Patent ID: 7287799

Claim:
A device for dampening the movement of a tailgate operated with a torque rod based lift assist assembly, the device comprising: a bushing secured to the tailgate; a pivot body inserted into and supporting the bushing, a first end of the torque rod being secured to the pivot body, a plurality of slits in a wall of the pivot body, the slits circumscribing a split part of the wall that deflects when torque is applied to the pivot body by a twisting of the torque rod in response to a rotation of the tailgate, a second end of the torque rod being secured to the tailgate, the split wall part deflecting outwardly and creating friction between the split wall part and the bushing as the torque rod is twisted in response to the tailgate being opened, whereby as the torque rod is twisted further due to the tailgate being opened further, the outward deflection of the split wall part increases, thereby creating greater friction between the split wall part and the bushing, resulting in a progressively increasing braking or dampening effect, which slows a free fall of the tailgate as it is opened.