Bi-directional lever for activating automotive liftgate lock mechanism
AssigneeLear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
InventorsSteven S. Sauerbrey, Shuxian Huang, Gerald S. McLean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bi-directional bypass lever assembly for activating an automotive liftgate lock mechanism includes a resetable spring-biased lever that is coupled to an automotive liftgate locking mechanism. The spring-biased lever resets itself automatically upon completion of both the locking mode and unlocking mode by the liftgate lock mechanism.
Claims16
A bi-directional lever assembly for activating an automotive liftgate lock mechanism comprising:
- a drive member having an elongated shaft with a first end and a second end, the first end having an annular portion, the annular portion having a slot and a frustum shaped portion, the second end having a flat portion for receiving another member;
- a rotatable member journaled to the drive member, the rotatable member having a tip with a pair of diverging arms extending therefrom, the arms form a semicircular base at a distal end, the base having an opening to provide rotational movement;
- and
- a biasing member having an angled segment connected to the drive member for resetting the rotatable member to a desirable position.
A multi-functional apparatus for an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a housing connected to said motor;
- a first gear connected to said motor and extending into said housing;
- a driven gear meshed with said first gear, said driven gear located within said housing;
- a driving surface protruding from said driven gear;
- a first intermittent motion mechanism selectively driven by one of said gears for selectively operating a first device;
- a second intermittent motion mechanism selectively driven by one of said gears for selectively operating a second device;
- and
- at least a section of a biasing member externally mounted to at least one of said mechanisms for biasing said mechanism from a first orientation to a second orientation.
A bi-directional apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a drive member having an elongated shaft with an annular portion, said annular portion having a slot;
- a rotatable member coupled to said drive member, said rotatable member having a tip, a pair of diverging external surfaces of said rotatable member extending from said tip, a base of said rotatable member having an opening to receive said elongated shaft;
- and
- a biasing member having an angled segment, said biasing member being connected to said drive member and said rotatable member, said biasing member operably serving to bias said rotatable member to a desirable position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.