US3716945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure operator
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1971-12-02
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1991-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A closure operator particularly adapted for use with a station wagon tailgate type closure and adapted to permit randomly interchangeable operation of the tailgate in either one of a power mode and a manual mode, the closure operator including a driving member movable from a center position in opening and closing directions corresponding to movement of the closure toward an open position and a closed position, means defining a slot in the driving member, a driven member connected to the closure for moving the latter in the power mode and having a pin thereon engageable on the driving member in the slot, a reversible electric motor for moving the driving member in either one of the opening and closing directions, and a control circuit having a first manually actuable switch for energizing the motor to move the driving member away from the center position in either the opening or closing directions and a second switch responsive to the position of the driving member for reversing the motor to bring the driving member back to the center position and sequencing means for preventing reversing of the motor through the second switch until the first switch is deactuated. In the center position of the driving member the pin is located adjacent one or the other of the ends of the slot when the closure is in the open and closed positions so that movement of the closure in the manual mode effects lost motion between the driving and driven members as the pin traverses the length of the slot while movement of the driving member effects engagement between an end of the slot and the pin to effect movement of the driven member and the closure in the power mode.
Inventors
- 👤 N Cooper
- 👤 J Dozois
- 👤 B Wanlass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J5/00; B60J5/10; B60J5/101; B60J5/106; E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/60; E05F15/603; E05F15/611; E05F15/616; E05F15/619; E05F15/63; E05Y; E05Y2201/00; E05Y2201/20; E05Y2201/214; E05Y2201/23; E05Y2201/232; E05Y2201/24; E05Y2201/60; E05Y2201/622; E05Y2201/71; E05Y2201/722; E05Y2800/00; E05Y2800/74; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/546
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
386 words
In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supported thereon for movement in either one of a manual mode and a power mode between an open position remote from said opening and a closed position disposed in said opening, the combination comprising, a driving member supported on said vehicle body for movement from a center position in either one of a closing direction and an opening direction corresponding respectively to movement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the open position, drive means selectively operable to move said driving member in either one of said opening and said closing directions, a driven member operably connected to said closure for moving the latter in the power mode between the open and the closed positions thereof, means defining a slot on one of said driving and said driven members having a pair of opposite end portions, means defining a rigid abutment on the other of said driving and said driven members engageable on said one member in said slot, said driven member in the center position of said driving member locating the one of said slot and said abutment thereon relative to the other of said slot and said abutment in one of an extended position corresponding to the open position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent one of said end portions of said slot and a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent the other of said end portions of said slot so that movement of said closure in the manual mode effects concurrent movement of said abutment relative to said slot between said end portions of the latter, control means associated with said drive means manually actuable to energize the latter for moving said driving member from the center position in either one of said opening and closing directions thereby to effect engagement between said abutment and one of said end portions of said slot for moving said closure in the power mode toward the corresponding one of the open and the closed positions, and automatic reversing means associated with said drive means responsive to deactuation of said control means for effecting momentary reverse energization of said drive means to return said driving member to the center position thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
386 words
In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supported thereon for movement in either one of a manual mode and a power mode between an open position remote from said opening and a closed position disposed in said opening, the combination comprising, a driving member supported on said vehicle body for movement from a center position in either one of a closing direction and an opening direction corresponding respectively to movement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the open position, drive means selectively operable to move said driving member in either one of said opening and said closing directions, a driven member operably connected to said closure for moving the latter in the power mode between the open and the closed positions thereof, means defining a slot on one of said driving and said driven members having a pair of opposite end portions, means defining a rigid abutment on the other of said driving and said driven members engageable on said one member in said slot, said driven member in the center position of said driving member locating the one of said slot and said abutment thereon relative to the other of said slot and said abutment in one of an extended position corresponding to the open position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent one of said end portions of said slot and a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent the other of said end portions of said slot so that movement of said closure in the manual mode effects concurrent movement of said abutment relative to said slot between said end portions of the latter, control means associated with said drive means manually actuable to energize the latter for moving said driving member from the center position in either one of said opening and closing directions thereby to effect engagement between said abutment and one of said end portions of said slot for moving said closure in the power mode toward the corresponding one of the open and the closed positions, and automatic reversing means associated with said drive means responsive to deactuation of said control means for effecting momentary reverse energization of said drive means to return said driving member to the center position thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
386 words
In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supported thereon for movement in either one of a manual mode and a power mode between an open position remote from said opening and a closed position disposed in said opening, the combination comprising, a driving member supported on said vehicle body for movement from a center position in either one of a closing direction and an opening direction corresponding respectively to movement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the open position, drive means selectively operable to move said driving member in either one of said opening and said closing directions, a driven member operably connected to said closure for moving the latter in the power mode between the open and the closed positions thereof, means defining a slot on one of said driving and said driven members having a pair of opposite end portions, means defining a rigid abutment on the other of said driving and said driven members engageable on said one member in said slot, said driven member in the center position of said driving member locating the one of said slot and said abutment thereon relative to the other of said slot and said abutment in one of an extended position corresponding to the open position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent one of said end portions of said slot and a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent the other of said end portions of said slot so that movement of said closure in the manual mode effects concurrent movement of said abutment relative to said slot between said end portions of the latter, control means associated with said drive means manually actuable to energize the latter for moving said driving member from the center position in either one of said opening and closing directions thereby to effect engagement between said abutment and one of said end portions of said slot for moving said closure in the power mode toward the corresponding one of the open and the closed positions, and automatic reversing means associated with said drive means responsive to deactuation of said control means for effecting momentary reverse energization of said drive means to return said driving member to the center position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
386 words
In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supported thereon for movement in either one of a manual mode and a power mode between an open position remote from said opening and a closed position disposed in said opening, the combination comprising, a driving member supported on said vehicle body for movement from a center position in either one of a closing direction and an opening direction corresponding respectively to movement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the open position, drive means selectively operable to move said driving member in either one of said opening and said closing directions, a driven member operably connected to said closure for moving the latter in the power mode between the open and the closed positions thereof, means defining a slot on one of said driving and said driven members having a pair of opposite end portions, means defining a rigid abutment on the other of said driving and said driven members engageable on said one member in said slot, said driven member in the center position of said driving member locating the one of said slot and said abutment thereon relative to the other of said slot and said abutment in one of an extended position corresponding to the open position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent one of said end portions of said slot and a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent the other of said end portions of said slot so that movement of said closure in the manual mode effects concurrent movement of said abutment relative to said slot between said end portions of the latter, control means associated with said drive means manually actuable to energize the latter for moving said driving member from the center position in either one of said opening and closing directions thereby to effect engagement between said abutment and one of said end portions of said slot for moving said closure in the power mode toward the corresponding one of the open and the closed positions, and automatic reversing means associated with said drive means responsive to deactuation of said control means for effecting momentary reverse energization of said drive means to return said driving member to the center position thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
453 words
In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supported thereon for movement in either one of a manual mode and a power mode between an open position remote from said opening and a closed position disposed in said opening, the combination comprising, a driving member supported on said vehicle body for movement from a center position in either one of a closing direction and an opening direction corresponding respectively to movement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the open position, a reversible electric motor connected to said driving member and supported on said vehicle body for selective energization from a source of electrical energy to move said driving member in either one of said opening and said closing directions, a driven member operably connected to said closure for moving the latter in the power mode between the open and the closed positions thereof, means defining a slot on one of said driving and said driven members having a pair of opposite end portions, means defining a rigid abutment on the other of said driving and said driven members engageable on said one member in said slot, said driven member in the center position of said driving member locating the one of said slot and said abutment thereon relative to the other of said slot and said abutment in one of an extended position corresponding to the open position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent one end portion of said slot and a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent the other end portion of said slot so that movement of said closure in the manual mode effects concurrent movement of said abutment relative to said slot between said end portions of the latter, a first electrical switch disposed between said energy source and said electric motor manually actuable to energize the latter for pivotally moving said driving member from the center position in either one of said opening and said closing directions thereby to effect engagement between said abutment and one of said end portions of said slot for moving said closure in the power mode toward the corresponding one of the open and the closed positions, a second electrical switch disposed between said energy source and said electric motor responsive to the position of said driving member for energizing said motor in a reverse manner thereby to effect movement of said drive member toward the center position thereof, and switch sequencing means associated with each of said first and said second switches responsive to the condition of said first switch for preventing reverse energization of said motor simultaneously with actuation of said first switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
453 words
In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supported thereon for movement in either one of a manual mode and a power mode between an open position remote from said opening and a closed position disposed in said opening, the combination comprising, a driving member supported on said vehicle body for movement from a center position in either one of a closing direction and an opening direction corresponding respectively to movement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the open position, a reversible electric motor connected to said driving member and supported on said vehicle body for selective energization from a source of electrical energy to move said driving member in either one of said opening and said closing directions, a driven member operably connected to said closure for moving the latter in the power mode between the open and the closed positions thereof, means defining a slot on one of said driving and said driven members having a pair of opposite end portions, means defining a rigid abutment on the other of said driving and said driven members engageable on said one member in said slot, said driven member in the center position of said driving member locating the one of said slot and said abutment thereon relative to the other of said slot and said abutment in one of an extended position corresponding to the open position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent one end portion of said slot and a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent the other end portion of said slot so that movement of said closure in the manual mode effects concurrent movement of said abutment relative to said slot between said end portions of the latter, a first electrical switch disposed between said energy source and said electric motor manually actuable to energize the latter for pivotally moving said driving member from the center position in either one of said opening and said closing directions thereby to effect engagement between said abutment and one of said end portions of said slot for moving said closure in the power mode toward the corresponding one of the open and the closed positions, a second electrical switch disposed between said energy source and said electric motor responsive to the position of said driving member for energizing said motor in a reverse manner thereby to effect movement of said drive member toward the center position thereof, and switch sequencing means associated with each of said first and said second switches responsive to the condition of said first switch for preventing reverse energization of said motor simultaneously with actuation of said first switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |