Bracket for tailgate actuation system in vehicles
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorJeffrey G. Pencak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle is disclosed that includes: a vehicle body having an outer body panel; a tailgate that is movable in relation to the vehicle body via a tailgate actuation system between a closed position and an open position; and a bracket that is configured to receive the tailgate actuation system. The bracket includes a main body portion and an appendage that extends transversely from the main body portion such that the appendage engages the vehicle body to inhibit rotational deflection of the tailgate actuation system and, thus, lateral flexure of the outer body panel during movement of the tailgate.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body including an outer body panel;
- a tailgate movable in relation to the vehicle body via a tailgate actuation system between a closed position and an open position;
- and
- a bracket configured to receive the tailgate actuation system, the bracket including a main body portion and an appendage extending transversely from the main body portion such that the appendage engages the vehicle body to inhibit rotational deflection of the tailgate actuation system and, thus, lateral flexure of the outer body panel during movement of the tailgate, wherein the bracket is configured such that the appendage extends away from the outer body panel.
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body including:
- an outer body panel;
- a strut tower located inwardly of the outer body panel, the strut tower defining an inner lateral surface and a rear surface extending transversely in relation to the inner lateral surface;
- a first bolster extending transversely in relation to the strut tower;
- and
- a second bolster positioned within the first bolster such that the first bolster is located between the strut tower and the second bolster;
- a tailgate movably supported in relation to the vehicle body;
- a tailgate actuation system connected to the tailgate and including:
- an actuator;
- and
- a hinge assembly extending between the actuator and the tailgate to convert linear movement of the actuator into rotational movement of the tailgate to open and close the tailgate;
- and
- a bracket including:
- a main body portion connected to the inner lateral surface of the strut tower;
- and
- an appendage extending from the main body portion and connected to the rear surface of the strut tower, the hinge assembly extending through the bracket to thereby reduce torsional displacement of the hinge assembly and lateral flexure of the outer body panel during operation of the tailgate actuation system.
A bracket configured to support a tailgate actuation system connected to a tailgate in a vehicle, the bracket comprising:
- a main body portion;
- and
- an appendage extending laterally inward from the main body portion such that the appendage is configured for connection to a body of the vehicle to reduce torsional displacement of the tailgate actuation system during operation of the tailgate, wherein the main body portion includes a triagonal configuration defining a first apex, a second apex located vertically below the first apex, and a third apex located rearwardly of the first apex and the second apex along a length of the vehicle when the bracket is connected to the body of the vehicle, wherein the appendage includes an uppermost vertical end positioned between the first apex and the second apex.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.