Vehicle tailgate
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorJeffrey Gray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle tailgate includes a laterally extending internal panel, laterally extending external panel, laterally extending support beam, and patches of anti-flutter adhesive. The laterally extending internal and external panels are spaced apart relative to each other. The laterally extending support beam is disposed between the internal and external panels, is secured to the internal panel, and has a plurality of spaced apart embossments that extend toward the external panel. The patches of anti-flutter adhesive are disposed between adjacent embossments and are secured to each of the support beam and external panel.
Claims20
A vehicle tailgate comprising:
- spaced apart laterally extending internal and external panels;
- a laterally extending support beam disposed between the internal and external panels, secured to the internal panel, and having a plurality of spaced apart embossments extending toward the external panel;
- wherein the embossments do not span a gap defined between the support beam and external panel;
- and
- patches of anti-flutter adhesive disposed between adjacent embossments and secured to each of the support beam and external panel.
A vehicle tailgate comprising:
- internal and external panels each secured to upper and lower panels and defining a cavity therebetween;
- a support member disposed within the cavity, secured to the internal panel, and having a plurality of embossments extending toward the external panel but not spanning a gap defined between the support member and external panel;
- and
- anti-flutter patches disposed between adjacent embossments and spanning the gap between the support member and external panel.
A vehicle comprising:
- a tailgate including,
- internal and external panels,
- a support beam disposed within a space defined between the internal and external panels, secured to the internal panel,
- spacers disposed between the support beam and external panel, and
- anti-flutter patches disposed between adjacent spacers, the patches secured to each of and spanning a gap defined between the support beam and external panel, wherein the spacers do not span the gap defined between the support beam and external panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.