Apparatus and method for providing a sliding door mechanism
First Claim
1. A hinge assembly for coupling a sliding door of a vehicle to a drive unit for sliding the sliding door from an open position to a closed position, the drive unit causing the hinge assembly to slide within a guide track as the door moves between the open position and the closed position, the hinge assembly comprising:
- a first hinge portion;
a second hinge portion, said first hinge portion being pivotally secured to said second hinge portion;
a cable attachment being secured to said second hinge portion; and
a guide surface disposed on a surface of said first hinge portion, said guide surface being configured to make contact with a portion of a cable having an end secured to said cable attachment when said second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to said first hinge portion position and said cable no longer makes contact with said guide surface as said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation with respect to said first hinge portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge assembly for coupling a sliding door of a vehicle to a drive unit for sliding the sliding door from an open position to a closed position, the drive unit causing the hinge assembly to slide within a guide track as the door moves between the open position and the closed position, the hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge portion; a second hinge portion, the first hinge portion being pivotally secured to the second hinge portion; a cable attachment being secured to the second hinge portion; and a guide surface disposed on a surface of the first hinge portion, the guide surface being configured to make contact with a portion of a cable having an end secured to the cable attachment when the second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to the first hinge portion position and the cable no longer makes contact with the guide surface as the second hinge portion moves from the first orientation to a second orientation with respect to the first hinge portion.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A hinge assembly for coupling a sliding door of a vehicle to a drive unit for sliding the sliding door from an open position to a closed position, the drive unit causing the hinge assembly to slide within a guide track as the door moves between the open position and the closed position, the hinge assembly comprising:
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a first hinge portion;
a second hinge portion, said first hinge portion being pivotally secured to said second hinge portion;
a cable attachment being secured to said second hinge portion; and
a guide surface disposed on a surface of said first hinge portion, said guide surface being configured to make contact with a portion of a cable having an end secured to said cable attachment when said second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to said first hinge portion position and said cable no longer makes contact with said guide surface as said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation with respect to said first hinge portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A drive assembly for a sliding door, comprising:
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a guide track having a curved portion disposed at one end;
a hinge assembly comprising;
a first hinge portion, a second hinge portion, said first hinge portion being pivotally secured to said second hinge portion;
a cable attachment being secured to said second hinge portion; and
a guide surface disposed on a surface of said first hinge portion, said guide surface being configured to make contact with a portion of a first cable having an end secured to said cable attachment when said second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to said first hinge portion position and said portion of said first cable no longer makes contact with said guide surface as said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation with respect to said first hinge portion;
a second cable secured to said first hinge portion at one end; and
a drive unit for providing a tension to said first cable to cause said first hinge portion to travel within said guide track in a first direction and for providing a tension to said second cable to cause said first hinge portion to travel within said guide track in a second direction;
wherein said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation as said first hinge portion travels in said curved portion of said guide track. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A drive assembly for a sliding door of a vehicle, comprising:
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a guide track having a curved portion disposed at one end;
a hinge assembly, comprising;
a first hinge portion, a second hinge portion, said first hinge portion being pivotally secured to said second hinge portion;
a cable attachment being secured to said second hinge portion; and
a guide surface disposed on a surface of said first hinge portion, said guide surface being configured to make contact with a portion of a first cable having an end secured to said cable attachment when said second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to said first hinge portion position and said portion of said first cable no longer makes contact with said guide surface as said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation with respect to said first hinge portion;
a second cable secured to said first hinge portion at one end;
a drive unit for providing a tension to said first cable to cause said first hinge portion to travel within said guide track in a first direction and for providing a tension to said second cable to cause said first hinge portion to travel within said guide track in a second direction;
wherein said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation as said first hinge portion travels in said curved portion of said guide track; and
a pulley disposed on said curved portion of said guide track, wherein a portion of said first cable is directly aligned with said end of said first cable secured to said cable attachment when said first cable no longer makes contact with said guide portion. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for providing a closing force to a sliding door of a vehicle, comprising:
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securing one end of a cable to the sliding door;
securing another end of said cable to the motor drive unit for providing a pulling force to said cable; and
pivotally securing a first hinge portion to a second hinge portion, said second hinge portion being secured to the sliding door and said first hinge portion being slidably received within a guide track having a curved portion;
wherein said cable makes contact with a guide member of said first hinge portion when said first hinge portion is not traveling within said curved portion and wherein a direct force is applied to a portion of the sliding door when said first hinge portion is traveling in said curved portion and said cable no longer makes contact with said guide member. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for closing a sliding door of a vehicle, comprising:
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aligning the door with a door opening of the vehicle;
directly providing a pulling force to a rear portion of the door by a cable that is aligned with a surface of a pulley and said rear portion of the door, wherein said pulling force causes the door to travel inward into the door opening. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A drive assembly for a sliding door of a vehicle, comprising:
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a guide track having a curved portion disposed at one end;
a hinge assembly, comprising;
a first hinge portion, a second hinge portion, said first hinge portion being pivotally secured to said second hinge portion;
a cable attachment being secured to the sliding door and said second hinge portion being integral with the sliding door; and
a guide surface disposed on a surface of said first hinge portion, said guide surface being configured to make contact with a portion of a first cable having an end secured to said cable attachment when said second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to said first hinge portion position and said portion of said first cable no longer makes contact with said guide surface as said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation with respect to said first hinge portion;
a second cable secured to said first hinge portion at one end;
a drive unit for providing a tension to said first cable to cause said first hinge portion to travel within said guide track in a first direction and for providing a tension to said second cable to cause said first hinge portion to travel within said guide track in a second direction;
wherein said second hinge portion moves from said first orientation to a second orientation as said first hinge portion travels in said curved portion of said guide track; and
a pulley disposed on said curved portion of said guide track, wherein a portion of said first cable is directly aligned with said end of said first cable secured to said cable attachment when said first cable no longer makes contact with said guide portion.
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Specification