VEHICLE BODY REAR PART STRUCTURE

A vehicle body rear part structure according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an opening/closing part that is capable of opening and closing a rear opening part of a vehicle main body that continues to an inside of a load room; and a step that is rotatably connected to a rear end part of the vehicle main body and that has a load placement surface. The step rotates between a use position at which the load placement surface faces upward at a further rear position than a rear end of the vehicle main body and at a lower position than a floor surface of the load room and a storage position at which the load placement surface stands upright compared to the use position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-060453, filed on Mar. 30, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle body rear part structure.

Background

In a vehicle that includes a load room at a vehicle body rear part, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H1-282040 discloses a configuration that includes a slide table capable of being pulled out in a vehicle body rearward direction through a slit that is formed between a back door and a rear bumper.

According to this configuration, since a load to be loaded in the load room can be placed on the slide table, it is possible to perform the loading without placing the load on the ground.

SUMMARY

However, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H1-282040, since the slide table is capable of being pulled out between the back door and the rear bumper, an upper surface of the slide table is set at a height equal to that of a floor surface of the load room. Therefore, in a vehicle in which the height of the floor surface of the load room is relatively high, for example, efforts are required to lift a load that is placed on the ground to the slide table. Accordingly, there is still room for improvement in terms of improving the convenience when a load is carried into and out of the load room.

An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body rear part structure that is capable of improving the convenience when a load is carried into and out of a load room.

A vehicle body rear part structure according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: an opening/closing part that is capable of opening and closing a rear opening part of a vehicle main body that continues to an inside of a load room; and a step that is rotatably connected to a rear end part of the vehicle main body and that has a load placement surface, wherein the step rotates between a use position at which the load placement surface faces upward at a further rear position than a rear end of the vehicle main body and at a lower position than a floor surface of the load room and a storage position at which the load placement surface stands upright compared to the use position.

A second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle body rear part structure according to the first aspect described above, wherein the load room may be formed above an equipment accommodation part storing drive equipment of a vehicle and be separated by a partition wall, and the floor surface may be constituted of an upper surface of the partition wall.

A third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle body rear part structure according to the first or second aspect described above, wherein when the step is at the storage position, an upper end of the step may be located at a lower position than the floor surface.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle body rear part structure according to any of the first to third aspects described above, wherein a guide part that extends downward from the floor surface toward a rearward direction may be formed on a lower end opening edge of the rear opening part.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle body rear part structure according to any of the first to fourth aspects described above, wherein the step may be provided on a portion in a vehicle width direction of an entire area of the lower end opening edge of the rear opening part.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle body rear part structure according to any of the first to fourth aspects described above, wherein a plurality of steps may be provided in a vehicle width direction at a rear end part of the vehicle main body.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the vehicle body rear part structure according to any of the first to sixth aspects described above, wherein a lock portion that locks the step located at the storage position may be provided on the vehicle main body.

According to the first aspect described above, when the step is at the use position, the load placement surface is arranged at a further rear position than the rear end of the vehicle main body and at a lower position than the floor surface of the load room. Therefore, a load can be placed on the load placement surface when the load is carried into and out of the load room. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the burden and improve the convenience when the load is carried into and out of the load room compared to a case where the road is directly lifted from the ground to the floor surface or the like.

According to the second aspect described above, since the equipment accommodation part is arranged below the load room, even in a case where the floor surface is set to a relatively high position, the load can be smoothly carried in and out by using the step.

According to the third aspect described above, since the upper end of the step does not protrude further upward than the floor surface of the load room, for example, even in a case where the step is not used, it is possible to prevent the upper end of the step from interfering when the load is carried in and out.

According to the fourth aspect described above, the load is carried into and out of the load room along the guide part, and thereby, it is possible to reduce the burden and improve the convenience when the load is carried into and out of the load room.

According to the fifth aspect described above, even when the step is at the use position, a user can approach the rear opening part by standing at the side of the step. In this case, since it is possible to access the rear opening part without interposing the step, it is possible to further facilitate the transportation of the load between the load room and the step.

According to the sixth aspect described above, it is possible to select a step that is set to the use position in accordance with the environment around the vehicle, the use mode of the vehicle, or the like. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the convenience.

According to the seventh aspect described above, it is possible to stably hold the step at the storage position when the step is not used.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, frontward, rearward, upward, downward, leftward, and rightward directions are the same as directions in a vehicle1unless otherwise specified. In this case, an arrow FR in the drawing indicates a frontward direction of the vehicle1, an arrow UP indicates an upward direction of the vehicle1, and an arrow LH indicates a leftward direction of the vehicle1. Further, in each of the embodiments described below, there may be cases in which the same reference numeral is given to corresponding members, and descriptions thereof may be omitted. In the following description, for example, an expression representing a relative or absolute arrangement such as “parallel”, “orthogonal”, “center”, or “coaxial” not only strictly represents such an arrangement but also represents a state of relative displacement with a tolerance or an angle or a distance sufficient to obtain the same function.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a schematic configuration view of the vehicle1.

The vehicle1shown inFIG. 1is, for example, a four-wheel automated driving vehicle using an electric motor as a drive source. The vehicle1is used for public transportation (for example, ride-share, a bus, or the like) and transports a user together with baggage to a destination. The drive source of the vehicle1is not limited to an electric motor and may be an internal combustion engine, a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, or the like. Further, the vehicle1is not limited to an automated driving vehicle and may be a manual driving vehicle.

The vehicle1includes a vehicle main body3, a wheel4, a tail gate5(opening/closing part), and a step6. The electric motor described above may be directly connected to an axle of each wheel4or may be connected to the wheel4via a drive shaft. A vehicle body rear part structure according to the present embodiment is constituted of the tail gate5and the step6.

The vehicle main body3defines a vehicle room10. The vehicle room10is compartmented into a riding space11and a rear space12.

A seat13on which a user can be seated is provided in the riding space11. In the example shown in the drawing, a plurality of seats13are provided in a vehicle width direction in a state where the seats13face each other in a front-to-rear direction. The layout of the seat13can be changed accordingly.

The rear space12is provided in the vehicle room10behind the riding space11to be separated by a partition wall17. In the rear space12, a bottom wall is constituted of a floor panel (not shown) of the vehicle main body3, both side walls are constituted of a side panel22, and a top wall is constituted of a roof panel23.

FIG. 2is a schematic configuration view of a vehicle body rear part structure showing a state in which the step6is at a storage position.

As shown inFIG. 2, the rear space12includes an equipment accommodation part30and a load room31.

A drive device of the vehicle1such as a battery as an electric power source, an electric power converter that connects the battery to the electric motor, or the like is mounted in the equipment accommodation part30. The equipment accommodation part30is partitioned by a partition wall33. In the present embodiment, the partition wall33includes a rear wall part35that partitions the equipment accommodation part30in the front-to-rear direction behind the equipment accommodation part30and an upper wall part36that partitions the equipment accommodation part30in the vertical direction above the equipment accommodation part30.

The rear wall part35extends upward with respect to a rear bumper41from a part located at a further front position than the rear bumper41that constitutes a rear end of the vehicle main body3. Accordingly, a recessed part45that opens rearward and upward is formed at a part of the vehicle main body3that is located above the rear bumper41and behind the rear wall part35. The recessed part45extends in the vehicle width direction over the entire region of a lower end opening edge of a rear opening part50described below.

The upper wall part36extends frontward from an upper end portion of the rear wall part35. A front end portion of the upper wall part36is connected to the partition wall17described above. Further, the upper wall part36spans a space between the side panels22in the vehicle width direction. A corner part formed of a rear end portion of the upper wall part36and the upper end portion of the rear wall part35constitutes a guide part48that extends downward toward the rearward direction. In the present embodiment, the guide part48is formed in an arc shape protruding rearward and upward. However, the guide part48may be an inclined surface or the like.

A load room31is provided to be separated by the upper wall part36above the equipment accommodation part30. The load room31is partitioned by the side panel22, the roof panel23, the partition wall17, and the upper wall part36. In the present embodiment, a rear end of the roof panel23is located at a further front position than a rear end of the upper wall part36. Accordingly, the rear opening part50of the load room31opens rearward and upward.

However, the rear opening part50may open at least rearward.

An upper surface of the upper wall part36described above constitutes a floor surface31aof the load room31. In the present embodiment, the floor surface31ais, for example, located at a higher position than a seat surface of the seat13. However, the height of the floor surface31a(the height from the ground) can be changed accordingly. Further, the present embodiment is described using a configuration in which the rear space12includes the equipment accommodation part30and the load room31; however, the rear space12may include at least the load room31.

The tail gate5is a tail gate of a so-called hatchback type (flip-up type) and opens and closes the rear opening part50. The tail gate5is formed in an L shape in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the tail gate5includes an upper gate60and a rear gate61.

The upper gate60is connected to a rear end part of the roof panel23rotatably around an axis line along the vehicle width direction. The upper gate60closes a portion of the rear opening part50that is located behind the roof panel23when the tail gate5is at a closed position. The upper gate60smoothly continues to an outer surface of the vehicle main body3when the tail gate5is at the closed position.

The rear gate61extends downward from a rear end part of the upper gate60. The rear gate61closes a portion of the rear opening part50that opens rearward when the tail gate5is at the closed position. The rear gate61is locked to a striker or the like (not shown) that is provided on the partition wall33when the tail gate5is at the closed position. The rear gate61smoothly continues to the outer surface of the vehicle main body3when the tail gate5is at the closed position. The tail gate5may be formed, for example, to be rotatable around an axis line along the vertical direction. Further, the tail gate5may be opened and closed manually or may be opened and closed automatically.

The step6is formed in a plate shape that extends along the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the length in the vehicle width direction of the step6is equal to the length of the lower end opening edge of the rear opening part50. One end part of the step6is connected to an upper end part of the rear bumper41such that the step6is rotatable around an axis line along the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the step6rotates between a use position and the storage position.

FIG. 3is a schematic configuration view of the vehicle body rear part structure showing a state in which the step6is at the use position.

As shown inFIG. 3, the step6is arranged at the use position in a state where the thickness direction is the vertical direction and the step6protrudes further rearward than the rear bumper41. A surface of the step6that faces upward at the use position constitutes a load placement surface6afor placing a load. The load placement surface6ais located at a lower position than the floor surface31awhen the step6is at the use position. A height (ground height) H1from the ground of the load placement surface6awhen the step6is at the use position can be preferably, for example, in a range of ⅓ to ⅔ with respect to a ground height H2of the floor surface31aand can be particularly preferably in a range of 500 mm to 700 mm. A regulation part (not shown) that regulates a downward rotation of the step6when the step6is at the use position is provided on the vehicle main body3.

As shown inFIG. 2, the step6is accommodated in the recessed part45at the storage position in a state where the thickness direction is a front-to-rear direction. At the storage position, another end part (upper end part) of the step6can be preferably arranged below the floor surface31aand at a position equal to or lower than a lower end of the guide part48described above. However, the other end part of the step6may protrude further upward than the lower end of the guide part48at the storage position. At least the load placement surface6aof the step6may stand upright at the storage position compared to the use position.

A surface (a lower surface at the use position) that faces rearward when the step6is at the storage position constitutes a design surface6bthat smoothly continues to the rear surface of the rear bumper41. A lock mechanism (not shown) that regulates rotation of the step6to the use position when the step6is at the storage position is provided on the vehicle main body3. The step6may be opened and closed manually or may be opened and closed automatically. Further, the step6may be movable to the use position only when the tail gate5is at the open position or may have a configuration in which the use position and the storage position can be switched independently of the position of the tail gate5.

Next, as an action of the vehicle1described above, an operation when a load is carried into and out of the load room31will be described.

As shown inFIG. 3, in order to carry in a load to the load room31, first, the tail gate5is moved to the open position, and the rear opening part50is opened. Then, the step6is moved to the use position. Consequently, the load placement surface6athat is located at a lower position than the floor surface31aand that protrudes further rearward than the rear bumper41is arranged at a rear position of the vehicle main body3. In this state, a user places a load that is placed on the ground or a load that is currently lifted onto the load placement surface6a. Then, the load that is placed on the load placement surface6ais further lifted and carried into the load room31.

After the load is carried in, the step6is moved to the storage position, and the tail gate5is moved to the closed position.

Accordingly, carry-in work of the load is finished.

Subsequently, in order to carry out the load from the load room31, similarly to the carry-in work described above, the tail gate5is moved to the open position, and the step6is moved to the use position. In this state, the load is removed from the load room31and is placed on the load placement surface6a. Then, the load that is placed on the load placement surface6ais sequentially carried.

After the load is carried out, the step6is moved to the storage position, and the tail gate5is moved to the closed position.

Accordingly, carry-out work of the load is finished.

In this way, the present embodiment is described using a configuration in which the step6having the load placement surface6ais rotatably connected to the rear end part of the vehicle main body3.

According to this configuration, when the step6is at the use position, the load placement surface6ais arranged at a further rear position than the rear end of the vehicle main body3and at a lower position than the floor surface31aof the load room31. Therefore, a load can be placed on the load placement surface6awhen the load is carried into and out of the load room31. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the burden and improve the convenience when the load is carried into and out of the load room31compared to a case where the road is directly lifted from the ground to the floor surface31aor the like.

The present embodiment is described using a configuration in which the load room31is arranged above the equipment accommodation part30.

According to this configuration, since the equipment accommodation part30is arranged below the load room31, even in a case where the floor surface31ais set to a relatively high position, the load can be smoothly carried in and out by using the step6.

The present embodiment is described using a configuration in which when the step6is at the storage position, the upper end (another end part) of the step6is located below the floor surface31a.

According to this configuration, since the upper end of the step6does not protrude further upward than the floor surface31aof the load room31, for example, even in a case where the step6is not used, it is possible to prevent the upper end of the step6from interfering when the load is carried in and out.

The present embodiment is described using a configuration in which the guide part48is formed on the lower end opening edge of the rear opening part50.

According to this configuration, the load is carried into and out of the load room31along the guide part48, and thereby, it is possible to reduce the burden and improve the convenience when the load is carried into and out of the load room31.

The present embodiment is described using a configuration in which the lock portion that locks the step6at the storage position is provided on the vehicle main body3.

According to this configuration, it is possible to stably hold the step6at the storage position when the step6is not used.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment is described.FIG. 4andFIG. 5are schematic configuration views of a vehicle body rear part structure according to the second embodiment which correspond toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, respectively. The present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that when the tail gate5is at the closed position, the step6is covered from the rear.

In the vehicle1shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the rear gate61of the tail gate5extends in the vertical direction at a further rear position than the step6described above. The lower end of the rear gate61is located at a lower position than the lower end of the step6. Accordingly, the rear gate61covers the step6from the rear when the step6is at the storage position.

The rear gate61is locked to a striker or the like (not shown) that is provided on a skeleton member of the vehicle1when the tail gate5is at the closed position. The striker may be, for example, covered by the step6when the step6is at the use position and may be exposed to the outside when the step6is at the storage position. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the tail gate5from being at the closed position in a state where the step6is at the use position.

In the present embodiment, when the tail gate5is at the closed position and the step6is at the storage position, since the step6is covered by the tail gate5, it is possible to prevent the step6from being exposed to the outside of the vehicle1. Therefore, it is possible to improve the design property of the vehicle1.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment is described.FIG. 6is a perspective view of a vehicle body rear part structure viewed from a rearward direction according to the third embodiment. The above embodiment is described using a configuration in which the step6is provided corresponding to the entire length of the lower end opening edge of the rear opening part50. On the other hand, the step6of the present embodiment is provided corresponding to a portion in the vehicle width direction of the lower end opening edge of the rear opening part50. In the example shown inFIG. 6, the step6is provided close to one side in the vehicle width direction of the lower end opening edge of the rear opening part50. The step6may be arranged at a middle part or may be arranged close to one side in the vehicle width direction as long as the step6has a configuration that is shorter than the lower end opening edge of the rear opening part50.

According to this configuration, even when the step6is at the use position, a user can approach the rear opening part50by standing at the side of the step6. In this case, since it is possible to access the rear opening part50without interposing the step6, it is possible to further facilitate the transportation of the load between the load room31and the step6.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment is described.FIG. 7is a perspective view of a vehicle body rear part structure viewed from a rearward direction according to the fourth embodiment. The present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that a plurality of steps6are provided in the vehicle width direction.

A step100shown inFIG. 7includes a first step100alocated at one side of the vehicle width direction and a second step100blocated on the other side of the vehicle width direction. Each of the steps100is rotatable independently of each other. The number, position, or the like of the steps100can be changed accordingly.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to select a step100that is set to the use position in accordance with the environment around the vehicle1, the use mode of the vehicle1, or the like. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the convenience.

Other Modified Examples

Although preferred examples of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to these examples. Addition, omission, substitution, and other modification of the configuration can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the above description but is limited only by the appended claims.

For example, the above embodiment is described using a configuration in which the load room31is arranged above the equipment accommodation part30; however, the embodiment is not limited to this configuration, and the configuration may not include the equipment accommodation part30.

The above embodiment is described using a configuration in which the load placement surface6afaces frontward by the step6rotating upward from the use position toward the storage position; however, the embodiment is not limited to this configuration. The load placement surface6amay face rearward at the storage position by the step6rotating downward from the use position toward the storage position.

The component in the embodiments described above can be replaced by a known component without departing from the scope of the invention. The modified examples described above may be suitably combined.