Patent ID: 8361583

Claim:
A structural component forming a tailgate having a welded joint comprising: a first portion of a molded tailgate portion, said first portion having one or more tailgate flanges extending from said first portion and a second portion forming a reinforcement sheet placed across the one or more tailgate flanges; at least one weld line created along a surface area between the first portion and the second portion; an adhesive layer placed between each of said two or more portions at said weld line; a conductor placed between said two or more portions in operable contact with said adhesive layer at said weld line and energy is transmitted to said adhesive layer through said conductor to activate said adhesive layer and create a weld line defining said welded joint between said two or more portions along the surface area of said adhesive layer; and wherein a combined structure of the structural component including the first portion, the second portion, the one or more tailgate flanges and the weld line makes the combined structure of the structural component capable of withstanding forces equal to or greater than 2,200 lbs.