Patent ID: 6874837
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: B62D,E05F,E05Y,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An automotive vehicle comprising: a cargo box; a plurality of roadwheels located under said cargo box; a closure panel for said cargo box, with said closure panel comprising: a door adapted to pivot about a generally horizontal pivot axis, with said door having a shell defining an interior space; a hinge half attached to a first end of said door shell; a first pivot post rigidly attached to a structure of said cargo box and operatively engaged with said hinge half; a hinge bearing retainer attached to a second end of said door and having a bearing insert housed therein; a second pivot post rigidly attached to a structure of said cargo box, with said second pivot post engaging said bearing insert such that said second pivot post and said bearing insert are rotationally locked; and a full floating torsion bar comprising: a first end rotationally grounded to said shell of said door; a second end engaged with and rotationally locked with said bearing insert such that said torsion bar will be subjected to torsional loading as said door is pivoted; and a torsional reaction section mediate said first end and said second end, with at least a portion of said torsional reaction section extending outside the interior space of said door.