Vehicle endgate counterbalance

The present invention relates generally to vehicle endgates, and more particularly to a counterbalance for a vehicle endgate.

Conventional pickup trucks have an endgate that pivots from a vertical closed position rearward and downward to a horizontal open position for ease in loading and unloading cargo from the bed of the pickup. For some people, however, the amount of effort required to lift the endgate from its open position in order to close it is undesirably high. Thus, some pickup manufacturers have added mechanisms to assist in lifting the tailgate from its open position while one is closing the endgate.

For example, some have added torsion rods or vertically extending gas cylinders connected to the endgate hinge assembly. These devices store energy as the endgate is moved from its closed position to its fully open position, with the energy being used to assist a person when closing the endgate. While the torsion rod provides assist with lift effort, it does not provide any damping effect, which may be desirable when moving the endgate between its open and closed positions. The gas cylinder also has drawbacks in that it may interfere with the tail lamp housing, creating a packaging problem within the vehicle. Moreover, neither of these designs assists with maintaining the endgate (and hinge) in a position desirable for removal of the endgate from (and reassembly of the endgate to) the vehicle.

An embodiment contemplates an endgate counter balance for use with an endgate of a vehicle having a hinge about which the endgate pivots between a closed position and a fully open position. The endgate counterbalance may comprise a hinge arm, an energy storage device and a crank mechanism. The hinge arm may extend from the hinge and be pivotally fixed relative to the endgate. The energy storage device may have a first end and a second end configured to mount to vehicle structure, and be configured to store and dissipate potential energy as the first end is moved relative to the second end. The crank mechanism may include a hinge pivot link, having a first leg and a second leg, and a crank pivot link, having a first leg, a second leg and a pivot location at an intersection of the first and second pivot legs of the crank pivot link. The first leg of the hinge pivot link is pivotally attached to the hinge arm, the second leg of the hinge pivot link is pivotally attached to the first leg of the crank pivot link, the second leg of the crank pivot link is pivotally attached to the energy storage device, and the pivot location is configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle structure.

An embodiment contemplates a vehicle including vehicle structure having an endgate with a hinge pivotally mounted thereto and movable between a closed position and a fully open position. The vehicle also has an endgate counterbalance including a hinge arm extending from the hinge and pivotally fixed relative to the endgate; an energy storage device having a first end and a second end configured to mount to vehicle structure, the energy storage device configured to store and dissipate potential energy as the first end is moved relative to the second end; and a crank mechanism pivotally connected between the hinge arm and the energy storage device. The endgate counterbalance is configured to provide no rotational bias to the endgate when the endgate is in a cross-over position between the closed position and the fully open position and to provide a rotational bias to the endgate when the endgate is not in the cross-over position.

An embodiment contemplates a method of moving an endgate of a vehicle between a closed position and a fully open position, the method comprising the steps of: inducing a zero rotational bias by an endgate counterbalance on the vehicle endgate when the vehicle endgate is in a cross-over position located between the closed position and the fully open position; inducing a rotational bias away from the closed position by the endgate counterbalance when the endgate is located between the cross-over position and the closed position; and inducing a rotational bias away from the open position by the endgate counterbalance when the endgate is located between the cross-over position and the fully open position.

An advantage of an embodiment is that the endgate counterbalance assists with lifting the endgate during a closing event by reducing the effort during the initial portion of endgate travel from its horizontal while also assisting in reducing potential squeak and rattle issues by preloading latches that keep the endgate in its closed position. An embodiment may also include the provision for damping during endgate opening and also during the last portion of motion into the fully closed position.

An advantage of an embodiment is that the endgate counterbalance provides a cross-over position when partially opened that allows for easier removal and re-installation of the endgate to the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view looking inboard at a portion of a pickup truck.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of a pickup truck, including part of an endgate and an endgate counterbalance.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view looking aft and inboard at a portion of a pickup truck.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an endgate and endgate counterbalance, in an endgate closed position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of an endgate and endgate counterbalance, in an endgate open position.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the geometry for a portion of the endgate and endgate counterbalance, in the endgate closed position.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the endgate in a partially open, cross-over position.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the endgate in a fully open position.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an endgate counterbalance according to a second embodiment.

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Previous Patent Application:
Vehicle tailgate enclosure with enhanced adjustment
Next Patent Application:
Ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate
Industry Class:
Land vehicles: bodies and tops

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