Tailgate damping/detent system
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
United States of America Patent
Stats
-
Aug 14, 2012
Grant Date -
Apr 21, 2011
app pub date -
Oct 19, 2010
filing date -
Oct 19, 2009
priority date (Note) -
In Force
status (Latency Note)
Importance
Abstract
A tailgate damping and detent system is disclosed for a vehicle, including a tailgate lift assist system with a torque rod rotationally grounded between the tailgate at a first end and a first side of the vehicle's frame at a second end. “Damping” is achieved by increasing the diameter of the torque rod. The increased torque rod diameter overcompensates for the weight of the tailgate, so that this increased load decelerates the tailgate starting from the neutral balance point to the fully open position. The speed of the tailgate approaches zero at the end of the travel of the tailgate to the fully open position, which greatly reduces the “slam” at the end of travel. The tailgate is held in the open position by a link detent system. There is a slot in the gate side of the link that a spring loaded pin latches into.
First Claim
Other Claims data not available
