Abstract: A door operating apparatus includes a motor bracket that covers a driving shaft of a driving motor; an output shaft that is disposed from the motor bracket toward the supporting bracket so as to be orthogonal to an extending direction of the driving shaft; a first rotational element that is linked with the driving shaft, and disposed on the output shaft; a second rotational element that is linked with a door operating mechanism, and disposed between the first rotational element and the supporting bracket on the output shaft; and a clutch unit including a clutch driving section that supports a rotation of the output shaft. When the first rotational element and the second rotational element are engaged by driving of the clutch driving section, the door operating mechanism is actuated by the driving force.

Abstract: An adjusting system of a motor vehicle for the adjustment of a locking piece is disclosed. The locking piece may be arranged to close a motor vehicle opening. The adjusting system includes a first and second casing extending oblong-wise in a length-wise direction. The second casing has a smaller cross section than the first and is arranged within the first casing so as to be adjustable in the length-wise direction. Sealing elements are arranged on the casings to protect them against humidity and soiling. A pressure compensation opening is also included and is arranged to compensate for pressure between a casing interior space and a casing environment.

Abstract: Back of a motor vehicle with a rear hatch, a rear hatch opening and a device for moving the rear hatch of a motor vehicle between a closed position and an intermediate position. The device has positioning means by which the rear hatch can be moved solely by linear translation between the intermediate position and the closed position. In the intermediate position, the opening edge and the rear hatch edge as a whole have an essentially constant distance from one another. For closing the rear hatch from the open position, the rear hatch is pivoted out of the open position into the intermediate position, and afterwards, linear displacement of the rear hatch out of the intermediate position into the closed position is performed, the linear displacement taking place over a path from 1 cm to 5 cm.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a full open position of a closure member of a motor vehicle that articulates between an open position and a closed position includes a left pinch sensor coupled to the left side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the left side of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal. A right pinch sensor is coupled to the right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the right side of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal. Left and right gas springs are coupled respectively to the left and right sides of the closure member for assisting in articulating the closure member and each of the gas struts has an extension at an end thereof for compressing their corresponding pinch sensor when the closure member is at its full open position.

Abstract: This door construction for a vehicle has a door main body which includes: an inner panel on a cabin interior side; an outer panel on a cabin exterior side; and an interior decoration cover disposed on the cabin interior side of the inner panel. The interior decoration cover is joined to the outer panel through an opening formed in the inner panel.

Abstract: A guide rail assembly for moving a closure panel of a motor vehicle between an open position and a closed position includes a guide rail fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. A slide mechanism slidably engages the guide rail. A rod has one end coupled to the slide mechanism and an opposing end coupled to the closure panel to move the closure panel as the slide mechanism slides along the guide rail. A drive is fixedly secured to the guide rail for selectively driving the slide mechanism along the guide rail. A clasp is operatively secured to the slide mechanism for selectively coupling the drive to the slide mechanism such that the drive moves the slide mechanism along the guide rail to move the closure panel between the open and closed positions when the slide mechanism is coupled with the drive.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure is disclosed that includes a vehicle rear end structure, a vehicle tailgate and a lift assist device. The vehicle rear end structure includes first and second walls that extend generally perpendicular to one another. A hinge reinforcement bracket has first and second reinforcing parts. The first reinforcing part is fastened on the first wall and the second reinforcing part is fastened on the second wall. A vehicle tailgate is pivotally coupled to the hinge reinforcement bracket and the rear end structure to open and close by rotation about a tailgate pivot axis. A lift assist device is operably connected to the tailgate hinge and the vehicle rear end structure to dampen opening movement and to apply a closing torque to tailgate hinge during closing movement of the vehicle tailgate.

Abstract: A gate regulator increases the productivity of unloading agricultural material from forage boxes. The gate regulator enables a box gate to swing open without restriction, but the gate is controlled for slow swinging closed. At a gate release position, the gate regulator releases control of the gate such that it swings freely by gravity from the release position to the closed position. The freely swinging gate has enough momentum to automatically relatch the gate closed. In one embodiment, the gate regulator includes a fluid cylinder with a cylinder pin that is received in an L-shaped slot on the gate. During controlled swinging closed, the cylinder pin is within one of the slots of the L-shaped slot. At the gate release position, the junction of the two slots is at the cylinder pin, which then has room to move freely in the other slot and thereby release the slot from the cylinder pin.

Abstract: An opening and closing apparatus for an opening and closing body of a vehicle. The opening and closing apparatus includes a reciprocating member connected at its connecting portion to a motor so as to be moved to reciprocate along a plane perpendicular to a hinge shaft, the reciprocating member having a side surface parallel with the plane perpendicular to the hinge shaft. A connecting member is provided having a first end section pivotally attached to an end portion of the reciprocating member, and a second end section fixed to the opening and closing body. A deflection-suppressing device is provided to a stationary body connected to the vehicle body. A part of the side surface of the reciprocating member is slidably contacted with the deflection-suppressing device and is located between the connecting portion of the reciprocating member and the connecting member.

Abstract: A tailgate system for a dump body of a vehicle capable of operation in a plurality of modes includes a tailgate pivotally connected to side walls along an upper tailgate end for operation in a first mode and pivotally connected to one of the side walls along a tailgate side for operation in a second mode. A control assembly including a latching member, arm and handle is at least partially protected by placement within a corner post of the dump body.

Abstract: An electromechanical strut using an inline motor coupled to an inline planetary gear that are both mounted in the lower housing. The motor-gear assembly drives a worm gear and nut screw in the upper housing, extending or retracting an extensible shaft. Additionally, a power spring mounted coaxially around the worm gear provides a mechanical counterbalance to the weight of a lift gate on the shaft. As the shaft extends, the power spring uncoils, assisting the motor-gear assembly in raising the lift gate. Retracting the shaft recoils the spring, storing potential energy. Thus, a lower torque motor-gear assembly can be used, reducing the diameter of the lower housing. Preferably, the power spring can also drive the power screw to extend the strut even when the motor-gear assembly is not engaged.

Abstract: A powered lift gate for an automotive vehicle includes a lift gate door hinged to a vehicle body. A motor system which opens and closes the door is operated by a controller coupled to a primary obstacle detection system which senses operation of the motor itself, and by a secondary detection system which directly senses an object interposed between a margin of the door and the door opening panel. A pinch protection member interposed between a marginal zone of the door and the door opening panel includes a resilient element having sufficient strength to support an object positioned between the door and the door opening panel such that the primary obstacle detection system will be triggered when the door and motor develop a predetermined compressive force upon the object. The predetermined compressive force is selected to allow normal operation of the lift gate, without subjecting an obstructing object to excessive crushing force.

Abstract: A cargo container attachment for a small vehicle such as a lawn tractor is provided. The container is removably attached to the rear of the vehicle and includes a cargo box storage space with a pivotally mounted swingable tailgate. The container is designed to be used in conjunction with a lawn tractor to perform landscaping and structural maintenance tasks. Materials such as mulch, soil and plantings as well as maintenance materials can be transported in the cargo space. The tailgate can be moved between a first position where it serves to enclose the storage space and a second position where its serves as a workbench surface. Tool receiving recesses are provided in the sidewall edges of the composite container for transporting small tools such as trimmers, shovels, shears and/or rakes.

Abstract: The invention improves accuracy of engagement of a pinion and a rack with each other in an automatic opening/closing device for a vehicle. In the automatic opening/closing device for the vehicle and for automatically opening and closing an opening/closing member provided to a vehicle body, the device includes a motor for generating a driving force for driving a pinion for rotation, a sliding member having a rack engaged with the pinion, and a rail member for positioning the sliding member and for guiding the sliding member in a predetermined direction. The sliding member and the opening/closing member are connected through a connecting rod. A base member is integrally formed with a motor fixing portion and a rail fixing portion. The motor and the rail member are fixed to the base member. As a result, it is easy to improve accuracy of positioning of the pinion and the rack and to improve accuracy of engagement of the pinion and the rack with each other.

Abstract: A powered tailgate system in which a direct driven rack 44 is connected to one end of a rod 52, one end of a curved arm 54 is connected to the other end of the rod 52, the other end of the curved arm 54 is connected to a tailgate 15, an arm side slider portion 60 which curves concentrically with the curved arm 54 is provided on the curved arm 54, and a plurality of load receiving portions 87 to 90 adapted to be brought into sliding contact with the arm side slider portion 60 so as to receive a load are disposed on a vehicle body side at intervals along a traveling direction of the curved arm 54.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure is disclosed that includes a vehicle rear end structure, a vehicle tailgate and a lift assist device. The vehicle rear end structure includes first and second walls that extend generally perpendicular to one another. A hinge reinforcement bracket has first and second reinforcing parts. The first reinforcing part is fastened on the first wall and the second reinforcing part is fastened on the second wall. A vehicle tailgate is pivotally coupled to the hinge reinforcement bracket and the rear end structure to open and close by rotation about a tailgate pivot axis. A lift assist device is operably connected to the tailgate hinge and the vehicle rear end structure to dampen opening movement and to apply a closing torque to tailgate hinge during closing movement of the vehicle tailgate.

Abstract: A power tailgate apparatus of the present invention includes: a curved arm of which one end side is connected to a tailgate; a rod of which one end side is connected to another end side of the curved arm; a rectilinearly moving rack connected to another end side of the rod; a driving power source arranged at a position adjacent to the rectilinearly moving rack; a driving force transfer part which transfers a driving power of the driving power source to the rectilinearly moving rack; and a guide having a curve that is concentric with the curved arm, which guides the curved arm along the curve.

Abstract: A flap drive for a flap includes two identical lever joint arrangements which are arranged in pairs at a distance from one another. The flap can be moved out of its closing position into its opening position and back by the flap drive. In this case, the lever joint arrangements are articulated pivotably with one of their ends in each case on a side region of the flap and with their other ends at a fixed location on the motor vehicle. The mutually corresponding pivot axes of the articulation points extend coaxially to one another. Movement transmission devices for the pivotable drive of a driven lever of each lever joint arrangement are guided by a common motive drive unit, the driven levers being articulated at a fixed location on the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An opening-closing device includes a driving source, an opening-closing mechanism for opening and closing an opening-closing member provided at a vehicle body by operation of the driving source, and a clutch positioned between the driving source and the opening-closing mechanism and sifting an energization state can transmit a driving force of the driving source to the opening-closing mechanism and a non-energization state can not transmit the drive force. The clutch includes a drive portion and a driven portion. The drive portion and the driven portion contact each other by a first load which can transmit the driving force from the driving source to the opening-closing mechanism when the clutch is the energization state. The drive portion and the driven portion contact each other by a second load which can not transmits the driving force from the driving source to opening-closing mechanism when the clutch is the non-energization state.

Abstract: A vehicle door open-close device which makes it possible to achieve a reduction in numbers of parts and also make the deflection width size of a member 5 small, to thereby allow an effective use of a vehicle compartment to be aimed at, is produced, comprising a driving mechanism positioned inwardly from a door opening, an operation transfer mechanism to connect this driving mechanism and the vehicle door, the operation transfer mechanism being equipped with a slider member reciprocatingly and linearly moving by the aid of the driving means, and a link member connecting this slider member and the vehicle door, wherein the link member is rotatably connected to the slider member and the vehicle door, and the link member includes a straight portion and a curved portion outwardly and protrudingly curved away from a center of rotation of the vehicle door, and a straight portion 5b formed in substantially straight line in a connection part 8.

Abstract: An automatically opening/closing apparatus for vehicle of rack-and-pinion type is reduced in size and weight. The automatically opening/closing apparatus for vehicle is automatically opened/closed, by transmitting rotation of an electric motor to a back door through a drive power transmitting mechanism comprising a pinion and a rack. The rack is supported linearly reciprocably by a slide mechanism comprising a slide block and a guide rail. The slide block is formed to be sufficiently short to the entire length of the rack and the guide rail is accordingly formed to be short. Further, the rack is provided with a groove portion, and a holding member contacting with a holding face is disposed in the groove portion. Then, an interval between the rack and the opinion is maintained by the holding member, whereby engagement of the pinion therewith is ensured.

Abstract: A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.

Abstract: The clutch includes a drive disk, a follower disk and a brake disk. When current flows, the follower disk is connected with the drive disk to transmit a power from a driving unit to a door-opening/closing mechanism. When no current flows, the follower disk is separated from the drive disk to cut off the power transmission from the driving unit to the door-opening/closing mechanism. In a state that the drive disk and the follower disk are separated from each other, the brake disk is connected to the follower disk to brake the door-opening/closing mechanism in the opening direction of the door, and to allow the door-opening/closing mechanism to move in the closing direction of the door.

Abstract: The invention relates to an external module for equipping a motor vehicle of the type that includes components to control the locking of the closed position of a movable part, such as a tailgate, with respect to a fixed part of the vehicle structure. The external equipment module includes a sealed external body which is received in a complementary housing in the movable part in which it is mounted from the outside of the 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.

Abstract: A power liftgate drive assembly moves a liftgate of a motor vehicle between an open position and a closed position. The power liftgate assembly is aligned along the side of the motor vehicle. A liftgate rod extends in a generally vertical orientation between the power liftgate drive assembly and the liftgate. The assembly includes a base that is fixedly secured to the motor vehicle near a load floor. A guide extends upwardly from the base. The guide extends along the side of the motor vehicle and is disposed adjacent the liftgate when the liftgate is in the closed position. A liftgate carriage is connected to the guide. The liftgate carriage slides along the guide. The liftgate rod is pivotally connected between the liftgate carriage and the liftgate.

Abstract: The liftgate for a motor vehicle includes a frame member, an inner panel, and an outer panel. The frame member is a U-shaped member formed by a cross member and a pair of spaced apart legs extending from the cross member. The inner panel is connected to the legs and extends part way up the legs of the frame member. The outer panel is connected to the inner panel and is positioned opposite the legs and an inner side of the inner panel. The outer panel also extends part way up the legs of the frame member. The frame member defines a window opening with the inner panel and the outer panel. The frame member forms the entire upper portion of the liftgate.

Abstract: A gate regulator increases the productivity of unloading agricultural material from forage boxes. The gate regulator enables a box gate to swing open without restriction, but the gate is controlled for slow swinging closed. At a gate release position, the gate regulator releases control of the gate such that it swings freely by gravity from the release position to the closed position. The freely swinging gate has enough momentum to automatically relatch the gate closed. In one embodiment, the gate regulator includes a fluid cylinder with a cylinder pin that is received in an L-shaped slot on the gate. During controlled swinging closed, the cylinder pin is within one of the slots of the L-shaped slot. At the gate release position, the junction of the two slots is at the cylinder pin, which then has room to move freely in the other slot and thereby release the slot from the cylinder pin.

Abstract: A servo drive for activating a tailgate of a motor vehicle has a drive, a sun wheel driven by the drive and rotatably mounted on a first axle, and a planetary wheel rotatably mounted on a second axle. The sun wheel engages with the planetary wheel. The first and second axles have ends, are movably arranged at their ends facing away from the drive in a common web, and are spaced apart from one another by a constant distance. The planetary wheel engages in a ring gear segment which is fixedly connected to a bodywork, and an end of the web, which faces the ring gear segment, is movably connected to a connecting rod through a third axle. An end of the connecting rod facing away from the third axle is movably connected, via a fourth axle, to an output element which is connected by an end facing away from the fourth axle to the tailgate.

Abstract: A drive system for a hinged gate of a vehicle, which includes: a motor unit, a rack and pinion mechanism, a link member connected to a point of the hinged gate, and a shaft member fixed to the rack, to which the link member is rotatably connected. The motor unit includes a motor, gears, and a casing accomodating the gears. The rack and pinion mechanism includes a pinion driven by the motor unit and the rack movably supported on the casing of the motor unit. The casing has a guide casing, which extends in a longitudinal direction of the rack. The guide casing is formed to have a closed section surrounding the shaft member and is provided therein with a guide member configured for guiding the rack.

Abstract: A rear gate opening and closing apparatus includes a gas stay for biasing a rear gate in an opening direction, a motor for actuating to open or close the rear gate, a clutch for connecting or disconnecting the motor with the rear gate, an encoder for detecting the position of the rear gate, an operating switch for operating an opening and closing motion of the rear gate, and a control means for controlling the motor and clutch to automatically open and close the rear gate. The opening and closing speed of the rear gate is controlled based on a detection signal of the encoder.

Abstract: An electronic position sensor for use with a power operated vehicle accessory, such as a power liftgate. The position sensor includes an elongated resistive circuit that is mounted such that it is stationary and extends along the path of a track portion of the power operated accessory. The position sensor further includes a contact nub mounted to a link member that moves within the track portion such that the contact nub is slidingly biased against the elongated circuit. As the link member moves under the force of a motor-driven output gear, the contact nub slides along the surface of the resistive circuit, thereby affecting the overall resistance of the circuit. The position sensor uses the overall resistance to provide an electronic position signal to an ECU, wherein the signal is indicative of the absolute position of the power operated accessory.

Abstract: A tailgate for use with a vehicle having a chassis and a truck bed. The truck bed has an inside surface and an outside surface. The tailgate may include a pair of mounting blocks positioned on the outside surface of the truck bed. Each of the mounting blocks may include a protrusion. The tailgate also may have a pair of arms. Each of the arms may be positioned on a protrusion for rotation thereabout. A pair of chains may attach each of the arms to the chassis.

Abstract: A tailgate system for a dump body of a vehicle capable of operation in a plurality of modes includes a tailgate pivotally connected to side walls along an upper tailgate end for operation in a first mode and pivotally connected to one of the side walls along a tailgate side for operation in a second mode. To convert the tailgate from the first to the second mode of operation, a ball and socket are engaged forming a pivot point around which the tailgate can rotate in the second mode.

Abstract: A device for automatically actuating a vehicle door (1), in particular a side door or a tailgate of the motor vehicle, including: A control device (12) and a drive (4;4?) having a motor (5) with a gearing (6) connected downstream and at least one transmission element (8;20) located between the gearing 6 (6) and thevehicle door (1). The invention facilitates the manual actuation of an automatically actuated vehicle door (1) that is in an open position. To achieve this, a load sensor (10) is mounted on the drive (4). When a predetermined load on the open vehicle door (1) has been reached, the sensor generates a control signal, which is fed to the control device (12) for activating the motor (5), or for decoupling a coupling (18) that is located between the gearing (6) and the transmission element (8;20), the load on the open vehicle door (1) being produced e.g. by a corresponding manual pressure on the vehicle door (1).

Abstract: The liftgate for a motor vehicle includes a frame member, an inner panel, and an outer panel. The frame member is a U-shaped member formed by a cross member and a pair of spaced apart legs extending from the cross member. The inner panel is connected to the legs and extends part way up the legs of the frame member. The outer panel is connected to the inner panel and is positioned opposite the legs and an inner side of the inner panel. The outer panel also extends part way up the legs of the frame member. The frame member defines a window opening with the inner panel and the outer panel. The frame member forms the entire upper portion of the liftgate.

Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism for a cover of a vehicle opening which transmits the actuation force securely and effectively. The opening and closing mechanism for cover of a vehicle opening includes a crank gear being rotatable about a crank axis center for opening and closing the opening and closing mechanism for the cover for a vehicle opening, a slider reciprocating along a guide member, and a cover operation member one end of which is pivoted on a crank pin of the crank gear, the other end of which includes a crank arm pivoted on a slider pin of the slider, and provided between the slider and the cover for a vehicle opening and being swingably relative to the slider for cooperating the slider and the cover of a vehicle opening.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly is provided for use with a utility vehicle having a cargo area formed by first and second sidewalls and a bed floor, with a tailgate opening at a rear end of the cargo area. The tailgate assembly includes a tailgate positioned in the tailgate opening. The tailgate is pivotally connected to the sidewalls along upper and lower axes to facilitate pivotal movement about the lower axis to a lowered position extending the bed floor, and pivotal movement about the upper axis to a raised position. At least one load assist mechanism is connected to the tailgate to provide a force to assist pivotal movement to the raised position.

Abstract: An appearance of a vehicle is improved by reducing an opening formed in an interior trim for vehicle. An actuator unit is mounted in a pillar of the vehicle, and a linking rod is linked to a rack bar, which linearly reciprocates along an axial direction provided at this actuator unit. This linking rod protrudes from the pillar through the opening formed in an interior trim, and the other end thereof is linked to a back door. Moreover, this actuator unit is disposed so that a moving direction of the rack bar inclines on a vehicle-rear side by an opening/closing inclination angle &agr; with respect to a direction perpendicular to the vehicle and inclines inward in a vehicle-width direction by a width inclination angle.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a dump body is provided. The dump body has a pair of opposing sidewalls and an open rear end. The dump body is movable relative between a lowered transport position and a raised dump position. The tailgate assembly including a pair of opposing sidearms each of which is pivotally connected to a respective sidewall of the dump body and a center-rear portion supported between the sidearms. The sidearms and center-rear portion are movable between a closed position wherein the center-rear portion spans substantially between the opposing sidewalls of the dump body and encloses the open rear end of the dump body and an open position wherein the center-rear portion is positioned away from the open rear end of the dump body. Each of the sidearms includes an extended portion at an end thereof. The extended portions are curved inwardly toward each other in overlapping relation to at least a portion of the center-rear portion. The extended portions are connected to the center-rear portion.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure comprises: a side roof rail, a rear roof rail, and a rear pillar, which are disposed in the rear portion of an vehicle body, and which intersect each other at an intersecting portion; a rear door provided for optionally opening and closing a rear port of the vehicle body; an automatic opening and closing unit disposed inside the vehicle body and in the vicinity of the intersecting portion; an aperture provided in the intersecting portion; and an arm provided through the aperture for connecting the automatic opening and closing unit to the rear door. The automatic opening and closing unit is fixed to at least the side roof rail, the rear roof rail, and the rear pillar so as to pass above the aperture.

Abstract: A vehicle door apparatus includes a drive mechanism and a closure mechanism including a striker and a latch. The striker is positioned within a region where the striker is engageable with the latch when the drive mechanism drives the door in a closing direction. The latch is driven to engage with the striker and shifted to a final locked position by the closure mechanism. The vehicle door apparatus also includes a control mechanism for controlling operations of the drive mechanism and the closure mechanism, a detection mechanism for detecting the striker to be positioned within the region where the striker is engageable with the latch, and a drive force decreasing mechanism provided in the control mechanism for decreasing an output of the drive mechanism after the detecting mechanism detects that the strikes is positioned within the region where the striker is engageable with the latch.

Abstract: A rack includes a closed position teeth portion meshed with a teeth portion of an output gear when the rack is disposed at a closed position corresponding to a closed position of an opening and closing member and an opened position teeth portion meshed with the teeth portion of the output gear when the rack is disposed at an opened position corresponding to an opened position of the opening and closing member and a clearance between faces of teeth of the closed position teeth portion and the teeth portion of the output gear is made larger than a clearance between faces of teeth of the opened position teeth portion and the teeth portion of the output gear.

Abstract: The compact tailgate lifter includes a pair of lifting assemblies. A first lifting assembly is attached to one side wall of a dump box. A second lifting assembly is attached to the other side wall of the dump box. The first and second lifting assemblies are attached to opposing ends of a tailgate. Each lifting assembly includes a base, pivot arm, tailgate plate, actuation device, and a plurality of pins. The tailgate plate is removably retained within the pivoting arm. A rear of the pivoting arm is pivotally attached to a rear of the base. One end of the actuation device is pivotally attached to a rear of the base and the other end thereof is pivotally attached to a front of the pivoting arm. Extension of each actuation device will lift the tailgate.

Abstract: For pivotally connecting an upper end of a rack bar and a lower end of a connecting rod, there is employed a joint/slider unit which is slid in and along a guide slot of a rail member. The unit comprises a bolt member passing through the guide slot and including first and second sections which are respectively projected into one and the other sides with respect to the rail member. The first section is held by the upper end of the rack bar and the second section is pivotally held by the lower end of the connecting rod. A first slider is disposed on the first section of the bolt member and slidably contacts one surface of the rail member. A second slider is disposed on the second section of the bolt member and slidably contacts the other surface of the rail member. A universal joint structure is disposed between the second slider and lower end of the connecting rod to permit a pivoting of the connecting rod relative to the bolt member in universal directions.

Abstract: A tailgate for a load carrying body, such as a dump trailer, is selectively openable to various positions, including left opening, right opening, swing up and swing down. Variable opening positions maximize flexibility for the owner/operator. A left or right swing opening is enable by removeable and storable hinge pins. An up or down opening is enable by latches, which are openable and operate as hinges when closed.

Abstract: A top hinged gate assembly includes a hinge arm mounted to a gate and pivotally mounted to a first pivot structure. The first pivot structure is located above and forward of the gate. A gravity release lever is pivotally mounted to the first pivot structure and carries a second pivot structure. A variable length power actuator is mounted to the gate and to the second pivot structure.

Abstract: A pin-linked latch structure for an automobile tailgate is disclosed wherein the outside handle can be positioned up or down of latch assembly. Using a reverse-U aligned rod, the rod can be rendered upward as well as downward.

Abstract: A liftgate force control assembly (20) adjusts the force required to move a liftgate (12) that is pivotally secured to a motor vehicle (10) using a hinge (14). The liftgate force control assembly includes a track (42) that is fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. A follower (46) is movably secured to the track. A strut (34, 36) has a movable end (26, 28) and a secured end (30, 32). The secured end (30, 32) is pivotally secured to the liftgate (12) and the movable end (26, 28) is pivotally secured to the follower (46). The strut (34, 36) defines a moment with respect to the hinge that secures the liftgate to the motor vehicle. A motor (50) is connected to the follower (46) to move the follower (46) along the track (42) changing the moment of the strut such that the force required to move the liftgate (12) changes as the moment changes.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a rear body opening that is closed by an upwardly-pivoting liftgate assembly that itself defines, when in a closed position, a secondary opening whose lowermost portion achieves a height on the vehicle significantly below the vehicle's beltline. The liftgate assembly also includes a pivotally-mounted liftglass assembly for closing the secondary opening, thereby permitting limited access through the secondary opening into an interior space of the vehicle. When the liftglass assembly is in its closed position, the lowermost edge of the liftglass assembly extends downwardly on the vehicle to a height significantly lower than the vehicle beltline. A raised feature of the liftglass assembly, preferably having a color and surface finish that is coordinated with a painted body surface, defines a step that is substantially aligned with the vehicle beltline to thereby aesthetically substantially continue the vehicle beltline across the rear of the vehicle.