Rear part structure of vehicle

Abstract

A rear part structure of a vehicle is disclosed which includes a groove formed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at a junction portion of a roof panel and a side frame of the vehicle and in which a hinge is attached for a tailgate to be installed at a rear part of the vehicle. The hinge includes a hinge base member attached into the groove, a gate hinge member attached to the tailgate which is pivotally attached to the hinge base member, and a cover which is fitted in the groove to conceal the hinge base member from view.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rear part structure of a vehicle, which includes a groove formed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at a junction portion of a roof panel and a side frame of the vehicle and in which a tailgate to be installed at a rear part of the vehicle is attached by a hinge; wherein
 the hinge comprises: a hinge base member attached into the groove; and   a gate hinge member attached to the tailgate which is pivotally attached to the hinge base member.   
     
     
       2. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the gate hinge member extends along a direction where the tailgate is opened and closed. 
     
     
       3. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein the gate hinge member is attached to a side plane portion of the tailgate. 
     
     
       4. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein the gate hinge member is adjustable in at least one of the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle with respect to the tailgate. 
     
     
       5. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein an open stay for fixing the tailgate is provided in the vicinity of an attaching portion of the gate hinge member. 
     
     
       6. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge base member is covered by a hinge cover continuously extending from a roof moulding secured in the groove. 
     
     
       7. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 6 , wherein the hinge cover includes a front portion which is connected to a rear end of a roof moulding fitted in the groove, and an outer surface of the hinge cover is substantially flush with an outer surface of a rear part of the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer surface of the hinge cover has a design appearance which is continuous with that of an outer surface of a roof moulding fitted in the groove. 
     
     
       9. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the hinge cover is connected to a rear end of the roof moulding so as to allow a relative displacement of the hinge cover with respect to a longitudinal direction of the roof moulding. 
     
     
       10. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 6 , wherein the hinge cover has positioning ribs along a longitudinal direction thereof and at both ends in a width direction of an underside thereof, the positioning ribs being brought into contact with the side edge of the roof panel and the upper edge of the side frame and allowing an adjustment of a position of the hinge cover. 
     
     
       11. A rear part structure of a vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the hinge cover includes an engagement portion engaged with and secured at a cover attaching portion of the hinge base member. 
     
     
       12. A method for attaching a tailgate hinge member and a hinge cover, comprising the steps of:
 fixing a hinge base member of a tailgate hinge member on a rear end bottom portion of a groove, which extends longitudinally of a vehicle at a junction portion between a side edge of a roof panel and an upper edge of a side frame, and which opens upwards to have a channel-shaped section; 
 thereafter connecting one end of a hinge cover for covering the hinge base member to a rear end of a roof moulding fitted in the groove; and 
 engaging the other end of the hinge cover with a cover attaching portion of the hinge base member.