Articulating closure mechanism for non-aligned closure panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981533-B2
Application number	US-201615217458-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2016
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A liftgate/decklid assembly for a motor vehicle includes a liftgate panel hingedly connected to the vehicle to define a liftgate swing arc. A decklid panel is hingedly connected to the liftgate panel to define a decklid swing arc. The decklid and liftgate panels are not aligned, causing the decklid swing arc to be different from the liftgate swing arc. The assembly further includes a liftgate/decklid assembly closure mechanism including an articulating striker configured for translation between a first orientation and a second orientation. The first orientation is normal to the liftgate swing arc and the second orientation is normal to the decklid swing arc.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A closure mechanism for a liftgate/decklid assembly of a vehicle, comprising a striker which articulates between a first orientation positioning a striker latch-engaging surface normal to a first swing arc and a second orientation positioning the striker latch-engaging surface normal to a second swing arc that is different from the first swing arc.

2. The closure mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first swing arc is a decklid swing arc and the second orientation is a liftgate swing arc.

3. The closure mechanism of claim 1 , further including an actuator to bias the striker between the first orientation and the second orientation.

4. The closure mechanism of claim 3 , further including a mounting bracket providing two guide slots for guiding the striker between the first and the second orientation.

5. The closure mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the striker includes two guide pins for engaging the two guide slots.

6. The closure mechanism of claim 3 , further including a drive link operatively connecting the actuator and the striker.

7. The closure mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the drive link pivots about a fixed pivot point to bias the striker between the first and the second orientation.

8. The closure mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the striker pivots about a fixed pivot point to translate between the first and the second orientation.

9. A vehicle including the closure mechanism of claim 1 .

10. A liftgate/decklid assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a liftgate panel hingedly connected to the vehicle and having a liftgate swing arc;
a decklid panel hingedly connected to the liftgate panel and having a decklid swing arc that is different from the liftgate swing arc; and
a closure mechanism comprising a striker which articulates between a first orientation positioning a striker latch-engaging surface normal to the decklid swing arc and a second orientation positioning the striker latch-engaging surface normal to the liftgate swing arc.

11. The liftgate/decklid assembly of claim 10 , further including an actuator to bias the striker between the first orientation and the second orientation.

12. The liftgate/decklid assembly of claim 11 , further including a mounting bracket providing two guide slots for guiding the striker between the first and the second orientation.

13. The liftgate/decklid assembly of claim 12 , wherein the striker includes two guide pins for engaging the two guide slots.

14. The liftgate/decklid assembly of claim 11 , further including a drive link operatively connecting the actuator and the striker.

15. The liftgate/decklid assembly of claim 14 , wherein the drive link pivots about a fixed pivot point to bias the striker between the first and the second orientation.

16. The liftgate/decklid assembly of claim 14 , wherein the striker pivots about a fixed pivot point to translate between the first and the second orientation.

17. A vehicle including the liftgate/decklid assembly of claim 10 .

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Elia Paul
• Iacovoni Donald P
• Heirtzler Paul L
• Hausler Henry W
• Doyle John Patrick

Classifications

• B60J5/107 Primary

  constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements · CPC title

• B60J5/104 Primary

  where lower door part optionally moves independently, or follows as component the movement of the entire door structure, e.g. by being hinged in a door frame or releasably connected to upper door part · CPC title

• E05B83/18

  for car boot lids or rear luggage compartments · CPC title

• E05C19/024

  with a bifurcated latch · CPC title

• B62D25/12

  Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) · CPC title