One embodiment of the invention is to so-called"split tailgate"doors.

Many automobiles are provided with a door or doors at the rear to provide access to the luggage compartment or cargo area of the vehicle. Such doors, known generally as tailgates, take a number of different forms.

A first form of tailgate is known as a hatch and consists of a single door having a glass rear screen which is hinged at its upper edge so as to open upwardly.

The door is relatively large and permits access to the vehicle cabin or passenger compartment, as well as to the luggage area.

A second form of tailgate consists of two oppositely hinged doors which open individually in the manner of conventional doors. This type of tailgate is most commonly found on cargo vehicles, such as vans, and provides improved access to the luggage area. Because they can only be provided on vehicles having a generally vertical rear end, such doors are not usually provided on passenger vehicles which often have more rounded or angled rear ends.

A third type of tailgate is known as a split tailgate. This consists of a two-piece tailgate having an upper portion which is hinged to the vehicle body at the upper edge thereof in the manner of a hatch-type door and a lower portion which is hinged at the lower edge thereof, in the manner of a conventional

pick-up tailgate. The two portions are usually independently movable and, in the closed position, sealingly engage with each other to minimise ingress of water or other fluids.

The benefits of such split tailgates are that since the upper portion can be opened whilst keeping the bottom portion closed, selective access to the luggage compartment can be achieved. For example, the closed lower portion ensures that luggage is retained in the luggage commpartment whilst the open upper portion permits access to the upper region of the luggage compartment.

Split tailgates suffer the disadvantage that the lower portion usually rotates only through approximately 90° such that, in the open position, it extends rearwardly from the vehicle, substantially level with and parallel to the floor of the luggage compartment. Whilst this potentially extends the floor area of the luggage compartment, theoretically permitting larger items to be carried in the vehicle, vehicle legislation in many territories does not permit vehicles to travel with such lower tailgates in the open position owing to the risk of luggage tumbling from the vehicle.

When open, the lower portion of a split tailgate can impede access to the luggage area as it occupies the space nearest to the luggage compartment floor and forces the user to stand away from the vehicle. Alternatively the user may have to climb onto the tailgate to reach into the luggage area-as the tailgate may not be designed to withstand the weight of a person, this can cause the hinges or other structural parts to fail.

It would be beneficial to provide a tailgate that provides the benefits of conventional split tailgates but does not suffer the disadvantages of such

devices. Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide such a tailgate and to address the problems associated with convention tailgates.

The invention may be applied to other doors and opening leaves for vehicles, and to vehicles other than automobiles.

In one aspect the invention provides a method of opening an opening leaf of a vehicle, the said leaf being initially substantially in engagement with an aperture of the vehicle, the method comprising: driving the leaf at least substantially translationally away from said engagement and then driving the leaf in rotation to a position where it at least partially exposes the aperture.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises driving the leaf in translation from said position.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises driving the leaf in translation while driving the leaf in rotation.

In a second aspect the invention provides a support structure for an opening leaf of a vehicle having a leaf support for the opening leaf, the leaf support being rotatably secured to a leaf support carrier, and the leaf support carrier being arranged to be capable of at least substantially translation movement with respect to the vehicle, and actuator means for urging the leaf support carrier in said at least substantially translational movement and for urging the leaf support in rotation with respect to the leaf support carrier.

The support structure may have a mounting device for mounting the opening leaf to the leaf support, the mounting device being arranged to permit

movement of the opening leaf with respect to the leaf support while retaining engagement therebetween.

The actuator means may be operable to move the opening leaf with respect to the leaf support.

The actuator means may be arranged to move the opening leaf with respect to the leaf support substantially in translation.

In a third aspect the invention provides a vehicle comprising an opening leaf and a support structure of the second aspect, wherein the vehicle has a portion defining a guide for movement of said leaf support carrier.

The opening leaf may have a closed position in which it substantially engages a portion of the vehicle around an aperture therein, and wherein the actuator means comprises a first drive device for urging the leaf support carrier at least substantially translationally whereby said opening leaf at least substantially translates from said closed position and a second drive device for urging the leaf support in rotation in rotation with respect to the leaf support carrier to at least partially expose the aperture.

The vehicle may have a mounting device for mounting the opening leaf to the leaf support, the mounting device being arranged to permit movement of the opening leaf with respect to the leaf support while retaining engagement therebetween, wherein the actuator means comprises a third drive device, arranged to move the opening leaf with respect to the leaf support substantially in translation.

The mounting device may be arranged to permit movement of said opening leaf to a disposition at which it does not hinder access to the aperture.

In a further aspect the invention provides an operating device for an opening leaf of a vehicle, the operating device having a support member, actuator means comprising first and second actuator devices and a carrier member, wherein the support member has a proximal first portion for engaging a portion of the opening leaf, the carrier member and the support member are configured for mutual pivotal motion therebetween, the first actuator device is for urging the support member in rotation with reference to the carrier member, the second actuator device is for being secured between a portion of the vehicle and the carrier member, and wherein the carrier member and the second actuator device are arranged in use such that in response to operation of the second actuator device the carrier member, the pivot axle and the support member are moved relative to the said portion of the vehicle.

The operating device may have a mounting device for mounting the opening leaf to the support member, the mounting device being arranged to permit movement of the opening leaf with respect to the support member while retaining engagement therebetween.

The mounting device may comprise a screw and nut arrangement wherein the screw is mounted to one of the opening leaf and the support member, and the nut is mounted to the respective other of the opening leaf and support member.

The opening leaf may have a formation for abutment by the support member during relative translation therebetween There may be provided a control device for said actuator means.

The opening leaf may comprise at least a part of a tailgate of a said vehicle.

In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a tailgate arrangement for a luggage compartment of a vehicle, the arrangement comprising a door member movable between a first, closed position and a second, open position and drive means for selectively moving the door member from the closed position to the open position, the drive means being arranged to move the door member downwardly and forwardly relative to the luggage compartment.

In one embodiment, in the second, open position, the door member is positioned substantially under the vehicle, beneath the luggage compartment thereof.

The drive means may be arranged to move the door member between the closed and open positions in a plurality of discrete movements. A first movement of the drive means may cause the door member to move rearwardly relative to the vehicle. This rearward movement may be a linear translation of the door member without rotation or pivoting movement.

A second operation of the drive means may cause the door member to rotate or pivot downwardly relative to the vehicle. In this position, the door member may be partly under a rear bumper of the vehicle.

A third operation of the drive means may cause the door member to move downwardly and forwardly relative to the luggage compartment.

In a still further aspect the invention provides a support structure for an opening leaf of a vehicle comprising means for urging the opening leaf

substantially in translation from a closed position and means for urging the opening leaf substantially in rotation towards an open position.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a vehicle having two opening leaves forming a split tailgate; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a support structure embodying the invention; Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a part of the support structure of Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates, in cross sectional view, the support structure of Figure 2 in a closed position; Figure 5 illustrates, in cross sectional view, the support structure of Figure 2 following a first operation of the drive means; Figure 6 illustrates, in cross sectional view, the support structure of Figure 2 following a second operation of the drive means; Figure 7 illustrates, in cross sectional view, the support structure of Figure 2 in a closed position, following a third operation of the drive means ; and Figure 8 shows a partial view of another support structure embodying the invention In the various figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a vehicle having a known type of tailgate is shown generally at 10. The tailgate of the vehicle consists of an upper portion 12 and a lower portion 14 which are individually and independently movable between closed and open positions thereof.

The upper portion 12 is hinged at its upper edge to the body 11 of the vehicle so as to be pivotable upwardly relative to the vehicle, towards the open position thereof, in the direction of the arrow A. The lower portion, on the other hand, is hinged to the vehicle body 11 at the lower edge thereof so as to be pivotable downwardly relative to the vehicle towards the open position thereof.

In the fully open position of the tailgate, the rear of the luggage compartment is accessible through an aperture defined in the vehicle bodywork. In the closed position of both the upper and lower tailgate portions 12,14, the luggage compartment 15 of the vehicle is fully closed, as indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 1. In this position, the upper and lower tailgate portions cooperate in mutual sealing engagement so as to prevent ingress of water or other contaminants They also seal against a portion of the vehicle surrounding the aperture for instance against a flexible sealing member running peripherally about the aperture.

In the fully open position of the tailgate, the upper portion is hinged upwardly as shown in the drawing whilst the lower portion is hinged downwardly such that it extends rearwardly of the vehicle generally parallel to the ground surface and substantially coplanar with the floor 16 of the luggage compartment 15. However, both the upper and lower portions can be moved individually and independently so as to partially open the luggage compartment 15.

In this position, access to the luggage compartment by a user is somewhat hindered owing to the position of the open lower tailgate portion 14. The user should not attempt to stand, sit or kneel on the lower tailgate portion since it may not be capable of withstanding the weight.

It may be difficult for the user to reach objects near the front of the luggage compartment, or to manipulate heavy objects into or out of the luggage compartment as he is forced to stretch over the extended lower portion.

Referring next to Figure 2, a support structure 20 for a lower tailgate portion of a split tailgate is shown. It will be understood, however, that the tailgate may also include an upper tailgate portion of the type shown in, and described with reference to, Figure 1. In some vehicles, for example pickup trucks only a lower tailgate portion is required. Since the upper and lower portions are individually and independently movable, the presence of an upper tailgate portion does not materially affect the movement of the lower tailgate portion and consequently, the upper tailgate portion is not described in detail herein. It will of course be understood that the features of the described embodiment could also be applied to an upper tailgate portion, and to other opening leaves of a vehicle. The support structure 20 has a longitudinal axis 2-2' (shown in Figure 3) which is at least approximately horizontal when the support structure is incorporated into a motor vehicle to operate a tailgate. For the remainder of this description the terms"horizontal", "vertical""upper"and"lower"will be used to discuss embodiments when used in a vehicle to operate a generally vertical tailgate, and for ease of explanation. The terms are however purely illustrative and are not to be taken as limiting.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the lower tailgate of this embodiment is in the form of a door member 22. The door member 22 is provided with first and second slide rails 23a, 23b fixedly mounted to the inside surface of the door member 22 such that when the device is installed in a vehicle the rails are disposed in a generally vertical orientation. A bearing member 24 engages with the rails so that it is moveable relative to the door member 22. In the present

embodiment this movement is a sliding movement but rollers or other bearings could be provided.

The bearing member 24 has extending through it in a direction substantially parallel to the slide rails 23a, 23b a bore (not shown) having an internal thread. A threaded bar 27 extends through the bore, in threaded engagement with the internal thread of the bore, again substantially parallel to the slide rails 23a, 23b, and is connected at its upper end to an electric motor 28. The motor is secured to the inside surface of the door member 22 and is arranged to drivingly rotate the threaded bar 27. Rotation of the threaded bar in this manner causes relative movement between the bearing member 24 and the slide rails 23a, 23b. The purpose of this arrangement is described below.

In this embodiment the bearing member 24 is fixedly mounted to one end of a tongue 26 at a proximal end of the tongue 26. In other embodiments the bearing member 24 is integrally formed with the tongue 26. In this embodiment the tongue is of metal and consists of a strip of generally uniform cross section.

The tongue 26 has first-fourth portions 26a-26d. The first portion 26a is generally straight and is disposed generally perpendicular to the plane of the door 22 and parallel to the axis 2-2'of the support structure 20, extending at a distal region thereof into a proximal region of the second portion which is also generally straight but which forms an obtuse angle to the first portion 26a. The second portion 26b has a distal region where it extends into a proximal region of the third portion 26c, which is substantially parallel to the first portion, but laterally offset therefrom. The third portion has a distal region which extends into a proximal region of the fourth portion 26d. The fourth portion returns at an obtuse angle to the third portion 26c, so that the second through fourth portions 26b-26d define an inverted"U"shape. At a distal end of the fourth portion 26d, the fourth portion has a pivotal connection 31 to a lower region of

a carrier member 30. The pivotal connection 31 is arranged orthogonally to the axis 2-2', and in use is also disposed substantially horizontally.

The carrier member 30 has opposing parallel planar faces 42,43 shown as upper 42 and lower 43 in the drawings, and opposing side walls 44 which are generally irregular in shape. The upper and lower faces 42,43 engage respective mutually parallel arms 34a, 34b of a support member 34. The arms are parallel to the axis 2-2'and are arranged so as to allow sliding of the carrier member 30 in a translational fashion, as will be later described herein.

In an upper region (as shown in the drawings) of the carrier member 30 there is supported a cylinder of a first hydraulic actuator 32 having its actuator arm 32a extending from the carrier member and engaging the fourth portion 26d of the tongue 26. The engagement is via a slot in the fourth member 26d in this embodiment but other connections will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Another connection is shown in Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 7, in that a flange 50 extends from a side of the tongue. Pivoting movement of the tongue 26 is effected by the first hydraulic actuator 32. The first hydraulic actuator arm 32a is selectively movable between a first non-extended position and a second extended position. Movement of the actuator arm to the extended position causes the tongue 26 to rotate or pivot about the pivotal connection 31. This rotation or pivoting movement of the tongue transfers to the bearing member 24 and hence to the door member 22. Movement back to the retracted position causes the tongue 26 and hence the door member 22 to return to its initial position.

The carrier member 30 also has a connection 45 in its lower region for an arm 36a of a second hydraulic actuator. The cylinder 36 of the second actuator is

secured to the support member 34 and arranged so that the arm 36a is disposed substantially parallel to the axis 2-2'.

With the second hydraulic actuator 36 retracted the carrier member 30 is disposed to partially overlie the cylinder of the second hydraulic actuator 36, and the tongue 26 and hence the door member 22 are disposed in their closest position to the support member 34. The support member 34 is rigidly mounted within the vehicle so that in this retracted position of the second hydraulic actuator 36 the door member 22 sealingly abuts the vehicle body so as to close the lower part of the opening of the luggage compartment.

As the second hydraulic actuator 36 extends, the carrier member 30 is urged translationally away from it to an extended position. The carrier member 30 carries the tongue 26 and hence the door member 22 in this translational movement.

Operation of the arrangement of Figures 2 and 3 will now be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7. Figures 4 to 7 are side views of the arrangement which do not illustrate some of the elements shown in Figure 2 and described above. It is suggested that the reader refer also to Figure 2 in order to fully understand the following description. Figures 4 to 7 also show, in outline, part of the body of the vehicle (specifically the wheel arch 40, the rear bumper 52 and the portion 54 around the lower part of the luggage compartment) enabling the positions of the carrier 30 and the door member 22 relative to the vehicle to be seen.

Initially, the door member 22 is in the fully closed position. In this position, shown in Figure 3, both the first and second hydraulic actuators are in their non-extended states and the carrier member 30 is retracted within the support member 34. In addition, the bearing member 24 is at its lowest position on the

threaded bar 27 and slide rails 23a, 23b, so that the door member 22 is at its highest position.

To open the door member 22, the vehicle user operates by suitable means, e. g. an appropriate button, a control unit (not shown) for the hydraulic actuators 32, 36 and the electric motor 28.

In this embodiment, the control unit firstly activates the second hydraulic actuator 36 which drives the carrier member 30 outwardly of the support member 34. The movement of the carrier member 30 is a substantially linear translation, in the direction of the arrow D, with no pivoting or rotational movement thereof. The rearward movement of the carrier member 30 pushes the door member 22 out of sealing engagement with the vehicle body 54 surrounding the luggage compartment 15, as is seen in Figure 5.

After the operation of the second hydraulic actuator to a position of full extension shown in Figure 5, the control unit then activates the first hydraulic actuator 32. The arm 32a of the first hydraulic actuator 32 drives to its extended position which causes the tongue 26 to rotate clockwise, in the orientation shown in the drawings, about pivot 31 relative to the carrier 30 and the support member 34. The rotation of the tongue 26 carries the door 22 with it in rotation. The door member 22 thus rotates downwardly relative to the vehicle to the position shown in Figure 6 in which a lower region thereof is located under the rear bumper 52 of the vehicle.

Finally, the control unit activates the motor 28 which drivingly rotates the threaded bar 27 to move door member 22 relative to the bearing member 24.

The movement is linear with no rotation or pivoting of the door portion 22.

However, owing to the inclination of the door member resulting from the

downwardly-rotated position of the tongue 26, the door member 22 moves downwards and forwards relative to the vehicle, in the direction of the arrow Y (Figure 7). The final position of the door member 22 is thus under the vehicle, substantially beneath the luggage compartment.

There are thus three movements necessary to move the door member 22 from the closed position to the open position-a linear movement of the carrier 30 in the direction of the arrow D, (Figures 4 and 5) pivoting movement of the tongue 26 in the direction of the arrow E (Figure 6) and then linear movement of the door member relative to the bearing member and the tongue in the direction of the arrow Y (Figure 7). Whilst the three movements are described as being discrete, it will be appreciated firstly that the second and third movements may occur simultaneously, and secondly that it is not always necessary for one movement to be completed before the next starts The closing of the door member 22 is carried out in reverse sequence by the control unit-i. e. translation of the door member 22 with respect to the bearing member 24, followed by rotation using the first actuator 32 and finally retraction into a sealing disposition by the second actuator 36.

In the described embodiment three discrete actuators/drive devices are provided. It will be understood that this is not essential to the invention which may have fewer or more actuators/drive devices. Referring to figure 8, in one alternative embodiment, the translation of a carrier member 130 under the influence of a hydraulic actuator 136 from a retracted position towards an extended position causes an upper surface of a tongue 126 to engage a fixed upper guide 127 in a camming fashion. The tongue 126 is secured to the carrier member 130 via a pivot 131. The portion of the tongue which is engaged by the upper guide 127 is inclined and hence this engagement causes the tongue to be

urged downwardly in rotation about the pivot 131. A second lower fixed guide 129 is provided to engage a lower surface of the tongue 126 so that retraction of the actuator 136 causes the tongue to be urged upwardly in rotation about the pivot.

In another embodiment, the final translation of the door member in the opening sense is carried out manually. A lock may be provided so that no such translation can be carried out until the door member 22 is fully rotated, and so that no rotation to close the door can take place until it has been man handled into the correct position.

Various embodiments of the invention have now been described. It will be understood however that the invention is not limited to the described features but instead extends to the full scope of the appended claims.