Multimatic Inc.

Other

Chrysler Corporation

Scott David Worden

Rudolf Gruber

Muamer Hodza

Robert John Murray

Chean Wang Ng

Pasith Banjongpanith

Prad Lad

Andrew R Daniels

Michael Gordon Lehti

Stephen J Mitchell

Tomasz Tadeusz Dominik

Jeyakumar Subramaniam

Howard Paul Tsvi Linden

Antonio Costa

Geoffrey Lee

Cheaw Wang Ng

Stephen Joseph Mitchell

Scott Wellman

A vehicle tailgate lift assist system comprises a vehicle tailgate adapted to open and close by rotating about a tailgate pivot axis in relation to a vehicle body, coupling means to releasably connect the vehicle tailgate and the vehicle body, an energy storage device located within the vehicle body and adapted to be pivotally anchored to the vehicle body at one end, a crank arm pivotally attached to the energy storage device at a second end of the energy storage device and rigidly attached to an actuation shaft that is coaxially aligned with the tailgate pivot axis, and a pivot bracket assembly comprising a mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle body and holding a pivot bearing arrangement to facilitate a rotary joint about the tailgate pivot axis. The pivot bearing arrangement comprises a unitary component overmolded to a pivot sleeve to act as a bushing between the actuation shaft and the pivot sleeve, such that relative rotary motion of the tailgate and the vehicle body results in linear movement of the energy storage device and maximum energy storage at the tailgate fully open position.

Lift assist system for vehicle tailgates

A vehicle tailgate assembly primarily for pick-up trucks comprises a frame with a transverse base and support arms extending perpendicularly therefrom adjacent distal ends of the base. A tailgate door is rotationally mounted to the frame between the support arms. The door comprises a transverse upper section rotationally joined to a transverse lower section at a rotational joint, preferably a hinge. A releasable locking mechanism is located adjacent the rotational joint to releasably hold the upper section in relation to the lower section at selected orientations. An additional locking mechanism may selectively hold the lower section and/or the upper section to the support arms. The tailgate may also be provided with an extendible tailgate which may be rotated interiorly and exteriorly of the plane of the upper section. An extendible handle may also be provided to support user entry and exit from a cargo hold of the truck.

Folding vehicle tailgate assembly

A method of operating a vehicle door includes the step of pushing an unlatched door to an ajar position. The unlatched door is mechanically held in the ajar position. In one embodiment, the method is performed using a door presenting system that includes a door checker that is configured to hold a door in the ajar position. A presenting actuator is movable between retracted and extended positions. The extended position corresponds to the ajar position. A controller is configured to move the presenting actuator between the retracted and extended positions in response to a presenting signal.

Door presenting system and method of operating same

An automotive hinge assembly adapted to facilitate motion of a closure panel relative to a fixed body structure comprises a door component constructed from two press formed angle brackets structurally connected via a pivot pin and adapted to be mounted to a vehicle closure panel, a body component constructed from two press formed angle brackets structurally connected via a simple formed feature and the pivot pin and adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body structure, such that the pivot pin structurally assembles the two hinge components, facilitates relative rotary motion between them and structurally connects the multiple press formed angle brackets so that the resulting assembly achieves a much higher material efficiency than the prior art with an associated significant cost reduction.

Multiple piece construction automotive door hinge

A handle assembly is used with a pick-up truck tailgate. The handle assembly comprises a guide tube with an open end, a handle that is housed within the guide tube and a pivot assembly. The pivot assembly comprises a pivot pin connected to one end of the handle and a locking pin. The handle is moveable within the guide tube between a retracted position and an extended position. While in the extended position the handle passes through the open end and the handle may pivot about the pivot pin to move to a support position. When the handle is in the support position, the locking pin can engage the handle and releasably lock the handle in the support position. The guide tube is configured to be secured within a tailgate of a pick-up truck.

Stowable tailgate handle assembly

Method and hinge structure for temporarily installing a door with a vehicle for subsequent removal from the vehicle or the temporary connection of a body half of a hinge with a door half of a hinge and for subsequent separation of the halves

A method for temporarily connecting a body half and a door half of a hinge, said body half of said hinge including connecting means for receiving said door half of said hinge including connecting means for receiving the body half, one of said connecting means including a portion having disposed proximate the end thereof at least one groove for receiving a resilient flexible retainer;

Method and hinge structure for temporarily installing a door with a

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Unionville, Canada

Scott David Worden