Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Gary Walter Krajenke

Alvin N Standard

Edward L Schulte

Graham S Foulkes

Anil A Masih

Richard J Lange

Anthony J Radman

Himanshu H Mehta

Carl B Corman

Thomas F Bowles

Todd A Granger

Mark G Rogers

Jeffrey L Konchan

James C O'Kane

James M Townson

Houng Yue Chang

Michael J Green

Eduardo S Atar

Babu R Amarnath

Stephen W Krajenke

Carol A Feldmann

A tailgate assembly includes a drum that is rotatable about a drive axis, and an actuator for rotating the drum. A first cable is attached to the drum, and is spooled about the drum in response to rotation of the drum. The first cable extends through an opening in the tailgate structure, and is attached to a sidewall of a cargo box. A first guide assembly includes a first roller guide defining a first roller groove. The first cable is engaged with and guided by the first roller groove. The first guide assembly redirects a path of the first cable, and is rotatable relative to the tailgate assembly about a first guide axis. The first roller guide rotates about the first guide axis to maintain the first cable within the first roller groove as the tailgate assembly rotates about the tailgate axis between an open position and a closed position.

Powered closing tailgate assembly

A tailgate assembly includes a structure, and a handle assembly attached to the structure. The handle assembly is moveable relative to the structure between a stowed position, an intermediate position, and a deployed position. The handle assembly includes a handle portion, and a mounting system attached to the structure and rotatably supporting the handle portion relative to the structure. The mounting system supports the handle portion for rotation about both a first axis and a second axis. The handle portion rotates about the first axis to move between the stowed position and the intermediate position to position the handle portion outside an interior space of the structure. The handle portion rotates about the second axis to move between the intermediate position and the deployed position, whereby a user may grasp the handle portion.

Tailgate assembly with a step assist handle

A tailgate assembly includes a structure, and a handle assembly attached to the structure. The handle assembly is moveable relative to the structure between a stowed position, an intermediate position, and a deployed position. The handle assembly includes a connecting member that is attached to the structure. The connecting member is rotatable about a first axis relative to the structure. A handle portion is attached to the connecting member, and is rotatable about a second axis relative to the connecting member. The handle portion and the connecting member rotate in unison relative to the structure about the first axis, between the stowed position and the intermediate position, to position the handle portion outside an interior space of the structure. The handle portion rotates relative to the connecting member about the second axis, between the intermediate position and the deployed position, whereby a user may grasp the handle portion.

A latch system includes a striker and a latch mechanism. The striker includes a pintle having a head portion. The latch mechanism includes a first latch door and a second latch door, each rotatable between a respective latch position and a respective insertion position. The first latch door and the second latch door each define a latch section and a release section disposed opposite each other. When the first latch door and the second latch door are disposed in their respective insertion positions, the latch sections are operable to receive the head portion therebetween. When the first latch door and the second latch door are disposed in their respective latch positions, the latch sections are operable to engage the head portion in latching engagement, and the release sections are operable to release the head portion of the pintle.

Pintle latch system

A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes a structure that defines a compartment, and a cover that is moveably attached to the structure to cover the compartment. A compartment latch mechanism is attached to the structure for latching the cover to the structure. A compartment release mechanism is coupled to the compartment latch mechanism for actuating the compartment latch mechanism. The compartment release mechanism is disposed on one of a first lateral edge surface or a second lateral edge surface of the structure. When the tailgate assembly is disposed in a first position, the body of the vehicle conceals the compartment release mechanism to prevent access to the compartment release mechanism, thereby preventing actuation of the compartment latch mechanism and securing the cover relative to the structure.

Tailgate compartment release mechanism arrangement

A counterbalance mechanism includes a first attachment strap that is fixedly attached to a body structure. An intermediate link is rotatably attached to the first attachment strap and rotatable about a winding axis relative to the first attachment strap. A first end of a second attachment strap is rotatably attached to a moveable panel. A second end of the second attachment strap is rotatably attached to the intermediate link, with the second attachment strap and the intermediate link rotatable relative to each other about a link axis. A spiral spring interconnects the first attachment strap and the intermediate link. The spiral spring biases the intermediate link about the winding axis to rotate the intermediate link and the second attachment strap relative to each other about the link axis, in a scissor-like motion, to rotate the panel relative to the body structure.

Hood pop and hang spiral spring counterbalance mechanism

A mechanism for installing a spring in a vehicle decklid includes a bracket supported on the decklid to rotate about an axis, including a leg extending radially from the axis, a spring secured to the bracket, a stop, and an attachment engaged with the bracket for rotating the bracket about the axis and extending the spring to an installed position where a force applied by the spring to the leg forces the bracket into contact with the stop, said contact preventing rotation of the bracket in a direction that extends the spring.

Decklid hinge spring installation mechanism

An energy absorbing headlamp assembly and a resettable headlamp assembly are disclosed. The assemblies include a first component and a headlamp assembly supported by the first component. The assemblies also include an energy absorbing device operatively coupled to the headlamp assembly and the first component to absorb energy when a first force is applied to the headlamp assembly. For the energy absorbing headlamp assembly, the device includes a link and a biasing mechanism coupled to each other such that the biasing mechanism continuously applies a second force to the link to bias the link to a first position when the headlamp assembly is in an initial position and a second position when the headlamp assembly is in a displaced position. For the resettable headlamp assembly, the device allows movement of the headlamp assembly from the displaced position back to the initial position when the first force is removed.

Energy absorbing headlamp assembly and a resettable headlamp assembly

A hinge assembly for a storage compartment includes a first component and a second component coupled to the first component. The second component is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first component. A damper device includes a housing assembly supported by the first component and a finger attached to the second component such that the finger is movable with the second component between the first and second positions. The finger and the housing assembly are spaced from each other when the second component is in the first position, and the finger slidingly engages the housing assembly as the second component moves to the second position such that frictional engagement between the finger and the housing assembly dampens movement of the second component relative to the first component.

Vehicle and a hinge assembly for a storage compartment of the vehicle

A counterbalance includes a first attachment strap, and an arbor rotatably supported by the first attachment strap. A second attachment strap is attached to the arbor, and is rotatable with the arbor about a winding axis. A spiral spring interconnects the first attachment strap and the second attachment strap. A spring support is attached to the second attachment strap. The spring support includes an annular wall that is disposed circumferentially about and concentric with the winding axis. The annular wall is radially positioned relative to the winding axis to contact an outermost coil of spiral spring, to position the spiral spring in a spiral orientation about the winding axis, such that each coil of the spiral spring moves away from the winding axis with a substantially constant angular velocity to provide a substantially equal radial spacing between adjacent coils of the spiral spring.

Concentric spiral spring counterbalance mechanism

A hinge assembly includes a hinge box, and a decklid attachment bracket rotatably attached to the hinge box. The decklid attachment bracket includes a contoured surface. A compressible member is positioned for engagement with the contoured surface as the decklid attachment bracket moves between an open position and a closed position. The contoured surface defines an outer region, a recessed region, and an inner region. The outer region compresses the compressible member as the decklid attachment bracket moves between the open and closed positions to absorb energy and dampen movement of the decklid attachment bracket. The recessed region cradles the compressible member without substantially compressing the compressible member when the decklid attachment bracket is in the open position to secure the position of the decklid attachment bracket. The inner region compresses the compressible member to absorb energy, and limit movement of the decklid attachment bracket beyond the open position.

Decklid hinge assembly for a vehicle

A vehicle and a hinge assembly for a storage compartment of the vehicle are disclosed. The assembly includes a first component adapted to be attached to the vehicle and a second component. The second component includes a first end portion coupled to the first component and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion. The second component is movable relative to the first component between a first position and a second position such that the second end portion is disposed above the first component when in the second position. The assembly further includes a link coupled to the second component and movable with the second component as the second component moves between the first and second positions. The link extends away from the second component to a distal end. The assembly includes a guard attached to the link and covering at least a portion of the distal end.

A gas strut assembly includes a housing defining an interior space. A rod is coupled to the housing, and is slideably moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. A flexible member is secured in position relative to the housing. A rigid member is coupled to and moveable with the rod. The flexible member includes at least one displaceable member that moves radially away from the central axis in response to a second radial force component of a closing force when engaged by the rigid member moving from the extended position into the retracted position. The flexible member includes a multi-layered structure that changes shape in response to a change in temperature to affect the magnitude of the second radial force component required to move the displaceable member.

Gas strut assembly with an internal detent module

An adjustable hinge assembly for a vehicle deck lid includes an adjustment pin received in a hinge pin that is adjustable to cause the deck lid to become flush with adjacent vehicle body structure. The adjustment pin includes a tool engagement feature that allows for adjustment of the hinge assembly from within the trunk. A second tool engagement feature allows for adjustment of the hinge from outside of the trunk.

Adjustable deck lid hinge

A charge cord assembly for a vehicle having a charging receptacle for engaging the charge cord during battery recharging. The charge cord assembly includes an electric cord extending between a source of electric current and the charging receptacle; a cord end connector engaging the electric cord and having a electrical socket engaging the charging receptacle, a latch hook that selectively secures the cord end connector to the charging receptacle, a release handle, a release linkage assembly engaged between the release handle and the latch hook to release the latch hook from the charging receptacle when the release handle is actuated; and a lock assembly having a locked position that prevents the release linkage assembly from releasing the latch hook from the charging receptacle and an unlocked position that allows the release linkage assembly to release the latch hook from the charging receptacle when the release handle is actuated.

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Gary Walter Krajenke