Light weight integrated tailgate spoiler
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsMakoto Watanabe, Robert Bator
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightweight metal spoiler is integrated with a tailgate of an automotive vehicle. The integrated tailgate spoiler is formed from the same material as the frame or rear portion of the tailgate body, preferably aluminum, in one arrangement and from different materials in another arrangement. First and second spoiler portions are joined together along overlapping, mating, abutting edges. The first and second portions of the tailgate are brazed together at an acute angle and the unitary spoiler is fused to the rear portion of the tailgate body.
Claims19
A tailgate spoiler assembly for an associated automotive vehicle, the tailgate spoiler assembly comprising:
- a tailgate body having a rear portion including upper and side portions;
- and
- a spoiler configured to overhang in cantilever fashion from the tailgate body rear portion wherein the spoiler includes first and second portions, each of the first and second portions have a first edge continuously joined along the upper and side portions of the tailgate body, where the first edges are joined to the tailgate body at spaced locations, and each of the first and second portions have a second edge where the second edges abut one another and are joined to one another.
A tailgate spoiler assembly on a vehicle, the tailgate spoiler assembly comprising:
- a tailgate body having a rear portion;
- a metal spoiler configured to overhang in cantilever fashion from the tailgate body rear portion;
- and
- the spoiler being continuously fused to the rear portion of the tailgate body and having a generally planar first portion extending downturned side second portions that extend generally perpendicularly therefrom along opposite side edges of a tailgate of the vehicle and first edges, wherein the first edges are joined to the tailgate body at spaced locations, and each of the first and second portions have a second edge where the second edges abut one another and are joined to one another.
A method of assembling a spoiler assembly attached to a tailgate comprising:
- providing a first spoiler portion;
- providing a second spoiler portion;
- overlapping distal ends of the spoiler first and second spoiler portion;
- joining the overlapped ends of the first and second spoiler portions;
- and
- joining proximal ends of the first and second spoiler portions to a tailgate at spaced locations from one another, wherein
- the spoiler assembly is joined continuously to the tailgate along a width and a length of the spoiler assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.