# US 12,759,648 B2 · Vehicle tailgate latch system

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- Number: US 12,759,648 B2
- Document ID: US12759648B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/972,049
- Filed: 2024-12-06
- Published: 2026-06-11
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2024-12-06
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Joseph Prior; Joshua Robert Hemphill; Michael Shawn Watterworth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759648B2

## CPC

- B62D 33/037: Latching means therefor
- E05B 15/024: {adjustable}
- E05B 83/18: for car boot lids or rear luggage compartments
- E05B 2015/027: {auto-adjustable}
- E05Y 2900/516: for trucks or trailers
- E05Y 2900/544: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening downwards
- 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)
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A vehicle assembly includes a frame subassembly of a tailgate. The frame subassembly has a cargo bed access opening. The vehicle assembly further includes a door subassembly of the tailgate. The door subassembly is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly. The door subassembly is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position. The door subassembly in the door closed position closes the cargo bed access opening. A latch system holds the door subassembly in the door closed position. The latch system has a striker bracket that includes a striker post and a bumper flange configured to move together when the striker bracket is adjusted. At least one bumper compressed against the bumper flange when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle assembly, comprising:
a frame subassembly of a tailgate, the frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening;
a door subassembly of the tailgate, the door subassembly pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly, the door subassembly pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position, the door subassembly in the door closed position closing the cargo bed access opening;
a latch system that holds the door subassembly in the door closed position, the latch system having a striker bracket that includes a striker post and a bumper flange configured to move together when the striker bracket is adjusted; and
at least one bumper compressed against the bumper flange when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame subassembly includes a first outboard section on a driver side of the cargo bed access opening of the cargo bed access opening, and a second outboard section on a passenger side of the cargo bed access opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the striker bracket includes a base, the striker post and the bumper flange extending transversely from the base into the cargo bed access opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the striker bracket is mounted to the frame subassembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the striker bracket is adjustably mounted to the frame subassembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one bumper is mounted to the bumper flange.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the striker bracket includes an inboard disk and an outboard disk spaced a distance from the inboard disk, and further comprising an anchor bracket having at least one tooth that projects into an area between the inboard disk and the outboard disk when the door subassembly is in the door closed position, the at least one tooth configured to contact the inboard disk to limit movement of the door subassembly away from the frame subassembly, the at least one tooth configured to contact the outboard disk to limit movement of the door subassembly toward the frame subassembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The vehicle assembly of claim 7, wherein the striker bracket includes an anchor post having the inboard disk and the outboard disk.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle assembly of claim 8, wherein the striker bracket is secured to the frame subassembly and the anchor bracket is secured to the door subassembly.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle assembly of claim 9, wherein the anchor post is disposed between the bumper flange and the striker post.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The vehicle assembly of claim 9, wherein the striker post is disposed forward the anchor post.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The vehicle assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least one tooth comprises an upper tooth and a lower tooth.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the door subassembly and the frame subassembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position, wherein the door subassembly is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly about a second axis between the door closed position and the door open position, the first axis transverse to the second axis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame subassembly and the door subassembly are pivotable together about a horizontally extending axis, wherein the door subassembly is configured to pivot relative to the frame subassembly about a vertically extending axis.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the cargo bed access opening extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of a cargo bed.

### Claim 16

A tailgate assembly, comprising:
a frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening;
a door subassembly pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly, the door subassembly and the frame subassembly pivotable together about a horizontally extending axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position, the door subassembly pivotable relative to the frame subassembly about a vertically extending axis between a door open position and a door closed position, the door subassembly in the door closed position closing the cargo bed access opening; and
a latch system that holds the door subassembly in the door closed position, the latch system having a striker bracket mounted to the frame subassembly and an anchor bracket mounted to the door subassembly, the striker bracket including a striker post and an anchor post having an inboard disk and an outboard disk, the anchor bracket including having at least one tooth that is sandwiched between the inboard disk and the outboard disk when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The tailgate assembly of claim 16, further comprising a base and a bumper flange of the striker bracket, wherein the bumper flange, the striker post, and the anchor post extend transversely from the base into the cargo bed access opening, wherein the base is secured directly to the frame subassembly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The tailgate assembly of claim 17, further comprising at least one bumper sandwiched between the bumper flange and the anchor bracket when the door subassembly is in the door closed position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The tailgate assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one bumper is mounted to the bumper flange.