Vehicle closure arrangement

Claim 2

In a vehicle having an opening therein, a closure, and means supporting said closure on said vehicle body for pivotal movement in a first mode about a first axis situated generally at the lower margin of said opening and for pivotal movement in a second mode about a second axis situated generally at the upper margin of said opening, a first mode counterbalance arrangement comprising, spring means attached to a stationary anchor on said vehicle body, actuator means, means supporting said actuator means on said vehicle body for pivotal movement, means connecting said actuator means to said closure for effecting pivotal movement of the former in response to pivotal movement of the latter in the first mode and for effecting bodily movement of said actuator means in an arcuate path of motion about said second axis in response to pivotal movement of said closure in the second mode, and separable clutch means intermediate said spring means and actuator means, said clutch means operatively connecting said spring means and said actuator means during pivotal movement of said closure in the first mode so that the latter is resiliently urged in one direction of pivotal movement, said clutch means being further operative to disconnect said spring means and said actuator means thereby to permit unimpeded bodily movement of the latter during pivotal movement of said closure in the second mode.

Claim 3

In a vehicle body having an opening therein, the combination comprising, a frame member, means supporting said frame member on said vehicle body for pivotal movement into and out of said opening about an axis of said vehicle body situated generally adjacent the upper margin of said opening, a closure, means supporting said closure on said frame member for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis thereof and for unitary movement therewith, said frame member axis being situated generally adjacent the lower margin of said vehicle body opening when said frame member is located in said opening so that said closure is supported on said vehicle body for pivotal movement relative to said opening and to said frame member in a drop-gate mode about an axis situated at the lower margin of said opening and relative to said opening as a unit with said frame member in A lift-gate mode about an axis situated generally adjacent the upper margin of said opening, actuator means, means supporting said actuator means on said frame member for unitary movement therewith and for pivotal movement relative thereto, means operatively connecting said actuator means and said closure for effecting pivotal movement of the former in response to pivotal movement of the latter in the drop-gate mode, spring means attached to a stationary anchor on said vehicle body, and separable clutch means intermediate said spring means and actuator means, said clutch means operatively connecting said spring means and said actuator means during pivotal movement of said closure in the drop-gate mode so that the latter is resiliently urged in one direction of pivotal movement, said clutch means being further operative to disconnect said spring means and said actuator means thereby to permit unimpeded unitary pivotal movement of said frame member and said closure in the lift-gate mode.

Claim 4

In a vehicle body having an opening therein, the combination comprising, a frame member, means supporting said frame member on said vehicle body for pivotal movement into and out of said opening about an axis of said vehicle body situated generally adjacent the upper margin of said opening, a closure, means supporting said closure on said frame member for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis thereof and for unitary movement therewith, said frame member axis being situated generally adjacent the lower margin of said vehicle body opening when said frame member is located in said opening so that said closure is supported on said vehicle body for pivotal movement relative to said opening and to said frame member in a drop-gate mode about an axis situated at the lower margin of said opening and relative to said opening as a unit with said frame member in A lift-gate mode about an axis situated generally adjacent the upper margin of said opening, actuator means, means supporting said actuator means on said frame member for unitary movement therewith and for pivotal movement relative thereto, means operatively connecting said actuator means and said closure for effecting pivotal movement of the former in response to pivotal movement of the latter in the drop-gate mode, spring means attached to a stationary anchor on said vehicle body, and separable clutch means intermediate said spring means and actuator means, said clutch means operatively connecting said spring means and said actuator means during pivotal movement of said closure in the drop-gate mode so that the latter is resiliently urged in one direction of pivotal movement, said clutch means being further operative to disconnect said spring means and said actuator means thereby to permit unimpeded unitary pivotal movement of said frame member and said closure in the lift-gate mode.

Claim 5

In a vehicle body having an opening therein, the combination comprising, a frame member, means supporting said frame member on said vehicle body for pivotal movement into and out of said opening about an axis of said vehicle body situated generally adjacent the upper margin of said opening, a closure, means supporting said closure on said frame member for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis thereof and for unitary movement therewith, said frame member axis being situated generally adjacent the lower margin of said vehicle body opening when said frame member is located in said opening so that said closure is supported on said vehicle body for pivotal movement relative to said opening and to said frame member in a drop-gate mode about an axis situated at the lower margin of said opening and relative to said opening as a unit with said frame member in a lift-gate mode about an axis situated generally adjacent the upper margin of said opening, a first bellcrank having a notch therein, means supporting said first bellcrank on said frame member for unitary movement therewith and for pivotal movement relative thereto, a connecting link, means pivotally attaching one end of said connecting link to said closure, means pivotally attaching the other end of said connecting link to said first bellcrank so that pivotal movement of said closure in the drop-gate mode causes pivotal movement of said first bellcrank, a coil spring having a first end thereof affixed to a stationary anchor on said vehicle body, a second bellcrank, means supporting said second bellcrank on said vehicle body for pivotal movement about a fixed axis thereof, means attaching a second end of said coil spring to said second bellcrank so that the former resiliently urges the latter in one direction of pivotal movement, and means on said second bellcrank defining a rigid abutment adapted for reception in said notch in said first bellcrank, said notch in said first bellcrank engaging said abutment on said second bellcrank in response to pivotal movement of said closure in the drop-gate mode so that said second bellcrank is pivoted by said first bellcrank against said coil spring to effect counterbalancing of said closure in the drop-gate mode, said first bellcrank being separable from said second bellcrank so that pivotal movement of said closure as a unit with said frame member in the lift-gate mode is unimpeded.

Claim 6

In a vehicle body having an opening therein, the combination comprising, a frame member, means supporting said frame member on said vehicle body for pivotal movement into and out of said opening about an axis of said vehicle body situated generally adjacent the upper margin of said opening, a closure, means supporting said closure on said frame member for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis thereof and for unitary movement therewith, said frame member axis being situated generally adjacent the lower margin of said vehicle body opening when said frame member is located in said opening so that said closure is supported on said vehicle body for pivotal movement relative to said opening and to said frame member in a drop-gate mode about an axis situated at the lower margin of said opening and relative to said opening as a unit with said frame member in a lift-gate mode about an axis situated generally adjacent the upper margin of said opening, a first bellcrank having a notch therein, means supporting said first bellcrank on said frame member for unitary movement therewith and for pivotal movement relative thereto, a connecting link, means pivotally attaching one end of said connecting link to said closure, means pivotally attaching the other end of said connecting link to said first bellcrank so that pivotal movement of said closure in the drop-gate mode causes pivotal movement of said first bellcrank, a coil spring having a first end thereof affixed to a stationary anchor on said vehicle body, a second bellcrank, means supporting said second bellcrank on said vehicle body for pivotal movement about a fixed axis thereof, means attaching a second end of said coil spring to said second bellcrank so that the former resiliently urges the latter in one direction of pivotal movement, and means on said second bellcrank defining a rigid abutment adapted for reception in said notch in said first bellcrank, said notch in said first bellcrank engaging said abutment on said second bellcrank in response to pivotal movement of said closure in the drop-gate mode so that said second bellcrank is pivoted by said first bellcrank against said coil spring to effect counterbalancing of said closure in the drop-gate mode, said first bellcrank being separable from said second bellcrank so that pivotal movement of said closure as a unit with said frame member in the lift-gate mode is unimpeded.