Dennis R Reid

US Patent:

6516567, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Jan 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/766179

Inventors:

Bruce Stone - Waterford MI
Michael Turk - Waterford MI
Jeffrey Kolar - Livonia MI
Jose Garcia - Troy MI
Dennis Reid - Rochester MI

Assignee:

Hi-Lex Corporation - Battle Creek MI

International Classification:

E05F 1124

US Classification:

49343, 49337, 296 55

Abstract:

A power actuator for lifting a pivotal lift gate closing an access opening in a motor vehicle body. The actuator includes a lower tubular housing; a lead screw having a lower head portion journaled in a lower portion of the tubular housing and a threaded shaft portion extending upwardly from the head portion within the tubular housing; a tubular extender rod positioned slidably and telescopically within the tubular housing in concentric surrounding relation to the shaft portion of the lead screw and including a nut structure proximate a lower end thereof threadably engaging the shaft portion of the lead screw; a pivotal mounting structure on the lower end of the tubular housing to pivotally mount the lower end of the tubular housing to a side edge of the access opening; a pivotal mounting structure on the upper end of the tubular extender rod for pivotally mounting the extender rod to the lift gate; an electric motor positioned on the motor vehicle body proximate the access opening; and a flexible cable extending from the output of the motor and passing through an aperture in the lower end of the tubular housing for driving engagement with the head portion of the lead screw. The cable is mounted for rotation about a lengthwise axis of the cable whereby actuation of the motor moves the tubular extender rod axially relative to the tubular housing and provides opening or closing movement of the gate.

US Patent:

6553719, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Oct 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687751

Inventors:

Bruce Stone - Waterford MI
Michael Turk - Waterford MI
Jeffrey Kolar - Livonia MI
Jose Garcia - Troy MI
Dennis Reid - Rochester MI

Assignee:

Hi-Lex Corporation - Battle Creek MI

International Classification:

E05F 1154

US Classification:

49358, 49360, 49352

Abstract:

A motorized sliding door mechanism for a motor vehicle having a body structure having a door opening and door. The mechanism includes a motor and drum assembly mounted on the door and a cable system including cable runs anchored to spaced points on the body structure. One cable run is wrapped in one direction around the drum and extends to an anchor point proximate the rear edge of the door opening of the body structure and a second run is wrapped around the drum in an opposite direction and extends to a point at the rear end of a rear guide track for the door which is mounted to the body structure. The cable runs extend from the drum to the anchor points via a pivotal hinge and a guide block at the rear of the door for guiding the sliding movement of the door.