Decklid hinge with motor to automate opening and closing

• US 7,293,819 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Closures Inc (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: M and C Corporation
• Inventors: Duffy, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow; Jason S
• Application Number:
  US11/278,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20070228763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 296/76, 296/146.8, 296/146.4, 492/80, 493/40, 493/45, 493/49, 493/54, 493/59
• US Class Current: 296/76
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids

Abstract

A vehicle decklid displacement mechanism includes a linkage for leveraging displacement of the lid with respect to a vehicle body, an extension strut having spring means biasing the ends of the strut away from each other and a motorized crank. The crank is driven by the motor for pivotal engagement with the extendable strut so that the combined leverage of the linkage and the biasing of the strut geometrically urge the decklid to an open position. A position of the crank is adjusted by the motor to retract the decklid from its fully open position, at which point the weight of the lid overcomes the leverage of the linkage and the biasing of the extendable strut to displace the decklid toward its open position.

Claims

1. A vehicle decklid displacement mechanism for displacing a decklid pivotally secured to a vehicle body, comprising:

a linkage for displacing a lid with respect to vehicle body comprising at least one mounting carrying said decklid and a pivot mechanism for leveraging said mounting with respect to said vehicle body,

wherein said pivot mechanism comprises at least one extension strut having ends and spring means biasing one said end away from a second said end, an actuator lever pivotally coupled to one of said first and second ends of said extension strut,

a motor for driving said actuator lever to and between a first closing position and at least one extended opening position, whereby with said lever in said opening position, said linkage and said strut urge said mounting and said lid to an open position, and with said lever in said closed position, said linkage and said strut enable said lid to descend to said closed position, and

wherein said pivot mechanism comprises a four bar linkage.

2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one strut comprises spaced first and second struts.

3. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one mounting comprises spaced first and second mountings.

4. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said mount comprises a link in said four bar linkage and wherein said link is pivotally secured to the other of said first and second ends.

5. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein at least one of said vehicle body and said lid comprises a latch for retaining said lid in said closed position.

6. The invention as described in claim 5 and further comprising a control having first actuator for releasing said latch, a second actuator for displacing said lever from said close to said open position.

7. The invention as described in claim 6 wherein said first actuator and said second actuator comprise sequential activations of a single selector.

8. A method for automating opening and closing of a decklid pivotally secured to a vehicle body, the method comprising:

positioning a linkage for displacing the decklid with respect to the vehicle body including a mounting carrying the decklid and a pivot mechanism for leveraging said mounting with respect to said body,

providing said pivot mechanism with at least one extension strut having end and spring means biasing one said end away from a second said end,

providing an actuator lever pivotally coupled to one of said first and second ends of said extension strut,

actuating a motor to displace said actuator lever for displacement to and between a first closing position and at least one extended opening position, whereby with said lever in said opening position, said linkage and said strut combinationally urge said mounting and said lid to an open position, sand with said lever in said closed position, said linkage and said strut combinationally enable said lid to descend to said closed position, and

wherein said vehicle body has a body opening defined by a peripheral channel, and said positioning and said providing steps occur within said channel.

9. The invention as described in claim 8 wherein said actuating comprises unlatching said decklid before displacing said actuator lever.

10. The invention as described in claim 9 wherein said actuating comprises first and second manipulations of a single selector.

11. A vehicle decklid displacement mechanism for displacing a decklid pivotally secured to a vehicle body, comprising:

a linkage for displacing a lid with respect to vehicle body comprising at least one mounting carrying said decklid and a pivot mechanism for leveraging said mounting with respect to said vehicle body,

wherein said pivot mechanism comprises at least one extension strut having ends and spring means biasing one said end away from a second said end, an actuator lever pivotally coupled to one of said first and second ends of said extension strut, and

a motor for driving said actuator lever to and between a first closing position and at least one extended opening position, whereby with said lever in said opening position, said linkage and said strut urge said mounting and said lid to an open position, and with said lever in said closed position, said linkage and said strut enable said lid to descend to said closed position, and

wherein said vehicle body has a body opening peripherally defined by a channel, and wherein said linkage and said actuator lever are installed in said channel.