US2994451A

US2994451A - Support for a hinged closure

Info

Publication number: US2994451A
Application number: US684891A
Authority: US
Inventors: William G Hoag; Robert C Liem
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1957-09-19
Filing date: 1957-09-19
Publication date: 1961-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1978-08-01

Description

1961 w. G. HOAG ETAL SUPPORT FOR A HINGED CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19, 1957 INVENTORS 21/ 29222? @241 1, 1961 w. G. HOAG ETAL SUPPORT FOR A HINGED CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1957 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Filed Sept. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 684,891 4 Claims. (Cl. 217-60) This invention relates to a support for a hinged closure, and more particularly to an improved latch device on a lift gate support for a station wagon.

One feature of the invention is that it provides an improved lift gate support for a station wagon; another feature of the invention is that it provides a pair of telescoping support channels having improved latch means for supporting the lift gate in open position and for permitting the lift gate to be closed without jamming the channels while using a minimum of space for the channels in closed or retracted position; a further feature of the invention is that it provides means for supporting a lift gate or other closure in open position including a pair of telescoping channels having a latch lever pivoted on one channel for engagement with holding means on the other channel, said latch lever having a latching tooth with a cam surface engageable by said other channel for preventing the latch lever from jamming the channels when the channels are in retracted position; and still another feature of the invention is that it provides a latch lever having a latching tooth with a blocking shoulder on one side for engagement with holding means and a cam shoulder on the other side for camming engagement with one of the telescoping channels to permit the channels to be moved from closed position toward open position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a station wagon incorporating the improved support device, the lift gate being shown closed in full lines and open in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through a portion of the structure of FIG. 1 along the line Z2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the support device partly in section along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 and showing the support with the lift gate closed;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 4- but showing the parts with the lift gate partially open;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary View similar to a portion of FIG. 4 but showing the parts with the lift gate fully open and latched; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

It is common practice to support the lift gate of a station wagon in open position by means of a pair of telescoping channels at each side of the lift gate. One of the channels, usually the inner one, carries a pivoted latch with a latching tooth thereon and the other channel is formed with a slot which mates with the latching tooth when the lift gate is open so that the latch may be swung to move the tooth into the slot and prevent the channels from collapsing or retracting. In the past the latching tooth has been formed with straight parallel opposite sides, one side of which acted as a blocking shoulder against the edge of the latch holding slot in the outer channel to hold the lift gate open. When the latch was constructed with a rectangular tooth of this type, it was not possible to so construct and mount the channels that the free end of the inner channel which carries the latch projected past the pivoted end of the outer channel when the lift gate was closed and the channels were in retracted position. If this construction were used, the latch might move to latched position so it would lock the channels in retracted position and make it difficult or impossible to open the lift gate from outside the automobile.

This invention provides a novel latch construction for use in the usual type of telescoping channel support. According to the invention, the latching tooth is .constructed with a blocking shoulder for engagement with the latching slot in the usual manner, but the opposite side of the tooth is formed as a cam surface. With this construction the channels may be so proportioned and so mounted that when in retracted position, the free end of the inner channel which carries the latch may project out past the pivoted end of the outer channel so that the channels occupy a minimum of space. When the channels are moved toward open position, the end of the outer channel engages the cam surface of the latch tooth and swings the latch out of the way so that the channels cannot lock themselves together. This construction saves space and permits mounting these channels in the best position to cooperate with the lift gate and body parts. The channels may be shorter than is the case in conventional known constructions, and at the same time, the lift gate may be swung to a wider open position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a station wagon designated generally as 10 has a roof 12 and a rear body pillar 14. A lift gate 16 is mounted on the body by hinge means 18. Any known type of hinge may be utilized and the hinge is not shown in detail. In the construction illustrated, a traveling pivot hinge is utilized to permit the station wagon lift gate to be swung up and spaced bodily from the station wagon body to permit more clearance room at the rear end of the station wagon. The improved latch construction permits the lift gate to be moved a considerable distance in this man ner without the use of excessively long and cumbersome support channels. When in open position, the station Wagon is supported by

telescoping channels

20, 22. As is well understood, the hinge structure and the telescoping channels are duplicated at the opposite side of the car.

The inner channel 20 is pivotally connected at one end to the station wagon lift gate and the inner channel extends into the outer channel in slidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extended (open) and retracted positions (closed) as indicated in FIG. 1. Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 7, one end of the inner channel is pivotally connected by a headed stud 24 to an arm 26a of a bracket 26 secured by bolts 28 to the station Wagon lift gate at one side thereof. One end of the outer channel 22 is pivotally connected to the body pillar 14. A bracket 39 is secured by bolts 32 to the body pillar and a headed stud 34 pivotally secures the channel 22 to the bracket 30. A spring washer 36 provides an anti-rattle device in this connection and a similar spring Washer 38 provides an anti-rattle device in the pivotal connection of the inner channel 26.

Adjacent its other or free end, the inner channel 20 pivotally mounts a latch designated generally as 40. This latch is in the form of an elongated lever pivotally mounted near its lower end on a stud 42 projecting from the base wall of the inner channel 20. Adjacent this stud there is a cam foot portion of the latch designated in the drawings as 44. The purpose and operation of this foot will later be described. Intermediate the ends of the latch, there is a manually operating handle 46 which projects through and is movable in a slot 48 in the inner channel and which rides in an opening between the turned edges of the outer channel so that the handle does not cause any interference in the sliding relationship of the two channels. Near the free upper end of the latch, there is an integral latch tooth 5% projecting at one side. This tooth is not formed with square or parallel sides but has one steep shoulder 52 which acts as a blocking or holding shoulder in cooperation with latch holding means later to be described and the latch tooth has another gently sloping cam shoulder 54 for camming engagement with the outer channel end to prevent jamming of the channels as later will be described. Adjacent its free end, the latch is connected to the inner channel by means of an overcenter spring 56. A slot 58 is provided in the side wall of the inner channel through which the latch tooth 50 may project. When the latch tooth is in the position of FIG. 5, the overcenter spring exerts a yieldable force or bias to urge the tooth into latching engagement with the outer channel, that is, toward the position of FIG. 6. However, when the latch is thrown over to the right as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5, the overcenter spring 56 exerts a bias to hold the latch lever in this inoperative position.

The outer channel 22 is formed in its side wall with latch holding means comprising a slot 60 for reception of the latch tooth 50 when the lift gate is open; that is, when the lift gate is swung up to the open position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, the channels are extended until the latch holding slot 69 in the outer channel is opposite the latch tooth 50 and the latch tooth may be projected into the slot to hold the lift gate open, the blocking shoulder 52 of the latch tooth engaging the upper edge of the slot 60 in the outer channel.

Means are provided for automatically kicking the latch to its latched position when the channels are fully extended as the lift gate is swung open. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is a clip device 64 mounted on the base wall of the outer channel in a location to engage the cam foot 44 of the latch lever and swing the latch lever into latching engagement with the latch holding notch 60 when the channels reach extended position. This device comprises U-shaped spring arms 64a which ride along the opposite side walls of the inner channel and serve an anti-rattle function. The base which interconnects the arms is formed with a depending mounting bracket portion 64b which is secured by rivets 66 to the base wall of the outer channel. As the channels approach fully extended position, the cam foot 44 of the latch lever strikes the clip device 64 to cam the latch lever into latching engagement with the slot 60 in the outer channel.

In order to lower the station wagon lift gate, the latch lever handle 46 is grasped by the fingers of the operator and moved to the right from the position of FIG. 6 to retract the latch tooth from the holding slot. If desired, the latch handle may be moved only a fraction of the permissible distance to the right to locate the latch tooth in the solid line position of FIG. 5 so that the spring exerts a bias back toward latching position. However, since there are latches at each opposite side of the car and since it is sometimes desirable to operate the latches one at a time, as when the operator has only one free hand, the overcenter spring 56 is so arranged that if the handle is thrown further to the right as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5, the spring bias will hold the latch lever in unlatched position. When it is desired to latch the lift gate open again, the extension of the channels to the position of FIG. 6 causes the cam foot 44 to strike the clip device 64 and cam the lever to latched position, throwing the spring 56 back overcenter to a position where it exerts a bias toward latched position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the construction may be such that the lift gate is raised bodily away from the automobile body to provide a larger access opening at the rear of the station wagon. This great range of movement of the lift gate would necessitate the use of relatively long telescoping channels without the invention as herein provided. According to the invention, the channels may be of approximately the same length and may be so located respectively on the lift gate and on the body pillar 14 that when in closed or retracted position, the free end of the inner channel 20 (which free end carries the latch lever 40) may extend past the pivoted end of the outer channel 22. This condition is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. If the latch tooth 50 were formed with a right angle lower edge, the channels would jam together since this lower edge would lock against the pivoted end of the upper channel when it was attempted to open the lift gate. The provision of the cam surface 54 on the latch tooth for camming engagement with the pivoted end of the outer channel permits the parts to be so arranged and located that the latch may pass by the end of the outer channel when in retracted position since the latch is merely cammed to the position of FIG. 5 by the end of the outer channel 22 as the channels move from retracted toward extended position.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting a hinged closure member in open position on a body member, comprising: an outer channel pivotally connected at one end to one of said members; an inner channel pivotally connected at one end to the other of said members and extending into said outer channel in slidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extended and retracted positions, the free end of the inner channel extending past the pivoted end of the outer channel when in retracted position; a latch lever pivotally mounted on said inner channel adjacent the free end thereof, the latch lever being beyond the pivoted end of the outer channel when the channels are in retracted position, the outer channel having latch holding means adjacent its free end and said latch lever having a latch tooth with a blocking shoulder on one side engageable with said latch holding means when the channels are extended to hold the closure mem ber in open position, said latch tooth being formed with a cam shoulder on its other side for camming engagement with the pivoted end of said outer channel when the channels move from retracted position to cam said latch out of the path of movement of said outer channel when the closure member is moved from closed position toward open position; means for camming the latch lever into engagement with said latch holding means when the channels reach extended position; and manual means on the latch lever for moving the latch lever out of engagement with said holding means.

2. Apparatus for supporting a hinged closure member in open position on a body member, comprising: an outer channel pivotally connected at one end to said member; an inner channel pivotally connected at one end to said closure member and extending into said outer channel in slidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extended and retracted positions, the free end of the inner channel extending past the pivoted end of the outer channel when in retracted position; a latch lever pivotally mounted on said inner channel adjacent the free end thereof, the latch lever being beyond the pivoted end of the outer channel when the channels are in retracted position, the outer channel having a latch holding slot adjacent its free end and said latch member having a latch tooth with a blocking shoulder on one side engageable with the edge of the slot when the channels are extended to hold the closure member in the open position, said latch being formed with a cam shoulder on its other side for camming engagement with the pivoted end of said outer channel when the channels move from retracted position to cam said latch out of the path of movement of said outer channel when the closure member is moved from closed position toward open position; means on the outer channel for camming the latch lever to move the latching tooth into said latch holding slot when the channels reach extended position; manual means on the latch lever for moving the latch lever out of engagement with said slot; and an overcenter spring connected to said latch lever for biasing said latch lever in a latching direction when in one position and in an unlatching direction when in another position.

3. Apparatus 'for supporting a hinged closure member in open position on a body member, comprising: an outer channel pivotally connected at one end to one of said members; an inner channel pivotally connected at one end to the other of said members and extending into said outer channel in slidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extended and retracted positions, the free end of the inner channel extending past the pivoted end of the outer channel when in retracted position when the closure member is closed; a latch lever pivotally mounted on said inner channel adjacent the free end thereof, the latch lever being beyond the farthest extremity of the pivoted end of the outer channel when the channels are in retracted position, the outer channel having latch holding means adjacent its free end and said latch lever having a latch tooth with a blocking shoulder on one side engageable with said latch holding means when the channels are extended to hold the closure member in open position, said latch tooth being formed with a cam shoulder on its other side for camming engagement with the pivoted end of said outer channel when the channels move from retracted position to cam said latch out of the path of movement of said outer channel when the closure member moves from closed position toward open position.

4. Apparatus for supporting a hinged closure member in open position on a body member, comprising: an outer channel pivotally connected at one end to one of said members; an inner channel pivotally connected at one end to the other of said members and extending into said outer channel in slidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extended and retracted positions, the free end of the inner channel extending past the pivoted end of the outer channel when in retracted position when the closure member is closed; a latch lever pivotally mounted on said inner channel adjacent the free end thereof, the entire body of the latch lever being beyond the farthest extremity of the pivoted end of the outer channel when the channels are in retracted position, the outer channel having latch holding means adjacent its free end and said latch lever having a latch tooth with a blocking shoulder on one side engageable with said latch holding means when the channels are extended to hold the closure member in open position, said latch tooth being formed with a cam shoulder on its other side for camming engagement with the pivoted end of said outer channel when the channels move from retracted position to cam said latch out of the path of movement of said outer channel when the closure member is moved :from closed position toward open position; and means for camming the latch lever into engagement with said latch holding means when the channels reach extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,229,513 Lustig Ian. 21, 1941 2,288,925 Simpson July 7, 1942 2,566,182 Flynn Aug. 28, 1951 2,880,029 Allen Mar. 31, 1959