Patent Publication Number: US-6991273-B2

Title: Tailgate handle apparatus for vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2003-0072845, filed on Oct. 20, 2003, which is incorporated fully herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a tailgate handle apparatus for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a tailgate handle apparatus for a vehicle which is mounted on tailgate panel composed of an upper panel and lower panel. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Generally, a tailgate handle apparatus is preferably hidden in order not to influence the external appearance of a tailgate. Further, the tailgate handle apparatus should be simple in structure while being reliable in operation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a simple and reliable tailgate handle apparatus adapted to enhance the external appearance of a tailgate by minimizing exposure of the tailgate handle apparatus at the exterior of the tailgate, comprised of an upper panel and lower panel, both disposed in a vertical manner. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle apparatus for a tailgate having an upper panel and a lower panel for a vehicle, comprises a bracket mounting part mounted at an upper portion of the lower panel that forms a gap with the upper panel. A handle bracket is mounted at the bracket mounting part that bridges the gap. A lower end of the handle bracket is positioned above the lower end of the upper panel. A handle is rotatably hinged via a hinge connected to the handle bracket in which the bottom end of the handle is positioned above the lower end of the upper panel. A link mechanism is provided to transmit a rotating motion of the hinge to a tailgate latch. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tailgate according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a tailgate observed from inside of a vehicle; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a tailgate of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a tailgate handle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a detail view of essential parts of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a handle bracket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings, where the present embodiment does not limit the scope of the present invention but is given only for illustrative purposes. 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  respectively illustrate a structure of an upper panel  3  and a lower panel  5  of a tailgate  1 . 
   A bracket mounting part  7  forms a gap (G) above the lower panel  5  and inside the upper panel  3 , and is protruded in an integral manner. The bracket mounting part  7  is mounted with a handle bracket  9 . The handle bracket  9  fills the horizontal gap (G) with a lower end of the handle bracket  9  being positioned above the lower end of the upper panel  3 . Details on the bracket mounting part  7  will be described later. 
   A handle  11  is rotatably hinged to the handle bracket via a hinge  13 , with a lower end of the handle  11  being positioned above the lower end of the upper panel  3 . As a result, the handle bracket  9  and the handle  11  are hidden by the upper panel  3 . The handle  11  is connected to a link mechanism to transmit a rotating motion of the handle  11  to a tailgate latch  15 . The link mechanism will be described further later. 
   The bracket mounting part  7  protrudes vertically upwards from the upper side part of the lower panel  5 , and the handle bracket  9  is fixedly abutted to the bracket mounting part  7  with a nut part  17 , such that the handle bracket  9  is fixed to the bracket mounting part  7  via a bolt  19  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the handle bracket  9  is box-shaped with a bottom that is open. The nut part  17  extends to a horizontal part  21  toward the upper panel  3 , and the horizontal part  21  extends to a panel connector  23  to allow the lower end of the upper panel  3  to be connected. 
   A corner area between the horizontal part  21  and the panel connector  23  is disposed with a support part  25  for supporting the handle  11  via the hinge  13  and a through hole  27 . The panel connector  23  is mounted with a lower side flange  29  and a hitching jaw  31 , such that a distal end  33  formed by the lower side part of the upper panel  3  bent toward an inner side of the upper panel  3  and is fixedly inserted between the lower flange  29  and the hitching jaw  31 . 
   The link mechanism includes a rotating plate  37  rotatably fixed to a tailgate inner panel  35 , a handle side rod  39  connecting with the rotating plate  37  and the handle  11 , and a latch side rod  41  connecting with the rotating plate  37  and a tailgate latch  15 . 
   The rotating plate  37  is L-shaped and is centrally and rotatably coupled to a tailgate inner panel  35 , and an upper branch of the rotating plate is rotatably coupled with the handle side rod  39  while a lower branch of the rotating plate is rotatably coupled to the latch side rod  41 . 
   Next, the operation of the tailgate handle apparatus for a vehicle as constructed above will be described. 
   If the handle  11  is pulled toward the arrow direction as shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle side rod  39  moves toward the left in the drawing, and the direction of operating force is switched by the rotating plate  37  to allow the latch side rod  41  to be pulled upwards as shown in the drawing, thereby releasing the tailgate latch  15 . 
   As a result, by simply inserting a hand from an external side of the upper panel  3  of the tailgate  1  to a lower side of the handle bracket  9 , a person can easily pull the handle  11  to release the tailgate latch  15  that opens the tailgate  1 . 
   As explained above, the present invention provides an embodiment for a transmitting structure to address the operating force from the handle  11  to the tailgate latch  15  that is very simple, such that reliability can be obtained in operating the handle apparatus of the tailgate. 
   Meanwhile, as described above, the tailgate handle apparatus for a vehicle is constructed so that the handle  11  and the handle bracket  8  are hidden in the inner side of the upper panel  3  to give the tailgate  1  a refined appearance. 
   As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in the tailgate handle apparatus for a vehicle as described according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the tailgate handle apparatus is hidden in the tailgate having an upper panel and a lower panel both mounted in a vertical manner, because it gives the tailgate a polished look. 
   There is another advantage in that the tailgate handle apparatus is embodied in a simple structure, while obtaining reliability in its operation and reducing the manufacturing cost of the vehicle. 
   The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.