Patent ID: 7243461

Claim:
A hinge assembly for coupling a sliding door to a vehicle for sliding the sliding door from an open position to a closed position, the hinge assembly sliding within a guide track as the door moves between the open position and the closed position, the hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge portion; a second hinge portion, said first hinge portion being pivotally secured to said second hinge portion; a cable attachment being mounted on said second hinge portion; and a guide surface disposed on a surface of said first hinge portion, said guide surface contacting a portion of a cable for sliding the sliding door between the open and closed positions when said second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to said first hinge portion and said cable no longer contacting said guide surface as said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation with respect to said first hinge portion; wherein said cable has an end mounted to said cable attachment; and wherein said cable attachment moves closer to said first hinge portion as said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to said second orientation.