Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An adjustable hinge assembly for a vehicle closure is disclosed. The adjustable hinge assembly includes an adjustment pin received in a hinge pin and is adjustable to cause the closure to become flush with adjacent vehicle body structure. The adjustable hinge assembly may be employed with a deck lid of a vehicle to allow for a flushness adjustment of the deck lid relative to adjacent vehicle quarter panels.

Abstract: A hinge assembly rotatably mounts a vehicle door to a vehicle body structure. The hinge assembly has a movable hinge strap mounted to the vehicle door. A stationary hinge strap is mounted to the vehicle body structure and has a roller assembly. A hinge pin pivotally connects the hinge straps for rotatable movement of the door between an open position and a closed position. A curved detent link is carried by the movable hinge strap and has a pair of ends with each end having a hole. The detent link has a scalloped engagement edge with indentations. The indentations are engageable with the roller assembly for positioning the door in the open position and the closed position. Elastomeric fillers located in each hole connect each of the ends of the detent link to the movable hinge strap for allowing lateral movement of the detent link.

Abstract: A vehicle door has a window raised and lowered by a window regulator mechanism in which a window regulator arm is coupled to a channel by a slider mounted on the arm by a swivel and slideably engaging the channel. The slider has a first pair of spaced apart opposed side surfaces, a second pair of spaced apart opposed side surfaces, and a square surface bounded by the side surfaces and having an eccentrically located mounting means for receiving the swivel. Selecting and locating one of the pairs of side surfaces for slideable engagement with the channel, slideably vertically locates the swivel in the channel and determines a specific vertical position of the swivel in the channel. The slider rotates to another orientation relative to the channel prior to installation in the channel and then locating the slider in the channel results in a different specific vertical position of the swivel in the channel. The vertical position of the swivel adjust the closed position of the window.

Abstract: A device for slidably and pivotably connecting a window regulator arm to a door inner panel includes, a molded plastic slide channel mounted in a slot provided in the door inner panel. The slot defined by spaced apart walls of the door inner panel and extends along the path of desired movement of the window regulator arm. The molded plastic slide channel has a base adapted to engage against the door inner panel and a pair of spaced apart channel walls projecting from the base and through the slot in the door inner panel. The channel walls snap fit against the walls of the slot to retain the slide channel on the door inner panel. The spaced apart channel walls cooperate to define a guide slot therebetween. A slide member is carried by the window regulator arm and slidably engages with the guide channel to enable pivoting and sliding of the regulator arm along the door inner panel.