Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080315475 | Air Spring for Vehicle Closure - An air spring for use with a closure of a vehicle is disclosed. The air spring includes a rod and a tube axially slidable in the rod. The rod may include a housing having tube slots defining flexible arms with rod cam extensions extending therefrom. The rod cam extensions may have an extension rod cam surface that has a smaller angle than a retraction rod cam surface, with a rod peak between the two. The tube may include a tube cam extension having a tube peak with a diameter greater than the diameter of the rod peak. The tube cam extension may include an extension tube cam surface that has a smaller angle than a retraction tube cam surface. | 12-25-2008 |
20090015034 | Self-Engaging Rod Retaining Clip - A self-engaging rod retaining clip assembly for retaining a rod and a method of retaining the rod to a vehicle closure support component is disclosed. The self-engaging rod retaining clip assembly holds a rod retaining clip in a desired position on a vehicle closure support component until the rod is installed. Installing the rod includes pressing the rod against a rod pivoting flange, which causes clip retention flanges to flex outward around a clip support arm until the rod is sufficiently retained inside a rod channel in the support component. The clip retention flanges then snap towards each other to retain the clip, and hence the rod, in the support component. | 01-15-2009 |
20090108613 | VEHICLE ENDGATE COUNTERBALANCE - A vehicle having an endgate counter balance for use with an endgate of the vehicle, and a method of operating, is disclosed. The endgate counterbalance may include a hinge arm extending from the hinge, an energy storage device and a crank mechanism connected between the hinge arm and the energy storage device. The endgate counterbalance is configured to create a cross-over position for the endgate between closed and fully open where the endgate counterbalance does not exert a rotational bias on the endgate. | 04-30-2009 |
20090184533 | Vehicle Endgate Hinge Assembly - A vehicle endgate hinge assembly is disclosed. The hinge assembly has a bodyside hinge strap including a hinge support boss extending through the endgate opening shut-face and having a central hole that is coaxial with the endgate pivot axis, a mounting plate located outboard of the shut-face, and a threaded portion extending from the mounting plate through the shut-face. The hinge assembly may have a crank including a hinge key pivotally coupled to a member mounted on the endgate, a pivot shaft extending from the hinge key through the central hole, a lever arm extending from the pivot shaft normal to the endgate pivot axis, and a ball extending from the lever arm spaced from the endgate pivot axis. A nut is located inboard of the endgate opening shut-face and threadably received on the threaded portion, and an energy storage mechanism is coupled to the ball. | 07-23-2009 |
20090230722 | Extended-Travel Sliding Door with Articulating Roller Bracket - A sliding door for a vehicle has a door bracket. A track is mounted along the vehicle and extends to a remote end. A roller bracket is movable between a first position proximate the opening and a second position at the end of the track. The roller bracket includes an articulating arm retained by the roller bracket by a first pivot and pivotally retained at a second end by the door bracket. The articulating arm has a first orientation for rotationally positioning the sliding door toward the closed position and a second orientation for rotationally positioning the sliding door into the open position. Movement of the roller bearing into the second position results in the articulating arm moving from the first to the second orientation. An over-center spring mechanism may maintain the positioning of the roller bracket relative to the sliding door throughout the travel of the bracket. | 09-17-2009 |
20090271947 | Adjustable Deck Lid Hinge - An adjustable hinge assembly for a vehicle deck lid includes an adjustment pin received in a hinge pin that is adjustable to cause the deck lid to become flush with adjacent vehicle body structure. The adjustment pin includes a tool engagement feature that allows for adjustment of the hinge assembly from within the trunk. A second tool engagement feature allows for adjustment of the hinge from outside of the trunk. | 11-05-2009 |
20120019023 | RETRACTING SEAL SURFACE ENABLING INDEPENDENT ACTION OF OPPOSING HINGED VEHICLE DOORS - A seal module for sealing between a first door and a second door of opposing-hinged doors includes a base defining a channel and a retractable seal moveably disposed within the channel. The retractable seal moves between an extended position for sealing between the first door and the second door, and a retracted position spaced from one of the first door and the second door to allow independent pivotable movement of either the first door or the second door. | 01-26-2012 |
20120193938 | ARTICULATING TRIM CLOSEOUT PANEL FOR OPPOSING HINGED DOORS - A vehicle includes a pair of opposing hinged doors. The pair of opposing hinged doors includes a first door and a second door. An articulating trim panel is moveably attached to the second door, and is moveable between a deployed position and a refracted position. When in the deployed position, the articulating trim panel conceals an interior gap between a first interior trim panel of the first door and a second interior trim panel of the second door. When in the refracted position, the articulating trim panel is withdrawn from the interior gap, thereby allowing independent pivotable movement of the first door and the second door relative to each other. | 08-02-2012 |
20120205937 | CLOSEOUT PANEL FOR VEHICLE DECK LID HINGE - A vehicle has a deck lid for closing a vehicle luggage compartment. The deck lid is mounted on a hinge assembly including a hinge lever pivoted on a vehicle body and a hinge arm attached to the deck lid. A trim panel lines the luggage compartment and has an oversize aperture creating a gap through which the hinge arm travels freely without interference with the trim panel during the opening and closing movement of the deck lid. A closeout panel is mounted on the hinge assembly to travel therewith. The closeout panel is sized larger than the size of the oversize aperture and upon the deck lid reaching the open position, the closeout panel will have moved with the hinge assembly to a position closely adjacent the backside of the trim panel so that the closeout panel closes the gap and prevents an observer from seeing through the gap. | 08-16-2012 |
20120324795 | HINGE ASSEMBLY HAVING AN UP STOP DAMPING MECHANISM FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING A DECKLID OF A VEHICLE - A hinge assembly for rotatably supporting a decklid relative to a body of a vehicle includes a damping mechanism for damping movement of the decklid relative to the body. The damping mechanism includes a damping clip attached to a bracket of the hinge assembly, and a damping bumper attached to a hinge box of the hinge assembly. Movement of the bracket from a closed position into an open position brings the damping bumper into engagement with the damping clip. The damping bumper spreads and/or elastically deforms the damping clip to absorb energy and dampen the movement of the bracket and/or the decklid. | 12-27-2012 |
20130020826 | DECKLID HINGE COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY HAVING A STRAIGHT-END TORQUE ROD - A counterbalanced decklid hinge assembly for rotatably supporting a decklid relative to a vehicle includes a torque rod extending between a first hinge box and a second hinge box. A support member is rotatably supported by each of the first and second hinge boxes. A linkage system interconnects one axial end of the torque rod to one of the support members, and is attached to the axial end of the torque rod in a manner that allows for a straight axial end of the torque rod, i.e., requires no bends. A lever is attached to and rotatable with the other axial end of the torque rod, and is attached in a manner that allows for a straight axial end of the torque rod, i.e., requires no bends. | 01-24-2013 |
20130048398 | VEHICLE WITH DECKLID HOLD-OPEN ASSIST - In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a magnetic decklid hold-open system is provided for a vehicle. The system comprises a decklid for a vehicle coupled to a body of the vehicle via a hinge strap. The hinge strap facilitates the decklid moving between a closed position and an open position, and a magnetic element coupled to the hinge strap magnetically retains the decklid in the open position. | 02-28-2013 |
20130086792 | Decklid Hinge Spring Installation Mechanism - A mechanism for installing a spring in a vehicle decklid includes a bracket supported on the decklid to rotate about an axis, including a leg extending radially from the axis, a spring secured to the bracket, a stop, and an attachment engaged with the bracket for rotating the bracket about the axis and extending the spring to an installed position where a force applied by the spring to the leg forces the bracket into contact with the stop, said contact preventing rotation of the bracket in a direction that extends the spring. | 04-11-2013 |
20130087956 | Extension Spring Installation Mechanism - A spring installation mechanism includes a bracket fixed against displacement, a spring that extends along an axis and includes first and second ends, the second end being fixed against displacement, a retainer secured to the first end and including helical threads, and a screw including a shank having helical threads engaged with the threads of the retainer, axial displacement of the screw toward the retainer limited by contact with the bracket, said contact permitting rotary displacement of the screw relative to the retainer and the spring. | 04-11-2013 |
20130088021 | Vehicle Door Mechanism - A mechanism for controlling a vehicle door includes upper and lower striker pins secured to a door opening, an upper latch assembly pivotably connectable to the door, including inboard and outboard latches, and a slotted hole extending between the latches and into which the upper striker pin is fitted, and a lower latch assembly pivotably connectable to the door, including inboard and outboard latches, a second slotted hole extending between the latches and into which the lower striker pin is fitted, and a second hinge pin secured to the lower latch assembly. | 04-11-2013 |
20130252448 | CHARGE CORD LOCK FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A charge cord assembly for a vehicle having a charging receptacle for engaging the charge cord during battery recharging. The charge cord assembly includes an electric cord extending between a source of electric current and the charging receptacle; a cord end connector engaging the electric cord and having a electrical socket engaging the charging receptacle, a latch hook that selectively secures the cord end connector to the charging receptacle, a release handle, a release linkage assembly engaged between the release handle and the latch hook to release the latch hook from the charging receptacle when the release handle is actuated; and a lock assembly having a locked position that prevents the release linkage assembly from releasing the latch hook from the charging receptacle and an unlocked position that allows the release linkage assembly to release the latch hook from the charging receptacle when the release handle is actuated. | 09-26-2013 |
20130263407 | DECKLID HINGE COUNTERBALANCE SYSTEM WITH A COMBINATION TORQUE ROD AND TORQUE TUBE ASSEMBLY - A decklid hinge assembly for a vehicle includes a counterbalance torque system having a torque storing assembly. The torque storing assembly includes a torque rod having a first axial end and a second axial end, and a torque tube having a first axial end and a second axial end. The first axial end of the torque rod is attached to a linkage system in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween, the second axial end of the torque rod is attached to the second axial end of the torque tube in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween, and the first axial end of the torque tube is attached to a hinge box in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween. The torque storing assembly is pre-loaded with a moment to generate a torque for assisting movement of the support member from a closed position into an open position. | 10-10-2013 |
20130305915 | GAS STRUT ASSEMBLY WITH AN INTERNAL DETENT MODULE - A gas strut assembly includes a housing defining an interior space. A rod is coupled to the housing, and is slideably moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. A flexible member is secured in position relative to the housing. A rigid member is coupled to and moveable with the rod. The flexible member includes at least one displaceable portion that moves radially away from the central axis in response to a first radial force component of an opening force when engaged by the rigid member moving from the refracted position into the extended position. The displaceable portion moves radially away from the central axis in response to a second radial force component of a closing force when engaged by the rigid member moving from the extended position into the retracted position. The second radial force component is greater than the first radial force component. | 11-21-2013 |
20130307203 | GAS STRUT ASSEMBLY WITH AN INTERNAL DETENT MODULE - A gas strut assembly includes a housing defining an interior space. A rod is coupled to the housing, and is slideably moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. A flexible member is secured in position relative to the housing. A rigid member is coupled to and moveable with the rod. The flexible member includes at least one displaceable member that moves radially away from the central axis in response to a second radial force component of a closing force when engaged by the rigid member moving from the extended position into the retracted position. The flexible member includes a multi-layered structure that changes shape in response to a change in temperature to affect the magnitude of the second radial force component required to move the displaceable member. | 11-21-2013 |
20130318745 | DIRECT ACTING CLOCK SPRING COUNTERBALANCED HINGE ASSEMBLY - A counterbalanced hinge assembly for rotatably supporting a decklid of a vehicle includes a hinge box and a support member rotatably attached to the hinge box. A linkage system interconnects the hinge box and the support member, and includes a wind-up link rotatably attached to the hinge box for rotation about a spring axis, and a driven link interconnecting the wind-up link and the support member. A planar coil spring is coiled about the spring axis and is coupled to both the hinge box and the wind-up link. The planar coil spring applies a torque to the wind-up link to rotate the wind-up link about the spring axis to assist movement of the support member from the closed position into the open position. | 12-05-2013 |
20140290007 | DECKLID HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE - A hinge assembly includes a hinge box, and a decklid attachment bracket rotatably attached to the hinge box. The decklid attachment bracket includes a contoured surface. A compressible member is positioned for engagement with the contoured surface as the decklid attachment bracket moves between an open position and a closed position. The contoured surface defines an outer region, a recessed region, and an inner region. The outer region compresses the compressible member as the decklid attachment bracket moves between the open and closed positions to absorb energy and dampen movement of the decklid attachment bracket. The recessed region cradles the compressible member without substantially compressing the compressible member when the decklid attachment bracket is in the open position to secure the position of the decklid attachment bracket. The inner region compresses the compressible member to absorb energy, and limit movement of the decklid attachment bracket beyond the open position. | 10-02-2014 |
20140293638 | ENERGY ABSORBING HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY AND A RESETTABLE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY - An energy absorbing headlamp assembly and a resettable headlamp assembly are disclosed. The assemblies include a first component and a headlamp assembly supported by the first component. The assemblies also include an energy absorbing device operatively coupled to the headlamp assembly and the first component to absorb energy when a first force is applied to the headlamp assembly. For the energy absorbing headlamp assembly, the device includes a link and a biasing mechanism coupled to each other such that the biasing mechanism continuously applies a second force to the link to bias the link to a first position when the headlamp assembly is in an initial position and a second position when the headlamp assembly is in a displaced position. For the resettable headlamp assembly, the device allows movement of the headlamp assembly from the displaced position back to the initial position when the first force is removed. | 10-02-2014 |
20140298617 | VEHICLE AND A HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR A STORAGE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE - A vehicle and a hinge assembly for a storage compartment of the vehicle are disclosed. The assembly includes a first component adapted to be attached to the vehicle and a second component. The second component includes a first end portion coupled to the first component and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion. The second component is movable relative to the first component between a first position and a second position such that the second end portion is disposed above the first component when in the second position. The assembly further includes a link coupled to the second component and movable with the second component as the second component moves between the first and second positions. The link extends away from the second component to a distal end. The assembly includes a guard attached to the link and covering at least a portion of the distal end. | 10-09-2014 |
20140333087 | VEHICLE AND A HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR A STORAGE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE - A vehicle and a hinge assembly for a storage compartment of the vehicle are disclosed. The hinge assembly includes a first component and a second component coupled to the first component. The second component is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first component. A damper device includes a housing assembly supported by the first component and a finger attached to the second component such that the finger is movable with the second component between the first and second positions. The finger and the housing assembly are spaced from each other when the second component is in the first position, and the finger slidingly engages the housing assembly as the second component moves to the second position such that frictional engagement between the finger and the housing assembly dampens movement of the second component relative to the first component. | 11-13-2014 |