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Electrically-controlled tailgate operator

  • US 5,449,212 A
  • Filed: 01/28/1994
  • Issued: 09/12/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An electrically-controlled tailgate operator for moving a tailgate of a vehicle between a generally vertical raised position and a generally horizontal lowered position, comprising:

  • a housing;

    a linear actuator enclosed within the housing, the actuator including a rotatable, horizontally-extending externally-threaded worm screw having first and second ends, and an internally-threaded ball nut in threaded engagement with the wormscrew, the ball nut having a sheave attached thereto;

    a flexible cable having a first end for attachment to the tailgate and a second end attached to the housing, the cable being routed around the sheave; and

    an electrical motor coupled to the second end of the worm screw for rotating the worm screw either in a first direction around its axis to move the ball nut linearly toward the first end of the worm screw, or in a second direction around its axis to move the ball nut linearly toward the second end of the worm screw.

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