The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 04, 2005
Filed:
May. 22, 2003
Ajay Mahesh Kharod, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Carlos N. Czirmer, Rochester, MI (US);
Andrew J. Novajovsky, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
John J. Mascarello, Livonia, MI (US);
Richard J. Lange, Troy, MI (US);
Ajay Mahesh Kharod, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Carlos N. Czirmer, Rochester, MI (US);
Andrew J. Novajovsky, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
John J. Mascarello, Livonia, MI (US);
Richard J. Lange, Troy, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle body includes a first compartment for carrying passengers or cargo and a second compartment for carrying cargo rearwardly adjacent the first compartment. The body includes a frame defining an opening between the first and second compartments. A window is fixed in an upper portion of the opening and a crossbar is fixed in the opening below the window. A midgate panel is pivotally connected in a lower portion of the opening for movement between a closed position covering the lower portion of the opening and an open position permitting access through the lower portion of the opening. A drive motor is operatively connected with the midgate panel for pivoting the midgate panel between the open and closed positions. A counterbalancing strut is operatively connected between the midgate panel and a body floor to bias the midgate panel toward the open and closed positions, alternatively, depending upon the pivoted position of the midgate panel.