A torque rod-based counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a first assembly for securing the torque rod to one side of vehicle's body and supporting the tailgate to the same side of the vehicle's body, and a second assembly for supporting the other end of the tailgate to the other side of the vehic
A torque rod-based counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a first assembly for securing the torque rod to one side of vehicle's body and supporting the tailgate to the same side of the vehicle's body, and a second assembly for supporting the other end of the tailgate to the other side of the vehicle's body. The first assembly includes a body bracket with an elongated key slot that receives an elongated key of a pivot coupling having an opening for receiving a first end of the torque rod. A retainer assembly including a one-piece construction retainer block receives and secures to the tailgate a second end of the torque rod, so that it twists as the tailgate is rotated. The retainer block has the structural strength necessary to restrain without failing the torque rod as it is twisted and subjected to a torsional force in response to the rotation of the tailgate.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A retainer assembly for attaching to a tailgate, operated with a torque rod-based counterbalancing hinge assembly, one end of the torque rod, the retainer assembly comprising a retainer block including a first opening for receiving the end of the torque rod and having a const
What is claimed is: 1. A retainer assembly for attaching to a tailgate, operated with a torque rod-based counterbalancing hinge assembly, one end of the torque rod, the retainer assembly comprising a retainer block including a first opening for receiving the end of the torque rod and having a construction capable of restraining the torque rod as it is twisted and thus subjected to a torsional force in connection with the tailgate being rotated. 2. The retainer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the retainer block has a one-piece construction that provides a strength capable of restraining the torque rod as it is twisted and subjected to the torsional force. 3. The retainer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the retainer block is attached to a mounting bracket that is secured to the tailgate. 4. The retainer assembly recited in claim 1, further comprising a screw orifice in the retainer block intersecting the first opening and a screw within the screw orifice engaging the first end of the torque rod to secure the torque rod within the first opening. 5. The retainer assembly recited in claim 1, further comprising a mounting plate to which the retainer block is attached, the mounting plate being secured to the tailgate. 6. The retainer assembly recited in claim 5, wherein the mounting plate is secured to a mounting bracket that is attached to the tailgate. 7. The retainer assembly recited in claim 6, wherein the retainer block is welded to the mounting plate. 8. The retainer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the first opening has a shape that is complementary to a shape of the first end of the torque rod so that the first end of the torque rod can be inserted into the first opening. 9. The retainer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the first end of the torque rod has a faceted shape and the first opening has a faceted shape that is complementary to the faceted shape of the first end of the torque rod. 10. The retainer assembly recited in claim 1, further comprising a second opening intersecting the first opening and a screw within the second opening engaging the first end of the torque rod to secure the torque rod within the first opening. 11. The retainer assembly recited in claim 10, wherein the screw is a locking screw or a set screw. 12. The retainer assembly recited in claim 3, further comprising a second opening partially intersecting the first opening and a pin installed through the second opening to secure the retainer block to the mounting bracket. 13. The retainer assembly recited in claim 12, wherein the pin is secured with a flanged nut. 14. The retainer assembly recited in claim 12, wherein the first end of the torque rod has a faceted shape and the first opening has a faceted shape that is complementary to the faceted shape of the first end of the torque rod, and wherein the pin includes a tapered flat face that locks against the faceted end of the torque rod when torque is applied during installation so as to secure the torque rod in the retainer block. 15. The retainer assembly recited in claim 14, wherein there is an interference fit between the pin's tapered flat face and the torque rod that prevents the torque rod from sliding out of the retainer block. 16. A retainer assembly for attaching within a tailgate operated with a torque rod-based counterbalancing hinge assembly one end of the torque rod, the retainer assembly comprising: a one-piece construction retainer block, the retainer block including a first opening for receiving the end of the torque rod, a second opening in the retainer block intersecting the first opening and containing a screw or a pin engaging the first end of the torque rod to secure the torque rod within the first opening, and a mounting plate to which the retainer block is attached, the mounting plate being attached to a mounting bracket that is secured to the tailgate. 17. The retainer assembly recited in claim 16, wherein the first opening receiving the first end of the torque rod has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the first end of the torque rod. 18. The retainer assembly recited in claim 16, wherein the second opening is a screw orifice containing a locking screw or a set screw that engages the first end of the torque rod to secure the torque rod within the first opening. 19. The retainer assembly recited in claim 16, wherein the second opening partially intersects the first opening, the retainer assembly further comprising a taper pin installed through the second opening to secure the retainer block to the mounting bracket, whereby an interference fit between the taper pin and the torque rod prevents the torque rod from sliding out of the retainer block. 20. An assembly for removably mounting a tailgate between spaced apart body side panels of a vehicle body, the mounting assembly including a torque rod based counterbalancing hinge assembly and a retainer assembly for attaching to the tailgate one end of the torque rod, the mounting assembly comprising: first and second tailgate brackets secured to first and second ends of the tailgate, each of the tailgate brackets having a hinge cup thereon; first and second elongated keys for pivotally supporting the tailgate to first and second sidewalls, respectively, of the vehicle; at least one of said hinge cups including a pivot element with an elongated slot therein for receiving one of said elongated keys; an axially elongated torque rod having at least one end in engagement with one of said first and second elongated keys; and a retainer assembly for receiving an end of the torque rod and being secured to the tailgate, the retainer assembly comprising a retainer block including a first opening for receiving the end of the torque rod and having a construction capable of restraining the torque rod as it is twisted and thus subjected to a torsional force in connection with the tailgate being rotated. 21. An assembly for securing a torque rod of a tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly to a sidewall of a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a bracket secured to the sidewall, the bracket including an elongated key slot, and a pivot coupling including an elongated key for insertion into the elongated key slot, and an opening for a correspondingly shaped end of the torque rod is inserted. 22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the pivot coupling opening is faceted, and wherein the end of the torque rod inserted into the opening is correspondingly faceted. 23. The assembly of claim 21, further comprising: a mounting bracket secured to the tailgate, a bushing including a cavity for receiving the pivot coupling, the bushing further including a stem for mounting the bushing to the mounting bracket. 24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the stem is inserted within a hole in the mounting bracket, the hole having a shape complementing a shape of the stem. 25. An end assembly for supporting a tailgate operated with a torque rod-based counterbalancing hinge assembly at sidewall of a vehicle, and for securing the torque rod to the sidewall, the end assembly comprising: a body bracket secured to the sidewall, the body bracket including an elongated key slot, a pivot coupling including an elongated key, the elongated key being inserted in the elongated key slot, the pivot coupling further including a faceted opening for receiving a correspondingly faceted end of the torque rod, a mounting bracket secured to the tailgate, a hinge cup including a cavity for receiving the pivot coupling, the hinge cup including a stem inserted within a correspondingly-shaped opening within the mounting bracket for mounting the hinge cup to the mounting bracket. 26. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the body bracket is secured to the sidewall with a plurality of fasteners. 27. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the body bracket is secured to the sidewall by welding.
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