Vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism using four bar linkage and strut

A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism comprising:

• a manually actuated tailgate configured to rotate substantially 90 degrees between opened and closed positions;
• a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate;
• a drive lever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said tailgate lever arm and pivotally connected at an opposite end thereof to a bell crank, said bell crank pivotally anchored at one end thereof to a vehicle body;
• and
• a strut pivotally connected at a first location thereof to the vehicle body and pivotally connected at a second location thereof to said bell crank,
• wherein said bell crank and strut are pivotally connected generally within a vehicle rear sill, and wherein rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates said tailgate lever arm to impart movement to said drive lever and said bell crank to thereby actuate said strut to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate.

A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism comprising:

• a manually actuated tailgate configured to rotate substantially 90 degrees between opened and closed positions;
• a tailgate lever arm connected to the tailgate;
• a drive lever pivotally connected at a first location thereof to said tailgate lever arm and pivotally connected at a second location thereof to a bell crank, said bell crank pivotally anchored at a first location thereof to a vehicle body;
• and
• a strut pivotally anchored at a first location thereof to the vehicle body and pivotally connected at a second location thereof to said bell crank,
• wherein rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates said tailgate lever arm to impart movement to said drive lever and said bell crank, wherein movement of at least one of the tailgate, said tailgate lever arm, said drive lever and said bell crank directly or indirectly causes actuation of said strut to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate and wherein said bell crank and strut are pivotally connected generally within a vehicle rear sill.