Hinge assembly for powered tailgate
An assembly may include a drive rod projecting from a powered tailgate. The assembly may also include a drive rod support mounted to a vehicle body structure. Further, an outer surface of the drive rod may be configured to mate with an inner surface of the drive rod support in a manner that will not result in rotational motion being transferred between the drive rod and the drive rod support.
1 . An assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a drive rod projecting from a powered tailgate; and
a drive rod support mounted to a body structure of the motor vehicle, wherein an outer surface of the drive rod is configured to mate with an inner surface of the drive rod support in a manner that will not result in rotational motion being transferred between the drive rod and the drive rod support, and wherein the body structure is adjacent to the powered tailgate; and
a lock assembly configurable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, wherein, when the lock assembly is in the locked condition, the lock assembly is configured to connect the drive rod and the drive rod support such that relative rotation between the drive rod and the drive rod support is prevented, wherein the lock assembly includes a fastener configured to connect the drive rod and the drive rod support, wherein, when the lock assembly is in the locked condition, the fastener passes through a slot in the drive rod and a through-opening in the drive rod support, wherein the lock assembly includes a collar, wherein the collar includes an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer surface of the collar is configured to interface with a head of the fastener, wherein the collar includes a flat extending between the outer surface of the collar and the inner surface of the collar, wherein the drive rod support includes a flat, and wherein, when the lock assembly is in the locked condition, the flat of the collar lies in a plane substantially parallel to the flat of the drive rod support.
2 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the drive rod is configured to mate with the inner surface of the drive rod support such that the drive rod is rotatable relative to the drive rod support.
3 . The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
the outer surface of the drive rod is substantially circular-shaped in cross-section, and
the inner surface of the drive rod support defines a recess exhibiting a shape substantially corresponding to the outer surface of the drive rod.
4 . The assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the shape of the inner surface of the drive rod support is substantially semi-circular in cross-section.
5 . The assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the inner surface of the drive rod support is configured to support the drive rod such that the drive rod and the powered tailgate can rotate relative to the drive rod support as the powered tailgate moves between an open position and a closed position.
6 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein, when the lock assembly is in the locked condition, activation of a drive unit within the powered tailgate results in rotation of the powered tailgate relative to the body structure.
7 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein, when the lock assembly is in the unlocked condition, the drive rod is rotatable relative to the drive rod support.
8 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the collar includes a through-opening configured to align with the slot of the drive rod and the through-opening of the drive rod support.
9 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the powered tailgate includes a drive unit,
the drive rod projects from the drive unit,
the drive rod support is rigidly coupled to the body structure such that the drive rod support is prevented from rotating relative to the body structure, and
the powered tailgate is moveable between an open position and a closed position by rotation about a longitudinal axis of the drive rod.
10 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body structure is a structure of the motor vehicle other than the powered tailgate.
11 . The assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein the body structure is a pillar of the motor vehicle.
12 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein, when the lock assembly is in the locked condition, the flat of the collar is in direct contact with the flat of the drive rod support.