# US 10,871,019 B2 · Closure panel extension mechanism with multiple springs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,019 B2 - Document ID: US10871019B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/247,221 - Filed: 2019-01-14 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-15 - Applicants: Magna Closures Inc. - Inventors: Joseph Scheuring; Wieslaw Nowicki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871019B2 ## CPC - E05F 1/1058: {for counterbalancing} - E05F 1/1238: {specially adapted for vehicles} - E05Y 2201/246: by auxiliary motors, magnets, springs or weights - E05Y 2201/416: for counterbalancing - E05Y 2800/244: arranged in serial relationship - E05Y 2900/532: Back doors or end doors - E05Y 2900/548: Trunk lids - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract An extension mechanism for coupling with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel of a vehicle between a fully closed position and a fully open position of the closure panel, the extension mechanism including: an inner tube having an outer surface; an outer tube having an inner surface and overlapping the inner tube for at least a portion of the outer surface along an extension axis, such that the inner surface and the outer surface are adjacent to one another when overlapped; a first spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the outer tube; a second spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the inner tube; a seal positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface; and a stopper to engage the first spring at one end and engage the second spring at an opposite end such that the first spring and the second spring are in series with one another along the extension axis; wherein the one end and the opposite end are spaced apart from one another such that the seal is positioned between the one and opposite end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An extension mechanism for coupling with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel of a vehicle between a fully closed position and a fully open position of the closure panel, the extension mechanism including: an inner tube having an outer surface; an outer tube having an inner surface and overlapping the inner tube for at least a portion of the outer surface along an extension axis, such that the inner surface and the outer surface are adjacent to one another when overlapped; a first spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the outer tube; a second spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the inner tube; a seal positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface; and a stopper to engage the first spring at one end and engage the second spring at an opposite end such that the first spring and the second spring are in series with one another along the extension axis; wherein the one end and the opposite end are spaced apart from one another such that the seal is positioned between the one end and the opposite end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The extension mechanism of claim 1, further comprising the stopper slideable within the outer tube along the extension axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The extension mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first spring expands before the second spring begins to expand. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The extension mechanism of claim 1, wherein the extension mechanism is a component of a counterbalance mechanism for the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The extension mechanism of claim 2 further comprising the stopper having a sleeve with a first abutting surface at the one end to engage with the second spring and a second abutting surface at the opposite end to engage with the first spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The extension mechanism of claim 5, wherein the second abutting surface at the opposite end is provided as an upstanding lip from the sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The extension mechanism of claim 5, wherein the first abutting surface at the one end is provided as an upstanding lip from the sleeve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The extension mechanism of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the stopper at the one end is greater than a diameter of the stopper at the other end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The extension mechanism of claim 5 further comprising a depression in the sleeve for allowing the stopper to slide relative to the seal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The extension mechanism of claim 5, wherein a length of the sleeve along the extension axis defines a distance between the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The extension mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a third spring positioned in a support tube in the interior of the inner tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The extension mechanism of claim 5, wherein the sleeve is a hollow tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The extension mechanism of claim 5, wherein the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface are ring like structures connected to the sleeve. ### Claim 14 An extension mechanism for coupling with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel of a vehicle between a fully closed position and a fully open position of the closure panel, the extension mechanism including: an inner tube having an outer surface; an outer tube having an inner surface and overlapping the inner tube for at least a portion of the outer surface along an extension axis, such that the inner surface and the outer surface are adjacent to one another when overlapped; a first spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the outer tube; a second spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the inner tube; and a stopper to engage the first spring at one end and engage the second spring at an opposite end such that the first spring and the second spring are in series with one another along the extension axis; wherein the stopper is configured to move during one of an expansion or a compression of at least one of the first spring and the second spring. ### Claim 15 A method for operating an extension mechanism coupled with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel of a vehicle between a fully closed position and a fully open position of the closure panel, the method comprising the steps of: moving an inner tube relative to an outer tube during said opening and closing, the inner tube having an outer surface, the outer tube having an inner surface and overlapping the inner tube for at least a portion of the outer surface along an extension axis, such that the inner surface and the outer surface are adjacent to one another when overlapped, a seal being positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface; expanding or contracting a first spring, the first spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the outer tube; expanding or contracting a second spring, the second spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the inner tube; and engaging by a first end of the stopper the first spring at one end and the second spring at an opposite second end of the stopper such that the first spring and the second spring are in series with one another along the extension axis; wherein the first end and the second end are spaced apart from one another such that the seal is positioned between the first and second end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising the stopper slideable within the outer tube along the extension axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first spring expands before the second spring begins to expand. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising the stopper having a sleeve with a first abutting surface at the one end to engage with the second spring and a second abutting surface at the opposite end to engage with the first spring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a diameter of the stopper at the one end is greater than a diameter of the stopper at the other end. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising a depression in the sleeve for retaining the seal.