Powered dual closure system for vehicles

A vehicle closure including a rotatable lift gate and a decklid that is rotatably connected to the liftgate. First and second electrically powered actuators provide powered opening and powered closing of the liftgate and the decklid, respectively. The first powered actuator locks to prevent movement of the liftgate when the second powered actuator is actuated, and the second powered actuator locks to prevent movement of the decklid when the first powered actuator is actuated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application generally relates to motor vehicles including dual gates, and in particular to a powered closure system that selectively locks a decklid panel in a closed position relative to a vehicle body, and a powered closure hinge that selectively locks a decklid panel to the liftgate panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of dual gate vehicle closures have been developed to close off a trunk/rear hatch opening of a vehicle. Typically, dual closures for vehicles include a liftgate panel that is movably mounted to a vehicle body, and a decklid panel that is movably mounted to the liftgate panel. The decklid panel can be opened by itself in a manner that is somewhat similar to a conventional trunk lid. The decklid panel and the liftgate panel can also be opened together in a manner that is somewhat similar to that of a conventional rear hatch of a hatchback. However, known systems may suffer from various drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present disclosure is a dual closure system for vehicles including a liftgate panel having a first hinge at a first or front edge that is configured to movably connect the liftgate panel to a vehicle body adjacent to an access opening in the vehicle body. The liftgate panel includes a second or rear edge that is opposite the first/front edge. A decklid panel is pivotably connected to the liftgate panel adjacent the second/rear edge thereof by a lid hinge. The system further includes a first powered actuator that is configured to provide powered rotation of the liftgate panel in a first direction about the first hinge to thereby open the liftgate panel. The first powered actuator is also configured to provide powered rotation of the liftgate panel in a second direction about the first hinge to close the liftgate panel. The system further includes a second powered actuator that is configured to provide powered rotation of the decklid panel in a first direction about the lid hinge to open the decklid panel relative to the liftgate panel. The second powered actuator is also configured to provide powered rotation of the decklid panel in a second direction about the lid hinge to close the decklid relative to the liftgate panel. The first powered actuator locks the liftgate panel in a closed position about the first hinge when the second powered actuator is actuated to open the decklid. The second powered actuator selectively locks the decklid panel in a closed position about the lid hinge when the first powered actuator is actuated to open the liftgate panel.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle closure including a rotatable lift gate and a decklid that is rotatably connected to the liftgate. First and second electrically powered actuators provide powered opening and powered closing of the liftgate and the decklid, respectively. The first powered actuator locks to prevent movement of the liftgate when the second powered actuator is actuated, and the second powered actuator locks to prevent movement of the decklid when the first powered actuator is actuated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIG. 1, a vehicle1includes a body structure2having a rear access opening4that may be selectively closed off by a dual gate assembly6. Dual gate assembly6includes comprising a liftgate panel10and a decklid panel20. As discussed in more detail below, the decklid panel20can be opened while the liftgate panel10remains in a closed position to provide access to vehicle interior8through a first/lower portion4A of rear access opening4as shown inFIG. 4. The liftgate panel10and decklid panel20may also be opened together as a unit (FIG. 6) to provide access to vehicle interior space8through both first and second portions4A and4B, respectively, of opening4. Liftgate panel10is rotatably mounted to the body structure2by a first hinge14. Hinge14may rotatably connect a first or front edge portion10A of liftgate panel10to body structure2. A first or front edge portion20A of decklid panel20is rotatably connected to a second or rear edge10B of liftgate panel10by a second or lid hinge24. Lid hinge24may include stop surfaces that limit rotation of decklid panel20relative to liftgate panel10such that decklid panel20cannot rotate downwardly past the closed position when liftgate panel10is in an open position (FIG. 7). A latch mechanism26adjacent second edge portion20B of decklid panel20selectively engages vehicle body structure2and latches the decklid panel20to the vehicle body structure2. A first powered strut or actuator12is configured to rotate liftgate panel10from a closed position (FIG. 1) to an open position (FIG. 6). The first powered actuator12also provides powered rotation of liftgate panel10from the open position (FIG. 6) back to the closed position (FIG. 1).

A second powered strut or actuator22provides for powered rotation of decklid panel20relative to liftgate panel10from a closed position (FIG. 1) to an open position (FIG. 4). The second powered actuator22also provides powered rotation of decklid panel20from the open position (FIG. 4) to the closed position (FIG. 1). The powered actuators12and22may be operably connected to a vehicle controller28and power supply30by electrical lines (not shown). Similarly, latch mechanism26may comprise a powered latch that is also operably connected to the controller28and power supply30. The powered actuators12and22, and latch mechanism26may be actuated utilizing a wireless remote fob32, exterior input features such as one or more exterior buttons34located on or adjacent decklid panel20, and/or interior inputs such as interior buttons36. Fob32and buttons34and36permit a user to selectively actuate the powered actuators12and22as required to open panels10and12.

With further reference toFIG. 2, left side hinge24includes a G-shaped bar structure38having a first end40that is secured (fixed) to the decklid panel20, and a second end41that is pivotably connected to a bracket42of liftgate panel10by a hinge pin44. A transverse portion39of bar structure38extends through an opening43of a wall structure45of liftgate panel10. A first end46of powered actuator22is pivotably connected to transverse portion39of hinge24, and second end48of powered actuator22is pivotally connected to liftgate panel10.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, powered actuator22can be actuated to thereby shift the decklid panel20from a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 2) to an open position (FIGS. 3 and 4). The powered actuators12and22may comprise electrically-powered struts of a known type that include a reversible electric motor (not shown) that causes a strut47(FIG. 3) to extend and retract from a body49of the powered actuator22upon actuation of the electric motor. The electric motor may be operably connected to a gear drive (not shown) such that the electric motor can be actuated to both open and close decklid panel20by extending and retracting strut47relative to body49of powered actuator22. The gear drive may be configured such that forces on decklid panel20do not cause strut47to extend and retract relative to body49. In this way, if electric power is not supplied to the powered actuator22, the powered actuator22effectively locks the decklid panel20in position relative to liftgate panel10. Thus, if no electric power is supplied to the powered actuator22when the decklid panel20is in a closed position (FIGS. 1and2), the powered actuator22locks the decklid panel20in a closed position relative to the liftgate panel10.

The powered actuator22, hinge24, and other components shown inFIGS. 2 and 3are positioned on a left hand side of vehicle1. Corresponding mirror image components are preferably positioned on a right hand side of vehicle1. Thus, the decklid panel20is preferably connected to liftgate panel10by a pair of hinges24and a pair of powered actuators22that can be actuated simultaneously.

With further reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, first powered actuator12includes a first end50that is connected to liftgate panel10, and a second end51that is pivotally connected to body structure2. The powered actuator12includes a strut52and a body53. Upon actuation of powered actuator12, the strut52extends and retracts from body53. The powered actuator12may be substantially similar to the powered actuator22, and may include a reversible electric motor (not shown) and a gear drive (not shown) whereby the powered actuator12provides for powered opening and powered closing of liftgate panel10relative to vehicle body structure2. The powered actuator12may be configured such that the strut52cannot be extended and retracted relative to body53if electrical power is not supplied to the strut12. Thus, strut12may be configured to lock liftgate panel10in a closed position (FIGS. 4 and 5) if no electrical power is supplied to the powered actuator12. The powered actuators12and22may include other locking arrangements (not shown) such as adjustable bumpers or stops that lock the powered actuators12and22to limit or prevent extension and/or retraction. The first hinge14may comprise a conventional hinge mechanism of the type utilized to rotatably connect liftgate panels to vehicle body structures. The powered actuator12and related components shown inFIGS. 5 and 6are utilized on the left side of vehicle1. A substantially identical mirror image arrangement including a powered actuator12is preferably utilized on the right side of the vehicle1. Accordingly, liftgate panel10may be movably interconnected to vehicle body structure2by a pair of first hinges14and a pair of powered actuators12that can be simultaneously actuated.

During operation, a user can selectively open only decklid panel20as shown inFIG. 4. Alternatively, a user can open the liftgate panel10and decklid panel20together as a unit as shown inFIG. 7. The system (e.g. controller28and other related components) can be configured such that a user can selectively actuate the powered actuators22to open and close decklid panel20while liftgate panel10remains in a closed position. As discussed above, the first powered actuators12lock liftgate panel10in a closed position during actuation of second powered actuators22. When the liftgate panel10and decklid panel20are in a closed position (FIG. 1) the powered actuators12and22may both be locked to thereby retain the liftgate panel10and decklid panel20in the closed position. The latch mechanism26further retains the liftgate panel10and decklid panel20in the closed position. Locking of powered actuators12and22when the liftgate panel10and decklid panel20are in the closed position (FIG. 1) reduces “chucking” or other movement of liftgate panel10and/or decklid panel20relative to body structure2that could otherwise occur when the liftgate panel10and decklid panel20are in the closed position.

Referring again toFIG. 7, a user can open liftgate panel10by actuating powered actuators12utilizing remote fob32(FIG. 1), or inputs34and36. The controller28and other components may be configured such that the second powered actuators22remain locked when first powered actuators12are actuated to thereby prevent movement of decklid panel20relative to liftgate panel10as liftgate panel10opens and closes.