Abstract:
A vehicle has a body with a body opening and a reconfigurable body exterior panel that is mountable over the opening in first and second panel positions. The panel is pivotable about a panel pivot axis and is mounted on a pair of swing arms that are pivotable relative to the body about a bodyside pivot axis. The swing arms are Z-shaped and interact with stops to orient the panel in the first and second panel positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to exterior body panels for vehicles and more particularly to exterior body panels that are easily reversible to selectively reconfigure the vehicle. 
     Automotive vehicles such as pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossovers include cargo areas that may be distinct from passenger areas. The passenger compartments, crew cabs, or interiors of pickup trucks may include a fixed wall, panel, or bulkhead that is positioned behind the rear-most row of seats. The bulkhead separates the interior from a rear cargo area. The typical bulkhead is a stationary metal panel that is supported at or along its perimeter by the vehicle body. In some vehicles, the bulkhead is replaced with a mid-gate assembly having one or more hinged door panels and/or windows for accessing the rear cargo area. However, conventional bulkheads or mid-gate assemblies may be less than optimal for certain purposes. 
     Thus, it has been proposed to provide a movable bulkhead that defines the divide between the passenger compartment and the cargo area and allows one to essentially reconfigure the divide between the passenger and cargo areas. Such a movable bulkhead is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,607,709, titled Reversible Bulkhead Assembly for a Vehicle, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     It is desirable that a movable exterior body panel for these vehicles is inexpensive, uncomplicated and reliable, as well as being relatively easy for one to reconfigure the body panel—even a relatively large, heavy panel. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An embodiment contemplates a vehicle comprising a body and a reconfigurable body exterior panel. The body includes a body opening surface defining a perimeter of a body opening. The exterior panel has a first surface configured to mount against the body opening surface in a first panel position and a second surface configured to mount against the body opening surface in a second panel position where the exterior panel is in a different orientation relative to the body than when in the first panel position. A pair of panel-side pivot pins are secured to the exterior panel and define a panel pivot axis about which the exterior panel is pivotable. A pair of swing arms each have a first end mounted to a respective one of the panel-side pivot pins and a second opposed end. A pair of bodyside pivot pins mount to the respective second ends of the swing arms and are pivotally secured relative to the body for allowing pivoting of the swing arms relative to the body. A first mode stop mounts to the exterior panel spaced from the panel-side pivot pins and is configured to engage one of the swing arms to prevent further rotation of the exterior panel relative to the swing arms in a first direction when the exterior panel is in the first panel position, and a second mode stop mounts to the exterior panel and is spaced from the first mode stop and the panel-side pivot pins and configured to engage one of the swing arms to prevent further rotation in a second, opposed direction when the exterior panel is in the second panel position. 
     An advantage of an embodiment is that easy, single operator reconfiguration of a body exterior panel is achieved without a need to remove the panel from its supporting structure. Even large heavy panels can be manipulated since the structure supports the panel during reconfiguration. By not having to remove the panel, this eliminates the possibility of loss or damage of the panel during handling. Moreover, the body panel assembly allows for positioning of the panel at arbitrary angular positions dictated by desired styling and function of the panel and vehicle body while allowing for proper functioning even with build variation and panel deflection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a vehicle having a reconfigurable body exterior panel assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 , but with the reconfigurable body exterior panel assembly removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the reconfigurable body exterior panel assembly that is employed in the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the vehicle of  FIG. 1  with the reconfigurable body exterior panel in a passenger mode position. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the reconfigurable body exterior panel after pivoting about a swing-arm pivot axis away from the body opening. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing the reconfigurable body exterior panel after pivoting about a panel pivot axis. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view similar to  FIG. 4  but with the reconfigurable body exterior panel in a cargo mode position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , portions of a vehicle, indicated generally at  10 , are shown. The vehicle  10  includes a body  12  and reconfigurable body exterior panel, in this exemplary embodiment a reversible bulkhead assembly  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the vehicle  10  is a pickup truck, which includes a pair of opposed cargo box sidewalls  16 , a tailgate  18  and a floor or bed  20  that at least partially define a rear cargo area  22 . However, within the scope of the invention, the vehicle may be another body style such as a sport utility vehicle, a crossover vehicle, a work truck or recreational vehicle having a cargo area similar to that of the cargo area  22 , whether such a cargo area is open or partially/fully enclosed. Moreover, while the reconfigurable body exterior panel assembly is illustrated as a reversible bulkhead, it is contemplated that a panel, such as for example, a reversible truck bed floor having two sides with different characteristics (such as a smooth side and a gripping side) or a combination truck-bed-liner/truck-cap reversible panel may be within the scope of the invention. 
     The body  12  defines a passenger cabin in an interior  24  that is adjacent to the bed  20 , with conventional doors  26  providing access to the interior  24 . The body  12  also includes pillars  28  that extend upward and support a roof  30 . The pair of pillars  28 A that separate the interior  24  from the cargo area  22  form a portion of an opening  34  that is formed in the body  12 , with the reversible bulkhead  14 , discussed below, secured over this opening  34 . A rear surface  32  around the perimeter of the opening  34  may include a seal  36  that seals against the bulkhead  14  to ensure that the interior  24  is protected from the elements. In order to secure the bulkhead  14  to the seal  36  and opening  34 , clasps, clamps or latches  38  may be employed. The latches  38  may be any suitable type of conventional latches and so will not be disclosed in more detail herein. 
     The body  12  supports the bulkhead  14 , even when it is being reconfigured. By reconfigured, it is meant that its orientation relative to the body  12  can be changed in order to accommodate different uses for the vehicle  10 . In the particular exemplary embodiment illustrate, the bulkhead  14  can be reconfigured by being reversed, i.e. flipped, between a forward facing and a rear facing position in the vehicle  10 . That is, the bulkhead  14  is shaped and sized to allow the bulkhead  14  to be selectively rotated between a first configuration (a “cargo mode”), as shown in  FIG. 7 , and a second configuration (a “passenger mode”), as shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, due to the convex/concave shape of the bulkhead  14 , when the bulkhead  14  is in the first configuration, the length (L 2 ) of the cargo area  22  is increased (as can be best seen in  FIG. 7 ), and when the bulkhead  14  is in the second configuration, the length (L 1 ) of the cargo area  22  is decreased (as can be seen in  FIG. 1 ). Of course, for the second configuration, then, the size of the interior  24  (in this exemplary embodiment the passenger compartment) is increased. 
     The cargo box side walls  16  include reduced width portions  40  adjacent to the opening  34 , with a pair of bulkhead support slots  41  extending through the bed  20  below the reduced width portions  40 . Alternatively, the cargo box side walls may have more of a constant width, with the bulkhead support slots located inboard farther (and a correspondingly smaller bulkhead), or the cargo box side walls may have more of a constant width, with the bulkhead support slots extending through the tops of the cargo box side walls, if so desired. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  in view of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the reconfigurable body exterior panel assembly, in this case a reversible bulkhead assembly  14 , will be discussed in more detail. The bulkhead  14  may be formed of a suitable material for use on an exterior of a vehicle. The bulkhead  14  includes walls  42  that are shaped to provide the bulkhead  14  with a convex side  44  and an opposed concave side  46 . A sealing flange  48  around the periphery between the convex side  44  and the concave side  46  defines a first sealing surface  50  that contacts the seal  36  when the bulkhead is in the cargo mode and a second sealing surface  52  that contacts the seal  36  when the bulkhead is in the passenger mode. The bulkhead  14  may also include side windows  54  and/or rear windows  56  (shown in  FIGS. 4-7 ) that are made of a suitable translucent material. 
     The bulkhead  14  includes two axes for pivoting and rotating that are defined by a bulkhead pivoting assembly  57  that supports the weight of the bulkhead  14 . A first bulkhead pivot axis or panel pivot axis  58  is defined by bulkhead-side pivot pins  60  that pivotally connect the sealing flange  48  to bulkhead-side ends  62  of a pair of Z-shaped support arms or swing arms  64 . Each of the swing arms  64  includes a bulkhead-side longitudinal portion  66 , an intermediate portion  68 , and a bodyside longitudinal portion  70 . The bodyside longitudinal portions  70  extend down to the second bulkhead pivot axis or swing arm pivot axis  72  defined by bodyside pivot pins  74  at a bodyside end  76  of the swing arms  64 . The bodyside pivot pins  74  are connected by a transverse support rod  78  (shown in  FIGS. 4-7 ) that extends along the swing arm pivot axis  72 . 
     Each of the swing arms  64  extends through a respective one of the bulkhead support slots  39 , accordingly, the transverse support rod  78  extends under and is concealed by the bed  20  of the cargo area  22  and is supported by the body  12  under the bed  20 . 
     Each Z-shaped swing arm  64  includes a passenger mode catch or stop  80  formed by at a crook of the swing arm  64  between the intermediate portion  68  and the bodyside longitudinal portion  70  and a cargo mode catch or stop  82  formed by a crook of the swing arm  64  between the intermediate portion  68  and the bulkhead-side longitudinal portion  66 . A pair of passenger mode stop pins  84  extend from the sealing flange  48  and are located at the same radial distance from the panel pivot axis  58  as the passenger mode stops  80  allowing them to engage and limit the clockwise (as viewed in  FIG. 3 ) travel of the walls  42  relative to the swing arms  64 . A pair of cargo mode stop pins  86  extend from the sealing flange  48 , on the opposite side of the panel pivot axis  58 , and are located at the same radial distance from the panel pivot axis  58  as the cargo mode stops  82  allowing them to engage and limit the counterclockwise (as viewed in  FIG. 3 ) travel of the walls  42  relative to the swing arms  64 . Thus, the shape and size of the swing arms  64  and the locations of the stop pins  84 ,  86  define the extent of the pivoting the walls  42  can achieve relative to the swing arms  64 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , a portion of the process for switching from the passenger mode to the cargo mode is discussed. In  FIG. 4 , the bulkhead assembly  14  is in the passenger mode, with the second sealing surface  52  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) pressed against the seal  36  (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). Latches, such as the latches  38  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , secure the bulkhead  14  over the body opening  34  (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The passenger mode stop pins  84  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 ) are nested in the passenger mode stops  80  (as can be seen in  FIG. 3 ). With the concave side facing forward, the room for passengers and other items in the vehicle interior is increased. 
     To reverse the bulkhead  14 , the latches (or other mechanisms holing the bulkhead  14  against the vehicle body) are released. Then, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the bulkhead  14  is pivoted away from the opening  34  about the swing arm pivot axis  72 . While pivoting, the swing arms  64  slide in the bulkhead support slots  39  (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 ). Also during this pivoting motion, the weight of the bulkhead  14  is supported by the bulkhead pivoting assembly  57 , thus minimizing the effort required by the person moving the bulkhead  14 . 
     One then pivots the bulkhead  14  about the panel pivot axis  58  until the cargo mode stop pins  86  (which can be seen in  FIG. 5 ) are nested in the cargo mode stops  82  (which can be seen in  FIG. 3 ). The correct angle of rotation is achieved by rotating the bulkhead  14  from the one set of stops to the other set of stops. The bulkhead  14  is now pivoted into the position shown in  FIG. 6 . The operator may then pivot the bulkhead  14  about the swing arm pivot axis  72  until the first sealing surface  50  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) is pressed against the seal  36 . The latches are then re-engaged. The bulkhead  14  is now in the cargo mode position as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.