Patent ID: 6405486
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate that is pivotally attached to an aft end of a vehicle roof for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position about a hinge axis comprising:at least one drive unit that includes a reversible electric motor, a track and a segmented drive linkage that is driven by the electric motor and that slides in the track, the segmented drive linkage being adapted for pivotal attachment to a vehicle liftgate at one end for pivotal movement about a first axis that is parallel to the hinge axis, the segmented drive linkage including a flexible drive member at the other end that is driven by the electric motor, and the flexible drive member including plates that articulate with respect to each other about axes that are parallel to the first axis.