upward to the vehicle rear.
Because the second point 73 is above the hinge pin 14, when rising, it moves to the vehicle front. Meanwhile, because the first point 71 is below the fulcrum portion 16, it first moves to the vehicle rear and then starts to move to the vehicle front once it moves above the fulcrum portion 16.
In an initial period of rising, the first point 71 and the second point 73 move so as to approach each other.
As a result, as illustrated in
When these abut, a triangle is formed whose vertices are the first and second points 71, 73; the fulcrum portion 16; and the hinge pin 14. Because this triangle is structurally rigid, the shape does not change. That is, the first and second points 71, 73 do not rise further, and rotation of the side gate 12 and the bed extender 20 is regulated.
Because rotation is regulated, there is no concern that an excessive force will be applied to the elastic band 36. As a result, the elastic band 36 can be made compact and lightweight.
The present invention is favorable in a vehicle with a load-carrying platform provided with a tailgate that can open and close, such as an MUV or pickup truck.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-059426 | Mar 2015 | JP | national |
