U.S. patent application number 09/756414 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-18 for power open/power close deck lid.
Invention is credited to Rice, John R., Rogers, Lloyd Walker JR., Sedlak, David A., Wilde, Ronald James.
Application Number | 20010030441 09/756414 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26884829 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010030441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilde, Ronald James ; et
al. |
October 18, 2001 |
Power open/power close deck lid
Abstract
Apparatus for opening and closing a deck lid of a vehicle body.
An elongated rack is mounted in a housing for longitudinal
movement. A rotatable pinion meshes with the rack to move the rack
longitudinally in one direction or the other depending on the
direction of rotation of the pinion. A reversible motor rotates the
pinion in opposite directions. The deck lid is attached to a pair
of arms pivoted to the vehicle body. A link has one end pivoted to
the rack and the opposite end pivoted to one of the arms. The deck
lid is moved to open position in response to longitudinal movement
of the rack in one direction or to closed position in response to
longitudinal movement of the rack in the other direction.
Inventors: |
Wilde, Ronald James; (St.
Clair Shores, MI) ; Rice, John R.; (Clinton Township,
MI) ; Rogers, Lloyd Walker JR.; (Shelby Township,
MI) ; Sedlak, David A.; (Clarkston, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATRICK M. GRIFFIN
DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
P.O. Box 5052
Mail Code: 480-414-420
Troy
MI
48007-5052
US
|
Family ID: |
26884829 |
Appl. No.: |
09/756414 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60189141 |
Mar 14, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/76 ;
49/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05F 15/63 20150115;
E05Y 2201/216 20130101; E05Y 2201/246 20130101; E05Y 2201/462
20130101; E05Y 2900/548 20130101; E05Y 2201/722 20130101; E05F
15/619 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/76 ;
49/324 |
International
Class: |
B62D 025/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for moving a deck lid of a vehicle body towards at
least one of its open and closed positions comprising: an elongated
rack, means mounting said rack on the vehicle body for longitudinal
movement, a pinion in mesh with said rack to move said rack
longitudinally upon rotation of said pinion, a power unit for
rotating said pinion, and means providing a connection between the
rack and the deck lid to move the deck lid towards said one of its
open and closed positions in response to longitudinal movement of
said rack.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means providing a
connection between the rack and the deck lid includes a link, said
rack being pivoted to one end of the link, and means on said deck
lid pivoted to an opposite end of the link.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means providing a
connection between the rack and the deck lid includes an arm
attached to the deck lid and pivoted to the vehicle body, and a
link having opposite ends pivoted respectively to the rack and to
the arm.
4. Apparatus for opening and closing a deck lid of a vehicle body
comprising; an elongated rack, a guide mounting said rack on the
vehicle body for longitudinal movement, a rotatable pinion in mesh
with said rack to move the rack longitudinally in one direction or
the other depending on the direction of rotation of the pinion, a
power unit having a reversible motor for rotating said pinion in
opposite directions, and means providing a connection between the
rack and the deck lid to move the deck lid to open position in
response to longitudinal movement of the rack in said one direction
or to move the deck lid to closed position in response to
longitudinal movement of the rack in the other direction.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means providing a
connection between the rack and the deck lid comprises an arm
secured to the deck lid and having one end pivoted on the vehicle
body, and a link having one end pivoted to the rack and an opposite
end pivoted to the arm.
6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said guide comprises an
elongated tubular housing in which said rack is slidably supported,
said housing having an elongated slot in a first side wall, said
one end of said link is pivoted to the rack by a pivot pin movable
in said slot, and said housing having a window in a second side
wall opposite said first side wall through which said pinion
extends to mesh with said rack.
7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including anti-friction
sliders on said rack facilitating sliding movement of said rack in
said housing.
8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said housing is
arranged horizontally and extends lengthwise of the vehicle body.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 60/189,141 filed Mar. 14, 2000.
[0002] This invention relates generally to operating apparatus for
motor vehicle deck lids and more particularly to apparatus for
power opening and power closing a deck lid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Typically the deck lid of a motor vehicle is opened and
closed manually. Manual operation is difficult for many people and
if the deck lid is operated carelessly, damage to the deck lid
and/or the latching mechanism for the deck lid may result. What is
needed is a fast and effective power operated apparatus for opening
and closing the deck lid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with the present invention, apparatus is
provided for the power operation of the deck lid, including a
motor, a pinion and rack, and a connection between the rack and the
deck lid.
[0005] Preferably a guide supports the rack for longitudinal
movement. A pinion connected to the output shaft of the motor
meshes with the rack to move the rack longitudinally when the
pinion is rotated. The connection between the rack and the deck lid
includes a link pivoted to the rack and to a deck lid arm and is
operative to move the deck lid between open and closed positions in
response to longitudinal movement of the rack.
[0006] Preferably a clutch is provided which closes automatically
upon actuation of the motor and which otherwise is in a released
position so that in the event of a loss of power the deck lid may
be operated manually.
[0007] In a preferred construction about to be described, the guide
for the rack is in the form of a tubular housing in which the rack
is slidably supported. The housing preferably has an elongated slot
in one side wall, with one end of the link pivoted to the rack by a
pivot pin movable in the slot. The housing has a window in an
opposite side wall through which the pinion extends to mesh with
the rack.
[0008] One object of this invention is to provide apparatus for the
power operation of a deck lid having the foregoing features and
capabilities.
[0009] Another object is to provide apparatus for power opening and
power closing the deck lid which is composed of a relatively few
simple parts, is rugged and durable in use, and is easy to
operate.
[0010] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent as the following description
proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying claims
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear of a vehicle having
apparatus for power opening and power closing a deck lid,
constructed in accordance with the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the power opening and power
closing apparatus, taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the
apparatus, taken in the direction of the arrow 4 in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is
shown a motor vehicle 10 having a body 12 provided with a rear
trunk space 14. A deck lid 16 is supported by a pivoted arm
assembly 18 for movement from an open position permitting access to
the truck space 14 to a closed position closing access to the trunk
space. FIG. 1 shows the deck lid 16 open and FIG. 2 shows the deck
lid in an intermediate position.
[0016] A pivoted arm assembly 18 includes an arm 22 having one end
hinged to the vehicle body 12 by a pivot pin 24 for swinging
movement about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle body.
A similar arm 25 also has one end hinged to the vehicle body for
swinging movement about the same transverse axis. The deck lid 16
is rigidly secured to the two arms.
[0017] The apparatus for swinging the arms, and hence the deck lid,
includes an elongated rack 30 of rectangular cross-section having
teeth 32 along one side and mounted for longitudinal sliding
movement in a rack guide 34 in the form of an elongated tubular
housing 35 also of rectangular cross-section. The housing 35 and
rack 30 are preferably made of metal, and to reduce friction when
the rack is moved in the housing, plastic anti-friction sliders 36
are provided. The sliders 36 are generally channel-shaped and are
secured to the rack 30 and ride on the inner surfaces of the
housing 35 with very little friction. The sliders 36 embrace the
three non-toothed sides of the rack and fit in recessed portions 37
thereof.
[0018] The rack 30 is moved longitudinally in the housing 35 by a
pinion 40 engaging the teeth 32 of the rack through a window 44 in
one side wall 45 of the housing. A link 50 has one end pivoted to
the rack by a pin 52 and the opposite end pivoted to the arm 22 of
the deck lid by a pivot pin 54. The housing 35 has an elongated
slot 56 in the side wall 57 opposite the side wall 45 to clear the
pivot pin 52 as the rack moves.
[0019] A power unit 58 includes a reversible motor 60 which has a
flange 62 secured to a mounting plate 64. The mounting plate is
secured to the housing 35 and the pinion 40 is secured to the
output shaft 66 of the motor. The end of the output shaft 66
extends into a fitting 68 held in a bracket 70 to stabilize the
output shaft. The bracket 70 is rigidly secured to the housing 35.
Preferably the motor includes a clutch 72 which is normally in a
released position so that the deck lid 16 may be opened and closed
manually in the event of a power failure, but which closes
automatically in response to actuation of the motor 60. The motor
is actuated by a suitable control readily accessible to the
operator of the vehicle, such, for example, as a hand-held fob (not
shown) of the type used to carry the vehicle keys. The control is
such that when the deck lid 16 is closed operation of the motor 60
rotates the pinion 40 in one direction to move the rack 30 in a
direction to open the deck lid, and when the deck lid is open the
control reverse rotates the motor to move the rack in the opposite
direction.
[0020] The apparatus of this invention has only three moving parts,
namely, the motor 60, the rack 30 and the pinion 40, is light in
weight and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble. The
apparatus preferably is arranged with the housing horizontal and
extending lengthwise of the vehicle body for convenient packaging
in a small area alongside a deck lid hinge arm.
* * * * *