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US 11,975,647 B2Granted
Vehicle including lift assembly
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJesse Rene Diephuis, Michael John Harmon, Hussain Tajmahal, Amol Borkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle including a lift assembly. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, including a panel and an actuator assembly configured to raise and lower the panel between a highest position and a lowest position. When the panel is in the lowest position, an underside of the panel is spaced-apart above a ground surface.
Claims12
A motor vehicle, comprising:
- a panel;
- an actuator assembly configured to raise and lower the panel between a highest position and a lowest position, wherein, when the panel is in the lowest position, an underside of the panel is spaced-apart above a ground surface;
- a first sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a position of the panel relative to a ground surface;
- a controller configured to interpret the signals from the first sensor, and wherein the controller is configured to command the actuator assembly to prevent the panel from being lowered into a position in which the panel would directly contact the ground surface;
- and
- a second sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a position of a cart adjacent the motor vehicle,
- wherein the controller is configured to interpret the signals from the second sensor to identify an upper surface of the cart, and wherein the controller is configured to command the actuator assembly to lower the panel into a loading position in which an upper surface of the panel is coplanar with the upper surface of the cart.
4 more elements
A motor vehicle, comprising:
- a panel;
- and
- an actuator assembly configured to raise and lower the panel between a highest position and a lowest position, wherein, when the panel is in the lowest position, an underside of the panel is spaced-apart above a ground surface,
- wherein the panel is a tailgate rotatable about an axis between an open position and a closed position relative to a cargo area,
- wherein, when the tailgate is in the closed position, the tailgate encloses the cargo area from a rear thereof,
- wherein, when the tailgate is in the open position, the cargo area is accessible from the rear,
- wherein the tailgate is slidable between a standard position and an extended position in a direction parallel to a centerline axis of the motor vehicle,
- wherein, in the extended position, a bottom edge of the tailgate is spaced-apart rearward of a rear bumper of the motor vehicle,
- wherein the tailgate is only moveable between the highest and lowest positions when the tailgate is in the open position and in the extended position,
- wherein the bottom edge of the tailgate is the bottom-most edge of the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed position and the standard position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.