Patent ID: 7281747

Claim:
A mechanism for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart first and second body side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis of said closure member between open, closed and removal positions, the mechanism comprising: a first end assembly for pivotably supporting a first side of the closure member at the first side panel of the vehicle body, a second end assembly for pivotably supporting a second side of the closure member at the second side panel of the vehicle body, an axially elongated torque rod having a first end connected to the first end assembly and a second end connected to the second end assembly, the first end assembly securing the first end of the torque rod to the vehicle body, the second end assembly securing the second end of the torque rod to the closure member, the first end assembly including a first bracket with an elongated key slot mounted on the first side panel of the vehicle body and a first elongated key mounted on a first end of the closure member for insertion into the elongated key slot, and the second end assembly including a second bracket with a second elongated key mounted on the second side panel of the vehicle body and a bushing assembly mounted on a second end of the closure member and including a laterally open slot to permit said bushing assembly to laterally engage the second elongated key when the closure member is in the removal position, the torque rod being twisted in shear when the closure member is pivoted to either the closed or open positions from the removal position, thereby providing a counterbalancing effect to assist with pivotal movement of the closure member, and permitting facile removal of the closure member from the vehicle body when the closure member is in the removal position.