# US 12,214,648 B2 · Hybrid composite tailgate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,648 B2 - Document ID: US12214648B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/234,711 - Filed: 2023-08-16 - Published: 2023-12-07 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-01 - Assignees: Sabic Global Technologies B.V. - Applicants: SABIC Global Technologies B.V. - Inventors: Ilona Maria Francois Grond-Soons; Davy Wilhelmus Anna Brands; David Vincentius Wilhelmus Maria De Vries; Sandeep Chandrakant Kulkarni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214648B2 ## CPC - 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} - B29C 45/14631: {Coating reinforcements (fibre reinforcements B29C45/0005)} - B29C 45/1671: {with an insert} - B60J 5/0481: {plastic} - B62D 29/043: {Superstructures (B62D25/161 takes precedence)} - B29K 2309/08: Glass - B29K 2623/12: {PP, i.e. polypropylene} - B29L 2031/30: Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)} - 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) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract The invention relates to a hybrid tailgate for a vehicle, comprising a thermoplastic inner structure forming the carrier frame of the tailgate, and at least one composite reinforcement part to reinforce the carrier frame, wherein the composite reinforcement part is connected to the thermoplastic inner structure at a first surface, wherein the composite reinforcement part forms a continuous load path in the inner structure enclosing a tailgate window opening for a window glazing part of the tailgate. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising such a hybrid tailgate. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing such a hybrid tailgate, the method comprising forming a composite laminate part into an insert; placing the insert in an injection molding tool; and over-molding the insert with polymer resin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hybrid tailgate for a vehicle, comprising a thermoplastic inner structure forming the carrier frame of the tailgate, at least one composite reinforcement part to reinforce the carrier frame, and an inner cover to cover the inner structure, wherein the composite reinforcement part is connected to the thermoplastic inner structure at a first surface, wherein the composite reinforcement part forms a substantially continuous load path in the inner structure enclosing a tailgate window opening for a window glazing part of the tailgate, wherein the composite reinforcement part comprises a pair of D-pillar reinforcement parts for strengthening the D-pillar of the inner structure; and a pair of further reinforcement parts depending from the substantially continuous load path, each connected to and extending between each of the D-pillar reinforcement parts to a lock receiving portion of the inner structure, and wherein the composite reinforcement part is connected to and forms an integral unit with the thermoplastic inner structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement part comprises a composite material laminate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hybrid tailgate of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the laminate is from 0.1 mm to 6.0 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The hybrid tailgate of claim 2, wherein the laminate is overmolded with thermoplastic material having a thickness of from 1.0 to 2.0 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement part comprises a multiple layer laminate and a thickness of one layer of the multiple layer laminate is from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement part comprises a multiple layer laminate having a thickness between 1.5 and 4.5 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement part comprises a multiple layer laminate having a thickness between 2.0 and 4.0 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, further comprising hinge connection portions and gas strut connection portions, wherein each of the D-pillar reinforcement parts between the hinge connection portions and each of the gas strut connection portions comprises a composite material laminate having 8-18 layers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, further comprising hinge connection portions and gas strut connection portions, wherein each of the further reinforcement parts between the gas strut connection portions and the lock receiving portion comprises a composite material laminate having 6-8 layers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the inner structure has a thickness of 0.9 mm to 5.0 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the inner structure has a thickness of 1.0 to 4.0 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the inner structure has a thickness of 1.5 to 4.0 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein: the composite reinforcement part further comprises a top reinforcement part for strengthening a top part of the inner structure; and the top reinforcement part is connected to each of the pair of D-pillar reinforcement parts at the ends of the top reinforcement part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hybrid tailgate of claim 13, further comprising hinge connection portions, wherein the top reinforcement part is located between the hinge connection portions and comprises a composite material laminate having 10-14 layers. ### Claim 15 A hybrid tailgate for a vehicle, comprising a thermoplastic inner structure forming the carrier frame of the tailgate, at least one composite reinforcement part to reinforce the carrier frame, and an inner cover to cover the inner structure, wherein the composite reinforcement part is connected to the thermoplastic inner structure at a first surface, wherein the composite reinforcement part forms a substantially continuous load path in the inner structure enclosing a tailgate window opening for a window glazing part of the tailgate, wherein the composite reinforcement part comprises a pair of D-pillar reinforcement parts for strengthening the D-pillar of the inner structure; and a pair of further reinforcement parts, each connected to and extending between each of the D-pillar reinforcement parts to a lock receiving portion of the inner structure, wherein the composite reinforcement part comprises a ribbing structure extending from the first surface, wherein the ribbing structure forms the substantially continuous load path, wherein the composite reinforcement part further comprises a top reinforcement part for strengthening a top part of the inner structure, and wherein the top reinforcement part is connected to each of the pair of D-pillar reinforcement parts at the ends of the top reinforcement part, and wherein the composite reinforcement part is connected to and forms an integral unit with the thermoplastic inner structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the composite reinforcement part comprises a polypropylene reinforced with continuous glass fibers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hybrid tailgate of claim 16, wherein the composite reinforcement part comprises 30 to 60 vol. % continuous glass fibers, based on a total weight of the composite reinforcement part. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The hybrid tailgate of claim 1, wherein the composite reinforcement part comprises a ribbing structure extending from the first surface, wherein the ribbing structure forms the substantially continuous load path. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The hybrid tailgate of claim 18, wherein the ribbing structure has a thickness of 1.0 to 4.0 mm.