US Patent 7121043 Actuating device for open/close member of vehicle

A connecting rod is provided with a bent portion in a substantially middle part thereof so that a lower section of the connecting rod below the substantially middle part in a vertical direction may be inclined, with respect to the longitudinal direction of a guide rail, toward a center of an opening, and at the same time, an upper section of the connecting rod above the substantially middle part may be substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail and offset from a side face of the guide rail directed to the center of the opening toward the center of the opening, when the connecting rod is in a position corresponding to a closed position of an open/close member.