Abstract: A hatchback-type door assembly for a vehicle has a door subassembly hinged to the vehicle and a window subassembly separately hinged to the vehicle, the hinge axis of the door subassembly and the window subassembly coinciding with one another, whereby the door subassembly may be pivotally opened while the window subassembly remains closed or, alternatively, the window and door subassemblies may be opened in unison.

Abstract: A pick-up cap construction is provided which includes a novel compressible seal arrangement between the pick-up driver cab and the pick-up cap, a novel rear door construction and a novel pick-up cap holddown arrangement. The rear door construction includes a full size rear door covering the complete area from the top of the pick-up cap to the truck bed, pivoted about a horizontally extending axis disposed at the top of the pick-up cap. The pick-up cap sidewalls are attached to the pick-up truck box sidewalls by means of an extruded metal mounting rail which forms one side of a sandwich clamp construction engageable with the lower part of the cap sidewall, and which is riveted to another extruded metal profile part which serves the additional function of accommodating a mounting of a decorative profile strip to cover the connection between the cap and truck box sidewalls.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for covering and uncovering an opening in the rear of an automobile wherein the apparatus comprises a tailgate pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and covering or uncovering the lower portion of the opening and a separate flexible member detachably secured to the rear of the automobile to cover or uncover the remaining portion of the opening so that the tailgate may be moved to uncover the lower portion of the opening without moving any portion of the separate flexible member.

Abstract: An automobile rear body structure which comprises a hingedly supported rear door adapted to selectively close and open an access opening leading to a rear luggage compartment, a rear end panel partly defining the luggage compartment and extending widthwise of the body structure and a recess formed in the rear end of the floor panel at a location substantially intermediately of the width of the body structure for accommodating a wheel and tire in upright position. The rear end panel has a lower edge portion extending from a rear end of the floor panel in a direction generally perpendicular to the floor panel, and an upper edge portion bent so as to protrude in a direction towards the rear door while defining a rear lip region of the access opening. The frontwardly protruding upper edge portion of the rear end panel overhangs the wheel and tire located in the recess.

Abstract: A trapezoidal door and frame assembly and method of manufacture in which the assembly is constructed of a top horizontal frame member having the ends thereof arcuately shaped to conform with the radius of the upper corners of the cap. The ends are formed without deforming the flanges extending from the outer face of the frame member by removing, in a novel and unique method, portions of the flanges which permits cutting the ends of the frame member along a radius which matches the upper corners of the cap. This top door frame construction permits mounting the frame member closer to the top of the cap, thus providing a larger access opening and door in the rear of the cap.

Abstract: An "air bumper" which is adapted for attachment to a vehicle to serve as a bumper. The air bumper has a chamber which stores a supply of compressed air that may be used to inflate tires.

Abstract: The back of a retractable shelf is pivotally connected to a rear door or trunk lid, for example, of a hatch-back automobile. A flexible element is connected to the front of the shelf, extends through a bearing on the rear door, and is anchored to the vehicle to support the shelf in a horizontal position when the rear door is closed. The anchor point, and bearing location on the rear door are such that the bearing moves away from the anchor point as the door is opened, thus pulling the flexible element through the bearing to retract the shelf against the door, when the door is fully open.

Abstract: An automobile rear glass door has a substantially flat main body portion and is angled at each side thereof to have side portions which cooperate with adjacent outer surfaces of a vehicle body when the rear door is in the closed position to define the contour of the vehicle. A weatherstrip is disposed on the vehicle body outer surfaces so as to contact the main body portion of the door glass inboard of the transition portion between the door's side portions and the door's main body portion when the rear door is in the closed position, thereby providing a positive environmental seal therebetween and improving the fit between the rear door edge and the adjacent vehicle body section.

Abstract: A vehicle having a quick-release hinge mechanism for a closure or door for an ingress/egress opening at the body rear end to facilitate the interchange of different rear end structures without tools or special equipment to obtain optional rear end appearances and functions. When a rear door installed on the vehicle is lifted about the axis of the hinge mechanism, it rises with the assistance or one or more gas spring cylinders that when fully extended restrict the angle of door opening. In the up position, the cylinders may be disconnected from fittings located on the door. With these disconnected, the door can be lifted an additional 10 to 15 degrees allowing a cam action lock hinge mechanism to be actuated to release components of the hinge device. This permits removal of the door from the body and rapid substitution of another rear end structure or door.

Abstract: A luggage compartment cover apparatus for openably closing a luggage compartment which is formed on the rear portion of an automotive vehicle having a rear opening gradually narrowed in the upward and frontward direction. The luggage compartment cover can be opened and closed without causing interference by contacting the side edges thereof against back pillars, and can completely cover the luggage compartment. The luggage compartment cover apparatus comprises a luggage compartment cover, per se expansible at least in the lateral direction and guide means fixedly secured on the inner surface of a rear door for closing the rear opening. The rear sides of the luggage compartment cover are movably associated with the guide means so as to be expanded and contracted with respect to opening and closing of the luggage compartment cover.

Abstract: Disclosed are a roof panel and a rear fender outer panel have flange portions, respectively. The flange portions define sides of a back door receiving opening. The roof panel and the rear fender outer panel are respectively fitted with support members which are constructed and arranged to cooperate with the flange portions, a weather strip and a frame of a back door assembly to define adjacent said receiving opening a drip trough the depth of which is larger than its width. The frame of the back door assembly is constructed and arranged to have a box-like section including a bottom side and to engage the weather strip at the wall portion defining the bottom side whereby the frame is markedly reduced in width, resulting in an increased vision area of a glass panel of the back door assembly and therefore an improved visibility as well as an improved appearance.

Abstract: A spring-biased luggage panel covering the otherwise exposed luggage compartment of an automobile equipped with a rear tailgate. The panel is biased such that when the tailgate is opened, the luggage panel is automatically opened, and when the tailgate is closed, the panel is likewise automatically closed.

Abstract: A motor vehicle provided with a hatch-back door closing off a storage space, in which two blinds arranged in a common housing are provided whose axes of rotation extend in the transverse direction. The blind serving the separation of the passenger space from the storage space is adapted to be suspended in its pulled-out position within the roof area, while the free end of the blind serving to cover the stored items is fastened within the area of the hatch-back door.

Abstract: An extensible stay extending between a rear end closure and the body of the automobile. The stay is attached to the body at the end adjacent to the body through an L-shaped bracket. A bracket cover is provided to cover the L-shaped bracket so as to avoid any danger by having the bracket exposed. The appearance is also improved by the cover.