# US 11,305,822 B2 · Liftgate arrangement having a carbon fiber reinforced sheet molding compound reinforcement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,822 B2 - Document ID: US11305822B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/696,058 - Filed: 2019-11-26 - Published: 2020-05-28 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-27 - Assignees: Magna Exteriors Inc. - Applicants: Magna Exteriors Inc. - Inventors: Christopher John Kuntze; Mark P. Birka; Sinisa Andrasic; Scott Varisto; William J. J. Harney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305822B2 ## CPC - B62D 29/048: {Connections therefor, e.g. joints (B62D29/045 takes precedence)} - B60J 5/101: {for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans} - B60J 5/107: {constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements} - B62D 27/02: rigid - 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) - 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) ## Abstract A liftgate arrangement including a thermoplastic inner panel with an outer surface and an inner surface. The liftgate arrangement further includes one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements connected to and extending across a portion of the outer surface of the inner panel. The one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements also includes a channel extending between two openings on the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements. The one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are used to strengthen the inner panel at desired locations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liftgate arrangement comprising: an inner panel with an outer surface and an inner surface; one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements connected to and extending across a portion of the outer surface of the inner panel, wherein said one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements has a channel extending between two openings on the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements; and one or more mount surface areas formed on an exterior surface of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liftgate arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a bracket connected to each of the one or more mount surface areas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liftgate arrangement of claim 1, wherein the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are formed of a material containing polymer and carbon fibers or glass fibers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liftgate arrangement of claim 1, wherein the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are connected to the inner panel by one selected from the group including adhesives, resistive implant welding, heat staking, fasteners and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liftgate arrangement of claim 1, wherein inner panel is formed of polymer material and at least a portion of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are encapsulated in the polymer material of the inner panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liftgate arrangement of claim 1, wherein the channel is filled with structural foam, thereby increasing the strength of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liftgate arrangement of claim 1, wherein the channel contains a tether that extends through the channel and connects two different points on the inner panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The liftgate arrangement of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements has an inside surface that rests against an attachment surface of the inner panel and a channel portion of the inside surface is spaced apart from the attachment surface of the inner panel to form the channel. ### Claim 9 A liftgate arrangement comprising: an inner panel with an outer surface and an inner surface having a lower perimeter surface area extending across substantially the entire width of the inner panel; one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements connected to and extending across a portion of the outer surface of the inner panel, wherein said one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements has a channel extending between two openings on the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements; and one or more mount surface areas formed on an exterior surface of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The liftgate arrangement of claim 9 further comprising a bracket connected to each of the one or more mount surface areas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The liftgate arrangement of claim 9, wherein the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are formed of a material containing polymer and carbon fibers or glass fibers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The liftgate arrangement of claim 9, wherein the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are connected to the inner panel by one selected from the group including adhesives, resistive implant welding, heat staking, fasteners and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The liftgate arrangement of claim 9, wherein inner panel is formed of polymer material and at least a portion of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are encapsulated in the polymer material of the inner panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The liftgate arrangement of claim 9, wherein the channel is filled with structural foam, thereby increasing the strength of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The liftgate arrangement of claim 9, wherein the channel contains a tether that extends through the channel and connects two different points on the inner panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The liftgate arrangement of claim 9, wherein each of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements has an inside surface that rests against an attachment surface of the inner panel and a channel portion of the inside surface is spaced apart from the attachment surface of the inner panel to form the channel. ### Claim 17 A liftgate arrangement comprising: an inner panel with an outer surface and an inner surface; one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements connected to and extending across a portion of the outer surface of the inner panel, wherein said one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements has a channel extending between two openings on the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements, wherein the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are formed of a material containing polymer and carbon fibers; one or more mount surface areas formed on an exterior surface of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements; and wherein each of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements has an inside surface that rests against an attachment surface of the inner panel and a channel portion of the inside surface is spaced apart from the attachment surface of the inner panel to form the channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The liftgate arrangement of claim 17 further comprising a bracket connected to each of the one or more mount surface areas. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The liftgate arrangement of claim 17, wherein the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are connected to the inner panel by one selected from the group including adhesives, resistive implant welding, heat staking, fasteners and combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The liftgate arrangement of claim 17, wherein inner panel is formed of polymer material and at least a portion of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are encapsulated in the polymer material of the inner panel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The liftgate arrangement of claim 17, wherein the channel is filled with structural foam, thereby increasing the strength of the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The liftgate arrangement of claim 17, wherein the channel contains a tether that extends through the channel and connects two different points on the inner panel.