Patent Description:
Sport utility type vehicles with liftgate doors have become predominant in the vehicle market today. Liftgate doors typically open the entire rear compartment of an SUV vehicle which has proven very convenient to users of passenger vehicles.

In manufacturing, fitting and designing liftgates is complex because the doors are large and require robust hinging and locking mechanisms. The doors are also hard to fit during production. Thus, such doors are heavy and slow to open and close. Powered liftgates are also used in recent years which are also slow to open and close.

Therefore it is a goal in the art to provide access to the rear compartment in an SUV vehicle with a liftgate, which is limited, and is rapid for providing access to the rear compartment when it is not necessary to have the entire liftgate open.

Accordingly, there also exists a need for multi-way liftgate assembly incorporating dividing the rear cargo area of a passenger vehicle (e.g., SUV, Hatchbacks and Wagons) into a plurality of secure areas (e.g., at least three secure areas), using the liftgate to provide controlled access to one or more of those compartments.

<CIT> discloses a motor vehicle with a rear cargo compartment with access through a liftgate. The liftgate comprises a three-part door with a conventional hinged upper lift glass portion and opposed lower "dutch doors" opening sideways. For access to the entire rear cargo compartment, all three doors must be opened.

<CIT> discloses a rear closure assembly for a passenger vehicle consisting of a liftgate and tailgate that are pivotally coupled to the body at an upper and lower periphery of the opening respectively, and engage one another to enclose a rear opening of the vehicle. The two gates can be opened independently of each other and give access to a rear cargo compartment.

<CIT> discloses a rear body closure with a storage compartment arranged in the rear body closure, the storage compartment being accessible independently of the rear body closure being opened or closed through a flap that also serves as license plate attachment panel. <CIT> discloses a liftgate assembly with a rigid frame for the entire liftgate and two sub-doors hinged to an upper cross strut and a lower cross strut of the frame, respectively, for selective upward and downward opening of the respective sub-doors in addition to an opening of the entire liftgate.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a liftgate access door which allows access to the rear compartment of an SUV type vehicle without requiring opening the entire liftgate comprising the features of claim <NUM>.

According to further aspects of the present invention, dividing the rear cargo area of a passenger vehicle (SUV, Hatchbacks and Wagons, etc) into a plurality of secure areas (e.g., at least three secure areas) using the liftgate to provide controlled access to one or more of those multiple compartments.

The present invention provides liftgate access to multiple compartments. There is also provided a multi-way liftgate assembly providing a plurality of dividers dividing the rear cargo area of a passenger vehicle into a plurality of secure areas assessable from a plurality of panels forming a liftgate to provide controlled access to one or more of those compartments, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. The vehicle opperator has secure control of which portions of the cargo area his fellow vehicle occupants can place and remove cargo from.

The vehicle opporator has secure control of which portions of the cargo area his fellow vehicle occupants can place and remove cargo from.

Referring to <FIG> generally, there is illustrated a multi-way liftgate assembly shown generally at <NUM> of a vehicle <NUM>. SUV type vehicles <NUM> typically have a liftgate <NUM> which includes the entire back end of the vehicle having both an upper portion with a window and a lower portion which lift on hinges in an upward direction to reveal the entire rear end compartment. The liftgate assembly <NUM> provides at least one liftgate access door which allows access to the rear compartment of an SUV type vehicle without requiring opening the entire liftgate. The liftgate assembly <NUM> also provides access to storage solutions in the rear compartment, including sliding and/or divided features. The assembly <NUM> provides at least one divider dividing the rear cargo area of the vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. Preferably, a plurality of dividers dividing the rear cargo area of the vehicle into a plurality of secure areas accessible from a plurality of panels forming a liftgate to provide controlled access to one or more of those compartments. The vehicle opperator has secure control of which portions of the cargo area can be selecively accessed. The multi-way liftgate assembly provides multiple secure openings to the cargo area of a vehicle that typically has only one secure opening to the cargo area.

Referring more particularly to <FIG>, there is illustrated a multi-way liftgate assembly <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. There is provided the liftgate assembly <NUM> with at least one liftgate access door which allows access to the rear compartment <NUM> of the SUV type vehicle <NUM> without requiring opening the entire liftgate <NUM>.

There are a plurality of liftgate access doors that are sub-rear end compartment sized (i.e., dividing the width between lateral sides of the liftgate <NUM> or dividing the height of the liftgate <NUM> or both). A first liftgate access door <NUM> and second liftgate access door <NUM> split the width about in half (i.e., the left side door being a mirror-image to the right-side door). The actual doors <NUM>,<NUM> are each operably actuated to open/close. The first and second doors <NUM>,<NUM> are operably hinged 10a for opening to the sides of the vehicle <NUM>. Alternatively, a suitable linkage mechanism for opening to the sides of the vehicle <NUM>. Alternatively, or additionally, a suitable robust track system is provided for allowing the liftgate access doors to move out of the way of the rear end compartment <NUM>. This allows the access doors to be opened and cargo to be inserted into the storage compartment <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. The liftgate access doors <NUM>,<NUM> are openable automatically as is known to those skilled in the art or it is a manual opening door. Preferably, the liftgate access doors <NUM>,<NUM> are opened automatically, independently or simultaneously, by a remote or sensor which allows hands free operation. The remote signal is a remote control, motion sensor, touch sensor, key fob or keypad. In either manual or automatic configurations, the liftgate access doors <NUM>,<NUM> are of a smaller size and can be opened and closed rapidly with much less time and effort than the entire liftgate <NUM>.

At least one cargo tray, preferably, a plurality of cargo trays is provided to assist in loading of cargo <NUM>. A first and a second cargo tray <NUM> and <NUM> are either manually or automatically operably slid in and out of the rear end cargo compartment as illustrated in the drawings. A suitable robust extendable track system is provided for allowing the cargo trays <NUM>,<NUM> to support a cargo load <NUM> when extended (e.g., incorporating track system <NUM>/<NUM> and <NUM>/<NUM>, respectively).

Thus, in operation either or both of the doors <NUM> and/or <NUM> are opened quickly and either or both of the cargo trays <NUM> and/or <NUM> are deployed, a carry-on bag or other luggage or other cargo <NUM> is placed on either of the cargo trays <NUM>,<NUM> and then the trays <NUM>,<NUM> slides into the cargo compartment <NUM>. Thereafter the doors <NUM>,<NUM> are closed and the vehicle <NUM> is ready for transport. It is understood that the trays <NUM>,<NUM> do not always need to be extended to place the cargo <NUM> unless desired.

A third liftgate access door <NUM> is provided (e.g. less than the overall height of the liftgate <NUM>). The actual door <NUM> is operably actuated to open/close. The third liftgate access door <NUM> is operably hinged 10c, 10c for folding upward. This allows for the third liftgate access door <NUM> to be opened and cargo to be inserted into the storage compartment <NUM> or into an additional rear storage compartment <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> (e.g., at least one upper compartment). The liftgate access door <NUM> is openable automatically as is known to those skilled in the art or it is a manual opening door. Preferably, the liftgate access door <NUM> is opened automatically by a remote or sensor which allows hands free operation. The remote signal is a remote control, motion sensor, touch sensor or keypad. In either manual or automatic configurations, the liftgate access door <NUM> is of a smaller size and can be opened and closed rapidly with much less time and effort than the entire liftgate <NUM>. The additional compartment <NUM> includes no tray, however, it is contemplated that the compartment <NUM> could be adapted to house at least one slidable tray similar to previously described without departure from the scope of the present invention.

It is understood that more or less trays <NUM>,<NUM> are contemplated depending on the particular applications without departure from the scope of the present invention.

At least one divider divides the rear end storage compartment <NUM>. At least one first divider <NUM> (e.g., substantially vertical divider(s), horizontal divider(s), angled divider(s), central divider, more than one divider, any combination of dividers, etc) divides the compartment area into a first and second compartment <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., left and right compartments, side-by-side left/right, up/down, row, line, etc).

At least one second divider <NUM> (e.g., substantially horizontal divider(s), horizontal divider(s), angled divider(s), central divider, more than one divider, any combination of dividers, etc) divides the compartment area <NUM> into at least a third compartment <NUM> (e.g., at least one top compartment, at least one lower compartment, etc), according to aspects of the present invention.

The liftgate assembly <NUM> includes the at least one liftgate access without having to lift the entire liftgate <NUM>. <FIG> depicts all three liftgate access doors <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> in an exemplary fully open position allow access into the first, second and third <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> compartments. <FIG> depicts the first and second trays <NUM>,<NUM> extended out to receive cargo. <FIG> depicts exemplary access to the first compartment <NUM> when the first liftgate access door <NUM> is articulated to the side to an open position and the second door <NUM> remains closed. <FIG> depicts exemplary access to the second compartment <NUM> when the second liftgate access door <NUM> is articulated to the other side to an open position and the first door <NUM> remains closed. <FIG> depicts the third liftgate access door <NUM> opened upward to load cargo into the third compartment <NUM>. <FIG> depicts the liftgate system <NUM> in a fully closed position.

Preferably, the first and second access doors <NUM>,<NUM> are a liftgate composite material and the third access door <NUM> includes a window <NUM>. It is understood that any suitable materials are contemplated depending on the application (e.g., aluminum, plastics, glass, reinforced fiber filled material, lightweight molded material, etc and combinations thereof).

The vehicle opporator has secure control of which portions of the cargo area passengars can place and remove cargo from. The present invention gives the ability to provide multiple secure openings to the cargo area of a vehicle that typically has only one secure opening to the cargo area. By separating the exterior surface into three distinct access portions and remotely controlling access to those doors, the vehicle operator has greater control of allowing access to cargo in the rear storage areas and can even provide remote access using smart phone, smart watch technology or any other smart device, application and platform.

Preferably, the assembly <NUM> includes suitable robust hinging systems operably adapted for the two lower access doors (e.g., <NUM> and <NUM>) to be opened in dense parking situations.

Preferably, the assembly <NUM> includes at least one vertical divider (e.g., <NUM>) and, most preferably, at least one horizontal divider (e.g., <NUM>) to separate the rear end storage compartment area <NUM> of a SUV, hatchback or wagon or any other type of vehicle into at least three distinct compartments (e.g., <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>). It is understood that any other divider configuration and orientation is contemplated depending on the application (e.g., angled, zig-zag, square, rectangular, triangular, honeycomb, a plurality of vertical dividers, a plurality of horizontal dividers and any other suitable divider and combinations thereof.

The dividers are preferably plastic. It is understood that any other divider material is contemplated depending on the application (e.g., netting, mat, rubber, sailcloth, fabric, cardboard reinforced wrapped fabric panel, canvas, tote, aluminum, metal, and any other suitable divider and combinations thereof. Optionally, the dividers are removable by a user, when desired. Optionally, the dividers can be selectively reconfigured by a user, when desired.

While a <NUM>-way liftgate is shown and described, it is understood that more or less than three liftgate access doors are contemplated depending on the particular applications. The assembly <NUM> is at least a <NUM>-way liftgate. Most preferably, a <NUM>-way liftgate.

Referring to <FIG>, in accordance with aspects of the present invention there is provided the liftgate assembly indicated generally at <NUM> with at least one liftgate access door <NUM> which allows access to the rear compartment <NUM> of the SUV type vehicle <NUM> without requiring opening the entire liftgate <NUM>.

SUV type vehicles <NUM> are known which typically have a liftgate <NUM> which includes the entire back end of the vehicle having both the window portion <NUM> and a lower portion <NUM> and has edges <NUM> and <NUM> on lateral sides. The window <NUM> and lower portion <NUM> lift on hinges in an upward direction to reveal the entire rear end compartment <NUM>.

In the present invention the liftgate access door <NUM> is sub-rear end compartment sized (i.e. less than the width between gate edges <NUM> and <NUM>). Preferably, the liftgate access door <NUM> is about the size of at least a carry-on luggage bag as defined by airplane carry on standard sized luggage. As shown in the drawings the actual door <NUM> has a plurality of hinges 10b for folding upward. This allows for the liftgate access door <NUM> to be opened and carry-on luggage bag <NUM> to be inserted into the storage compartment <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. The liftgate access door <NUM> is openable automatically as is known to those skilled in the art or it is a manual opening door. Preferably, the liftgate access door <NUM> is opened automatically by a remote or sensor which allows hands free operation. The remote signal is a remote control, motion sensor, touch sensor or keypad. In either manual or automatic configurations, the liftgate access door <NUM> is of a smaller size and can be opened and closed rapidly with much less time and effort than the entire liftgate <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a cargo tray <NUM> is provided to assist in loading of cargo <NUM>. Cargo tray <NUM> either manually or automatically operably slides in and out of the cargo compartment as illustrated in the drawings. A suitable robust extendable track system is provided for allowing the cargo tray <NUM> to support a carry load <NUM> when extended (e.g., incorporating system <NUM>).

Claim 1:
A multiple-access liftgate assembly (<NUM>) for a vehicle (<NUM>), comprising:
a liftgate (<NUM>) which includes an entire back end of the vehicle (<NUM>) having both a window portion (<NUM>) and a lower portion (<NUM>) and having gate edges (<NUM>, <NUM>) on lateral sides, and
at least one liftgate access door (<NUM>) adapted to allow sub-liftgate sized access to a rear compartment (<NUM>) of the vehicle,
characterized in that the liftgate access door (<NUM>) is sub-rear end compartment sized with a width less than the width between the gate edges (<NUM>, <NUM>) and having a plurality of hinges (10b) for being folded upward, wherein the rear compartment can be accessed either by the entire liftgate (<NUM>) or by the sub-rear end compartment sized door (<NUM>) without requiring opening the entire liftgate (<NUM>).