| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090184533 | Vehicle Endgate Hinge Assembly - A vehicle endgate hinge assembly is disclosed. The hinge assembly has a bodyside hinge strap including a hinge support boss extending through the endgate opening shut-face and having a central hole that is coaxial with the endgate pivot axis, a mounting plate located outboard of the shut-face, and a threaded portion extending from the mounting plate through the shut-face. The hinge assembly may have a crank including a hinge key pivotally coupled to a member mounted on the endgate, a pivot shaft extending from the hinge key through the central hole, a lever arm extending from the pivot shaft normal to the endgate pivot axis, and a ball extending from the lever arm spaced from the endgate pivot axis. A nut is located inboard of the endgate opening shut-face and threadably received on the threaded portion, and an energy storage mechanism is coupled to the ball. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090250577 | Endgate Hinge for Motor Vehicle Having Dual Pivot Axes - An assembly for opening and closing a cargo opening of a motor vehicle includes first and second posts located at opposite lateral sides of the cargo opening, the second post being spaced laterally from the first post, an endgate able to open and close the cargo opening, and first, second and third brackets, each bracket secured to one of the posts and the endgate, and defining a lateral axis and an upright axis. The first bracket is secured to the first post. The second bracket is secured to the second post such that the lateral axis of the second bracket is aligned with the lateral axis of the first bracket. The third bracket is secured to the first post at an elevation higher than an elevation of the first bracket such that the upright axis of the third bracket is aligned with the upright axis of the first bracket. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090250959 | Motor Vehicle Endgate Hinge Having Dual Pivot Axes - An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into the body of a motor vehicle includes a post secured to the body at a lateral side of the passageway, an endgate for opening and closing the passageway, and a hinge secured to the endgate and the post. The hinge defines a lateral axis and supports the endgate for pivoting about the lateral axis relative to the post, and the hinge defines an upright axis and supports the endgate for pivoting about the upright axis relative to the post. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090250960 | HINGE AND CATCH ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ENDGATE SYSTEM - An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into the body of a vehicle includes a post secured to the body at a lateral side of the passageway, an endgate for opening and closing the passageway and able to swing alternately about a lateral axis and an upright axis, a pivot support secured to the first post and aligned with the lateral axis, and a pivot secured to the endgate and aligned with the lateral axis, for alternately engaging and disengaging the pivot support, with the engagement supporting the endgate for pivoting about the lateral axis, and with the disengagement permitting the endgate to pivot about the upright axis. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090250961 | Endgate Hinge for Motor Vehicle Having Dual Pivot Axes - An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into a motor vehicle includes an endgate for opening and closing the passageway. First, second and third brackets are secured to the endgate, each bracket including a socket, a ball retained in the socket and a rod secured to the ball, the rod being able to pivot about an upright axis into alignment with a lateral axis, the first bracket being secured to the body at a first lateral side of the passageway, the second bracket being secured to the body at a second lateral side of the passageway opposite the first side, and the third bracket being secured to the body at the first lateral side and at an elevation such that the upright axis of the third bracket is aligned with the upright axis of the first bracket. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090274531 | Universal Cargo Rail Clamp - An adjustable clamp assembly for attaching an accessory to a vehicle having a cargo rail. The assembly includes a rail clamp member attachable to the cargo rail and an adjustable clasp catcher operatively attached to the rail clamp member. A clasp is configured to selectively interface with one of at least two attachment features on the adjustable clasp catcher. An accessory fitting configured to accept attachment of the vehicle accessory is connected with respect to the clasp such that the accessory fitting is selectively attachable to the adjustable clasp catcher, thereby capable of attaching the accessory to the vehicle through the cargo rail. A locking member may be operatively attached to the clasp and configured to selectively exert a locking force between the clasp and adjustable clasp catcher. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100084885 | Viscous Rotary Damper for Vehicle End Gate Assembly - A viscous rotary damping device for a vehicle end gate assembly is provided. The damping device includes a housing member configured to operatively attach to the vehicle body or the end gate assembly. The housing member defines a fluid chamber having viscous fluid therein. The damping device also includes an impeller member having a mast with a first end configured to operatively attach to the other of the vehicle body and the end gate assembly, and a second end having one or more blades projecting outward therefrom. The second end of the mast is rotatably received in the fluid chamber such that the impeller member dissipates kinetic energy generated by the end gate assembly when transitioning between a first, closed position and a second, open position. A cover plate member is preferably coupled to the housing member, and configured to fluidly seal the fluid chamber. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100119324 | Clinch Nut to Prevent Corrosion - A clinch nut is used to attach a first panel and a second panel with a space therebetween for accepting a liquid primer. The body has a nut face for abutting a first panel and a threaded aperture through the nut body for receiving a threaded bolt. The nut face has grooves into which the first panel is deformed to clinch the nut body to the first panel. An abutment rises from the nut face a distance greater than the thickness of the first panel so that upon the bolting of the second panel to the first panel by the insertion of the threaded bolt into the threaded aperture of the nut body, the second panel will be spaced from the first panel by the abutment thereby assuring that the liquid primer can flow between the first and second panels. | 05-13-2010 |
