Vehicle door cinching method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A vehicle door cinching apparatus for assisting the final closing motion of a sliding vehicle door, the apparatus comprising:
- an electromagnet configured to mount on either an outer periphery of a vehicle sliding door or an inner periphery of a vehicle sliding door frame that'"'"'s shaped to receive the sliding door as the door moves along a final inward cinching portion of a door path to a final closed position within the door frame;
a ferrous metal plate configured to be supported on the other of the outer periphery of the door and the inner periphery of the door frame in a position where the plate is removably magnetically engageable with the electromagnet when the door is disposed along the final cinching portion of the door path, whichever of the plate and electromagnet is supported on the inner periphery of the door frame being supported for lateral movement in a direction generally parallel to the cinching portion of the door path;
a cinch drive operatively coupled to and configured to drive the lateral movement of whichever of the electromagnet and plate is supported on the inner periphery of the door frame thereby driving the door along the final cinching portion of the door path and into the final closed position when the electromagnet is magnetically connected to the plate; and
a controller coupled to the electromagnet and configured to de-energize the electromagnet and release an engaged door from the cinching apparatus once the door has reached its final closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle door cinching apparatus for assisting the final closing motion of a sliding vehicle door includes an electromagnet, a ferrous metal plate, a cinch drive and a controller. The electromagnet mounts on either an outer periphery of a vehicle sliding door or an inner periphery of a vehicle sliding door frame that'"'"'s shaped to receive the sliding door as the door moves along a final inward cinching portion of a door path to a final closed position within the door frame. The plate is supported on the other of the outer periphery of the door and the inner periphery of the door frame in a position where the plate can magnetically engage the electromagnet when the door is disposed along the final cinching portion of the door path. Whichever of the plate and electromagnet is supported on the inner periphery of the door frame is also supported for lateral movement in a direction generally parallel to the cinching portion of the door path. According to the method, the cinch drive moves whichever of the electromagnet and plate is supported on the inner periphery of the door frame to drive the door along the final cinching portion of the door path and into the final closed position. The controller de-energizes the electromagnet and releases the door from the cinching apparatus once the door has reached its final closed position.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle door cinching apparatus for assisting the final closing motion of a sliding vehicle door, the apparatus comprising:
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an electromagnet configured to mount on either an outer periphery of a vehicle sliding door or an inner periphery of a vehicle sliding door frame that'"'"'s shaped to receive the sliding door as the door moves along a final inward cinching portion of a door path to a final closed position within the door frame;
a ferrous metal plate configured to be supported on the other of the outer periphery of the door and the inner periphery of the door frame in a position where the plate is removably magnetically engageable with the electromagnet when the door is disposed along the final cinching portion of the door path, whichever of the plate and electromagnet is supported on the inner periphery of the door frame being supported for lateral movement in a direction generally parallel to the cinching portion of the door path;
a cinch drive operatively coupled to and configured to drive the lateral movement of whichever of the electromagnet and plate is supported on the inner periphery of the door frame thereby driving the door along the final cinching portion of the door path and into the final closed position when the electromagnet is magnetically connected to the plate; and
a controller coupled to the electromagnet and configured to de-energize the electromagnet and release an engaged door from the cinching apparatus once the door has reached its final closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for assisting the final closing motion of a sliding vehicle door including the steps of:
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connecting a cinching apparatus to the door when the door reaches a final cinching portion of a door path;
causing the cinching apparatus to move the door to its fully closed position after connecting the cinching apparatus;
latching the door in its fully closed position once the cinching apparatus has moved the door to its fully closed position;
causing the cinching apparatus to release the door after latching the door in its fully closed position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification