Abstract: A sliding door in a van is mounted on tracks for sliding movement between open and closed positions. At the closed position a weather strip is compressed and a door latch is latched. A cable is attached to the door and routed through the vehicle body via pulleys so that pulling the first cable end opens the door and pulling the second cable end closes the door. A motorized drive mechanism includes first and second reels mounted concentrically and having the cable ends wrapped respectively about the reels in opposite directions. A motor drives in one direction rotating the first reel to open the door and is reversible to rotate the second reel to close the door.

Abstract: A sliding door in a van is mounted on tracks for sliding movement between open and closed positions. At the closed position a weather strip is compressed and a door latch is latched. A cable is attached to the door and routed through the vehicle body via pulleys so that pulling the first cable end opens the door and pulling the second cable end closes the door. A motorized drive mechanism includes first and second reels mounted concentrically and having the cable ends wrapped respectively about the reels in opposite directions. A motor drives in one direction rotating the first reel to open the door and is reversible to rotate the second reel to close the door.

Abstract: A deck lid release actuator in which a uni-directional motor is mounted on a housing and rotatably drives a screw having high lead threads. The screw is rotatably journaled in a housing and a saddle nut threadedly engages the high lead threads of the screw so that rotation of the screw drives the saddle nut along the screw. An actuator member operably engages the detent lever of the deck lid latch and is mounted on the housing by a slide track extending parallel with the screw. When energization of the motor turns the screw, the saddle nut abuts against the actuator member to move the actuator member along the slide track and unlatch the deck lid latch. A spring acts on the actuator member to return the actuator member along the slide track thereby pushing the saddle nut axially along the screw as permitted by rotary back-drive of the screw and motor by the effort of the spring.

Abstract: An actuating means for a vehicle body closure latch includes a driver or passenger controlled electric motor driving a reciprocable rack through a gear train. The rack is resiliently biased to a neutral position and shifts an actuator from neutral to an operating position when the rack is moved from the neutral position to a driving position. The actuator is engageable with a latch operator to control movement of the latch bolt to unlatched position when the actuator moves to an operating position. When the actuator reaches the operating position, the actuator is positively stopped to stall the motor or power operator. When the power is removed from the stalled motor or power operator by the driver or passenger releasing a switch, the bias of the resilient centering means returns the rack to its initial neutral or starting position and back drives the motor through the gear train.

Abstract: Mechanism for pulling an opened compartment panel closed and engaging a latch with a striker includes a slide member mounted on the body for horizontal reciprocating movement and having a cam slot which receives a cam follower carried by the striker so that horizontal reciprocating movement of the slide member vertically reciprocates the striker. The cam slot includes an inclined cam surface effective to provide the vertical reciprocation of the striker. The cam slot also includes a horizontal dwell surface at the end of the inclined surface to define the retracted position of the striker in which the compartment panel is closed so that the load imposed on the compartment lid in the direction to pry open the compartment panel is prevented from urging the slide member in a direction which would permit the striker to extend.

Abstract: A venting arrangement for an automotive vehicle is provided in which its rear closure is automatically raised to a slightly open position in response to opening a door of the vehicle so that upon closing the door, entrapped air in the vehicle can escape through the rear to reduce door closing effort. The arrangement includes a latch and pull down mechanism for the rear closure of the vehicle to move the same between a partially open and a closed position and a control means including door jamb switches for energizing the pull down unit to raise the rear closure to its partially open position in response to opening movement of the door and to return the same to its fully closed position in response to closing of the door.

Abstract: A releasable connection device for connecting a motor driven drive cable to a closure includes a pin attached to the closure and having a head supported by a necked down stem. A cylindrical housing member has an opening in a lateral wall thereof which receives the pin. A slide member is attached to the drive cable and is reciprocably carried by the housing member. The slide member has an open ended slot smaller than the head of the pin and receiving the necked down stem. A spring acts between the housing member and the slide member to urge the members to relative positions in which the head of the pin is captured to effect a connection between the drive cable and the closure. The spring yields upon imposition of force to permit energy absorbing limited relative movement between the members and yields further to permit withdrawal of the open ended slot of the slide member beyond the head of the pin so that the pin is released from the housing member.

Abstract: A control for a motorized deck lid pull down mechanism which does not require the use of mechanically activated limit switches for detecting deck lid positions or the presence of closing or sealing obstructions. Detection of specified pull down conditions as well as the presence of deck lid obstructions is achieved by monitoring the magnitude of motor current in relation to various predefined motor current thresholds. Engagement of the deck lid with obstructions during the pull down sequence will cause the motor current to exceed the closing and sealing thresholds, terminating or reversing the respective function.

Abstract: Each vehicle door in which a retractor is mounted includes a jamb switch mounted in the door jamb for sensing actual opening of the door, and a lock switch mounted in the door lock assembly for sensing actuation of the interior or exterior door handles. When door opening or closure is indicated, locking of the retractors is inhibited for a predetermined interval. Logical agreement between the lock and jamb switches is required to maintain the inhibit beyond the predetermined interval while the door is open. If agreement is not achieved within the interval, a switch failure is presumed, and the inhibit is removed to permit normal locking of the retractors. If such agreement is achieved, the inhibit is maintained until closure of the door, and thereafter for another predetermined interval. If the switches fail to remain in agreement after closure of the door, further operation of the inhibit on subsequent opening of the door is disabled.

Abstract: A vehicle body compartment is selectively closed by a spring loaded closure panel movable between an open position and a closed position. A latch assembly is mounted on the panel and has a latch bolt spring biased to an unlatched position and normally maintained in the latched position by a key releasable detent lever. A pull down mechanism includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body and a striker mounted thereon by a motorized vertically reciprocating drive unit for moving the striker between extended position and a retracted position. When the panel is moved toward the closed position, the latch bolt engaes with the extended striker to interconnect the panel with the striker. The drive unit is energized and retracts the striker, thereby pulling the panel to its fully closed position. A cam acts between the detent lever of the latch assembly and the housing of the pull down mechanism.

Abstract: A control means for a restraint belt retractor includes a latch bolt sensor directly actuating the disabling means of the retractor and movable between actuated and unactuated positions. The sensor is normally located in unactuated position in the path of movement of the latch bolt when the latch bolt is in latched position. As the latch bolt moves to unlatched position it engages the sensor and moves it to actuated position. The sensor is connected to an operating lever of the door latch through a lost motion connection. This connection provides an operative connection to the operating lever when the sensor is in the unactuated position and provides a free wheeling connection when the sensor is in an actuated position. This permits the inside and outside operators, which operate the operating lever, to be released and to free wheel relative to the sensor when the sensor is in actuated position.

Abstract: A passive restraint belt system includes a shoulder belt having an outboard end mounted on the upper rear corner of the door and an inboard end retractably mounted on the body inboard the occupant seat. The retractor winds the belt to a diagonal restraining position across the occupant upper torso when the door is closed and permits outward and forward movement of the shoulder belt with the door to permit occupant ingress and regress when the door is opened. A tether belt has a first end attached to the shoulder belt intermediate the inboard and outboard ends and a second end connected to the door in vertically spaced relation from the outboard shoulder belt end. The length of the tether belt is adjustable by the occupant to deflect the diagonal path of the shoulder belt to fit the size of the particular occupant. The tether belt may be connected to the door by a reel which is rotatable to adjust the length of the tether belt.

Abstract: A three-point passive seat belt system includes a continuous-loop restraint belt having upper and lower ends attached to the door. A control belt has its outboard end attached to a junction ring which encircles the continuous-loop belt to define lap belt and shoulder belt portions. The inboard end of the control belt is mounted inboard the seat by a retractor reel which winds the control belt. When the door is closed the retractor winds the control belt to establish the lap and shoulder belt portions respectively across the lower and upper torso of the occupant. The outboard end of the lap belt portion is attached to the door by a resilient anchor strap forward of the MVSS 210 specified mounting location.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a shoulder belt having the outboard end mounted on body above the door opening by a shoulder belt retractor and a lap belt having an outboard end mounted on the lower rear corner of the door by a lap belt retractor. The inboard ends of the lap and shoulder belts are joined to the outboard end of the control belt whose other end is mounted inboard the seat by a control belt retractor having a winding effort greater than the lap and shoulder belt retractors to draw the lap and shoulder belts inboard to restraining positions about the occupant. A carriage movable along a track extending above the door opening slidably engages the shoulder belt and has a normal rearward position adjacent the shoulder belt retractor to establish the shoulder belt in a diagonal restraining position.

Abstract: A vehicle body compartment is selectively closed by a spring loaded closure panel movable between an open position and a closed position. A latch assembly is mounted on the panel and has a latch bolt spring biased to an unlatched position and normally maintained in the latched position by a key releasable detent lever. A pull down mechanism includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body and a striker mounted thereon by a motorized vertically reciprocating drive unit for moving the striker between extended position and a retracted position. When the panel is moved toward the closed position, the latch bolt engaes with the extended striker to interconnect the panel with the striker. The drive unit is energized and retracts the striker, thereby pulling the panel to its fully closed position. A cam acts between the detent lever of the latch assembly and the housing of the pull down mechanism.