Patent ID: 8100456

Claim:
A vehicle endgate hinge assembly pivotally coupling an endgate to an endgate opening shut-face on a vehicle about an endgate pivot axis, the hinge assembly comprising: a bodyside hinge strap including a hinge support boss extending through the endgate opening shut-face and having a central hole that is coaxial with the endgate pivot axis, a mounting plate located outboard of the endgate opening shut-face, and a threaded portion extending from the mounting plate through the endgate opening shut-face; a crank including a hinge key configured to be pivotally coupled to a member mounted on the endgate, a pivot shaft extending from the hinge key through the central hole coaxial with the endgate pivot axis, a lever arm extending from the pivot shaft approximately normal to the endgate pivot axis, and a ball extending from the lever arm spaced from the endgate pivot axis; a nut located inboard of the endgate opening shut-face and threadably received on the threaded portion; and an energy storage mechanism coupled to the ball and configured to store and release energy based on pivoting of the lever arm.