Swing Door Control Linkage

A method for operating a linear actuator assembly (30) for a closure panel (14) of a vehicle (10), the linear actuator assembly (30) having a linear actuator (26) for mounting in an interior (17) of a frame (15) of the closure panel and having an extensible member (32) for extending through an aperture (43) in the frame, the extensible member configured for extension and retraction with respect to the interior along a linear axis (33) of the linear actuator, the method including the steps of:

• extending the extensible member through the aperture in the frame (15) and along the linear axis in order to position the closure panel (14) from a closed position towards an open position;
• inhibiting lateral movement of the extensible member with respect to the linear axis during extending the extensible member through the aperture;
• while the extensible member being extended, a linkage (24) operationally first pivots at one end (28′) and also operationally second pivots at another end (34′), the linkage coupled to the extensible member at the one end and coupled to a body at the another end;
• and
• maintaining by the linkage the one end (28′) at a constant distance from the another end (34′) during extension of the extensible member through the aperture.

A linear actuator assembly (30) for a closure panel (14) of a vehicle (10) comprising:

• a linear actuator (26) for mounting in an interior (17) of a body (12) of the vehicle and having an extensible member (32) for extending through an aperture (43) in the body, the extensible member configured for extension and retraction with respect to the interior along a linear axis (33) of the linear actuator, the body having the aperture opposite a shut face (35) of a frame (15) of the closure panel;
• a sealing member (36) for positioning on the body adjacent to the extensible member for inhibiting foreign matter from entering the interior from an exterior of the body, the sealing member inhibiting lateral movement of the extensible member with respect to the linear axis;
• and
• a linkage (24) operationally first connecting at one end (28′) to the extensible member and for operationally second connecting at another end (34′) to the frame (12), such that both the one end and the another end are located externally to the interior of the body being both to one side of the aperture.