Retractable shields for vehicle tailgates
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorDavid Kovie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tailgate for a vehicle that includes a door body and a shield that is connected to the door body such that the shield is repositionable between a stowed (retracted) position, in which the shield is concealed by the door body, and a deployed (advanced) position, in which the shield is exposed from the door body. In various embodiments of the disclosure, it is envisioned that the shield may be pivotably (rotatably) connected to the door body or that the shield may be slidably connected to the door body.
Claims20
A tailgate for a vehicle, the tailgate comprising:
- a door body;
- and
- a shield connected to the door body such that the shield is manually repositionable between a stowed position, in which the shield is concealed by the door body, and a deployed position, in which the shield is exposed from the door body, wherein the shield is configured to mechanically engage the door body to thereby secure the shield in the stowed position.
A tailgate for a vehicle, the tailgate comprising:
- a door body defining a receptacle;
- and
- a shield pivotably connected to the door body about a pivot axis such that the shield is repositionable between a stowed position, in which the shield extends forwardly of the pivot axis, and a deployed position, in which the shield extends rearwardly of the pivot axis, the shield including an anchor configured for removable insertion into the receptacle to thereby secure the shield in the stowed position.
A tailgate for a vehicle, the tailgate comprising:
- a door body defining channels extending laterally into the door body towards a centerline of the tailgate;
- and
- a shield slidably connected to the door body such that the shield is axially movable through the channels during repositioning between a stowed position, in which the shield is concealed by the door body, and a deployed position, in which the shield is exposed from the door body, the shield including anchors extending laterally into the channels to thereby secure the shield to the door body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.