Vehicle with segmented rear hatch
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorRonald Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a rear hatch opening and a segmented hatch that is moveably connected to the vehicle structure. A lid is moveably connected to the upper hatch for movement between open and closed positions relative to the upper hatch. A first pair of lockable gas struts prevent opening of the upper hatch when locked. A second pair of lockable gas struts prevent opening of the lid relative to the upper hatch when locked. The upper hatch and the lid include overlapping portions that define spaces therebetween when the lid is in a closed position relative to the upper hatch. The second pair of lockable gas struts are disposed in the spaces when the lid is in a closed position relative to the upper hatch.
Claims20
A segmented hatch for vehicles, the hatch comprising:
- an upper hatch defining an upper edge portion and a pair of recessed regions;
- a first connector for movably connecting the upper portion to a motor vehicle adjacent a rear portion of a roof of a motor vehicle whereby the upper hatch can be moved from a closed position to an open position relative to a vehicle;
- a lid movably connected to the upper hatch whereby the lid can be moved relative to the upper hatch between open and closed positions, the lid including forward portions that extend over the recessed regions to define a pair of cavities when the lid is in a closed position;
- a lockable first extensible strut generating a force to assist opening of the upper hatch when the first extensible strut is unlocked;
- a pair of lockable second extensible struts operably interconnecting the lid and the upper hatch and generating forces to assist opening of the lid relative to the upper hatch, wherein the second extensible struts are disposed in the cavities when the lid is closed relative to the upper hatch portion;
- a first release configured to selectively unlock the first extensible strut to thereby permit movement of the upper hatch from a closed position to an open position;
- and
- a second release configured to selectively unlock the second extensible struts to thereby permit the lid to move from a closed position to an open position relative to the upper hatch.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle structure defining a rear hatch opening;
- a segmented hatch having an upper hatch that is movably connected to the vehicle structure for movement between open and closed positions, and a lid that is movably connected to the upper hatch for movement between open and closed positions relative to the upper hatch;
- a first pair of lockable gas struts operably interconnecting the upper hatch and the vehicle structure and generating a biasing force to assist opening the upper hatch when unlocked, and wherein the first pair of lockable gas struts prevent opening of the upper hatch when at least one of the first pair of lockable gas struts is locked;
- a second pair of lockable gas struts operably interconnecting the lid and the upper hatch and generating a biasing force to assist opening the lid relative to the upper hatch when unlocked, and wherein the second pair of lockable gas struts prevent opening of the lid relative to the upper hatch when at least one of the second pair of lockable gas struts is locked;
- and wherein:
- the upper hatch and the lid include overlapping portions that define spaces therebetween when the lid is in a closed position relative to the upper hatch, and wherein the second pair of lockable gas struts are disposed in the spaces when the lid is in a closed position relative to the upper hatch.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a body having a rear opening:
- an upper hatch movably connected to the body and including a pair of inner extensions;
- a lid movably connected to the upper hatch and having a pair of outer extensions extending over the inner extensions when the lid is closed relative to the upper hatch;
- and
- a four bar linkage and a locking gas spring disposed between each pair of inner and outer extensions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.