Inventors:
Steven Thiele - Marysville OH, US
Danny Cheung - Dublin OH, US
Matthew Plett - Worthington OH, US
Kenichi Kitayama - Dublin OH, US
Kurt Johansen - Powell OH, US
Joel Romig - Plain City OH, US
Assignee:
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Tokyo
International Classification:
B62D 35/00
US Classification:
296 50, 296 51, 296 571, 292DIG 29, 16366
Abstract:
A tailgate assembly is adapted to be mounted along an open edge of a vehicle's load-carrying bed for alternatively pivoting about (1) a first axis generally parallel with the open edge of the tailgate for movement between a closed position and a fold-open position and (2) a second axis generally normal relative to the first axis for movement between the closed position and a swing-open position. The tailgate assembly includes a tailgate, a dual-mode hinge assembly, a first hinge/lock assembly and a second hinge/lock assembly. The first hinge/lock assembly is selectively latched to an associated first hinge/lock striker and cooperates with the dual-mode hinge assembly to pivotally support the tailgate about a first pivot axis. The second hinge/lock assembly is selectively latched to an associated second hinge/lock striker and cooperates with the dual-mode hinge assembly to pivotally support the tailgate about a second pivot axis. One of the first and second hinge/lock assemblies is mechanically prevented from unlatching from a respective one of the first and second hinge/lock strikers when the other of the first and second hinge/lock assemblies is unlatched from the other respective one of the first and second hinge/lock strikers.