Vehicle tailgate hinge and counterbalance assembly

A vehicle tailgate hinge and counterbalance assembly for pivotally mounting a lateral end of a vehicle tailgate at a lower extremity thereof for movement of the tailgate on an associated vehicle between an upper closed position and a lower open position and for also providing counterbalancing of the tailgate, the hinge and counterbalance assembly comprising:

• a hinge including a first hinge member for mounting on the tailgate, a second hinge member for mounting on the vehicle, a pivotal connection that pivotally connects the hinge members to support the tailgate for the movement about a pivotal axis between the closed and open positions, the pivotal connection including first and second annular connection portions respectively mounted by the first and second hinge members with one of the annular connection portions received within the other one and with the axis centrally extending through the annular connection portions, and an annular bearing located between the first and second annular connection portions;
• and the outer end of the torsion rod extending from the intermediate portion of the torsion rod around the pivotal connection of the hinge to its distal end portion at a generally diametrically opposite location with respect to the annular connection portions through which the pivotal axis extends;
• a torsion rod having an intermediate portion that extends within the tailgate laterally inwardly from the hinge, the torsion rod having an inner end that extends transversely from the intermediate portion thereof within the tailgate and has a distal end portion, and the torsion rod also having an outer end located outwardly of the tailgate adjacent the hinge and extending transversely from the intermediate portion and having a distal end portion;
• a tailgate brace located within the tailgate and including an elongated member having:
• a first end including a pair of oppositely extending mounting flanges for attachment to the tailgate adjacent its lower extremity, a second end having a mounting flange for attachment to the tailgate at a remote location from its lower extremity, an intermediate portion that extends between the first and second ends with a U-shaped cross section in which the distal end portion of the inner end of the torsion rod is engaged with the brace to limit the rotation of the torsion rod during opening and closing movement of the tailgate, and the tailgate brace also including a positioner that engages and locates the intermediate portion of the torsion rod on the opposite side of the first end of the elongated brace member from the second end of the brace member;
• the first hinge member having a positioner that positions the intermediate portion of the torsion rod spaced from the pivotal axis of the pivotal connection of the hinge, and the outer end of the torsion rod extending from the intermediate portion of the torsion rod around the pivotal connection of the hinge to its distal end portion at a generally diametrically opposite location with respect to the annular connection portions through which the pivotal axis extends;
• and
• the second hinge member having an engagement portion that is spaced from the distal end portion of the outer end of the torsion rod when the tailgate is in its closed position and that is engaged by the distal end portion of the outer end of the torsion rod after the tailgate has moved toward its open position to provide counterbalancing of the tailgate.

A vehicle tailgate hinge and counterbalance assembly for pivotally mounting a lateral end of a vehicle tailgate at a lower extremity thereof for movement of the tailgate on an associated vehicle between an upper closed position and a lower open position and for also providing counterbalancing of the tailgate, the hinge and counterbalance assembly comprising:

• a hinge including a first hinge member having a plate for mounting on the tailgate, a second hinge member having a plate for mounting on the vehicle, a pivotal connection that pivotally connects the hinge members to support the tailgate for the movement about a pivotal axis between the closed and open positions, the pivotal connection including first and second annular connection portions respectively mounted by the plates of the first and second hinge members with one of the annular connection portions received within the other one and with the pivotal axis centrally extending through the annular connection portions, and an annular plastic bearing located between the first and second annular connection portions;
• a torsion rod having an intermediate portion that extends within the tailgate laterally inwardly from the hinge, the torsion rod having an inner end that extends transversely from the intermediate portion thereof within the tailgate and has a distal end portion, and the torsion rod also having an outer end located outwardly of the tailgate adjacent the hinge and extending transversely from the intermediate portion and having a distal end portion;
• a tailgate brace located within the tailgate and including an elongated member having:
• a first end including a pair of oppositely extending mounting flanges for attachment to the tailgate adjacent its lower extremity, a second end having a mounting flange for attachment to the tailgate at a remote location from its lower extremity, and an intermediate portion that extends between the first and second ends with a U-shaped cross section in which the distal end portion of the inner end of the torsion rod is engaged with the brace to limit the rotation of the torsion rod during opening and closing movement of the tailgate, and the tailgate brace also including a positioner that engages and locates the intermediate portion of the torsion rod on the opposite side of the first end of the elongated brace member from the second end of the brace member;
• the plate of the first hinge member having a positioner that positions the intermediate portion of the torsion rod spaced from the pivotal axis of the pivotal connection of the hinge, and the outer end of the torsion rod extending from the intermediate portion of the torsion rod around the pivotal connection of the hinge to its distal end portion at a generally diametrically opposite location with respect to the annular connection portions through which the pivotal axis extends;
• and
• the plate of the second hinge member having an engagement flange including a wear pad that provides an engagement portion spaced from the distal end portion of the outer end of the torsion rod when the tailgate is in its closed position and which is engaged by the distal end portion of the outer end of the torsion rod after the tailgate has moved toward its open position to provide counterbalancing of the tailgate.