Granted Patent B2

US 12,601,215 · App. 18/181,012 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Inventors: Pietro Buttolo (Dearborn Heights, MI); John Eric Rolinger (Troy, MI); Christopher Henderson (Belleville, MI); Scott Steadmon Thompson (Belleville, MI); Matthew Ryan Preston (Whitmore Lake, MI); Robert Michael Grant (Farmington Hills, MI); Brendan Smythe (Northville, MI)

Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

E05F15/75E05F15/73E05Y2900/546

Abstract

Claims (24)

1 . A closure release method, comprising:

monitoring a pressure between a closure of a vehicle and a frame of the vehicle when the closure is closed against the frame;

detecting a change in the pressure; and

releasing the closure from a closed position in response to the change.

2 . The closure release method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the closure additionally in response to a detection of a user.

3 . The closure release method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the pressure using at least one force-sensing resistor.

4 . The closure release method of claim 1 , wherein the closure is a liftgate.

5 . The closure release method of claim 4 , further comprising monitoring the pressure at a first position on a driver side of the liftgate and at a second, different position on a passenger side of the liftgate.

6 . The closure release method of claim 4 , further comprising uncinching the liftgate prior to the releasing.

7 . The closure release method of claim 6 , further comprising uncinching the liftgate in response to detecting an authorized user.

8 . The closure release method of claim 7 , further comprising detecting the authorized user based on detecting a keyfob.

9 . The closure release method of claim 1 , wherein the releasing comprises unlatching the closure without pivoting the closure from the frame.

10 . The closure release method of claim 1 , further comprising, automatically moving the closure to an open position after the releasing.

11 . The closure release method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes detecting an increase in pressure.

12 . The closure release method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes detecting an increase in pressure for a time period.

13 . A vehicle closure release system, comprising:

a closure pivotably coupled to a vehicle frame;

a pressure monitoring assembly that detects a pressure between the closure and the vehicle frame when the closure is closed; and

a control module configured to release the closure based at least in part on the pressure between the closure and the vehicle frame.

14 . The vehicle closure release system of claim 13 , wherein the control module is configured to release the closure additionally based on a detection of a user.

15 . The vehicle closure release system of claim 13 , wherein the pressure monitoring assembly includes at least one force-sensing resistor.

16 . The vehicle closure release system of claim 13 , wherein the closure is a liftgate.

17 . The vehicle closure release system of claim 13 , wherein the control module is configured to release the closure by commanding an unlatching of the closure without pivoting the closure from the frame.

18 . The vehicle closure release system of claim 13 , wherein the control module is configured to release the closure by commanding an unlatching of the closure and a pivoting of the closure from the frame.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (18)