Tailgate inner handle assembly and method of moving grip member of the same

A tailgate inner handle assembly may include a grip member being movable in a lower end of a tailgate, an actuator moving the grip member to a first position when the tailgate is opened and moving the grip member to a second position the tailgate is closed, and at least one driving wires driving the actuator when opening and closing the tailgate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0057748, filed on Apr. 24, 2015, the entire contents which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a tailgate inner handle assembly, and more particularly, to a tailgate inner handle assembly having a grip portion configured to automatically move to a first position when a tailgate is opened, thus allowing a user who is short to simply grasp the grip portion when the user intends to close the tailgate, and a method of moving a grip member of the same.

Description of Related Art

A loading space for loading articles is provided at a rear side of a vehicle such as a sport utility vehicle (SUV) or a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), and an opening of the loading space may be opened and closed by a tailgate.

The tailgate is installed to pivot from an upper end of a rear side of a vehicle to circumscribe a horizontal axis, and an inner handle assembly is installed in a lower end of the tailgate in order to easily close the tailgate.

The inner handle assembly has various structures such as a trim integrated type, a panel insertion type, and a grip type, and may be selectively applied according to types of vehicles or specifications of vehicles.

However, with the tailgate opened, since the inner handle assembly of the tailgate is positioned to be high, a short user cannot easily grab the inner handle assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a tailgate inner handle assembly having a grip portion configured to automatically move to a first position when a tailgate is opened, thus allowing a short user to simply grab the grip portion when the user intends to close the tailgate, and a method of moving a grip member of the same.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a tailgate inner handle assembly includes: a grip member installed to be movable in a lower end of a tailgate; an actuator moving the grip member to a first position when the tailgate is opened and moving the grip member to a second position when the tailgate is closed; and a driving wire driving the actuator when the tailgate is opened or closed.

The actuator may include: a pulley rotating in a first direction when the driving wire is wound, and rotating in a second direction when the driving wire is unwound; and a cylinder unit moving the grip member by the pulley rotating in the first position or in the second position.

The tailgate inner handle assembly may further include: a bracket being fixed to the lower end of the tailgate, wherein the pulley and the cylinder unit are installed on the bracket.

The cylinder unit may include: a cylinder being installed on the bracket; and a piston being installed to move forward and backward with respect to the cylinder.

The grip member may be fixed to the piston, the piston may be connected to the pulley by the driving wire, and the piston may move forward and backward by integrally operating with the pulley.

A moving member may be connected to one side of the piston and installed to move forward and backward by integrally operating with the driving wire and the pulley.

The moving member may be coupled to penetrate through the piston in a radial direction of the piston and the cylinder have a guide slot guiding the forward and backward movement of the moving member in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder.

A first elastic member applying elastic force to the piston may be installed within the cylinder.

The first elastic member may apply elastic force in a direction in which the moving member moves away from the bracket.

A retainer may be interposed between one end of the first elastic member and the moving member.

The driving wire may include a first driving wire connected from an upper roof portion of a vehicle to the pulley through inside an interior of the tailgate and a second driving wire connected from the moving member to the pulley.

The first driving wire and the second driving wire may be wound around an outer circumferential surface of the pulley, and when the tailgate is opened and the first driving wire is pulled, the first and second driving wires may be unwound from the outer circumferential surface of the pulley and the moving member and the piston move away from the bracket.

The pulley may be installed to rotate in a winding direction when the first and second driving wires are wound or in an unwinding direction when the first and second driving wires are unwound, and the pulley may be configured to receive elastic force to rotate in the winding direction by a second elastic member.

The second elastic member may be a torsion spring applying circumferential directional elastic force.

The pulley may be provided to have a first winding portion in which the first driving wire is wound around an outer circumferential surface thereof and a second winding portion in which the second driving wire is wound around the outer circumferential surface thereof.

The tailgate inner handle assembly may further include a guide device guiding the second driving wire.

The guide device may include a guide rib provided at one side of the bracket and a guide member coupled to the guide rib, and the guide member may have a guide hole in which the second driving wire is guided.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a tailgate inner handle assembly includes: a bracket being fixed to a lower end of a tailgate; a pair of cylinders being fixed to the bracket and each having a hollow portion therein; a pair of pistons being installed to move forward and backward in the hollow portions of the pair of cylinders; a pair of first elastic members being installed within the pair of cylinders, and applying elastic force in a direction moving away from the bracket; a grip member being connected to the pair of pistons; a moving member being installed between the pair of pistons to connect one piston to the other piston; and a pulley being installed to rotate in the bracket and allowing a first driving wire and a second driving wire to be wound around an outer circumferential surface thereof, wherein one end of the first driving wire is fixed to an upper roof portion of a vehicle and the other end of the first driving wire is fixed to be wound around the pulley, and one end of the second driving wire is fixed to the central portion of the moving member and the other end of the second driving wire is fixed to be wound around the pulley.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of moving a grip member of a tailgate inner handle assembly including a grip member installed in a lower end of a tailgate, an actuator moving the grip member, and a driving wire driving the actuator when the tailgate is opened, includes: pulling the driving wire when the tailgate is opened; driving the actuator by the pulling the driving wire; and moving the grip member to a first position in the lower end of the tailgate by the driving the actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 7are views illustrating a tailgate inner handle assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a tailgate inner handle assembly100according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a grip member10installed to be movable in a lower end of a tailgate1, an actuator20moving the grip member10when opening or closing the tailgate1, and one or more driving wires31and32driving the actuator20when opening or closing the tailgate1.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the tailgate1is installed at the rear of a vehicle4such that it can be opened or closed, and in particular, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, an upper end of the tailgate1is installed to pivot with respect to the upper roof portion of the vehicle4by the medium of a hinge mechanism2.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the grip member10is installed at the rear end of the tailgate1. The grip member10is configured to be movable with respect to the lower end of the tailgate1by the actuator20as described hereinafter.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the actuator20includes a bracket21, a pulley25rotatably installed on the bracket21, and a cylinder unit40moving the grip member10by integrally operating with the pulley25that rotates.

The bracket21is fixed to one side of the lower end of the tailgate1through a fastening member or welding. For example, an inwardly recessed portion may be formed at one side of the lower end of the tailgate1, the bracket21may be fixed to the recessed portion, and the grip member10may be easily moved in the recessed portion of the lower end of the tailgate1by the actuator20.

As the pulley25and the cylinder unit40are installed on the bracket21, the pulley25and the cylinder unit40are assuredly installed stably in the lower end of the tailgate1.

The pulley25is installed to be rotatable by the medium of a rotational shaft on the bracket21. The pulley25is configured to rotate in a first direction when one or more driving wires31and32are wound around an outer circumferential surface of the pulley25, and to rotate in a second direction when the driving wires31and32are unwound therefrom.

According to an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 2, when the driving wires31and32are wound around the pulley25(please refer to directions of the arrows K2and S2ofFIG. 2), the pulley25rotates in a winding direction (please refer to a direction of the arrow W ofFIG. 2) due to winding force of the driving wires31and32. When the driving wires31and32are unwound from the pulley25(please refer to directions of the arrows K1and S1ofFIG. 2), the pulley25rotates in an unwinding direction (please refer to a direction of the arrow UW ofFIG. 2) due to unwinding force of the driving wires31and32.

According to an exemplary embodiment, as described hereinafter, the driving wires31and32may be configured to be wound around the pulley25when the tailgate1is closed, and to be unwound from the pulley25when the tailgate1is opened.

The cylinder unit40is installed on one surface of the bracket21and configured to allow the grip member10to move by the rotation of the pulley25which integrally operates with the driving wires31and32.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the cylinder unit40includes a cylinder41fixed to the bracket21and a piston42installed to move forward and backward with respect to the cylinder41.

The cylinder41has a hollow portion therein, and a first elastic member44elastically pushing the piston42is installed in the hollow portion of the cylinder41.

In particular, when the driving wires31and32are unwound from the pulley25, the first elastic member44may move the piston42forward by elastic force thereof such that the piston42is pushed away from the bracket21. Conversely, when the driving wires31and32are wound around the pulley25, a portion of the driving wire32is wound around the pulley25to pull the piston42toward the bracket21such that the piston42, while overcoming the elastic force of the first elastic member44, moves backward, and the first elastic member44is compressed by such backward force of the piston42.

That is, when the tailgate1is opened, the driving wires31and32are unwound and the piston42moves forward by virtue of elastic force of the first elastic member44, and when the tailgate1is closed, the driving wires31and32are wound to move the piston42backward.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the first elastic member44includes a coil spring and may be configured to push the piston42away from the bracket by elastic force thereof. A retainer45is disposed to be in contact with one end of the first elastic member44, and the other end of the first elastic member44is supported by the bracket21.

The piston42is inserted in the hollow portion of the cylinder41and installed to move backward and forward, and a moving member43is connected to the piston42. The moving member43moves forward and backward by integrally operating with the driving wires31and32and the pulley25, and thus, the piston42may move forward and backward together with the moving member43.

The moving member43is coupled between the pistons42such that one piston is connected to the other piston. A guide slot41aguiding forward and backward movement of the moving member43in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder41is formed. In particular, the guide slot41ais limited to have a predetermined length, and accordingly, a forward/backward stroke of the moving member43is appropriately regulated from a front end of the guide slot41ato a rear end. Through the regulation of the forward/backward stroke of the moving member43, a movement of the grip member10may be appropriately regulated.

Meanwhile, the retainer45may be interposed between one side of the moving member43and one end of the first elastic member44, and due to the disposition structure of the retainer45, the first elastic member44may be stably maintained in the hollow portion of the cylinder41when compressed and expanded.

Also, the grip member10is connected to an outer end of the piston42, and as the piston42moves forward and backward, the grip member10may be moved in the lower end of the tailgate1.

According to an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 through 5, the cylinder unit40includes a pair of cylinders41symmetrically fixed to one surface of the bracket21, a pair of pistons42installed to move forward and backward individually with respect to their respective cylinders41, and a pair of first elastic members44applying elastic force in a movement direction of the pistons42within their respective cylinders41.

The moving member43is coupled between the pair of pistons42to connect one piston to the other piston, and a fixing unit43afixing one end of the second driving wire32is prepared in the central portion of the moving member43.

Both ends of the grip member10are coupled to outer ends of the pair of pistons42through fastening members, or the like.

Since the cylinders41, the pistons42, and the first elastic members44are symmetrically disposed with respect to the bracket21, the grip member10may be more stably and smoothly moved.

The driving wires31and32include the first driving wire31connected from the upper roof portion of the vehicle4to the pulley25and the second driving wire32connected from the pulley25to the moving member43.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the first driving wire31is connected from the rear of the vehicle4to the pulley25through inside the tailgate1, and one end of the first driving wire31is fixed to the upper roof portion of the vehicle4through a fixture3. The other end of the first driving wire31is fixed to the pulley25, and as illustrated inFIG. 2, a portion adjacent to the other end of the first driving wire31is wound around an outer circumferential surface of the pulley25or unwound therefrom.

FIGS. 6 and 7are views illustrating a state in which the first driving wire31is installed between the upper end of the tailgate1adjacent to a hinge mechanism2and the rear door of the vehicle4. Specifically,FIG. 6illustrates a state in which the tailgate1closes the rear of the vehicle4andFIG. 7illustrates a state in which the tailgate1opens the rear door of the vehicle4.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, one end of the first driving wire31is fixed to an upper roof portion (4a) of the vehicle4adjacent to the hinge mechanism2through the fixture3, a through hole1ais formed in an upper end adjacent to the hinge mechanism2, and the first driving wire31is configured to pass through the interior of the tailgate1through a through hole1aof the tailgate1. Also, a grommet5serving to ensure air-tightness or waterproofing or protect the first driving wire31may be installed in the through hole1a.

The hinge mechanism2has a vehicle side hinge bracket2acoupled to the rear of the upper portion of the vehicle4, that is, to a roof panel4aof the vehicle4a, a tailgate side hinge bracket2bcoupled to an upper end of the tailgate1, and a hinge shaft2cprovided between the vehicle side hinge bracket2aand the tailgate side hinge bracket2b.

As the tailgate1is opened and closed at the rear of the vehicle4by the hinge mechanism2, a distance between the fixture3and the through hole1aof the tailgate1may be varied, and as a length of the first driving wire31in a section positioned between the fixture3and the through hole1aof the tailgate1is varied, the other end of the first driving wire31is wound around the pulley25or unwound therefrom.

In detail, when the tailgate1is closed in the rear of the vehicle4, the length of the first driving wire31in the section positioned between the fixture3and the through hole1aof the tailgate1is a first length L1as illustrated inFIG. 6.

When the tailgate1opens the rear of the vehicle4, a partial section of the first driving wire31positioned between the fixture3and the through hole1aof the tailgate1is a second length L2greater than the aforementioned first length L1.

In this manner, when the tailgate1changes from the closed state to the opened state, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the length of the partial section of the first driving wire31increases from the first length L1to the second length L2, and the first driving wire31corresponding to the increased length (a difference between the second length L2and the first length L1) of the first driving wire is pulled so a predetermined length of the first driving wire31wound around the pulley25is unwound. Here, the first driving wire31is unwound in the direction of the arrow K1ofFIG. 2, and due to the unwinding of the first driving wire31, the pulley25rotates in an unwinding direction (UW direction ofFIG. 2).

That is, when the tailgate1is opened, the first driving wire31is pulled and thus the first driving wire31is unwound from the pulley25, and the pulley25rotates in the unwinding direction (UW direction ofFIG. 2).

One end of the second driving wire32is fixed to one side43aof the moving member43, and the other end of the second driving wire32is fixed to one side of the pulley25, and accordingly, a length of the second driving wire32adjacent to the other end of the second driving wire32is wound around an outer circumferential surface of the pulley25or unwound therefrom.

When the tailgate1is opened, the first driving wire31is pulled, the pulley25rotates in the unwinding direction, and the second driving wire32is unwound from the pulley25.

In this manner, since one end of the second driving wire32is fixed to one side43aof the moving member43, the piston42and the moving member43are connected to the pulley25by the second driving wire32, and accordingly, a rotational movement of the pulley25may be very easily converted into a forward/backward movement of the piston42.

The pulley25is configured to receive circumferential directional elastic force in the winding direction (please refer to direction of the arrow W ofFIG. 2) by the second elastic member29. That is, in a case in which pulling force does not act on the first driving wire31, a state in which the first driving wire31and the second driving wire32are wound around the outer circumferential surface of the pulley25is maintained by elastic force of the second elastic member29.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the second elastic member29may be configured as a torsion spring applying a circumferential directional elastic force and has a coil portion29aand a pair of legs29band29cprovided at both ends of the coil portion29a. One leg29bof the second elastic member29is fixed to the bracket21and the other leg29cthereof is fixed to the pulley25.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the first driving wire31is configured to be guided by a guide structure provided inside and outside the tailgate1. Such a guide structure may include a plurality of guide rollers and a guide rib installed along a moving path of the first driving wire31in the tailgate1.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the second driving wire32is configured to be guided by a guide device provided in the bracket21. Such a guide device includes a guide rib23provided at one side of the bracket21and a guide member24coupled to the guide rib23. The guide rib has an installation opening23ain which the guide member24is installed, and the guide member24has a cylindrical structure in which a guide hole24a, through which the second driving wire32is guided, is formed in a central portion thereof.

In particular, as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, the guide rib23and the guide member24are positioned in the central portion of the bracket21so that the second driving wire32may be disposed in a direction perpendicular to the fixing unit43aof the moving member43, and accordingly, the second driving wire32may be more stably pulled or released.

A first winding portion25aand a second winding portion25bare divided by a partition wall27on an outer circumferential surface of the pulley25. The first driving wire31is wound around the first winding portion25a, and the second driving wire32is wound around the second winding portion25b. In this manner, due to the structure in which the first and second winding portions25aand25bare divided on the outer circumferential surface of the pulley25, each of the first and second driving wires31and32may be smoothly and stably wound around the outer circumferential surface of the pulley25or unwound therefrom.

An operational state of the tailgate inner handle assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure configured described above will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 5.

When the tailgate1is closed (please refer toFIG. 6), the pulley25rotates in the winding direction (please refer to the direction of the arrow W ofFIG. 2) due to the circumferential directional elastic force of the second elastic member29, and accordingly, the first driving wire31and the second driving wire32are wound around the outer circumferential surface of the pulley25(please refer to the directions of the arrows K2and S2ofFIG. 2).

When the second driving wire32is wound around the second winding portion25bof the pulley25, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the second driving wire32pulls back the moving member43, and when the moving member43is pulled back, the piston44moves backward and the first elastic member44is compressed against elastic force thereof.

Due to the backward movement of the piston42, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the grip member10moves to be closer to the bracket21and moves to a second position in the lower end of the tailgate1.

Thereafter, when the tailgate1is opened (please refer toFIG. 7), a length of a partial section of the first driving wire31is increased by a predetermined amount (L2−L1), and as the first driving wire31is pulled to correspond to the increased length of the first driving wire31, the first driving wire31is unwound from the pulley25(please refer to the direction of the arrow K1ofFIG. 2). Due to the unwinding force of the first driving wire31, the pulley25, overcoming circumferential directional elastic force of the second elastic member29, rotates in the unwinding direction (please refer to the direction of the arrow UW ofFIG. 2). As the pulley25rotates in the unwinding direction, the second driving wire32is unwound from the pulley25(please refer to the direction of the arrow S1ofFIG. 2).

When the second driving wire32is unwound from the second winding portion25bof the pulley25, pulling the moving member43by the second driving wire32is aborted and the piston42is pushed outward from the bracket21by elastic force of the first elastic member44so as to move forward.

When the piston42moves forward, the grip member10moves away from the bracket21as illustrated inFIG. 5, and accordingly, the grip member10moves to the first position in the lower end of the tailgate1.

In this manner, when the tailgate1is opened, the grip member10moves to the first position in the lower end of the tailgate1, and accordingly, even a short user may easily grab the grip member10which is moved to the first position in the lower end of the tailgate1.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the tailgate1is opened, since the grip member10moves to the first position in the lower end of the tailgate1by the driving wires31and32and the actuator20, the short user may be able to simply grab the moved grip member10to close the tailgate1, and thus, user convenience may be significantly enhanced.

When the tailgate1is closed, since the grip member10moves to the second position in the lower end of the tailgate1by the driving wires31and32and the actuator20, the grip member10is prevented from being in contact with other components or loaded items when the tailgate1is closed.

In particular, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, by applying a simple mechanical structure of moving the grip member10by driving the actuator20by means of the driving wires31and32, an electric component (an electric motor or a sensor) consuming electricity is not used, reducing manufacturing cost and preventing waste of power.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the driving wires31and32are wound around the outer circumferential surface of the pulley25or unwound therefrom, the driving wires31and32are rotated in the winding direction or unwinding direction of the pulley and the cylinder unit40moves the grip member10according to the bi-directional rotation of the pulley, and thus, the grip member may be stably moved.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the piston42and the moving member43of the cylinder unit40are connected to the pulley25through the second driving wire32, a rotational movement of the pulley25may be easily converted into a forward/backward movement of the piston42and the grip member10may be smoothly moved according to the forward/backward movement of the piston42.

As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the tailgate is opened, since the grip member moves from the lower end of the tailgate to a first position by the driving wires and the actuator, a short user may be able to simply grab the moved grip member to close the tailgate, and thus, user convenience may be significantly enhanced.

When the tailgate is closed, since the grip member is moved to the second position in the lower end of the tailgate by the driving wires and the actuator, the grip member is prevented from being in contact with other components or loaded items when the tailgate is closed, and thus, the tailgate may be smoothly closed.

In particular, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since a simple mechanical structure of moving the grip member by driving the actuator by means of one or more driving wires is applied, an electric component (an electric motor or a sensor) consuming electricity is not used, reducing manufacturing cost and preventing waste of power.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the driving wires are wound around the outer circumferential surface of the pulley or unwound therefrom, the driving wires are rotated in the winding direction or unwinding direction of the pulley and the cylinder unit moves the grip member to a first position or the second position according to the bi-directional rotation of the pulley, and thus, the grip member may be stably moved.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the moving member of the cylinder unit is connected to the pulley by the second driving wire, a rotational movement of the pulley may be easily converted into a forward/backward movement of the piston and the grip member may be smoothly moved according to the forward/backward movement of the piston.

As described above, although the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited thereto but various modifications and alterations might be made without departing from the scope defined in the following claims.