Patent Abstract:
A latch system for a liftgate of a motor vehicle. The system includes a handle rotatable relative to the liftgate. The system also includes a switch having a first contact biased apart from a second contact by a biasing member. The first contact is movable relative to the second contact to close the switch upon rotation of the handle. The system further includes a power actuation system in communication with and responsive to the switch to move the liftgate from the closed position to the opened position when the switch is in the closed position.

Full Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to liftgate systems for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a liftgate latch linear cable switch. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     Many motor vehicles include rear cargo compartments that are accessible by a liftgate. In one example, sport utility vehicles (SUV)s generally include a liftgate that enables access to a rear cargo compartment from the exterior of the motor vehicle. Generally, a liftgate includes a graspable portion that when actuated releases the liftgate so that the liftgate may be pivoted or rotated: into an opened position, via pneumatics, thereby enabling the operator to access the rear cargo compartment. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a latch system for a lifegate of a motor vehicle. The system includes a handle rotatable relative to the liftgate. The system also includes a switch having a first contact biased apart from a second contact by a biasing member. The first contact is movable relative to the second contact to close the switch upon rotation of the handle. The system further includes a power actuation system in communication with and responsive to the switch to move the liftgate from the closed position to the opened position when the switch is in the closed position. 
     Also provided is a latch system for a liftgate of a motor vehicle. The system includes a latch that couples the liftgate to the motor vehicle when the liftgate is in a closed position. The system also includes a handle rotatable relative to the liftgate and in communication with the latch to uncouple the liftgate from the motor vehicle upon rotation of the handle. The system also includes a switch including a first contact spaced apart from a second contact in a first, opened position. The first contact is movable into communication with the second contact in a second, closed position. The first contact is also coupled to the handle. The system further includes a power actuation system in communication with and responsive to the switch and coupled to the liftgate to move the liftgate from the closed position to the opened position when the switch is in the closed position. The rotation of the handle relative to the liftgate moves the first contact into communication with the second contact to close the switch. 
     Further is provided a latch system for a liftgate of a motor vehicle. The system includes a latch that couples the liftgate to the motor vehicle when the liftgate is in a closed position. The system also includes a handle graspable to be rotated relative to the liftgate and in communication with the latch to uncouple the liftgate from the motor vehicle upon rotation of the handle. The system further includes a switch including a first contact, a second contact and a biasing member. The first contact is biased apart from the second contact in a first, opened position, by the biasing member, and is slidable into communication with the second contact in a second, closed position. The first contact includes a cable coupled to the handle such that rotation of the handle pulls the cable to slide the first contact into communication with the second contact. The system further includes a power actuation system in communication with and responsive to the switch to move the liftgate from the closed position to the opened position when the switch is in the second, closed position. The biasing member moves the switch into the first, opened position when the handle is released. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
         FIG. 1  is a partial schematic view of an exemplary motor vehicle employing a liftgate incorporating a liftgate latch linear cable switch according to the principles of the present disclosure with the liftgate in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail view of the exemplary motor vehicle incorporating the liftgate latch linear cable switch of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic illustration of a control system for the motor vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional schematic view of the liftgate latch linear cable switch of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 , with the liftgate in a first position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional schematic view of the liftgate latch linear cable switch of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 , with the liftgate in a second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Although the following description is related generally to a liftgate latch linear cable switch for use with a liftgate of a motor vehicle, it will be understood that the linear cable switch as described and claimed herein is applicable to any type of enclosure system in which automatic opening of the enclosure system is desired. Therefore, it will be understood that the following discussion is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims to only liftgate applications. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary portion of a motor vehicle  10  is shown. The motor vehicle  10  includes a rear cargo area  12  and a liftgate system  14 . The liftgate system  14  includes at least a glass member  16 , a door member  18 , a latch  20  and a control system  22 . 
     The glass member  16  and door member  18  cooperate to form a liftgate, as generally known, and the latch  20  serves to releasably secure at least the door member  18  to the motor vehicle  10 . As the glass member  16  and door member  18  are generally known in the art, and may comprise any suitable rear lift door, such as that disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,483 and incorporated herein by reference, the liftgate, including the glass member  16  and the door member  18 , will not be discussed in great detail herein. Briefly, however, the liftgate includes a handle  26  pivotally coupled to the door member  18 . The handle  26  may be manually rotated or pivoted from a first position to a second position to enable an operator to access the rear cargo area  12 . The handle  26  may also include an arm  26   a  that defines a receptacle  26   b  for receipt of at least a portion of the control system  22 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , in this regard, the control system  22  is responsive to the handle  26  to release the latch  20  and pivot the liftgate  24  from a closed position to an opened position. The latch  20  may comprise any suitable device for releasably coupling the liftgate  24  to the motor vehicle  10 , and may include a solenoid  20   a  that actuates latch members  20   b  to engage or disengage a latch pin  20   c  coupled to the rear cargo area  12  of the motor vehicle  10 . For example, the latch  20  could comprise a suitable latch commercially available from Gecom Corporation of Greensburg, Ind., however, any suitable latch could be employed. The solenoid  20   a  may be in communication with and responsive to the control system  22  via a conductor  20   d  to output a signal  100  to actuate the latch members  20   b  to engage or disengage the latch pin  20   c , as generally known in the art. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , the control system  22  includes a power actuation system  28 , a switch  30  and a controller  32 . The power actuation system  28  is in communication with and responsive to the controller  32  over a conductor  28   a  to output a signal  104  to raise, lift or move the glass member  16  and door member  18  from the closed position to the opened position, and vice versa, if desired. As the power actuation system  28  may comprise any suitable system capable of moving the glass member  16  and door member  18  between the closed position and the opened position (and vice versa), such as that disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 08/292,662, incorporated herein in its entirety, the power actuation system  28  will not be discussed in great detail herein. Briefly, however, the power actuation system  28  may include the conductor  28   a  in communication with the controller  32  to conduct or carry an electrical control signal, such as an alternating current, which activates or powers a motor associated with the power actuation system  28  to move the glass member  16  and door member  18  into the opened or closed position (not specifically shown). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2-4 , the switch  30  includes a first or bridge contact  40  and a second or trace contact  42 , with each of the bridge contact  40  and the trace contact  42  disposed at least partially within a housing  43 . With reference to  FIGS. 3-4 , the bridge contact  40  includes a cable  44 , a biasing member or spring  46 , contact housing  48  and contacts  50 . The cable  44  may be at least partially disposed within the housing  43 , and may be slideably retained in the housing  43  such that the cable  44  moves relative to the housing  43  ( FIG. 4 ). The cable  44  includes a proximal end  44   a , a distal end  44   b  and a grip  44   c.    
     The grip  44   c  is formed at the proximal end  44   a , and extends from the housing  43 . Generally, the grip  44   c  is sized to engage the receptacle  26   b , and may be sized to be snap fit into the receptacle  26   b  to couple the switch  30  to the handle  26 . The coupling of the grip  44   c  to the handle  26  enables the switch  30  to be mechanically responsive to the pivoting of the handle  26 . In this regard, the pivoting of the handle  26  pulls or slides the cable  44  relative to the housing  43 , from a first or opened switch position ( FIG. 3 ) into a second or closed switch position ( FIG. 4 ), which moves the contacts  50  into electrical communication with the trace contact  42  to close the switch  30 . The distal end  44   b  of the cable  44  is coupled to the contact housing  48 , and is disposed within the housing  43 . 
     The spring  46  is disposed about the cable  44 , between the contact housing  48  and a surface  43   a  of the housing  43 . The spring  46  biases the cable  44 , and thus, the switch  30  into the opened position, and serves to return the switch  30  to the closed position after the pivoting or movement of the handle  26 . 
     The contact housing  48  includes electronics associated with the contacts  50 . The contacts  50  may be exposed through apertures defined in the contact housing  48 . The contacts  50  include a positive contact and a negative or ground contact that are operable to enable a flow of current through the switch  30  when the contacts  50  are in communication with the trace contact  42  (i.e. when the switch  30  is closed). 
     The trace contact  42  includes a positive contact and a negative or ground contact. The positive contact and the ground contact each include a first end  52 , respectively, and a second end  54 , respectively. The first end  52  is in communication with the controller  32  to transmit an electrical signal, such as a current, when the switch  30  is in the closed position. The second end  54  is operable to be in electrical communication with the bridge contact  40 . In this regard, the second end  54  may be adjacent to and in electrical communication with the contacts  50  of the bridge contact  40  when the cable  44  is in the extended position. Thus, the second end  54  may be disposed within a path of travel of the cable  44  so that when the cable  44  is moved into the extended position, the bridge contact  40  is placed into electrical communication with the trace contact  42 . The electrical communication between the bridge contact  40  and the trace contact  42  closes the switch  30  so that a current may flow therethrough. The flow of the current may serve as an indicator or signal that indicates to the controller  32  that the switch  30  is in the closed position. 
     The controller  32  includes a conductor  56  that is in communication with the controller  32  and responsive to the trace contact  42 . The conductor  56  is in electrical communication with the first end  52  of the trace contact  42  and is in electrical communication with the controller  32 . The controller  32  is also in electrical communication with the latch  20  via the conductor  20   d . The controller  32  may transmit a signal over the conductor  20   d  to the solenoid  20   a  to activate the solenoid  20   a  to engage or disengage the latch members  20   b  from the latch pin  20   c . The controller  32  may also be in communication with the power actuation system  28 , via the conductor  28   a , to transmit the electrical control signal to activate the power actuation system  28  to move the liftgate  24  into the opened or closed position. 
     Thus, with at least the door member  18  in the closed position, the switch  30  is in the opened position. In order to gain access to the rear cargo area  12 , an operator pivots the handle  26  of the door member  18 . The pivoting of the handle  26  causes the grip  44   c  to move relative to the housing  43  of the switch  30 , and thereby pulls the cable  44 . The movement of the cable  44  relative to the housing  43  moves the contact housing  48  relative to the housing  43  until the contacts  50  of the bridge contact  40  are in electrical communication with the trace contact  42 . Once the contacts  50  of the bridge contact  40  are in electrical communication with the trace contact  42 , the switch  30  is closed. With the switch  30  in the closed position, current may flow through the conductor  32   a  to the controller  32 . 
     Upon receipt of the current from the switch  30 , the controller  32  outputs a signal to the latch  20  over the conductor  20   d  to disengage the latch members  20   b  from the latch pin  20   c . The controller  32  also outputs the control signal to the power actuation system  28  to move at least the door member  18  from the closed position to the opened position. Once the operator has released the handle  26 , the spring  46  biases the cable  44  away from the surface  43   a , and thus, opens the switch  30 . 
     While specific examples have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various examples is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8