GB2408026A

GB2408026A - Spring mechanism for pivotting member

Info

Publication number: GB2408026A
Application number: GB0326623A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helmut Mueller; Ralf Hoge
Original assignee: Gencorp Property Inc; GDX North America Inc
Current assignee: GDX North America Inc
Priority date: 2003-11-14
Filing date: 2003-11-14
Publication date: 2005-05-18
Also published as: GB0326623D0; WO2005047632A1

Abstract

A mechanism for controlling the movement of a member 8 supported by hinge means 14, spring means 50 being provided to bias the movement of said member 8. The member may be supported by two hinges at spaced locations, with means extending between the two hinges which includes said spring means 50. Alternatively the member may be supported on a second member by said hinge means 14, a pair of mutually pivoted levers 18A, 18B being provided, each of which are pivotally connected to the first and second members respectively, the spring means 50 biasing the levers about their mutual pivot so as to bias movement of the pivoted members. The spring means may be a tension spring 50, a torsion bar (122, fig 8) or compression spring unit (74, figure 5). The mechanism may be used to regulate the opening of a window pane in a vehicle tailgate.

Description

CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF CLOSURE MEMBERS

The invention relates to the controlling of the movement of closure members. One embodiment of the invention, to be described in more detail below by way of example only, is concerned with the controlling of the movement of a separately openable rear window in a vehicle tailgate. However, the invention has other applications.

Many vehicles incorporate an openable tailgate which is pivotally attached to the roof of the vehicle in order to allow access to the load area ofthe vehicle. Although the provision of such a tailgate renders the load space easily accessible, such tailgates tend to be heavy because of their size and because they incorporate the rear window of the vehicle, and thus considerable effort is required to open and close them. Furthermore, if the space behind the vehicle is limited, it can be awkward or impossible to open the tailgate.

To overcome these disadvantages of tailgates, it is increasingly common for vehicle manufacturers to provide such tailgates with a rear window which is openable independently of the tailgate. Such a rear window is typically attached by a hinge or the like to the tailgate at the top of an opening in the tailgate, such opening forming a frame for the rear window. In order to control movement of such openable rear windows, and in particular to allow the rear window to be held in the open position, gas struts are typically employed. However, such gas struts are expensive to manufacture, are highly visible and can obstruct loading of the vehicle.

According to the invention, there is provided a mechanism for controlling the angular movement of a member supported by hinge means at two longitudinally spaced positions, comprising means extending between the longitudinally spaced positions and which is mechanically linked to the hinge means there and which includes spring means biasing the angular movement of the member.

According to the invention, there is also provided a mechanism for controlling the movement of two mutually hinged longitudinal members about their hinge axis, comprising a pair of levers pivotted to each other at a pivotal connection from which the levers of the pair extend towards the two hinged members respectively and are pivotally connected thereto, and spring means exerting a spring force on the pair of levers tending to pivot the levers of the pair about the pivotal connection between them whereby to move the hinged members relative to each other about their hinge axis.

According to the invention, there is further provided a mechanism for controlling the movement of two mutually hinged longitudinal members about their hinge axis, comprising first and second pairs of levers, the levers of each pair being pivotted to each other at a respective pivotal connection from which the levers of the pair extend towards the two hinged members respectively and are pivotally connected thereto, the pivotal connections between the two levers of each pair being separated from each other along the length ofthe hinged members, and spring means acting between the levers of one said pair and the levers of the other said pair whereby to exert a force acting along the length of the hinged members and tending to pivot the levers of each pair about the pivotal connections between them whereby to move the hinged members relative to each other about their hinge axis.

According to the invention, there is yet further provided a mechanism for controlling the movement of two longitudinally separated hinge members which are pivotted about substantially the same pivot axis, comprising a control member extending longitudinally between and attached to both hinge members whereby the control member moves bodily sideways when the hinge members pivot about the pivot axis, spring means acting longitudinally between the two hinge members and attached to the control member adjacent each hinge member by a linkage arrangement such that a spring force exerted by the spring means through the linkage arrangementds tends to move the control member bodily sideways.

According to the invention, there is still further provided a mechanism for controlling the movement of two longitudinally separated hinge arms pivotted about substantially the same axis, comprising longitudinally extending torsion spring means extending between the two hinge arms, the torsion spring means being connected to one ofthe hinge arms by a first control arrangement for angular movement as that hinge arm pivots and being connected to the other hinge arm by a second control arrangement for angular movement as that hinge arm pivots, whereby pivoting of the hinge arms in one angular direction about the axis places the torsion spring means under torsion so that it resiles when the hinge arms pivot in the opposite angular direction.

Control mechanisms embodying the invention, for controlling movement of a closure member, in particular an openable rear window in a vehicle tailgate, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle tailgate incorporating an openable rear window and showing where one of the control mechanisms is mounted; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the mechanism of Figure 1, with the window in its closed position; Figure 3 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing the mechanism thereof in a partially opened state and also showing part of the window; Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 2 but shows the mechanism thereof in its fully open state; Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of a vehicle tailgate incorporating an openable rear window and showing where another of the control mechanisms is mounted, the mechanism being shown with the window assumed to be fully closed; Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5 but shows the mechanism with the window in its partially opened position; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 5 but shows the mechanism with the window in its fully opened position; Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of a vehicle tailgate incorporating an openable rear window and showing where yet another form of the control mechanism is mounted, the mechanism being in a configuration corresponding to the fully closed position of the window; Figure 9 corresponds to Figure 8 but shows the control mechanism with the window partially opened; and Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 8 but shows a control mechanism with the window almost fully open.

Figure 1 shows the tailgate 5 of a vehicle body. The tailgate 5 is hinged to the rear of the roof of the vehicle along its top edge 6; the hinge is not shown. Lifting of the tailgate 5 is assisted by a suitable spring arrangement, also not shown, which may comprise gas struts

for example.

In addition, the tailgate 5 incorporates an openable rear window with a window pane 8.

The window pane 8 is openable with respect to a frame 10 which defines an opening in the tailgate. The window pane 8 is hingedly attached to the top edge lOA ofthe frame 10 by a hinge incorporating the control mechanism to be described in detail below, which are shown diagrammatically at 12.

Figures 2,3 and 4 show the hinge and the control mechanism in more detail.

The hinge is shown at 14 and comprises two hinge members in the form of a lower hinge plate 14A and an upper hinge plate 14B which are pivotally connected to each other along a hinge axis or pivot line shown dotted at 14C. The lower hinge plate 14A is secured to the upper edge lOA of the window frame 10 (see Figure 1) such as by screws, bolts or other fixtures (not shown). The upper hinge plate 14B is secured to the central region of the upper edge of the window pane 8, such as by adhesive bonding or by special fixtures.

The window is not shown in Figures 2 and 4 and is shown in diagrammatic outline, only, in Figure 3.

The control mechanism is shown at 16.

The control mechanism 16 comprises two pairs 18A,18B and 20A,20B of pivotally connected levers which are pivoted together by pivot connections 22,24.

The distal ends of the levers 18A and 20A are pivotally connected by respective pivotal connections 26,28 to a lower cross-strut 30. The end of the strut 30, beyond the pivotal connection 26, is bent approximately at right angles and connected by a further pivotal connection 32 to a tongue 33 projecting outwardly from the face of the lower hinge plate 14A. At the other end of the strut 30, beyond the pivotal connection 28, the strut is similarly bent at right angles and connected by a further pivotal connection 34 (see Figure 4) to another tongue 35 bent outwardly from the face of the lower hinge plate 14A.

In similar fashion, the upper pivotted levers 18B and 20B are connected to an upper cross- strut 36 by pivotal connections 38 and 40. The end of the cross strut 36, beyond the pivotal connection 38, is bent approximately at right angles and pivotally connected by a pivotal connection 42 to a tongue 44 bent outwardly from the upper hinge plate 14B. At the opposite end of the cross-strut 36, and beyond the pivotal connection 40, the strut is bent approximately at right angles and pivotally connected by a pivotal connection 46 to a tongue 47 (see Figure 4) similarly bent outwardly from the upper hinge plate 14B.

A tension coil spring 50 is connected at its opposite ends to the hinged pairs of levers 18A,18B and 20A,20B, the ends of the spring being connected to extensions 18C,20C of the levers 18B,20B. The spring 50 is omitted from Figure 2 to aid clarity.

When the window pane 8 (Figure 1) is in its closed position and latched shut, the control mechanism 16 assumes the condition shown in Figure 2. The levers 18A,18B and 20A,20B of each lever pair are pivotted towards each other so that the pivotal connections 22,24 are at the maximum distance apart and the coil spring 50 is at maximum extension.

The hinge plates 14A,14B are close together.

When the window is unlatched, it will start to rise towards the open position because of the force generated by the resiling spring 50, which will draw the pivotal connections 22,24 towards each other as shown in Figure 3. Of course, the mechanism may be set so that the spring force alone is not sufficient to raise the window, in which case the user will apply a lifting force to raise the window, with the spring force assisting this movement.

When the rear window is in its fully raised position, the mechanism assumes the condition shown in Figure 4 where the pivotal connections 22, 24 are relatively close together. The force of the spring 50 will hold the window in the open position, in which position the force generated by the weight moment of the window will be reduced because it will act through or very close to the pivot line 14C (see Figure 1).

In order to close the window, the user applies a downward force to the distal edge of the window pane 8 which, in conjunction with the weight moment of the window, is sufficient to overcome the force exerted by the spring.

As the window opens or closes, and the levers 1 8A, 1 8B and 20A,20B of each lever pair pivot away from or towards each other, the cross-struts 30,36 pivot relative to the lower and upper hinge plates 14A,14B respectively, about their pivotal connections 32,34 and 42,46.

The levers 18A,18B and 20A,20B limit the maximum extent to which the window pane 8 can be raised.

Figure 5 shows, in outline, the tailgate 5 ofthe vehicle. Along its upper edge, the tailgate defines a recess 60 which houses hinges 62A and 62B for the window pane 8 (not shown in the Figure). Each hinge 62A and 62B comprises a hinge plate 64A,64B, and the window pane is attached to these hinge plates adjacent its upper edge. Each hinge plate 64A,64B is mounted on one end of a respective hinge arm 66A,66B, these hinge arms being pivotted at their opposite ends to the underside of support brackets 68A,68B which are fixed to the tailgate S. Each hinge arm 66A,66B extends upwardly into the recess 60 through an aperture 67A, 67B in its base. Figure 5 shows the two hinges 62A,62B in the positions which they assume when the window pane is in its fully closed position. Figure 6 shows the hinges in their positions when the window pane is partially open, and Figure 7 shows the hinges in their positions when the window pane is fully opened.

The control mechanism 70 is mounted within the recess 60 and extends between the hinges 62A and 62B.

The control mechanism 70 comprises a control member in the form of a rod 72 which extends between the two brackets 68A and 68B and is rigidly fixed at each end to those brackets, as best shown in Figure 6. In addition, a compression spring unit 74 is provided, which may be a coil spring within a tubular housing. At one of its ends (the right hand end as viewed in Figures 5 - 7), the housing has a protruding stub 76 which is pivotally connected to one end of a lever arm 78 which extends from the stub into pivotal connection with part of the bracket 68B.

At the other end of the spring unit 74, a rod 80 protrudes from the housing. The inner end of this rod is attached to the compression spring (not visible). The outer end of rod 80 is pivotally connected to one end of a lever arm 78A which is similar in shape to the arm 78B. The other end of the arm 78A is pivotally connected to part of the 68A.

A supplementary lever or arm 82A is pivotally connected to the arm 78A at a mid-point thereof and extends therefrom into pivotal connection with the rod 72. At the other end of the control mechanism, a corresponding supplementary lever or arm 82B is similarly mounted.

As stated, Figure 5 shows the window pane (not visible) in its fully closed position. Rod is forced inwardly ofthe spring housing and the compression spring within the housing is fully compressed. The window pane would be held in the closed position by a suitable latch (not shown).

This latch is released to allow the window to be opened. The coil spring now tends to force the rod 80 out of the spring housing, thus tending to pivot the arm 78A in a clockwise direction with respect to its pivotal connection to the bracket 68A, and to tend to pivot the arm 78B in an anti-clockwise direction with respect to its pivot point on the bracket 68B. As shown in Figure 6, a resultant force is exerted on the rod 72 by the arms 82A and 82B, tending to move the rod in a bodily sideways direction, thus pivoting the hinge arms 66A and 66B with respect to the brackets 68A and 68B. The hinge plates 64A and 64B move outwardly and upwardly with respect to the opening in the tailgate 5, thus carrying the window pane towards its open position.

Continued movement in this manner moves the hinge plates 64A and 64B into positions corresponding to the fully opened position of the window pane as shown in Figure 7.

If the force of the spring within the housing 74 is sufficient, the window pane will move automatically to the fully opened position after it has been unlatched. If the spring force is insufficient, then of course the window pane will have to be manually assisted to its raised or fully opened position.

In order to close the window, the pane is lowered manually (against the spring force), so that the control mechanism 70 returns to the configuration shown in Figure 5, and the window pane can then be latched in the closed position.

The spring unit 74 could be a gas spring.

In the arrangement of Figures 8 - 10, two hinges l OOA and l COB are rigidly mounted in a recess 102 in the tailgate 5, the recess 102 being arranged generally like the recess 70 of Figures 5 - 7 (the remainder ofthe tailgate 5 is not shown in Figures 8 - 10). Each hinge lOOA,lOOB comprises a fixed pressing 104A, 104B of open channel-shaped crosssection, with the opened channel mouth facing downwardly into the housing 102. A hinge plate 106B is integral with a hinge arm 108B, the hinge arm 108 being curved upwardly to extend into the open mouth of the pressing 104B and then being more sharply curved so as to terminate in an end which is pivotted about a pivot axis shown at 11 OB; the sharply curved portion of the bracket 108B is not visible in the Figure being hidden within the pressing 104B. A hinge plate 106A is similarly mounted on a similarly pivotted hinge arm 108A. The window pane (not shown) is fixed near its upper margin on the hinge plates 106A and 106B.

The control mechanism 111 comprises gear wheels 112A and 112B are rigidly fixed to the pivot axes l lOA and l lOB, so that these gear wheels rotate as the hinge arms 108A and 108B pivot on the pivot axes.

The gear wheel 112A meshes with a geared pawl arm 116A. The pawl arm 116A extends into pivotal connection (at pivot 118A) with a radial connecting arm 120A which is rigidly connected to a torsion rod 122.

Likewise, a gear wheel 112B is in geared engagement with a further pawl arm corresponding to the pawl arm 116A but not visible in the Figure. This further pawl arm is pivotally connected to a radial connecting arm which corresponds to the arm 120A and which is rigidly connected to the opposite end of the torsion rod 122.

The mid-point of the torsion rod 122 is fixed to the tailgate by a bracket arrangement 124.

Figure 8 shows the control mechanism 111 in the configuration which it has when the window is closed. The window may be held closed by means of a latch not shown. In this closed position, the connecting arm 120A, and the corresponding connecting arm (not visible) at the opposite end of the torsion rod 122, are in their most angularly forward positions. In these positions, the torsion rod 122 is significantly twisted- that is, it is under angular tension.

When it is desired to open the window, the latch is released. As the window starts to open, the hinge plates 106A, 106B move to the position shown in Figure 9. The stored tension in the torsion rod 122 is partially released, the gear wheel 112A turning in a clockwise direction (as viewed in the Figures), so that the pawl arm 118A moves angularly anti-clockwise and the connecting arm 120A moves in a clockwise direction.

Clearly, the corresponding gear wheel 112B associated with the hinge lOOB, and the corresponding pawl arm and connecting arm move similarly. Continued opening of the window pane causes the hinge plates 106A and 106B to assume the position shown in Figure 10 where the window is nearly fully open.

Again, the opening movement of the window pane may occur completely automatically, after the window has been unlatched, if the stored angular tension in the torsion rod 122 when the window is closed is sufficiently strong. Otherwise, it may have to be manually opened to assist the spring force.

The window is closed manually and then latched, causing the torsion rod 122 to be twisted so as to store angular tension therein again.

The window pane 8 shown in Figures 1 and 3, and the window pane controlled by the control mechanisms of Figures 5-7, and of Figures 8-10, may be made of glass, polycarbonate or any other suitable transparent or translucent material, and "pane" is to be construed accordingly. However, the closure mechanism may be applied to other closure members such as doors or lids.

Claims

1. A mechanism for controlling the angular movement of a member supported by hinge means at two longitudinally spaced positions, comprising means extending between the longitudinally spaced positions and which is mechanically linked to the hinge means there and which includes spring means biasing the angular movement of the member.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, in which the hinge means comprises two hinged members which extend between the two longitudinally spaced positions and which are mutually pivotted to each other about a hinge axis extending between the two spaced positions.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, comprising a first pair of levers adjacent one said position and pivotted to each other at a respective pivotal connection from which the levers of the first pair extend towards the two hinged members respectively and are pivotally connected thereto, a second pair of levers adjacent to the other said position and pivotted to each other at a respective pivotal connection from which the levers of the second pair extend towards the two hinged members respectively and are pivotally connected thereto, the pivotal connections between the two levers of each pair being transverse to the hinge axis and being separated from each other along the length of the hinged members and spring means exerting a spring force on the pair of levers tending to pivot the levers of each pair about their pivotal connections whereby to tend to move the hinged members relative to each other about their hinge axis.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, in which the spring force acts generally along the length of the hinged members.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4, in which the spring means acts between the levers of the first pair and the levers of the second pair.

6. A mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the member supported by the hinge means is a closure member for an opening, and the hinge means extends between the closure member and a frame for the opening.

7. A mechanism for controlling the movement of two mutually hinged longitudinal members about their hinge axis, comprising a pair of levers pivotted to each other at a pivotal connection from which the levers of the pair extend towards the two hinged members respectively and are pivotally connected thereto, and spring means exerting a spring force on the pair of levers tending to pivot the levers of the pair about the pivotal connection between them whereby to move the hinged members relative to each other about their hinge axis.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7, in which the pivot axis of the pivotal connection between the two levers of the pair is transverse to the hinge axis and in which the spring force acts generally along the length of the hinged members.

9. A mechanism according to claim 8, including a second pair of levers pivotted to each other at a respective pivotal connection from which the levers of the second pair extend towards the two hinged members respectively and are pivotally connected thereto, the pivotal connection between the two levers of the second pair being transverse to the hinge axis and being separated from the pivotal connection between the two levers of the first-mentioned pair along the length of the hinged members, and in which the spring means acts between the levers of the firstmentioned pair and the levers of the second pair.

10. A mechanism for controlling the movement of two mutually hinged longitudinal members about their hinge axis, comprising first and second pairs of levers, the levers of each pair being pivotted to each other at a respective pivotal connection from which the levers of the pair extend towards the two hinged members respectively and are pivotally connected thereto, the pivotal connections between the two levers of each pair being separated from each other along the length of the hinged members, and spring means acting between the levers of one said pair and the levers of the other said pair whereby to exert a force acting along the length of the hinged members and tending to pivot the levers of each pair about the pivotal connections between them whereby to move the hinged members relative to each other about their hinge axis.

11. A mechanism according to claim 9 or 10, in which the spring means acts between the pivotal connection of the levers of one said pair and the pivotal connection of the levers of the other said pair.

12. A mechanism according to claim 1 1, in which the spring means comprises tension spring means tending to pull the two pivotal connections towards each other whereby the levers of each pair pivot away from each other to move the hinged members relatively away from each other about the hinge axis, and whereby a force acting between the two hinged members moves them relatively towards each other about the hinge axis thereby pivotting the levers of each pair towards each other and moving the pivotal connections away from each other to create tension in the spring means.

13. A mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 12, in which each lever is pivotted to the respective hinged member by being pivotted to an intermediate member which is itself pivotted to the hinged member.

14. A mechanism according to claim 13, in which for each hinged member there is a single said intermediate member.

15. A mechanism according to claim 13 or 14, in which the pivot axis where each lever is pivotted to the respective intermediate member is transverse to the pivot axis where that intermediate member is pivotted to the respective hinged member.

16. A mechanism according to any one of claims 7 to 12, in which one of the hinged members is secured to the frame of an opening and the other hinged member is secured to a closure member for the opening.

17. A mechanism according to claim 12, in which one ofthe hinge members is secured to the frame of an opening and the other hinged member is secured to a closure member for the opening, and in which the said force is force applied to the closure member.

18. A mechanism according to any one of claims 6,16 and 17, in which the opening is a window opening and the closure member is a window pane.

19. A mechanism according to claim 15, in which the window opening is an opening in a tailgate of a vehicle body.

20. A mechanism according to claim 1, in which the hinge means comprises two longitudinally separated hinge arms which are pivotted about substantially the same pivot axis, and in which the means extending between the longitudinally spaced positions comprises a control member extending longitudinally between and attached to both hinge arms whereby the control member moves bodily sideways when the hinge arms pivot about the pivot axis, and the spring means acts Longitudinally between the two hinge arms and is attached to the control member adjacent each hinge arm by a linkage arrangement such that a spring force exerted by the spring means through the linkage arrangements tends to move the control member bodily sideways.

21. A mechanism for controlling the movement oftwo longitudinally separated hinge members which are pivotted about substantially the same pivot axis, comprising a control member extending longitudinally between and attached to both hinge members whereby the control member moves bodily sideways when the hinge members pivot about the pivot axis, spring means acting longitudinally between the two hinge members and attached to the control member adjacent each hinge member by a linkage arrangement such that a spring force exerted by the spring means through the linkage arrangementds tends to move the control member bodily sideways.

22. A mechanism according to claim 20 or 21, in which each hinge arm is pivotally connected about the said pivot axis to respective support means, and in which each linkage arrangement comprises a respective lever arm extending from a pivotal connection on a respective one of the support means, the spring means acting between the two lever arms and tending to pivot them about their pivotal connections with the support means, the linkage arrangements also including respective supplementary levers each extending from the respective one of the lever arms to the control member.

23. A mechanism according to claim 21 or 22, in which the control member is a rod.

24. A mechanism according to any one of claims 20 to 22, in which the spring means is a longitudinally extending compression spring.

25. A mechanism according to claim 24, in which the compression spring is held within a tubular housing.

26. A mechanism according to claim 24, in which the spring means is a gas spring.

27. A mechanism according to any one of claims 20 to 26, in which the hinge arms are pivotally mounted on the frame of an opening, and a closure member for the opening is mounted on the hinge arms.

28. A mechanism according to claim 22, in which the support means are mounted on the frame of an opening and a closure member for the opening is mounted on the hinge arms.

29. A mechanism according to claim 27 or 28, in which the opening is a window opening and the closure member is a window pane.

30. A mechanism according to claim 29, in which the window opening is an opening in a tailgate of a vehicle body.

31. A mechanism according to claim 1, in which the hinge means comprise two longitudinally separated hinge arms pivotted about substantially the same axis, and in which the spring means comprises longitudinally extending torsion spring means extending between the two hinge arms, the means extending between the longitudinally spaced positions comprising a first control arrangement connecting the torsion spring means to one of the hinge arms for angular movement as that hinge arm pivots and a second control arrangement connecting the torsion spring means to the other hinge arm for angular movement as that hinge arm pivots, whereby pivoting of the hinge arms in one angular direction about the axis places the torsion spring means under torsion so that it resiles when the hinge arms pivot in the opposite angular direction.

32. A mechanism for controlling the movement of two longitudinally separated hinge arms pivotted about substantially the same axis, comprising longitudinally extending torsion spring means extending between the two hinge arms, the torsion spring means being connected to one of the hinge arms by a first control arrangement for angular movement as that hinge arm pivots and being connected to the other hinge arm by a second control arrangement for angular movement as that hinge arm pivots, whereby pivoting of the hinge arms in one angular direction about the axis places the torsion spring means under torsion so that it resiles when the hinge arms pivot in the opposite angular direction.

33. A mechanism according to claim 31 or 32, in which the torsion spring means is a torsion rod and in which each control arrangement comprises a respective radial arm rigid with the rod, the arm being connected to the hinge arm by a geared arrangement to be angularly moved as the hinge arm pivots.

34. A mechanism according to claim 31 or 32, in which the hinge arms are pivotted on respective support means.

35. A mechanism according to claim 33, in which the hinge arms are pivotted on respective support means and the rod is anchored to further support means at an intermediate point in its length.

36. A mechanism according to any one of claims 31 to 35, in which the hinge arms are pivotally connected to the frame of an opening and a closure member for the opening is mounted on the hinge arms.

37. A mechanism according to claim 34 or 35, in which the support means are mounted on the frame of an opening and a closure member for the opening is mounted on the hinge arms.

38. A mechanism according to claim 36 or 37, in which the opening is a window opening and the closure member is a window pane.

39. A mechanism according to claim 38, in which the window opening is an opening in a tailgate of a vehicle body.

40. A mechanism for regulating two mutually hinged longitudinal members, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

41. In combination, a tailgate for a vehicle body incorporating an openable window therein and a mechanism for regulating the opening of the window, all substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

42. A mechanism for regulating two longitudinally separated hinge arms, substantially as described with reference to Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

43. In combination, a tailgate for a vehicle body incorporating an openable window therein and a mechanism for regulating the opening of the window, all substantially as described with reference to Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

44. A mechanism for regulating two longitudinally separated hinge arms, substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

45. In combination, a tailgate for a vehicle body incorporating an openable window therein and a mechanism for regulating the opening of the window, all substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.