Box frame dual mode tailgate
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsRobert Bator, Kenichi Kitayama
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes a multi-piece frame. The multi-piece frame includes a left frame assembly, a right frame assembly, an upper frame member and a lower frame member. The upper frame member and lower frame member extend laterally along a respective top section and a bottom section of the frame for interconnecting the left and right frame assemblies. The multi-piece frame defines a generally continuous closed boxed structure which extends about a periphery of the multi-piece frame.
Claims15
A tailgate assembly mounted along an open edge of a vehicle's load-carrying bed, the tailgate assembly comprising:
- a multi-piece frame including a left frame assembly, a right frame assembly, an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the upper frame member and lower frame member extending laterally along a respective top section and a bottom section of the frame for interconnecting the left and right frame assemblies, and at least one support located between the left and right frame assemblies and extending between the upper and lower frame members, each of the left frame assembly, right frame assembly, upper frame member and lower frame member of the multi-piece frame defining a closed boxed structure which when connected together form a continuous, uninterrupted hollow chamber that extends about a periphery of the multi-piece frame.
A tailgate assembly mounted along an open edge of a vehicle's load-carrying bed, the tailgate assembly comprising:
- a multi-piece frame assembly including a plurality of separate, generally closed boxed structures fixedly connected together to form a continuous, uninterrupted hollow chamber defined by each of the closed boxed structures that extends about a periphery of the frame assembly, the generally closed boxed structures include a left frame assembly, a right frame assembly, an upper frame member and a lower frame member for interconnecting the left and right frame assemblies, and the frame assembly further including a support spaced between the left frame assembly and the right frame assembly, the support extending between the upper and lower frame members,
- wherein each of the left frame assembly and right frame assembly includes an inner frame member secured to an outer frame member, left end portions of each of the upper frame member and lower frame member being fixed between the inner frame member and the outer frame member of the left frame assembly and right end portions of each of the upper frame member and lower frame member being fixed between the inner frame member and the outer frame member of the right frame assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.