# US 11,077,889 B2 · Tailgate hinge clip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,889 B2 - Document ID: US11077889B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/569,977 - Filed: 2019-09-13 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-13 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: William George Heckman; Vince Anthony Chimento; Derek Matthew Poston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077889B2 ## CPC - B62D 33/0273: {Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence)} - E05D 11/0054: {Covers, e.g. for protection} - B60J 10/86: arranged on the opening panel - B62D 33/0207: {Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms} - B62D 33/03: by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} - E05D 2011/0072: {for the gap between hinge parts} - E05Y 2800/12: Sealing - E05Y 2900/544: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening downwards - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A disclosed tailgate hinge clip is mountable within a gap between a tailgate and a cargo bed and provides a surface for engaging a seal. The disclosed tailgate hinge clip includes a main body portion including a seal surface and a clip portion extending from the main body portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tailgate hinge clip comprising: a main body portion including a seal surface; and a clip portion extending from the main body portion, wherein the clip portion includes a lip that is configured to engage a hinge member supporting rotation of a tailgate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 1, including a mating surface on a back side of the main body portion, the mating surface configured for attachment to a surface of a tailgate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 1, including a support portion extending from the back side of the main body portion for contacting a contoured surface of a tailgate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 3, wherein the support portion comprises a plurality of ribs extending from the back side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of ribs define a portion of a contoured contact surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the clip portion includes a riser portion that spaces the lip apart from the back side of the main body portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 4, wherein the seal surface comprises a generally triangular shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the main body portion and the clip portion are parts of a single unitary molded structure. ### Claim 9 A tailgate seal assembly comprising: a seal mountable to a surface of a cargo bed proximate a tailgate; a hinge clip attachable to the tailgate to provide a seal surface engaged by the seal, the hinge clip is a single unitary integral structure that includes a main body portion including the seal surface that engages the seal when the tailgate is in a closed position and a clip portion extending from the main body portion that engages a portion of the tailgate to hold the clip to the tailgate; and a bracket secured to the tailgate and the clip portion includes a lip that engages the bracket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tailgate seal assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the seal surface comprises a substantially triangular shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The tailgate seal assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the hinge clip includes a mating surface on a back side of the main body portion, the mating surface configured for attachment to a surface of a tailgate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The tailgate seal assembly as recited in claim 9, including a support portion extending from the back side of the main body portion for contacting a contoured surface of a tailgate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tailgate seal assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the tailgate includes a contoured corner and the support portion is received within a space between the contoured corner and the bracket. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tailgate seal assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the clip portion includes a riser portion that spaces the lip apart from the back side of the main body portion. ### Claim 15 A tailgate hinge clip comprising: a main body portion including a seal surface; and a clip portion extending from the main body portion, wherein the clip portion includes a riser portion that spaces a lip apart from the back side of the main body portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 15, including a contoured surface on a back side of the main body portion for contacting a contoured surface of a tailgate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 16, including a plurality of ribs extending transversely from a back side of the main body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 17, including at least one alignment rib configured to hold the tailgate hinge clip in a defined orientation relative to the tailgate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 15, wherein the seal surface comprises a generally triangular shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The tailgate hinge clip as recited in claim 15, wherein the main body portion and the clip portion are parts of a single unitary molded structure.