Patent ID: 8171673

Claim:
A motorized opener for opening and closing a vehicle door, the opener comprising: a linear motor ( 60 ) having an extensible arm ( 52 d ) and a cover tube ( 52 c ), the motor including bracketry for mounting to a vehicle roof above a door opening; a gear rack ( 48 ) having a plurality of teeth about its perimeter, the gear rack including bracketry for rigidly affixing the gear rack to the vehicle roof; an active gear ( 49 ) having a plurality of teeth about its perimeter, the teeth of the active gear sized to mesh with the teeth of the gear rack, and the active gear ( 49 ) disposed so as to be in gear communication with the gear rack ( 48 ); a mechanical control link ( 46 ) pivotally attached to the active gear ( 49 ) and the gear rack ( 48 ) by fasteners ( 46 a 46 b ) serving as respective pivot points, wherein the mechanical control link holds the active gear ( 49 ) and gear rack ( 48 ) in a constant spaced apart relationship throughout the travel path of the door; and a lever arm ( 50 ) having a first end ( 50 a ) and a second end ( 50 b ), the first end affixed to the active gear ( 49 ) and to the door and the second end affixed to the extensible arm ( 52 d ) of the linear motor ( 60 ); and wherein the gear rack fastener ( 46 b ) is provided so as to serve as a pivot point for both a door hinge ( 104 ) and the gear rack ( 48 ); and wherein the gear rack ( 48 ) and the active gear ( 49 ) are sized so as to shorten to the length of the mechanical link ( 46 ) between the first end of the lever arm ( 50 a ) and the gear rack pivot point ( 46 b ).