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US 2021/0171128 A1Published application
Articulating tailgate
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDragan B. Stojkovic, Steven William Gallagher, Shawn Michael Morgans, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes hinge and track assemblies that enable opening of the tailgate from a closed position to a horizontal open position and further to a vertical open position to enable comfortable access to items within the cargo bed.
Claims15
A tailgate assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a tailgate;
- a track assembly including a first link attached to a second link at a link pivot and a track member slidable over the first link, the second link and the link pivot, wherein the tailgate is attached to the track member and the track member is slidable from the first link to the second link to enable movement of the second link relative to the first link about the link pivot;
- and
- a hinge attached to a static structure of the vehicle and the first link of the track assembly at a hinge pivot such that the first link and the tailgate is movable about the hinge pivot between a closed position and a horizontal position and further movable about the link pivot to a vertical open position.
1 more element
A tailgate assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a tailgate;
- a track assembly including a first link attached to a second link at a link pivot and a track member slidable over the first link, the second link and the link pivot, wherein the tailgate is attached to the track member and the track member is slidable from the first link to the second link to enable movement of the second link relative to the first link about the link pivot;
- a control link attached at a first end to the first link and to the second link at a second end, wherein the first link includes a slot and the first end of the control link includes a pin movable within the slot to limit rotation of the second link relative to the first link;
- and
- a hinge attached to a static structure of the vehicle and the first link of the track assembly at a hinge pivot such that the first link and the tailgate is movable about the hinge pivot between a closed position and a horizontal position and is further movable about the link pivot to a vertical open position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.