Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Erik Andersen

Wasim Ukra

Blaine C Benson

Keith O'Brien

Herbert Meingast

Joshua L Walsh

Alyssa J Flowers-Bouman

Multiple level chess board system

A system for reducing strain on a vehicle door comprises the vehicle door. The vehicle door comprises an inner panel and a division bar comprising a first portion and a second portion. The system further comprises a relief bracket configured to reduce strain on the inner panel when the vehicle door is closed. The relief bracket comprises a first portion coupled to the second portion of the division bar, a second portion coupled to the inner panel, and a relief portion extending between the first portion and the second portion.

Systems and methods for reducing strain on a vehicle door using a relief bracket

A tailgate for a vehicle having structural strength and stiffness may include an outer panel, an inner panel facing the outer panel, a top boundary extending between the outer panel to the inner panel, a bottom boundary extending between the outer panel to the inner panel, a left boundary extending between the outer panel to the inner panel, a right boundary extending between the outer panel to the inner panel, and a volume of space defined within the inner panel, bottom boundary, outer panel, top boundary, left boundary, and right boundary. A plurality of bulkheads may be disposed within the volume of space, each bulkhead of the plurality of bulkheads extending in a linear direction a complete distance between the bottom boundary and the top boundary of the inner panel in a manner providing strength and stiffness to the outer and inner panels.

Tailgate with mass and performance optimized reinforcement structure

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Erik Andersen