Forward facing rear door assembly for motor vehicles

• US 20030230910A1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael David Pevovar, Musa Azzouz
• Original Assignee: Michael David Pevovar, Musa Azzouz
• Inventors: Azzouz, Musa, Pevovar, Michael David
• Granted Patent: US 6,913,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0479 without B-pillar or releasable B-pillar, i.e. the pillar is moving with door
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/127 for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A forward facing rear door assembly for a motor vehicle includes a forward facing rear door having a forward end and a rear end. The forward facing rear door assembly also includes a single hinge connected to the rear end of the forward facing rear door and for connection to a “C” pillar of a vehicle body to allow a forward end of the rear door to open and close a door opening in the vehicle body.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having at least one door opening;

a forward facing door disposed in said at least one door opening having a forward end and a rear end; and

a single hinge connected to said rear end of said forward facing door and connected to said vehicle body to allow said forward end of said forward facing door to open and close at least a portion of said at least one door opening in said vehicle body.

2. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 including a latch member on said forward end of said forward facing door for engagement and disengagement with a latch on said vehicle body.

3. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vehicle body includes a C pillar and a hinge box disposed behind and connected to said C pillar.

4. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hinge box includes a hinge bulkhead connected to said C pillar.

5. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hinge box includes a hinge plate connected to said hinge bulkhead and one end of said hinge.

6. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 5 wherein said hinge box includes a hinge bracket connected to another end of said hinge and said rear end of said forward facing door.

7. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vehicle body includes a D pillar and a body side reinforcement extending longitudinally and connected to said C pillar and said D pillar.

8. A motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having at least one door opening;

a rearward facing rear door disposed in said at least one door opening and pivotally connected to said vehicle body for movement between an open position and a closed position;

a forward facing rear door disposed in said at least one door opening and pivotally connected to said vehicle body for movement between an open position and a closed position;

a rocker at a bottom portion of said at least one door opening;

a roof rail at a top portion of said at least one door opening;

a pillar extending between said roof rail and said rocker; and

a single hinge connected to a rear end of said forward facing rear door and connected to said pillar to allow a forward end of said forward facing rear door to open and close at least a portion of said at least one door opening in said vehicle body.

9. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said pillar has a generally U shaped cross-section.

10. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said pillar is a first pillar and said vehicle body includes a second pillar and a body side reinforcement extending longitudinally and connected to said first pillar and said second pillar.

11. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said forward facing rear door has a forward end and a rear end.

12. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 11 including a hinge box disposed behind and connected to said pillar.

13. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said hinge box includes a hinge plate connected to said hinge bulkhead.

14. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein said hinge box includes a single hinge having one end connected to said hinge plate.

15. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said hinge box includes a hinge bracket connected to another end of said hinge and said rear end of said forward facing rear door.

16. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 8 including a latch member on said forward end of said forward facing rear door for engagement and disengagement with a latch on said rearward facing rear door.

17. A motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having at least one door opening;

a rearward facing rear door pivotally connected to said vehicle body between an open position and a closed position;

a forward facing rear door pivotally connected to said vehicle body between an open position and a closed position;

a latch member on said forward facing rear door for engagement and disengagement with a latch on said rearward facing rear door;

a rocker at a bottom portion of said door opening;

a roof rail at a top portion of said door opening;

a wheel housing connected to said rocker;

a C pillar extending upwardly to said roof rail and downwardly to said wheel housing to form a box-like structure, said forward facing rear door being operatively attached to said C pillar;

a body side reinforcement extending longitudinally and connected to said C pillar and for connection to a D pillar of said vehicle body; and

a single hinge connected to a rear end of said forward facing rear door and said C pillar to allow a forward end of said forward facing rear door to open and close at least a portion of said at least one door opening in said vehicle body.

18. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 17 including a hinge box disposed behind said C pillar and connected thereto.

19. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 18 wherein said hinge box includes a hinge plate connected to said hinge bulkhead.

20. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 19 wherein said hinge box includes a hinge bracket connected to another end of said hinge and said rear end of said forward facing rear door.