Vehicle body compartment panel mounting arrangement

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle body including a generally upwardly oriented compartment opening and a closure member therefor, a mounting arrangement for the closure member comprising: means slidably mounting the rear end of the closure member on the vehicle body adjacent the rear end of the compartment opening; an elongated support member extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle body with the forward end thereof pivoted to the forward end of the closure member transversely of the vehicle body; and vehicle body mounted means slidably mounting the support member for bodily shifting movement longitudinally of the vehicle body between a rearward position where the closure member is in a closed position relative to the compartment opening and a forward position where the closure member is in a generally forwardly translated partially open position with the pivotal connection to the closure member located above the adjacent confines of the vehicle body and with the closure member located generally within the horizontal confines of the vehicle body, the closure member being movable between the partially open position and a fully open position about the pivotal connection to the support member to selectively allow access to the compartment opening, and the closure member being located generally above the adjacent upper vehicle body confines and within the horizontal vehicle body confines while in the fully open position so that the horizontal portions of the vehicle defining these horizontal confines are accessible with the closure member in this position.

Claim 3

In combination with a vehicle body including a generally upwardly oriented compartment opening and a closure member therefor, a mounting arrangement for the closure member comprising: means slidably mounting the rear end of the closure member on the vehicle body adjacent the rear end of the compartment opening; an elongated channel member extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle body with the forward end thereof pivoted to the forward end of the closure member transversely of the vehicle body; and vehicle body mounted roller means received within the channel member and supporting the channel member for bodily shifting movement longitudinally of the vehicle body between a rearward position where the closure member is in a closed position relative to the compartment opening and a forward position where the closure member is in a generally forwardly translated partially open position with the pivotal connection to the support member located above the adjacent confines of the vehicle body, the closure member being movable between the partially open position and a fully open position about the pivotal connection to the support member to selectively allow access to the compartment opening.

Claim 4

In combination with a vehicle body including a generally upwardly oriented compartment opening and a closure member therefor, a mounting arrangement for the closure member comprising: means slidably mounting the rear end of the closure member on the vehicle body adjacent the rear end of the compartment opening; an elongated channel member extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle body with the forward end thereof pivoted to the forward end of the closure member transversely of the vehicle body; and vehicle body mounted roller means received within the channel member and supporting the channel member for bodily shifting movement longitudinally of the vehicle body between a rearward position where the closure member is in a closed position relative to the compartment opening and a forward position where the closure member is in a generally forwardly translated partially open position with the pivotal connection to the support member located above the adjacent confines of the vehicle body, the closure member being movable between the partially open position and a fully open position about the pivotal connection to the support member to selectively allow access to the compartment opening.

Claim 5

In combination with a vehicle body including a generally upwardly oriented compartment opening and a closure member therefor, a mounting arrangement for the closure member comprising: means slidably mounting the rear end of the closure member on the vehicle body adjacent the rear end of the compartment opening; an elongated channel member including a forward portion pivoted to the forward end of the closure member transversely of the vehicle body and extending rearwardly from the pivotal connection generally longitudinally of the vehicle body, an intermediate portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from the forward portion, and a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the inTermediate portion generally longitudinally of the vehicle body; and front and rear body mounted roller means respectively received within the forward and rearward portions of the channel member to support the channel member for bodily shifting movement longitudinally of the vehicle body as the closure member moves in a generally translatory manner between a closed position relative to the compartment opening and a second position forward thereof, the front roller means being received within the intermediate portion of the channel member to raise and lower the forward ends of the channel member and the closure member during longitudinal movement of the closure member between the second position and a partially open position forward thereof, and the pivotal connection between the forward ends of the closure member and channel member being located above the adjacent confines of the vehicle body when the closure member is in the partially open position to permit pivotal closure member movement about this connection between the partially open position and a fully open position and thereby allowing access to the compartment opening.

Claim 6

In combination with a vehicle body including a generally upwardly oriented compartment opening and a closure member therefor, a mounting arrangement for the closure member comprising: means slidably mounting the rear end of the closure member on the vehicle body adjacent the rear end of the compartment opening; an elongated channel member including a forward portion pivoted to the forward end of the closure member transversely of the vehicle body and extending rearwardly from the pivotal connection generally longitudinally of the vehicle body, an intermediate portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from the forward portion, and a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the inTermediate portion generally longitudinally of the vehicle body; and front and rear body mounted roller means respectively received within the forward and rearward portions of the channel member to support the channel member for bodily shifting movement longitudinally of the vehicle body as the closure member moves in a generally translatory manner between a closed position relative to the compartment opening and a second position forward thereof, the front roller means being received within the intermediate portion of the channel member to raise and lower the forward ends of the channel member and the closure member during longitudinal movement of the closure member between the second position and a partially open position forward thereof, and the pivotal connection between the forward ends of the closure member and channel member being located above the adjacent confines of the vehicle body when the closure member is in the partially open position to permit pivotal closure member movement about this connection between the partially open position and a fully open position and thereby allowing access to the compartment opening.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 wherein the closure member and vehicle body include respective locking members that are slidingly engaged during the rearward translation of the closure member to closed position to prevent upward opening movement of the closure member from closed position.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 3 wherein the channel member includes an abruptly curved portion through which one of the roller means passes just prior to the forwardly moving closure member reaching the partially open position to selectively maintain the channel member against rearward movement during pivoting of the closure member between the partially and fully open positions.