Trunk lids (decklids) that cover vehicle trunks are generally connected by a pair of laterally spaced hinges. One such hinge that may be used is of the gooseneck member variety because they allow full range of motion from an open position to a closed position and for counter-balancing the trunk lid weight. However, these goose-neck members can require significant space within the trunk compartment that may be better suited for other vehicle components such as, for example, electronic modules. It is therefore desirable to provide a gooseneck member which requires less space in the trunk compartment to allow more room for other vehicle components.
One general aspect includes a trunk lid support device, including: a gooseneck member with a first end and a second end, where the first end is configured to couple to a body and the second end is configured to couple to a trunk lid; and where the gooseneck member includes a plurality of segments having a telescoping construction.
Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The support device where the body is an interior sidewall of an automotive trunk. The support device where the plurality of segments include: a base assembly located at the first end of the gooseneck member and configured to couple to the body, an intermediate segment, a connection segment located at the second end of the gooseneck member. The support device where each of the plurality of segments is of a hollow construction. The support device where: the base assembly has a first diameter; the intermediate segment has a second diameter, the intermediate segment is configured to slidably move in the first diameter of the base assembly; and the connection segment has a third diameter, the connection segment configured to slidably move in the second diameter of the intermediate segment. The support device where the gooseneck member is constructed of metal, plastic, or fiberglass.
One general aspect includes a trunk lid support device, including: a gooseneck member with a first end and a second end, where the first end is configured to couple to an interior sidewall of an automotive trunk and the second end is configured to couple to an automotive trunk lid; where the gooseneck member includes: a base assembly of a hollow construction located at the first end and configured to couple to the interior sidewall, an intermediate segment of a hollow construction, and a connection segment located at the second end.
Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The support device where: the base assembly has a first diameter; the intermediate segment has a second diameter, the intermediate segment configured to move telescopically in the first diameter of the base assembly; and the connection segment has a third diameter, the connection segment configured to move telescopically in the second diameter of the intermediate segment. The support device where the gooseneck member is constructed of metal, plastic, or fiberglass.
One general aspect includes a method of installing a gooseneck member to an interior sidewall of an automotive trunk, the method including: providing a gooseneck member with a first end and a second end, where the gooseneck member includes: a base assembly of a hollow construction located at the first end, an intermediate segment of a hollow construction, and a connection segment located at the second end; coupling the base assembly to the interior sidewall of the automotive trunk; allowing the intermediate segment to move telescopically in a first diameter of the base assembly; allowing the connection segment to move telescopically in a second diameter of the intermediate segment.
Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The method further including coupling the connection segment to a trunk lid. The method where the gooseneck member is constructed of metal, plastic, or fiberglass.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description for carrying out the teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
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While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
None of the elements recited in the claims are intended to be a means-plus-function element within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless an element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” in the claim.
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Entry |
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German Office Action for application No. 10 2018 125 552.7 dated Nov. 27, 2018 (7 pages). |