Abstract:
A vehicle tailgate latch is provided. The latch having: a first portion; a second portion; a linkage for rotatably securing the first portion to the second portion, wherein the second portion is rotatably secured to the first portion for movement about a vertical axis with respect to the first portion; and a latching mechanism for releasing the second portion from the first portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a vehicle tailgate and more particularly, a latch for use with a dual function tailgate. 
         [0002]    Some vehicles in particular pickup trucks are provided with a bed having an associated tailgate that can transition from an open position to a closed position. In order to retain the tailgate in the closed position a latch or latching device is required. In some applications it is desirable to have the tailgate pivot about one or more axes however, tailgate latches are configured for tailgates that only pivot about a single axis. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a tailgate latch or latch system that can function as both a hinge and/or a latch depending upon the axis of rotation of the tailgate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A vehicle tailgate latch is provided. The latch having: a first portion; a second portion; a linkage for rotatably securing the first portion to the second portion, wherein the second portion is rotatably secured to the first portion for movement about a vertical axis with respect to the first portion; and a latching mechanism for releasing the second portion from the first portion. 
         [0005]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the linkage may further include a pair of arms. 
         [0006]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, one end of one of the pair of arms may be slidably and rotatably received in an elongated opening of the first portion and an opposite end of the one of the pair of arms is rotatably received in the second portion and wherein one end of the other one of the pair of arms may be slidably and rotatably received in an elongated opening of the second portion and an opposite end of the other one of the pair of arms is rotatably received in the first portion. 
         [0007]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, latching mechanism may have a first claw pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis and a second claw pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis, wherein the first claw is operatively linked to the second claw via an intermediary member rotatably mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis. 
         [0008]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first claw and the intermediary member each have gear teeth for meshingly engaging each other such that rotation of member about axis causes rotation of first claw and second claim. 
         [0009]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the latching mechanism may further include a release mechanism having a lever pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis, wherein the lever is operably coupled to a release handle via a linkage such that actuation of the handle causes rotational movement of the lever. 
         [0010]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the release handle may be located on a surface of the tailgate. 
         [0011]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the latching mechanism may have a first claw pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis and a second claw pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis, wherein the first claw is operatively linked to the second claw via an intermediary member rotatably mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis. 
         [0012]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first claw and the intermediary member each have gear teeth for meshingly engaging each other such that rotation of member about axis causes rotation of first claw and second claim. 
         [0013]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the latching mechanism may further include a release mechanism having a lever pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis, wherein the lever is operably coupled to a release handle via a linkage such that actuation of the handle causes rotational movement of the lever. 
         [0014]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the release handle may be located on a surface of the tailgate. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment, a tailgate latch system is provided. The tailgate latch system including: an upper latch, comprising: a first portion; a second portion; a linkage for rotatably securing the first portion to the second portion, wherein the second portion is rotatably secured to the first portion for movement about a vertical axis with respect to the first portion; and a latching mechanism for releasing the second portion from the first portion, wherein the first portion is secured to a vehicle frame and wherein the second portion is secured to a tailgate; and a lower hinge comprising: a first portion operatively coupled to a second portion, wherein the second portion has a frame member secured to the tailgate while the first portion is secured to the frame member and wherein the lower hinge is configured to allow the tailgate to rotate about a horizontal axis when the second portion is released from the first portion. 
         [0016]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first portion may have a shaft member rotatably received within a housing of the first portion, wherein shaft member is configured to rotate about horizontal axis. 
         [0017]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the frame member may be movably secured to the first portion via a linkage, wherein the linkage has a first arm member and a second arm member and wherein the first arm member has a first end rotatably and slidably received within an opening of the first portion and a second end of first arm member is also rotatably secured to the frame member for rotation about an axis and wherein the second arm member is rotatably secured to the first portion at a first end for rotation about axis and a second end of the second arm member is rotatably and slidably received within an elongated opening. 
         [0018]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the latching mechanism may have a first claw pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis and a second claw pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis, wherein the first claw is operatively linked to the second claw via an intermediary member rotatably mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis. 
         [0019]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the first claw and the intermediary member each have gear teeth for meshingly engaging each other such that rotation of member about axis causes rotation of first claw and second claim and wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a release mechanism having a lever pivotally mounted to the second portion for rotation about an axis, wherein the lever is operably coupled to a release handle via a linkage such that actuation of the handle causes rotational movement of the lever. 
         [0020]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the system may further include a pair of upper latches and a pair of lower hinges and wherein the tailgate further comprises a left tailgate and a right tailgate each being secured to the vehicle frame by one of the pair of upper latches and one of the pair of lower hinges. 
         [0021]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the system may further include a pair of upper latches and a pair of lower hinges and wherein the tailgate further comprises a left tailgate and a right tailgate each being secured to the vehicle frame by one of the pair of upper latches and one of the pair of lower hinges. 
         [0022]    In addition to one or more the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the linkage may further include a pair of arms and wherein one end of one of the pair of arms is slidably and rotatably received in an elongated opening of the first portion and an opposite end of the one of the pair of arms is rotatably received in the second portion and wherein one end of the other one of the pair of arms is slidably and rotatably received in an elongated opening of the second portion and an opposite end of the other one of the pair of arms is rotatably received in the first portion; and wherein the latch system further comprises a retention member pivotally mounted to the latch for rotation about an axis, wherein the retention member is spring biased towards end via a spring such that a cam surface retains end in one of two positions within opening. 
         [0023]    In yet another embodiment, a method of pivotally and rotationally securing a tailgate to a vehicle frame is provided. The method including the steps of: pivotally securing the tailgate to the frame via an upper latch for rotation about a vertical axis; releasably securing the tailgate to the frame via the upper latch; pivotally securing the tailgate to the frame for rotational movement about the vertical axis via a lower hinge; and rotationally securing the tailgate to the frame for rotational movement about the horizontal axis via a lower hinge. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    These and/or other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a view of a vehicle with the tailgate latches and/or tailgate latch system in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an upper latch of the tailgate latch system in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a lower hinge of the tailgate latch system in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a view of an upper latch of the tailgate latch system in a closed position in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a view of an upper latch of the tailgate latch system in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a view of the lower hinge of the tailgate latch system in a closed position in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a view of an upper latch of the tailgate latch system in a closed position in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the upper latch of the tailgate latch system operating as a hinge; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a view of the lower hinge of the tailgate latch system in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0034]    Although the drawings represent varied embodiments and features of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to illustrate and explain exemplary embodiments the present invention. The exemplification set forth herein illustrates several aspects of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    Referring now to the FIGS., portions of a vehicle  10  according to embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated. In  FIG. 1 , the vehicle  10  is pickup truck having a bed  12  with a tailgate  14 . In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the tailgate  14  is openable by pivoting about at least two different axes illustrated as vertical axis  16  and horizontal axis  18 . In order to allow for this function in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure at least one of the latches functions as hinge as well as a latch. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the tailgate  14  may comprise a first or left tailgate door  15  and a second or right tailgate door  17 . In one embodiment, the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  are each secured to each other by a latch  19 , which may comprise a striker located on either the first or left tailgate door  15  or the second or right tailgate door  17  and a latch configured to be releasably secured to the striker such that first or left tailgate door  15  or second or right tailgate door  17  can pivot about axis  18  as a single tailgate  14 . In this embodiment, the tailgate  14  can pivot about axis  18  in the direction of arrows  21 . 
         [0037]    In order to allow for the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  to pivot about vertical axes  16 , the latch  19  is released and the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  can pivot in the directions of arrows  23 . 
         [0038]    In an alternative embodiment, the vehicle  10  may have a central vertical frame portion  25  located between the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  and each of the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  have a latch  19 . As mentioned above, latch  19 , which may comprise a striker located on either the first or left tailgate door  15  or the second or right tailgate door  17  and a latch configured to be releasably secured to the striker such that first or left tailgate door  15  or second or right tailgate door  17  can pivot about axes  16  when they are released from central vertical frame portion  25 . 
         [0039]    In other words, the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  can either pivot independently about horizontal axis  18  (e.g., embodiment with central vertical frame portion  25  located between first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17 ) or the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  can pivot together about axis  18  (e.g., embodiment without central vertical frame portion  25  and the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  are releasably secured to each other by latch  19 ). 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the vertical axis  16  is located either side of the vehicle  10  such that the first or left tailgate door  15  and the second or right tailgate door  17  of tailgate  14  can pivot about the left side and the right side of the vehicle  10  respectively and independently. For the left tailgate door  15  to pivot about the left side of the vehicle  10 , the vehicle  10  will have an upper latch  20  and a lower hinge  22  on the left side and latch  19  to cooperate with right side tailgate door  17  or central frame member  25 . To allow for left side pivot, the latch  19  needs to only operate as a catch and release latch in order to allow for pivot about the vertical axis  16  on the left side of the vehicle. 
         [0041]    For the right tailgate door  17  to pivot about the right side of the vehicle  10 , the vehicle  10  will have an upper latch  20  and a lower hinge  22  on the right side and latch  19  to cooperate with the left side tailgate door  15  or central frame member  25 . To allow for right side pivot of tailgate door  17 , the latch  19  needs to only operate as a catch and release latch in order to allow for pivot about the vertical axis  16  on the right side of the vehicle. 
         [0042]    The tailgate  14  and its associated latches and hinges of various embodiments of the present invention may collectively be referred to as a tailgate latch system  28 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the upper latch  20  of the tailgate latch system  28  in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure while  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the lower hinge  22  of the tailgate latch system  28  in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The upper latch  20  has a first portion  30  that is mounted to a frame  32  of the vehicle  10  and a second portion  34  that is mounted to a portion of the tailgate  14 . In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, second portion  34  is releasably secured to first portion  30  such that tailgate  14  (e.g., door  15  and door  17  secured together) or left tailgate door  15  or right tailgate door  17  can pivot about horizontal axis  18  and second portion  34  is pivotally secured to first portion  30  such that tailgate  14  (e.g., door  15  and door  17  secured together) or left tailgate door  15  or right tailgate door  17  can pivot about vertical axis  16 . 
         [0044]    The first portion  30  and the second portion  34  of upper latch  20  are operably coupled to each other via a linkage  36  that comprises a pair of arms  38  and  40  each being secured to each other. Arm  38  has a first end  42  pivotally and slidably received in an opening  44  of first portion  30  and a second end  46  that is releasably secured to second portion  34  via a latching mechanism  48  of second portion  34 . Arm  40  has a first end  50  pivotally received in an opening  52  of first portion  30  and a second end  54  that is releasably secured to second portion  34  via latching mechanism  48  of second portion  34 . In addition, the second end  54  of arm  40  is also slidably received within an elongated opening  56  of second portion  34 . 
         [0045]    The latching mechanism  48  has a first claw, fork bolt or member  58  pivotally mounted to the second portion  34  for rotation about an axis  60  and a second claw, fork bolt or member  70  pivotally mounted to the second portion  34  for rotation about an axis  72 . The first claw, fork bolt or member  58  is operatively linked to the second claw, fork bolt or member  70  via an intermediary member  74  rotatably mounted to the second portion  34  for rotation about an axis  76 . In one embodiment, the first claw, fork bolt or member  58 , the second claw, fork bolt or member  70  and the intermediary member  74  each have gear teeth illustrated as  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84  for meshingly engaging each other such that rotation of member  74  about axis  76  causes rotation of member  58  and  70  about their respective axis. 
         [0046]    The latching mechanism  48  further comprises a release mechanism  86  having a lever  88  pivotally mounted to the second portion  34  for rotation about an axis  90 . Lever  88  may be operably coupled to a release handle  92  via a linkage or cable  94  such that actuation of the handle  92  causes rotational movement of the lever  88 . In one embodiment release handle  92  may be located on a surface of the tailgate  14 . 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 4 , the upper latch  20  of the tailgate latch system  28  is in a closed position wherein ends  46  and  54  are retained by members  58  and  70  of the latch mechanism  48 . In  FIG. 4 , members  58 ,  70 ,  74  and  88  are in a first position corresponding to the latch  20  being in a latched state (e.g., tailgate  14  closed). Upon actuation of handle  92 , the members  58 ,  70 ,  74  and  88  rotate about their respective axis to a second position wherein the ends  46  and  54  of the arms  38  and  40  are released from the latch  20  and the tailgate  14  can now pivot about axis  18 . This is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Once the members  58 ,  70 ,  74  and  88  are located in their respective second positions the ends  46  and  54  are released from the openings of the latch  20 . At this point, the tailgate  14 ,  15  or  17  is now free to pivot about axis  18 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  is a view of the lower hinge  22  of the tailgate latch system  28 . Hinge  22  has a first portion  96  operatively coupled to a second portion  98 . Second portion  98  has a frame member or plate  100  secured to a portion of the tailgate  14  while first portion  96  is secured to the frame member  32  of the vehicle  10 . In order to allow the tailgate  14  or rotate about axis  18 , the first portion  96  has a shaft member  102  rotatably received within a housing  104  of the first portion  96 . Shaft member  102  is configured to rotate about axis  18  such that when latch  20  is released tailgate  14  can rotate about axis  18 . The frame member or plate  100  of the second portion  98  is secured movably secured to the first portion  96  via a linkage  106 . Linkage  106  has a first arm member  108  and a second arm member  110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3  and in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the linkage  106  may comprise a plurality of first arm members  108  and a plurality of second arm members  110 . The first arm member  108  has a first end  112  rotatably and slidably received within an opening  114  of the first portion  96 . A second end  116  of first arm member  108  is also rotatably secured to the frame member  100  for rotation about axis  118 . The second arm member  110  is rotatably secured to the first portion  96  at a first end  120  for rotation about axis  122 . A second end  124  of the second arm member  110  is rotatably and slidably received within an elongated opening  126 . 
         [0049]    As mentioned above, shaft member  102  allows the tailgate to rotate about axis  18  when the upper latch  20  is released. 
         [0050]    Referring now to at least  FIGS. 6-9  and in order to allow the tailgate  14  to rotate about axis  16 , both upper latch  20  and lower hinge  22  operate as hinges to allow for rotational movement of the tailgate  14  about axis  16  when the opposite side of the tailgate  14  is released from its corresponding body portion of the vehicle  10 . In order to facilitate this rotational movement of the tailgate about a vertical axis  16 , the elongated openings  114  and  126  of the lower hinge  22  and the elongated openings  44  and  56  of the upper latch  20  allow for slidable movement of the ends of the arm members received therein to move in the directions of arrows  128  and  130  such that the tailgate  14  can pivot or rotate in the direction of arrow  132  with respect to the body portion of the vehicle  10  (e.g., rotate about axis  16 ). 
         [0051]    For example,  FIG. 8  illustrates the upper latch  20  and tailgate  15  being rotated approximately 90 degrees about axis  16 . In addition and due to the configurations of the linkages  36  and  106 , the tailgate  15  can rotate approximately 180 degrees in the direction of arrow  132  from the closed position to an open position by further rotating about axis  16 .  FIG. 9  illustrates the lower hinge  22  and tailgate  15  being rotated approximately 90 degrees about axis  16 . In order to retain the tailgate  15  in this position, a retention member  140  is pivotally mounted to the latch  20  for rotation about an axis  142 . The retention member is spring biased downwardly in the direction of arrow  144  by a spring  146 . The retention member has a plurality of cam surfaces or valleys  148  and  150  configured to receive and retain end  42  of arm  40  as it slides within opening  44 . 
         [0052]    For example and as illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 7 , valley or cam surface  148  through spring  146  provides a force in the direction of arrow  144  to retain portion  42  in the illustrated position until a rotational force in the direction of arrow  132  is applied to the tailgate  15  in order to overcome the biasing force of spring  146  in the direction of arrow  144 . In other words, spring  146  contacts member  140  at one end and a portion of the vehicle  10  at another end so a biasing force in the direction of arrow  144  is applied to end  42 . As end  42  slides within opening  44  it will move in the direction of arrow  128  and then be retained in the position illustrated in  FIG. 8  when valley or cam surface  150  of member  140  contact end  42 . In this position, the tailgate  15  is retained in the 90 degree open position. It is, of course, understood that cam surfaces or valleys  148  and  150  may be in other locations to provide varying degrees of stops for tailgates  15 ,  17  as they rotate about axes  16 . For example, additional non-limiting locations may be 30, 45, 60, 120, 150, etc. degrees. 
         [0053]    In addition and in an alternative embodiment and due to the configurations of the linkages  36  and  106 , the tailgate  15  may be able to rotate approximately 180 degrees in the direction of arrow  132  from the closed position to an open position by further rotating about axis  16 . This may be achieved by allowing ends  42 ,  46 ,  50  and  54  to rotate about a vertical axis. Similarly, the ends  112 ,  116 ,  120 ,  124  of lower hinge  22  may also rotate about a vertical axis so that the tailgate  15  can rotate further in the direction of arrow  132  from the position illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0054]    Accordingly and through the use of an upper latch  20  that is configured to operate as both a latch and a hinge, the tailgate  14  or tailgate  15  can be opened and closed with respect to the vehicle  10  by rotating about either one of a vertical axis  16  or a horizontal axis  18 . 
         [0055]    Although the upper latch  20  and lower hinge  22  of  FIGS. 2-9  are described with regard to the left tailgate  15  it is, of course, understood that the operation of the upper latch  20  and the lower hinge  22  for the right tailgate  17  is similar but from a reverse perspective with regard to  FIGS. 2-9 . 
         [0056]    As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. In addition, it is noted that the terms “bottom” and “top” are used herein, unless otherwise noted, merely for convenience of description, and are not limited to any one position or spatial orientation. 
         [0057]    The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity). 
         [0058]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.