Harness assembly for a dual-mode tailgate

A harness assembly for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a body and a dual-mode tailgate connected to the body via a dual-action hinge The harness assembly includes a protector connected to a frame of the tailgate. The protector has a body shaped to conform to a first portion of the tailgate frame having a first contour and a second portion of the tailgate frame having a second differing contour. A portion of the protector body is configured to route a section of a tailgate harness adjacent an outboard lateral edge of the tailgate frame and past the section of the tailgate harness under a dual-action hinge.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments herein generally relate to a harness assembly for a vehicle having a load-carrying bed, and, more particularly, to a harness assembly for passing a wire harness from a vehicle body to a dual-mode tailgate.

Dual-mode tailgates for vehicles having a load-carrying bed are generally known. “Dual-mode” refers to the two directions or pivot axes along which the dual-mode tailgate is openable. More particularly, a dual-mode tailgate includes a dual-action hinge which allows the tailgate to be selectively openable in a first, fold-down direction about a first axis generally parallel with a bottom edge of the tailgate similar to the conventional tailgate. The dual-action hinge also allows the tailgate to be selectively openable in a second, side-to-side direction about a second axis generally parallel with a lateral edge of the tailgate.

Known vehicles having the dual-action hinge for a tailgate typically pass a wire harness or wires from the vehicle body to the tailgate through a large rubber grommet. The rubber grommet requires a large body section to secure it to the vehicle body. Additionally, the rubber grommet inflates the wire bundle diameter, which, in turn, requires a large clearance area during operation of the tailgate in both the first, fold-down direction and the second, side-to-side direction. As such, the current method for routing a wire harness through a dual-action hinge either has a significant impact to the surrounding parts and/or is not reliable enough for safety related functionality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect, a harness assembly for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a body and a dual-mode tailgate connected to the body via a dual-action hinge. The harness assembly comprises a protector connected to a frame of the tailgate. The protector has a body shaped to conform to a first portion of the tailgate frame having a first contour and a second portion of the tailgate frame having a second differing contour. A portion of the protector body is configured to route a section of a tailgate harness adjacent an outboard lateral edge of the tailgate frame and past the section of the tailgate harness under a dual-action hinge.

According to another aspect, a harness assembly for a vehicle including a body and a dual-mode tailgate connected to the body via a dual-action hinge comprises a protector configured to route a tailgate harness from the tailgate under the dual-action hinge and to the vehicle body. The protector has a body including a first section laterally spaced from and extending generally parallel to an outboard lateral side of a frame of the tailgate and a second section extending generally perpendicular to the first section. Each of the first and second sections includes a channel portion for receiving the tailgate harness.

According to yet another aspect, a vehicle comprises a body, a dual-mode tailgate having a frame, a dual-action hinge configured to connect the dual-mode tailgate to the body, and a protector configured to route a tailgate harness from the tailgate under the dual-action hinge and to the vehicle body. The protector includes a body including a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section is laterally spaced from and extends generally parallel to an outboard lateral side of the frame of the tailgate. The second section extends generally perpendicular to the first section. The third section extends angularly from the second section. The protector includes a first attachment member and a second differing attachment member for mounting the protector to the tailgate frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the present disclosure. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the tailgate illustrated in the drawings and should not be construed as limiting the claims appended hereto. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-9, an exemplary harness assembly100for a vehicle according to the present disclosure is illustrated. The depicted vehicle includes a body102and a dual-mode tailgate104connected to the body via a dual-action hinge110. As indicated previously, the dual-mode tailgate is selectively openable in a first, fold-down direction about a first axis generally parallel with a bottom edge of the tailgate (FIG. 6) and a second, side-to-side direction about a second axis generally parallel with a lateral edge114of the tailgate (FIG. 9). The dual-action hinge pivotally connects the tailgate, along the first and second axes, to the vehicle body102. The harness assembly100is configured to route a wire harness112from the body102to the tailgate104with little impact to the vehicle body and tailgate.

The exemplary harness assembly100comprises a protector120, an attachment device130and an elongated sleeve or tube132. The protector120is connected to a frame106of the tailgate104adjacent the outboard lateral edge114of the tailgate frame106. The protector120includes a body122configured to route a section of the tailgate wire harness112adjacent to the outboard lateral edge114and pass the tailgate wire harness112under the dual-action hinge110. The separate attachment device130is mounted to the vehicle body102and is configured to route the wire harness112along the vehicle body. The elongated sleeve or tube132is positioned between the vehicle body and tailgate and receives a portion of the tailgate harness112extending between the protector120and the attachment device130. As shown, the exemplary tube132is a slit-less corrugated tube having excellent abrasion resistance which protects the tailgate harness112from damage due to debris located within a load-carrying bed (not shown) of the vehicle.

With particular reference toFIGS. 1-4, the protector body122includes three separate sections, namely a first section140, a second section142and a third section144. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the first section140includes a first channel portion150, a second channel portion170and a low-profile portion152which is located between the first and second channel portions. The first channel portion150is generally U-shaped and is located at an end154of the first section140. The first channel portion150includes an enlarged or flared section156which is canted downwardly relative to the low-profile portion152for receiving an end of the corrugated tube132. A pair of spaced apart C-shaped projections158are provided on an inner surface of the flared section156. The projections158define a recess160therebetween for receiving an end portion of the corrugated tube132(FIG. 7). A groove162is provided on an outer surface of the enlarged section156. The groove162is configured to receive a fastener, such as a zip tie164(FIG. 5), which secures an end of the corrugated tube132within the first channel portion150. This allows the tailgate wire harness112to be fed directly into the corrugated tube132as the wire harness leaves the protector120and extends toward the vehicle body102. The low-profile portion152is generally L-shaped and includes a planar section166and a lip168. In the exemplary embodiment, the lip168extends outwardly from the planar section along the entire length of the planar section; although, this is not required. The lip has a height less than a height of the first channel portion150which allows the low-profile portion to be positioned under the dual-action hinge110. The second channel portion170is also generally U-shaped and is slightly elevated relative to the low-profile portion152. The second channel portion170is connected the second section142.

The second section142of the protector body122extends generally perpendicular from the first section140. The second section142includes a generally U-shaped channel portion180. As shown, the channel portion180extends along the entire length of the second section142; although, this is not required. The third section144of the protector body122extends angularly from the second section142. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the third section144is oriented generally perpendicular to both the first section140and the second section142. The third section144includes a low-profile portion186, which similar in shape to low-profile potion152. Particularly, the low-profile portion186is generally L-shaped and includes a planar section190and a lip192which extends outwardly from the planar section. The lip192extends along the entire length of the planar section190; although, this is not required. A bead196is provided on an end of the third section144along both the planar section190and the lip192.

As shown inFIG. 6, the orientation of the first, second and third sections140,142,144of the protector body122allows the protector body to conform to a first portion116of the tailgate frame106having a first contour and a second portion118of the tailgate frame having a second differing contour (e.g., the second portion118extends outwardly from the first portion116to define a raised section of the tailgate frame106). The protector120is mounted to the first portion116of the tailgate frame106. Once mounted, the first section140is spaced from and extends generally parallel to the outboard lateral side114of the tailgate frame106. The second section142extends generally perpendicular to the outboard lateral side114. The third section144extends upwardly from the first portion116and generally parallel to a plane defined by the second portion118of the tailgate frame106.

With continued reference toFIGS. 1-4, the protector120further includes at least one attachment member for mounting the protector to the tailgate frame106. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the protector120includes a first attachment member200located adjacent the second channel portion170and a second attachment member202located adjacent the first channel portion150. As shown, the first attachment member200is generally clip-shaped for insertion through an opening204(FIG. 7) located on the tailgate frame106. Particularly, the first attachment member200includes an arm210and at least one spring-biased finger connected to one end of the arm. As shown, first and second spring-biased fingers212,214are provided on the arm210. The first and second fingers212,214are biased away from the other end of the arm and can be deflected towards the arm as the first attachment member200is inserted through the opening202of the tailgate frame106. Once the first attachment member200is fully inserted through the opening204, the first and second fingers212,214spring away from the arm210thereby securing the first attachment member200to the tailgate frame106.

The second attachment member202is generally hooked-shaped and is mounted to a bottom edge206of the tailgate frame106. Particularly, the second attachment member202includes an arm220having an arcuate portion222connected to the planar portion166of the low-profile section152and an engagement portion224which extends generally parallel to the planar portion166. The arcuate portion222spaces the engagement portion224a predetermined distance from the planar section166to define a slot226for receiving the edge206of the tailgate frame106. An end of the engagement portion224is flared outwardly which allows for ease of insertion of the bottom edge206into the slot226of the second attachment member202.

The use of the harness assembly100for the vehicle including the dual-mode tailgate104connected to the body102via the dual-action hinge110will now be described with reference toFIGS. 5-9. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, to facilitate the dual-mode action of the tailgate104, the dual-action hinge110attaches to the tailgate frame106at a corner thereof formed at the intersection of the bottom edge206and the outboard lateral edge114of the tailgate. The first and second attachment members200,202mount the protector120to the tailgate from in the manner described above. In the mounted position, the first and second sections140,142of the protector120are located on the first portion116of the tailgate frame106and the third section144is located on the second portion118of the tailgate frame106. The wire harness112is routed along the tailgate frame106between the tailgate frame and skin or cladding towards the protector120. The tailgate harness112is routed through the protector120under the dual-action hinge110and towards the vehicle body102. The wire harness112lies against the planar portions166,190of the first and third sections140,144and is received in the channel portions150,170,180of the first and second sections140,142. Covers240,242,244can be provided to further protect the tailgate harness112as it is routed through the protector120. Particularly, cover240is provided over the low-profile portion152of the first section140. Cover242is provided over the channel portion180of the second section142, and cover244is provided over the low-profile portion186of the third section144.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the first section140is laterally spaced from and extends generally parallel to the outboard lateral side114of the tailgate frame106and passes the tailgate harness112under the dual-action hinge110. The first and second attachment members200,202mount the protector200at least partially under the dual-action hinge110. In the low-profile portions152,186, the wire harness112generally extends along the lips168,186. The planar portion152lies against the first section116of the tailgate frame106and the planar portion190lies against the second section118of the tailgate frame. As shown inFIG. 8, the tailgate harness112is received in the slit-less corrugated tube132, which protects the tailgate harness from damage as the tailgate harness112spans between the tailgate104and the vehicle body102. The attachment device130is connected to the vehicle body102. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the attachment device130includes an attachment member250similar in structure to first attachment member200. The attachment member250is received in an opening located in the vehicle body102for securing the attachment device130thereto. The tailgate harness112makes a U-turn within the attachment device130once it is secured to the vehicle body102so that the tailgate harness112can be passed easily to a main body harness260(FIG. 9) without a large grommet hole.

As is evident from the foregoing, the tailgate wire harness112is routed under the dual-action hinge110via the harness assembly100. The protector120includes the body122having the first section140, the second section142and the third section144. Each section140,142defines a channel portion150,170,180for receiving the wire harness. First and second attachment members200,202are provided on the protector120for mounting the protector to the tailgate frame106. The attachment of the protector120allows the harness protector120to be secured in a limited space between the tailgate frame106and the tailgate skin or cladding. The first section140of the protector body routes the wire harness112under the dual-action hinge110. The second section142of the protector body122directs the wire harness112away from the dual-action hinge110and under the tailgate cladding, such that the wire harness is routed between the tailgate frame and the cladding.

With the harness assembly100, there is little impact to the surrounding parts of the vehicle (e.g., the body102and tailgate104) and there is increased reliability. It should be appreciated that the portion of the wire harness112spanning between the vehicle body102and tailgate104and located within the corrugated tube132can be insulated with a polyethylene. The polyethylene insulation on the wire harness112keeps the wire harness from becoming brittle in cold weather and provides superior bending durability.