Articulating closure mechanism for non-aligned closure panels

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 member configured for translating a portion of the closure mechanism between an orientation normal to the liftgate swing arc and an orientation normal to the decklid swing arc.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.