Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Bob Thomas

Jack E Brown

Christopher J Twarog

Houng Yue Chang

Christine M Krolewski

Joern Zirfass

Robert F McCann

Robin Krieg

Timothy V McGrath

Alessandro Zezza

Julius Q Bernardo

A flip hinge for a motor vehicle includes an inner strap affixed to a body of the motor vehicle, an outer strap separate from the inner strap and affixed to a removable panel of the motor vehicle, and an intermediate link extending from the inner strap to the outer strap. The intermediate link is rotatably attached to the inner strap at a first link end by a spring-loaded pivot. The intermediate link is rotatably attached to the outer strap at a second link end by an outer strap pivot. The intermediate link is movable between at least a first position and a second position. The spring-loaded pivot biases the intermediate link towards the second position whenever the intermediate link is not in the first position, and the outer strap is separable from the intermediate link only when the intermediate link is in the first position.

Flip hinge

A vehicle includes a body that defines an exposed cargo area, and a cargo rack pivotably attached to the body for rotational movement between a deployed position and a stowed position. When in the deployed position, a crossbar portion of the cargo rack is disposed above the cargo area to support cargo. When in the stowed position, the crossbar portion is concealed to provide uninterrupted access to the cargo area from above.

Swing away truck bed cargo rack

A mounting apparatus for an article astride fixed and movable body components in bridging relation to the cut-line therebetween. The article is automatically pivoted with respect to the fixed body component in concert with movement of the movable body component, whereby the pivoting of the article ensures that the movement of the movable body component with respect to the fixed body component avoids contact and interference with the article. For example, an article astride a fender and a door of a motor vehicle, the article transversely pivots out of the way of the door whenever the door is opened.

Apparatus for mounting an article astride fixed and movable body components

A handle assembly for a vehicle door and a method of operating the handle assembly is disclosed. The door handle assembly may include a pivot bracket mounted in the vehicle door, a handle arm pivotally mounted to the pivot bracket, a handle alignable flush with a door handle cutout, and a motor assembly operatively engaging the handle arm to selectively cause pivoting of the handle arm relative to the pivot bracket. The door handle assembly may also include a handle depression limit switch, a handle flush button, or a handle extension limit switch in communication with a control module that controls the motor.

Flush vehicle door handle

A blocker member is mounted on the vehicle body adjacent the floor mounted door track and includes a housing and a blocker lever which is pivotally mounted on the housing. The blocker lever is operably connected to the fuel filler door by a cable. When the fuel filler door is opened, the cable is tensioned and pivots the blocker lever to an extended position in which the blocker lever extends into the path of sliding movement the door. Thus, whenever the fuel filler door is open, the sliding door is blocked from sliding open into engagement with the fuel filler door. The blocker member preferably includes a resilient bumper against which the blocker lever seats in order to absorb energy when the door is slid into engagement with the blocker lever. The cable is preferably connected to the blocker by an actuator lever and spring arrangement by which the cable and actuator lever have a range of movement beyond the movement of the blocker lever so as to accommodate any misadjustment of the cable connecting the fuel filler and the blocker member.

Growing community of inventors

North Hollywood, CA, United States of America

Bob Thomas