Patent ID: 7552958

Claim:
A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism comprising: a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions; a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate; a drive lever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said tailgate lever arm and pivotally connected at an opposite end thereof to a bell crank, said bell crank pivotally anchored at one end thereof to a vehicle body; and a plunger damper anchored to the vehicle body, said plunger damper having a plunger located at a distance away from said bell crank, wherein rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates said tailgate lever arm to impart movement to said drive lever and said bell crank, said bell crank thereby rotating to contact and actuate the plunger of said plunger damper to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate.