# US 7,407,213 B2 · Vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,213 B2 - Document ID: US7407213B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/931,702 - Filed: 2007-10-31 - Published: 2008-03-06 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-11 - Assignees: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Inventors: Richard Eschebach; William Bowes; Nandkumar Rangnekar; Rahul Joshi; Robert Gaines - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407213B2 ## CPC - B62D 33/0273: {Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence)} - B62D 33/03: by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} - E05F 1/1292: {with a gas spring} - E05Y 2201/11: Covers - E05Y 2201/604: Transmission members - E05Y 2201/624: Arms - E05Y 2201/686: Rods, links - E05Y 2900/516: for trucks or trailers - E05Y 2900/544: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening downwards - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - E05Y 2900/548: Trunk lids - 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) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - 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 tailgate lift assist support structure is provided with a rear end structure, a tailgate pivotally coupled to the rear end structure, and a lift assist device connected between the rear end structure and the tailgate. The rear end structure includes a first wall, a hinge plate having a plate portion disposed on an inboard side of the first wall portion and a pivot bearing sleeve extending from the plate portion through an opening of the first wall, and a nut plate disposed on an outboard side of the first wall and coupled to the hinge plate. A bellcrank arm is provided that has a first end attached to the tailgate and a second end offset from a tailgate pivot axis. The first end extends through the pivot bearing sleeve. The lift assist device dampens the tailgate during opening and applies a closing torque to the tailgate during closing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure comprising: a vehicle rear end structure including a first wall, a hinge plate having a plate portion disposed on an inboard side of the first wall portion and a pivot bearing sleeve extending from the plate portion through an opening of the first wall, and a nut plate disposed on an outboard side of the first wall and coupled to the hinge plate, the nut plate having an arcuate recess proximal to the opening of the first wall to accommodate the pivot bearing sleeve; a vehicle tailgate pivotally coupled to the vehicle rear end structure to open and close by rotation about a tailgate pivot axis; a bellcrank arm including a first end attached to the vehicle tailgate and a second end offset from the tailgate pivot axis with the first end extending through the pivot bearing sleeve; and a lift assist device including a first connection coupled to the second of the bellcrank arm and a second connection coupled to the vehicle rear end structure to dampen opening movement of the vehicle tailgate relative to the vehicle rear end structure and to apply a closing torque to the vehicle tailgate during closing movement of the vehicle tailgate relative to the vehicle rear end structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the nut plate is coupled to the hinge plate by a fastener extending through a hole formed in the first wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fastener is a bolt inserted from the inboard side of the first wall and engaging a nut fixedly coupled to the nut plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the nut plate is coupled to the hinge plate by a first fastener extending through a first hole formed in the first wall above the opening and a second fastener extending through a second hole formed in the first wall below the opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first and second fasteners are bolts inserted from the inboard side of the first wall portion and engaging first and second nuts fixedly coupled to the nut plate. ### Claim 6 A vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure comprising: a vehicle rear end structure including a wall having a rearwardly facing surface with a supporting plate attached to the wall and a first attachment pin coupled to the supporting plate and extending in a rearward vehicle direction; a vehicle tailgate pivotally coupled to the vehicle rear end structure to open and close by rotation about a tailgate pivot axis; a bellcrank arm including a first end attached to the tailgate and a second end offset from the tailgate pivot axis, the second end of the bellcrank arm being located on a rearward side of the rearwardly facing surface; and a lift assist device including a first connection coupled to the second end of the bellcrank arm and a second connection coupled to the first attachment pin to dampen opening movement of the vehicle tailgate relative to the vehicle rear end structure and to apply a closing torque to the vehicle tailgate during closing movement of the vehicle tailgate relative to the vehicle rear end structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first attachment pin has a distal end coupled to the second connection of the lift assist device at a location rearward of the rearwardly facing surface with respect to the vehicle rear end structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second end of the bellcrank arm further includes a second attachment pin generally parallel to the pivot axis of the vehicle tailgate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first and second attachment pins are generally perpendicular to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first attachment pin includes a mounting portion fixedly coupled to the supporting plate and a ball end rotatably coupled to the second connection of the lift assist device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the second attachment pin includes a mounting portion fixedly coupled to the bellcrank arm and a ball end rotatably coupled to the first connection of the lift assist device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the supporting plate is attached on a frontwardly facing surface of the wall.