Abstract:
There is provided a vehicle with a tailgate, which can be provided in a variety of vehicles without being restricted by e.g., the sizes of the vehicles, thus considerably improving usability. The tailgate is comprised of a first tailgate having one end thereof mounted on the rear end of a bed, and a second tailgate extending from the other end of the first tailgate. A tailgate telescoping device drives the second tailgate to move in a direction toward the one end of the first tailgate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a vehicle with a tailgate, and more particularly to a tailgate for a pickup truck, a station wagon, and a van, and so forth. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Generally, at the rear of a bed in a vehicle such as a pickup truck or a station wagon, a tailgate constituting a rear wall of the bed is provided. The tailgate is pivotally supported by a floor of the bed or right and left side-walls of the bed. When closed, the tailgate stands upright to form the rear wall of the bed, and when opened, the tailgate extends outwardly and horizontally as a rearward extension of the floor of the bed. 
   However, if the vehicle runs with the bed empty and the tailgate closed, the air resistance increases and consequently the fuel economy deteriorates. In this case, maintaining the tailgate open would suppress an increase in the air resistance, but due to rearward protrusion of the tailgate, the driver must be careful when parking the vehicle. 
   To solve these problems, there has been developed a technique which houses the tailgate under the bed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,828 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,278. 
   According to the above technique, however, a space having a length corresponding to the height of the tailgate must  be provided under the bed, and a suspension for rear wheels is disposed in a lower part of the vehicle at the rear of the bed. Therefore, it is difficult to secure such a space unless the vehicle has a sufficient rear overhang. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle with a tailgate, which can be provided in a variety of vehicles without being restricted by e.g., the size of the vehicles, thus considerably improving the usability. 
   To attain the above object, there is provided a vehicle with a tailgate which comprises a first tailgate with one end thereof mounted on a rear end of a bed, a second tailgate extending from the other end of the first tailgate, and a tailgate telescoping device that drives the second tailgate to move in a direction toward the one end of the first tailgate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will be explained in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference character designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view showing a state in which a tailgate of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is closed in extended state;  
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the tailgate shown in  FIG. 1  is closed in telescoped state; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the tailgate shown in  FIG. 1  is opened in telescoped state; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the tailgate shown in  FIG. 1  is retracted under a bed in telescoped state; 
       FIG. 5  is a partially sectional view showing an actuator part which extends and telescopes the tailgate shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a partially sectional view showing a guide part which is used for extending and telescoping the tailgate shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a partially sectional view taken in the direction of an arrow VII—VII shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a partially sectional view showing a rail on a side of a vehicle body, the rail being used for taking the tailgate shown in  FIG. 1  into and out of a retracting space under the floor of the bed; 
       FIG. 9  is a partially sectional view taken in the direction of an arrow IX—IX shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a partially sectional view taken in the direction of an arrow X—X shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a partially sectional view showing a device which tilts the tailgate shown in  FIG. 1  to an upright position and a flat position; and  
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view showing essential parts in a state in which the tailgate shown in  FIG. 1  is retracted under a floor of the bed, and a state in which the tailgate in  FIG. 1  is extended horizontally at the rear of the bed. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 12  showing preferred embodiments thereof. 
   In  FIGS. 1 to 4 , reference numeral  1  denotes a pickup truck;  2 , a bed; and  3 , a tailgate. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the pickup truck  1  as viewed from the rear. The tailgate  3  is provided at the rear end of the bed  2 . When positioned at the rear end of the bed  2 , the tailgate  3  is pivotally supported by lower parts of right and left side walls  4  of the bed so that the tailgate  3  can be tilted from an upright position, in which it closes the bed  2 , to a flat position, in which it opens the bed  2 . 
   The tailgate  3  is comprised of a first tailgate  5  positioned in a lower part when closed, and a second tailgate  6  positioned in an upper part when closed. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , a space (a recess)  7  is formed inside the first tailgate  5 . On the other hand, the second tailgate  6  is comprised of a bulged part  8 , which is positioned in an upper part and having a bulged portion bulging in the direction of the length of the vehicle in the state in which the tailgate  3  is closed, and a downward telescoping part  9  (extending part), which can be  selectively inserted into the space  7  formed inside the first tailgate  5 . At the center of the tailgate  3  in the direction of the vehicle width, a first linear actuator  10  (a tailgate telescoping device), having one end thereof fixed to the first tailgate  5  and the other end thereof fixed to the second tailgate  6 , is disposed. 
   Further, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , linear bearings  11  are provided at both ends of the tailgate  3  in the direction of the vehicle width. Guide rails  12  constituting the linear bearing  11  are fixed to the first tailgate  5 , while bearings  13  constituting the linear bearings  11  are fixed to the second tailgate  6 . The downward telescoping part  9  of the second tailgate  6  guided by the linear bearings  11  due to retraction by the first linear actuator  10  is retracted in the space  7  formed inside the first tailgate  5 , such that the length of the tailgate  3  in the direction of the shorter side thereof (vertical direction in a closed state) can be shortened. By operation of the first linear actuator  10 , the state of the tailgate  3  can be arbitrarily switched between a state in which the height of the tailgate  3  is equal to the height of the right and side walls  4  of the bed  2  as shown in  FIG. 1  and a state in which the downward telescoping part  9  of the second tailgate  6  is fully retracted in the space  7  of the first tailgate  5  to telescope the tailgate  3  to the utmost extent as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   It should be noted that the front surface of the bulged part  8  of the second tailgate  6  in the direction of the length of the vehicle is made to be level with the front surface of the first tailgate  5  in the direction of the length of the vehicle when the  tailgate  3  is closed, and hence when the tailgate  3  is telescoped to the utmost extent, the front surface of the tailgate  3  in the direction of the length of the vehicle is substantially flat. 
   Shafts  14  are provided in lower parts of the right and left sides of the tailgate  3  in the closed state. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the shafts  14  are rotatably supported by bearing blocks  15 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the bearing blocks  15  are each comprised of a supporting part  16 , which rotatably supports the shaft  14 , and a roller part  18 , which slides within a bearing rail  17 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the bearing rail  17  has one end thereof pivotally supported by each of groove parts  19  formed at right and left ends of the lower part of the bed  2  such that the bearing rail  17  can rotate about the pivot. As shown in  FIG. 10 , a bearing block stopper  22 , having a tilted surface  20  tilted diagonally rearward and a projection  21 , is fixed to the groove part  19  close to an end of the groove part  19  in the rear of the vehicle body. 
   When the bearing block  15  moves along the bearing rail  17  toward the rear of the vehicle body, the supporting part  16  of the bearing block  15  comes into contact with the tilted surface  20  and then moves upward along the tilted surface  20  with the rotation of the bearing rail  17  until the supporting part  16  comes into contact with the projection  20 . It should be noted that the bearing block  15  is moved forward and backward via a ball screw, which is disposed in the groove part  19  and is actuated by a motor, not shown, connected to the bearing block  15 .  
   Further, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the tailgate  3  is provided with a second linear actuator  23  which has one end thereof connected to the shaft  14  and the other end thereof connected to the first tailgate  5 . The expansion and contraction of the second linear actuator  23  causes the tailgate  3  to rotate about the shaft  14 . Further, the shaft  14  is provided with a stopper, not shown, which inhibits the tailgate  3  from tilting toward the inside of the bed  2  when the tailgate stands upright, and inhibits the tailgate  3  from tilting downward when the tailgate  3  is extended horizontally. 
   The tailgate  3  with the second tailgate  6  being extended to the utmost extent as shown in  FIG. 1  can be reduced in height by contracting the first linear actuator  10  to retract the downward telescoping part  9  of the second tailgate  6  into the first tailgate  5  as shown in  FIG. 2  due to contraction of the first linear actuator  10 . In this way, in the state in which the tailgate  3  is telescoped, a longer luggage or the like can be loaded on the bed  2 , the rearward visibility can be improved, and the air resistance can be reduced although the tailgate  3  is closed, as compared with the state in which the tailgate  3  is extended. 
   The tailgate  3  closed while being telescoped to the utmost extent as shown in  FIG. 2  is caused to rotate about the shafts  14  at the lower end toward the rear of the vehicle body by contraction of the second linear actuator  23 . The tailgate  3  is rotated to a position where the upper surface thereof can be substantially flat as shown in  FIG. 3  (a position restricted by the stopper). The upper surface of the tailgate  3  having made substantially flat is level  with the floor of the bed  2 . In this case, since the tailgate  3  is telescoped, the tailgate  3  projects only slightly rearward from the vehicle body, hence an extra parking space is not required, and the driver can easily back up the vehicle. Moreover, the air resistance can be reduced when the vehicle is driven with the tailgate  3  being opened. Further, since the upper surface of the bed  2  is level with the upper surface of the tailgate  3 , and the tailgate  3  projects only slightly rearward, it is possible to easily take a luggage on or off of the bed  2 . It should be noted that the tailgate  3  can be rotated even in extended state, and the tailgate  3  can be stopped at a desired position between the flat position and the upright position by operation of the second linear actuator  23 . 
   It should be noted that when the tailgate  3  lies in the states shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the rearward movement of the bearing block  15  is restricted since it is in contact with the projection  21  of the bearing block stopper  22  (a downward moving device) at the rear end of the vehicle. At the same time, the bearing block  15  has passed over the tilted surface  20  of the bearing stopper  22 , and hence the bearing rail  17  is pushed up toward the upper side of the groove part  19  via the roller part  18  of the bearing block  15 . 
   In the state in which the telescoped tailgate  3  is extended horizontally as shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper surface of the tailgate  3  is lowered to be under the floor of the bed  2  by actuating the ball screw to move the bearing block  15  toward the front of the vehicle body to thus cause the bearing block  15  as well as the  bearing rail  17  to lower along the tilted surface  20  of the bearing block stopper  22  until the bearing rail  17  is supported by the lower side of the groove part  19 . Then, the telescoped tailgate  3  is retracted in a tailgate retracting part provided under the floor of the bed  2  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Causing the bearing block  15  supporting the shafts  14  of the tailgate  3  to get on and off the tilted surface  20  of the bearing block stopper  22  can change the position of the tailgate  3  in the vertical direction according to the position of the bearing block  15  in the direction of the length of the vehicle. Therefore, in the case where the tailgate  3  is positioned at the rear end of the vehicle, closing the tailgate  3  in the extended state can close the bed  2  while the upper surface of the tailgate  3  is level with the right and left side walls  4  of the bed  2 , and when the tailgate  3  is opened, the floor of the bed  2 , the first tailgate  5 , and the bulged part  8  of the second tailgate  6  can be level with each other as indicated by dotted lines in  FIG. 12 . When the tailgate  3  moves forward, the tailgate  3  lowers to be retracted in the tailgate retracting part without causing the upper surface thereof from interfering with the floor of the bed  2 . Further, since the tailgate  3  is retracted in telescoped state (i.e. the state in which the tailgate  3  has been reduced in length in the direction of the length of the vehicle) under the floor of the bed  2 , even in case of a vehicle with no extra space under the rear part of the bed  2 , such as a vehicle whose rear overhung is small, can employ the above described arrangement in which the tailgate  3  is retracted under the floor of the bed  2 . Further, when the tailgate  3  is retracted,  it projects only slightly rearward from the vehicle body, and hence there is no need for extra space for parking, the driver can easily back the vehicle, and the rearward visibility can be improved. In addition, the air resistance can be suppressed when the vehicle is driven with the tailgate  3  being retracted. 
   The tailgate  3  is extended and telescoped by actuation of the first linear actuator  10 , opened and closed by actuation of the second linear actuator  23 , and retracted by actuation of the ball screw. The actuators may be controlled by operating switches in a vehicle compartment, bed  2 , or remote controller to extend or telescope, open or close, and retract the tailgate  3 . 
   Further, a vehicle speed detecting device may be connected to controllers for the respective actuators of the tailgate  3  so that the actuators can be controlled such that the tailgate  3  is telescoped (or extended horizontally or retracted) when the detected vehicle speed becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined speed. In this case, the air resistance can be reduced. 
   Further, the actuators may be controlled such that the tailgate  3  is telescoped (or extended horizontally or retracted) when a shift position detecting device detects the backward movement of the vehicle. In this case, the rearward visibility can be improved, making it easer to back the vehicle. 
   Although in the above described embodiment, the tailgate  3  is extended or telescoped, opened or closed, and retracted under the control of the actuators, but may be extended or telescoped,  opened or closed, and retracted by manual control without using the actuators. 
   Further, although in the above described embodiment, the pickup truck was taken as an example, the present invention may also be applied to a variety of vehicles such as a station wagon insofar as it has a tailgate capable of spreading out horizontally. 
   The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.