Door Extending Across Front Or Rear Of Body Patents (Class 296/146.8)
  • Patent number: 8132846
    Abstract: A slide hatch assembly for selectively closing a rear cargo opening on a vehicle includes a hatch frame slidably mounted to a vehicle body of the vehicle. The hatch assembly further includes at least one front rail mounted to the vehicle body and at least one rear rail mounted to the vehicle body. At least one front roller assembly slidably connects the hatch frame to the at least one front rail and at least one rear roller assembly slidably connects the hatch frame to the at least one rear rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Michael A Schrader, Matthew Weyand Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8123277
    Abstract: A pivotable tailgate for a motor vehicle includes pivot arms disposed as one piece on the tailgate body at a distance from one another. At an upper end of each pivot arm, a respective hinge arm is provided, each of which is mounted in a roof section of the body so that there is sealing between an upper tailgate section, a tailgate body, and a tailgate opening via a single encircling seal disposed at the tailgate opening, without additional sealing of the respective pivot arms being required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nicholas Aldersley, Michael Rodewald, Achim Dockweiler
  • Publication number: 20120032473
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a tailgate, a panoramic roof assembly and a dual-action rear hatch. The panoramic roof assembly has a plurality of positions including a closed position and a raised position. The dual-action rear hatch has a sliding mode wherein the hatch is movable from a closed position to a slide forward position wherein the rear hatch is received under the roof assembly when in the raised position, and has a flip-open position wherein the rear hatch is flipped-open while in a slide closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Michael A. Schrader, Matthew Weyand Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20120032472
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a hatch frame slidably mounted thereto. A hatch closure is pivotally mounted to the hatch frame. The hatch frame is slidably movable between a slide closed position and a slide open position and the hatch closure is pivotally movable between a pivot closed position and a pivot open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Michael A. Schrader, Matthew Weyand Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8104825
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a bracket for mounting to an interior of a vehicle, the bracket defining a protrusion portion to engage with one end of a bumper cover and an elastic clip coupled to the bracket, wherein the elastic clip is adapted to contact the bumper cover of the vehicle. A finger protection assembly for a vehicle is provided wherein the assembly includes a bracket for mounting to an interior of a vehicle, the bracket defining a protrusion portion to engage with one end of a bumper cover and an elastic clip coupled to the bracket, the clip adapted to contact the bumper cover of the vehicle, wherein the elastic clip is capable of deforming to prevent injury to the finger inserted between a rear door and the bumper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Edward Stadtherr
  • Patent number: 8083282
    Abstract: Described is an emergency door of a vehicle. An interior of the door and side part of front face of leading car are connected pivotally by an upper arm, lower arm, and first link bar so that a parallel linkage is composed, thereby enabling horizontal movement of the door. A stopper mechanism is composed such that an end of a second link bar is connecting pivotally to the first link bar, the bracket having an oblong hole is attached to a frame of a carbody, a pin fixed to the other end of the second link bar is received in the oblong hole, and the door can be stopped at its full open position when the pin contacts an end of the oblong hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokumitu Tomada, Masahiro Inui, Masaya Nishino
  • Publication number: 20110285522
    Abstract: A door locking system is provided for a motor vehicle. The door locking system includes, but is not limited to a mechanical door opening safety catch and a warning unit configured to generate a first warning signal that is exclusively suppressed by a manual activation of the mechanical door opening safety catch. A motor vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a vehicle body, a rear vehicle door that is linked on the vehicle body and facing away from a vehicle travel direction, the rear vehicle door configured to pivot, a door opening safety catch configured to be mechanically activate upon the pivot of the rear vehicle door, and a warning unit configured to generate a first warning signal that is exclusively suppressed by the mechanical activation of the door opening safety catch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Peter Eduard SCHUESSLER, Andreas HEBERER, Mario TASSOTTO, Oliver ROETTEL, Joachim SCHUBERTH
  • Patent number: 8061753
    Abstract: An entry assembly includes a frame and a gate. The frame has a first side and a second side. The gate is connected to the frame. The gate defines a demarcation between the first side and the second side of the frame. The gate is pivotable about the frame along at least two axes of rotation. Each axis of rotation intersects at least one of the at least two axes of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kosta Papanikolaou, Charles Gregory Bambenek, Fritz Cory, Jason Falenski, Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott
  • Patent number: 8056183
    Abstract: A multiple position ball stud assembly for a closure strut supporting a closure pivotally attached adjacent to an opening, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The ball stud assembly may comprise a ball stud and a ball stud actuator. The ball stud may have a socket portion mounted on a closure lift assist strut and a guide pin extending from the socket portion. The ball stud actuator assembly may include a housing, a guide for receiving the guide pin, and an actuator for moving the guide pin along the guide to thereby cause the ball stud to move relative to the housing. The multiple position ball stud assembly may also include a control assembly that engages the actuator for selectively causing the actuator to move the guide pin along the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James H. Shoemaker, Mark W. Ruesink, Hitesh R. Desai, Andrew G. Fox, Scott W. Thorpe, Paul R. Meernik
  • Publication number: 20110272954
    Abstract: This rear-end element (2) for motor vehicle includes a carrier structural element (6) forming an energy-absorbing element after impact, and a carrier structural frame (8). At least the carrier structural element (6) has a cellular structure formed of cells (30, 32) extending longitudinally through the carrier structural element (6) between a back face and a front face of the carrier structural element (6) and opening onto the back and/or front face of the carrier structural element (6). A rear end (44) which includes the rear-end element (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: FAURECIA BLOC AVANT
    Inventor: Vincent Gonin
  • Patent number: 8016345
    Abstract: An operator cab for a skid steer vehicle is equipped with an inwardly folding front access door that can be locked in either a fully closed position or a fully open position. A pair of over-centered cylinders assists with closing and opening of the front access door. A lever, located in the operator cab, may be used to unlock the door from either its fully open position or its fully closed position. The skid steer vehicle may be operated effectively when the front access door is locked in the fully open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Gehl Company
    Inventors: Aaron Goddard, Marvin Joray, Robert Claas, Curtiss M. Lee, Anthony Saiia
  • Patent number: 8006817
    Abstract: A power drive assembly for a rear lift gate assembly of a vehicle includes a screw drive having a screw member and a clutch supported by the screw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hanna, Michael A. Slumba
  • Patent number: 7993070
    Abstract: A coupling member for pivotally coupling an end of a device to a mounting ball includes a body connectable to an end of the device and defines a socket for receiving a mounting ball. The body further includes slots communicating with the socket. A sliding element arranged in a longitudinal groove of the body is movable from a first position to a second position. A C-shaped spring has two ends and a center section, the ends being received through the slots and projecting into the socket for holding the mounting ball in the socket. The sliding element interacts with the center section of the spring when the sliding element is moved to the second position so that the ends of the spring are drawn out from the socket to release the mounting ball from the socket, whereby the mounting ball is releasable from the socket without external tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: James T. Kull, Brian M. Waypa, Joshua S. McNair, Rodney A. Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20110156437
    Abstract: A vehicle body rear structure has a back door for opening and closing a rear opening of a vehicle body, and a latch engageable with and disengageable from a striker fixed in a lower portion of the rear opening, the back door being pivotally connected to an upper portion of the rear opening via two hinges provided so as to be spaced in the vehicle width direction, and the latch being provided in a lower end portion of the back door, the latch and the striker are offset from the center to the side in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Kishino
  • Patent number: 7938473
    Abstract: An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal lift gate between an open position and a closed position relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a housing connected to one of the lift gate and the motor vehicle body. An extensible shaft is slidably mounted to the housing. The extensible shaft is connected to the other of the lift gate and the motor vehicle body. A drive mechanism includes a rotatable power screw. The drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of the extensible shaft to move the extensible shaft between a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of the lift gate and an extended position corresponding to the open position of the lift gate. A power spring includes one end connected to the extensible shaft and another end connected to the housing for providing a mechanical counterbalance to the weight of the lift gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Andrew Paton, Stephen A. G. Mitchell, Dragan Mrkovic, Krzysztof Groszkowski, Borys M. Shchokin, Victor Gusev
  • Patent number: 7938474
    Abstract: A tailgate for a vehicle includes an upper panel having a shape such that it acts as a spoiler, and a lower panel attached to the upper panel. The lower panel may define a windshield mounting hole. The lower panel may include two side pillars and an upper crossing member, the side pillars and upper crossing member defining the windshield mounting hole. The upper crossing member and the side pillars may be welded to the upper panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jaechul Bang
  • Patent number: 7931327
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one tailgate defining a door plane, wherein the tailgate is attached to the vehicle chassis in a jointed fashion by at least one multiple hinge having at least three pivot axes offset from one another and at least two pairs of pivotally connected hinge arms, of which a first hinge arm is pivotally connected to the vehicle chassis and a second hinge arm is pivotally connected to the tailgate. The multiple hinge is associated with a drivetrain controlling the motion of the hinge arms in the pivot axes. The door plane is moved along a predetermined motion path when the tailgate travels from a closed position, in which the tailgate spans a closed plane, to an open position, in which the tailgate spans an opening plane. The motion path of the door plane includes rotary and translational components, and the closed plane forms an angle to the opening plane in the range from 70° to 110°, preferably about 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Cadea Gesellschaft für Anwendung und Realisierung Computerunterstützter Systeme mbH
    Inventor: Harald Ertl
  • Publication number: 20110074179
    Abstract: The present invention is a thermoplastic composite liftgate system with reinforcements in key areas to allow the system to meet performance requirements, while lowering the tooling investment, lowering the system mass, and improving the styling flexibility. The present invention includes an inner panel and at least one bracket or reinforcement member connected to the inner panel such that when a force is applied to the bracket, the force is distributed to the inner panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher John Kuntze, Stephen R. Roddy, Martin Mcleod, Michelle Vanbuskirk, Alexander Kiselev, Gari M. Schalte, Norman Guschewski
  • Patent number: 7914066
    Abstract: A rear door structure including: a frame portion which supports an upper edge and both lateral edges of a rear glass; a lateral beam which extends in a vehicle width direction and connects both lateral side portions of the frame portion to each other; a reinforcing member which straddles the lateral side portion of the frame portion and the lateral beam; and a driving unit for a wiper device disposed in a space between the lateral side portion of the frame portion and the lateral beam, wherein: a first end side of the driving unit is fixed to a connection portion between the frame portion and the reinforcing member; and a second end side of the driving unit is fixed to a connection portion of between the reinforcing member and the lateral beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Miyake, Kenichi Munenaga
  • Patent number: 7905533
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear module for fitting to a motor vehicle, the module comprising a large door for being pivotally mounted about an axis, the large door extending in a direction parallel to said axis between two stiffener uprights both presenting a cross-section of thickness, taken perpendicularly to the door, that is not less than a first thickness, the large door having an opening extending as far as said uprights in the direction parallel to said axis; and a small door mounted on the large door to move between an open position uncovering said opening, and a closed position closing said opening, the small door extending in the direction parallel to the axis between two stiffener uprights both having a cross-section of thickness, taken perpendicularly to the door, that is not less than a second thickness, the uprights of the small door covering the uprights of the large door when the small door is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Gérald Andre, Guilherme Amorin, Jérôme Fillon, Fabien Delwal, Denis Barral
  • Patent number: 7878575
    Abstract: A livestock trailer with sliding safety door having a trailer with a two section sliding door mounted at the rear and hung from a slidable rail assembly at the top and retained by a guide at the bottom wherein the guides are steel reinforced. The sliding safety door, being secured at top and bottom, facilitates the loading and unloading of livestock by minimizing injuries sustained from kicking the door and eliminating injuries sustained when utilizing prior art swinging door type livestock trailers. The sliding door mechanism further eliminates the need to reposition the trailer while docking to a loading ramp so as to provide clearance to operate the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Roy Wall, Tonja Wall
  • Patent number: 7870643
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge arrangement, in particular for a tailgate of a motor vehicle, having a first hinge part, in particular firmly connected to the body, which is knuckle-jointed with a second hinge part, and having an energy accumulator, the force application points of which are positioned in relation to both hinge parts in such a way that the force released upon its discharge supports the rotation of the two hinge parts around the hinge axis from a first rotation position, which corresponds in particular to a closed position of the tailgate, to a second rotation position, which corresponds in particular to the open position of the tailgate. To obtain useful improvements, a transposition device is proposed for transposing at least one force application point in one of the two rotation positions, so that after a transposition onto the hinge parts a force acts in the opposite rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Witte-Velbert GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Krueger, Christian Kaczmarczyk
  • Patent number: 7866729
    Abstract: An actuating device is provided for moving a closure panel between an open position spaced apart from a vehicle body and a closed position abutting the vehicle body to close an access opening thereof. The actuating device includes a telescopic arm having a first member coupled to one of the closure panel and the vehicle body and a second member coupled to the other of the closure panel and the vehicle body. The first and second members are slidable relative to one another to move the actuating device between a retracted position corresponding with the closed position and an extended position corresponding with the open position. A screw is rotatable relative to the first member. The screw includes a cavity formed therewithin. A nut is secured to the second member and threadingly engages the screw such that rotation of the screw moves the second member towards and away from the first member to move the actuating device between the respective retracted and extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Porat, Salvatore Vitale, Stephen A. G. Mitchell, Eduard Vasilescu, Peter Lance Oxley, Gordon Andrew Paton, Jason David Niskanen, Andrew R. Daniels, Dragan Mrkovic
  • Patent number: 7866728
    Abstract: An opening and closing member control apparatus for a vehicle includes a driving device adapted to drive an opening and closing member to open and close an opening portion formed at a vehicle body, a sensor provided at a connecting portion connecting the vehicle body with the opening and closing member, the sensor detecting an opening operation and a closing operation of the opening and closing member, and a drive controlling device controlling the driving device to drive the opening and closing member to open or close the opening portion by determining the opening operation or the closing operation of the opening and closing member based on a detection value of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shintaro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100320799
    Abstract: A rear door that includes an upper section, a lower section that connects to the upper section, a trim provided to an inner face of the rear door, and a pull handle portion provided in an interior-side design surface of the trim, the pull handle portion including a handle opening formed in the interior-side design surface at a position spaced from a lower end of the trim in an upward direction, and a recessed portion that runs obliquely downwards, in a state where the rear door is closed, from the handle opening toward a rear of a vehicle body, wherein a section of the trim sandwiched between the handle opening and the lower end of the trim has an outer face that is sunken relative to the interior-side design surface of a general portion of the trim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuo FUKUI, Nobuhide Hashimoto, Teruji Kuroyanagi, Sadaharu Kagami, Hiroaki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20100314903
    Abstract: A rear hatch assembly of a vehicle includes a hatch frame pivotally connected to a vehicle body at a first pivot axis such that the hatch frame is capable of movement relative to the vehicle body about the first pivot axis. A tailgate is pivotally connected to the hatch frame at a second pivot axis such that the tailgate is capable of movement relative to the hatch frame about the second pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Paul Voyer
  • Patent number: 7845706
    Abstract: A case is mounted to one of a motor vehicle and a pivotal door and has therein a gear receiving space. An electric motor is mounted to the case. A speed reduction mechanism is installed in the gear receiving space of the case and driven by the electric motor. An output gear is rotatably received in the gear receiving space of the case and driven by the speed reduction mechanism. An output arm is placed above the case and connected to the output gear through an output shaft that passes through an upper wall portion of the case. A connecting rod has one end pivotally connected to the output arm and the other end pivotally connected to the other of the motor vehicle and the pivotal door. The connecting rod is arranged beside the case in a manner to avoid overlapping thereof with the case in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the connecting rod is moved by the output arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Watanabe, Takuya Kakumae
  • Patent number: 7832791
    Abstract: The technology described herein provides a molded trim assembly located externally at the top of a liftgate structure to provide an aerodynamic and stylish overhang above the liftgate glass. Furthermore, the technology also provides a liftgate exterior module including a plug-in module containing a motorized window wiper arm assembly, a central high mounted stop light, and a washer fluid spray nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Frank A. Wojcik, Costantino Ranucci, Robert J. Faubert, Richard Manning, Kenneth J. Ladzinski, Raja Hazime, William G. Yadon
  • Patent number: 7832790
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes a vehicle structure formed with an opening, an interior panel and an exterior door. The interior panel is supported to the vehicle structure for pivotal movement by a first hinge arrangement about a first pivot axis. The exterior door is supported to the vehicle structure for pivotal movement by a second hinge arrangement about a second pivot axis that is spaced apart from the first pivot axis. The exterior door is also supported to the interior panel such that the interior panel and the exterior door move together as the exterior door is moved between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Patent number: 7828366
    Abstract: The rear unit comprises first and second doors for a motor vehicle. The first and second doors respectively comprise first and second tailgates, the second door carrying the first tailgate. The first rear door has hinge means for hinging the first tailgate relative to the body of the motor vehicle, which means are fastened to the first tailgate. The first tailgate is pivotally movable relative to the body about a main pivot axis of the hinge means. The main axis is also suitable for moving in at least one guide slideway for guiding the main pivot axis in translation relative to the body in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Gerald Andre, Fabien Delwal, Denis Barral, Jerome Fillon, Hugues Cheron
  • Patent number: 7828365
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a window arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising a window pane and a trim element arranged on each side of the window pane. In order to improve the conventional window arrangement of the generic type to the effect that mounting can be made easier while the appearance is improved visually and esthetically, the invention provides that the trim elements and the window pane are connected to one another in a materially joined and/or frictionally locking fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Richard Fritz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wassilios Kiriakou, Jochen Haas, Thomas Mett, Claus-Christian Steeg
  • Publication number: 20100264689
    Abstract: A passenger vehicle is provided with a body having an interior with a passenger compartment and a rear cargo region accessed through a rear opening. A liftgate and tailgate are pivotally coupled to the body at an upper and lower periphery of the opening respectively, and engage one another to enclose the opening. The liftgate and tailgate each enclose a portion of the opening in a closed position and provide access to the rear cargo area in an open position. A passenger vehicle is provided with a vehicle body having an interior and a rear opening with a first and second region facing generally upwards and rearwards respectively, both regions providing access to the rear cargo area. A rear closure assembly encloses the opening, provides access to the rear cargo area, and has first and second members pivotally connected to the body to enclose the first and second regions respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel William Lounds
  • Publication number: 20100264688
    Abstract: A power, split tailgate system is provided that allows each of an upper and a lower tailgate door to be simultaneously or independently driven between open and closed positions. The tailgate system may be operated in a chauffer mode where the lower tailgate door is opened to allow for the storage of luggage and other materials and in a manner that limits exposure of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Land Rover
    Inventors: Jonathon Paul Anthony Cheal, Andrew Warburton, Bharat Jina
  • Patent number: 7810864
    Abstract: An opening and closing device includes an electrically conductive fixed body, a movable body, a drive motor, a speed control device, a detection assembly, and a determining device. The electrically conductive fixed body defines an opening portion therein. The movable body is displaceable between a full closed position and a full open position. The drive motor drives the movable body to open and close the opening portion of the fixed body. The detection assembly includes a sensor electrode. The determining device computes, as a detection value, a change amount of the capacitance at the sensor electrode per a predetermined constant measuring time based on the change of the capacitance detected by the sensor electrode. The determining device compares the detection value with a constant threshold value, and determines whether the object exists between the movable body and the periphery of the opening portion based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7802664
    Abstract: A power strut assembly for a vehicle includes a first strut member having joined outer walls that define an interior cavity. The first strut member extends from a first end to a second end. The first end includes a base wall joined to the outer walls. A second strut member also having joined outer walls defining an inner cavity extends from a first end to a second end. The second strut member is telescopically disposed within the interior cavity of the first strut member. A lead screw extends from a first end to a second end and is rotatively retained at the first end of the first strut member. The lead screw extends into the interior cavities of the first and second strut members. A clutch is retained by the second strut member and the lead screw is positioned to interact with the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hanna, Michael A. Slumba
  • Patent number: 7762608
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a trunk, in which the trunk has a body cutout opening which can be closed off by a two-part trunk lid which is composed of an upper trunk lid and a lower trunk lid. The upper trunk lid can be pivoted downward by an angle from, in each case, one closed position into, in each case, one open position. The lower trunk lid has at least one pivot lever, which is arranged such that it can be pivoted by way of a pivot axle formed on a lower body section. In the open position of the lower trunk lid, the pivot lever is in engagement with the lower body section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Gersmann, Andreas Clausen-Schaumann, David Evans
  • Publication number: 20100156141
    Abstract: The invention concerns a shutter system designed for a shutter (4) mounted on a vehicle body so as to be mobile relative thereto. The invention is characterized in that the shutter is maintained at least at one of its two lateral ends by a quadruple hinge mechanism formed by two main hinge elements (10, 12) which are mounted pivotable on the body (8), and a linking hinge element (16) which links together the free ends of the main hinge elements; and an adjusting motor (22) is mounted on the shutter itself, to move at least one of the quadruple hinge mechanisms. According to the invention, at least one main hinge element (10) of one quadruple hinge mechanism, is secured to the shutter or is a component of the shutter, and the linking hinge element (16) is pivotable relative to the adjusting motor means (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventor: Tobias Mueller
  • Publication number: 20100102589
    Abstract: A rear door structure including: a frame portion which supports an upper edge and both lateral edges of a rear glass; a lateral beam which extends in a vehicle width direction and connects both lateral side portions of the frame portion to each other; a reinforcing member which straddles the lateral side portion of the frame portion and the lateral beam; and a driving unit for a wiper device disposed in a space between the lateral side portion of the frame portion and the lateral beam, wherein: a first end side of the driving unit is fixed to a connection portion between the frame portion and the reinforcing member; and a second end side of the driving unit is fixed to a connection portion of between the reinforcing member and the lateral beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Miyake, Kenichi Munenaga
  • Publication number: 20100102590
    Abstract: A rear door structure in which a rear door is openably and closably provided on a rear portion of a vehicle body, including a door panel, wherein: the door panel includes an upper door panel and a lower door panel provided on the lower portion of the upper door panel; and a lower edge portion of the upper door panel and an upper edge portion of the lower door panel mutually overlap so as to form a lateral beam having a closed cross section and extending in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Miyake, Kenichi Munenaga
  • Patent number: 7690715
    Abstract: An open-close portion structure of a vehicle body includes: an open-close member which opens and closes an opening of the vehicle body; a first hinge member provided on the vehicle body; a second hinge member provided on the open-close member, being pivoted with the first hinge member; and a stretchable stay provided between the vehicle body and the open-close member and biasing the open-close member to open, wherein an end of the stretchable stay is coupled to the second hinge member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koki Hakamata, Tomofumi Ichinose
  • Patent number: 7690709
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear door for a motor vehicle, the door including hinges (16, 16?) embodying an axis (Y) for pivoting the door on the vehicle between a closed position and an open position. The door includes a motor (17) for generating a driving torque about the pivot axis of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Denis Barral, Philippe Coudron, Gérald Andre, Guilherme Amorin, Jérôme Fillon
  • Patent number: 7681940
    Abstract: A rear door assembly for a motor vehicle includes an outer door panel and an inner panel. The inner panel is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the outer door panel. The inner panel has a main frame having a generally transversely extending opening and a frame member fixedly secured to the main frame. The frame member extends between opposite sides of the opening in the main frame and extends along a bottom edge of the window opening. The frame member has a transversely extending upper flange and a lower flange spaced apart from the upper flange. The frame member has a main wall extending between the upper and lower flanges and forming a generally U-shaped cross section therewith. The flanges are directly fixedly secured to the inner surface of the outer panel and forming a transversely extending support beam therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Brown, Kenji Chiba, Hiroshi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 7677628
    Abstract: The invention relates to a unit for synchronous extension and retraction of two wire segments that are wound onto a storage spool in such a way that upon a rotary motion of the storage spool in one rotation direction, both wire segments are synchronously unwound, and upon a rotary motion of the storage spool in the other rotation direction they are synchronously rewound, the wire segments being separated from one another and being fastened at their storage-spool ends to the storage spool, the storage spool comprising a catch that is effective in that rotation direction in which the wire segments are unwound from the storage spool, and is releasable via an actuation device. The invention furthermore relates to a motor vehicle using such a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems, GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lowentat, Peter Nellen, Michael Bohler, Torsten Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7673927
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a tail gate (10) affixed to a lateral, rear pillar of the vehicle structure by means of at least one hinge so as to be pivotable about a substantially vertical axis (A-A), a hinge part that swings out together with the tail gate is located in an area of a lateral tail light (18) of the vehicle when the tail gate (10) is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff, Winfried Bunsmann, Jochen Klein, Wolfgang Nentwig, Markus Grave
  • Patent number: 7673928
    Abstract: An integrated rear spoiler and hinge cover that covers a flip-glass window hinge that is not attached to the flip glass window hinge and rotates from a fully closed position to a fully open position substantially simultaneously with the flip-glass window hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Walker, Akihiko Kuribayashi, Takuji Ohara, Ryo Inoue, Bob Tamarapoo, Joshua Morrow
  • Patent number: 7669916
    Abstract: A rear door is supported at a rear end of a vehicle by a hinge assembly, which includes a hinge base part and a door hinge part. The hinge base part is provided in a groove formed at a joint between a roof panel and a side panel of a vehicle body, and the door hinge part is attached to the rear door and swingably supported by the hinge base part. The hinge base part includes an anchor portion fixed to a bottom of the groove, a swing motion support portion disposed in a position aligned in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle with the anchor portion and separate from the anchor portion to support the door hinge part, and a connecting portion extending between the anchor portion and the swing motion support portion to fix the swing motion support portion relative to the anchor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Munenaga, Fumiyoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7665794
    Abstract: Drive arrangement for motorized actuation of a functional element in a motor vehicle, having at least one drive, the drive having a drive motor and a spindle-spindle nut gear connected downstream of the drive motor for producing linear drive movements, the spindle-spindle nut gear having a spindle with an outside thread and a spindle nut with an inside thread, the linear drive movements being a motion of the spindle nut parallel to a spindle axis. the spindle-spindle nut gear has at least one telescoping sleeve with an inside thread and an outside thread. The at least one telescoping sleeve, spindle and spindle nut are arranged in a telescoping manner being screwed into one another with each outside thread forming a thread pairing with an respective inside thread. An alternative spindle-spindle nut gear has the outside thread and form a ball groove thread pairing with a variable thread pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Checrallah Kachouh
  • Patent number: 7654607
    Abstract: An automotive body structure includes a tubular load bearing structure and a hardware mount having a base plate with an annular axially extending spin welding initiator. The hardware mount is spin welded to the load bearing structure to provide a reinforced location for the mounting of automotive hardware, such as door hinges, with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan Stojkovic, Larry Dupuis, James Lowe
  • Patent number: 7648189
    Abstract: An actuating device is provided for moving a closure panel between an open position spaced apart from a vehicle body and a closed position abutting the vehicle body to close an access opening thereof. The actuating device includes a telescopic arm having a first member coupled to one of the closure panel and the vehicle body and a second member coupled to the other of the closure panel and the vehicle body. The first and second members are slidable relative to one another to move the actuating device between a retracted position corresponding with the closed position and an extended position corresponding with the open position. A screw is rotatable relative to the first member. The screw includes a cavity formed therewithin. A nut is secured to the second member and threadingly engages the screw such that rotation of the screw moves the second member towards and away from the first member to move the actuating device between the respective retracted and extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Porat, Salvatore Vitale, Stephen A. G. Mitchell, Eduard Vasilescu, Peter Lance Oxley, Gordon Andrew Paton, Jason David Niskanen, Andrew R. Daniels, Dragan Mrkovic
  • Patent number: 7637556
    Abstract: The truck security system emits an audible alarm when a cargo door is open and a driver or other person working on the truck goes beyond a defined distance, generally the immediate vicinity, from the truck exposing cargo to possible theft. In a truck having more than one cargo door, an alarm is sounded if more than one door is open simultaneously. If an attempt is made to start the engine with a door open, the system sounds an alarm in the cab and ignition is prevented. The system includes sensing means to detect if cargo doors are opened or closed, control logic circuitry and a clock, a RF signal receiver, an ignition cut-off, an audible alarm and a battery to independently power the security system, all of which are situated on the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Babaco Alarm Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Haber