INDEPENDENTLY OPENING DOORS FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE DOOR OPENING

• US 20070152473A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Lechkun, David, Beranek, John, Wells, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,488,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.120
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0479 without B-pillar or releasable B-pillar, i.e. the pillar is moving with door

Abstract

An automotive vehicle is disclosed with a pillarless door opening for occupant ingress and egress. The first door is pivotally connected to the vehicle at a first end with a second end that extends to a central region of the door opening in the closed position. A second door has a first end translatably connected to the vehicle and a second end translatably connected to the vehicle adjacent to the central region of the opening at a closed position. The first door and the second door cooperate to close the opening. The second door can be translated relative to the vehicle to an intermediate position for providing clearance from the first door. One of the second door ends is detachable from the vehicle for pivoting the second door to an open position.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle having a body with an opening without a pillar for occupant ingress and egress, the vehicle comprising:

a first door having a first end pivotally connected to the vehicle about an axis adjacent to a perimeter of a vehicle body opening, and a second end that extends to a central region of the opening in a closed position and that extends away from the opening in an open position; and

a second door having a first end translatably connected to the vehicle adjacent to the perimeter of the opening spaced apart from the first door first end, and a second end translatably connected to the vehicle adjacent to the central region of the opening at a closed position;

wherein the first door and the second door cooperate to close the opening when both the first door and the second door are in the closed position, and the second door is translatable relative to the vehicle on a fixed path of translation such that the second door first end and the second door second end are translated from the vehicle to an intermediate position for providing clearance from the first door when in the closed position, and one of the second door first end and the second door second end is detachable from the vehicle for pivoting the second door about the other of the second door first end and the second door second end relative to the vehicle from the intermediate position to an open position of the second door.

2. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first door and the second door are independently operable for the associated open and closed positions.

3. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first door second end and the second door second end cooperate to seal the central region of the vehicle opening.

4. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first door second end and the second door second end cooperate to provide lateral structural support to the vehicle body.

5. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second door is closed by pivoting the second door to the intermediate position whereby the second door detachable end reconnects with the vehicle and translating the second door to the closed position.

6. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a four bar mechanism mounting the second door to the vehicle for translating the second door between the closed and intermediate positions, wherein the second door is detachable from the four bar mechanism at one of the second door first end and the second door second end for pivoting the second door to the open position.

7. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a linkage mounting the second door to the vehicle for translating the second door between the closed and intermediate positions, wherein the second door is detachable from the linkage at one of the second door first end and the second door second end for pivoting the second door to the open position.

8. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second door first end is pivotally attached to the vehicle and the second door second end is detachable from the vehicle.

9. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second door is further defined as a rear door.

10. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a first link pivotally connected to the vehicle body adjacent the perimeter of the vehicle body opening and pivotally connected to the second door first end; and

a second link pivotally connected the vehicle body adjacent the central region of the vehicle body opening, and pivotally connected to the second door second end;

wherein the fixed path of translation of the second door between the closed position and the intermediate position is defined by the first link and the second link.

11. The automotive vehicle of claim 10 wherein the first link has a length greater than that of the second link to translate the second door first end away from the vehicle as the second door second end is translated away from the first door second end and the vehicle.

12. The automotive vehicle of claim 10 further comprising a latch mechanism pivotally connecting the second door to one of the first link and the second link for decoupling the second door from the link and pivoting the second door to the open position.

13. The automotive vehicle of claim 10 further comprising an actuator operably connected to the vehicle and one of the second door, the first link and the second link for driving the door from the closed position to the intermediate position.

14. The automotive vehicle of claim 13 further comprising:

a manual switch; and

a controller in communication with the manual switch for receiving an input from the manual switch, the controller being in communication with the actuator for driving the door from the closed position to the intermediate position in response to the input.

15. The automotive vehicle of claim 14 wherein the manual switch further comprises a door handle for providing the manual switch input and for manual actuation of the second door from the intermediate position to the open position.

16. The automotive vehicle of claim 14 wherein the controller is in communication with the vehicle to verify that the vehicle is parked before driving the actuator.

17. The automotive vehicle of claim 16 further comprising:

a latch mechanism pivotally connecting the second door to one of the first link and the second link for decoupling the second door from the link, the controller being in communication with the latch mechanism for decoupling the second door from the link after the second door is translated from the closed position to the intermediate position.

18. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 wherein the latch mechanism senses a latched condition associated with the second door being pivoted from the open position to the intermediate position, and the latch mechanism communicates the latched condition to the controller, whereby the controller drives the actuator to translate the second door from the intermediate position to the closed position.

19. An automotive vehicle having a pair of opposed outwardly opening doors on one side of a vehicle body which cooperate to enclose a pillarless door opening, the vehicle comprising:

a forward door hinged to the vehicle adjacent a front edge of a pillarless door opening for pivotal movement about a generally vertical first hinge axis between an open position and a closed position;

a forward door latch mechanism for releasably latching the forward door to the vehicle body;

a rearward door hinged to the vehicle adjacent a rear edge of the pillarless door opening and having a spaced apart front edge and a rear edge sized to close the pillarless door opening in cooperation with the forward door when in the closed position;

a rear link member having a fixed end, pivotally attached to the vehicle adjacent the rear edge of the pillarless door opening, and a distal end which is movable along an arcuate path and is pivotally attached to the rearward door adjacent the rear edge thereof enabling rotation of the rearward door about a generally vertical second hinge axis between an open position and a substantially closed position;

a front link member having a fixed end pivotally attached to the pillarless door opening forward of the rearward link member and having a distal end movable along an arcuate path about the first end;

a releasable connector oriented adjacent the front edge of the rearward door for releasably engaging the distal end of the front link member; and

a locking mechanism cooperating with the vehicle body and at least one of the rearward door and rear link member, wherein the rear link member is capable of pivoting between an outwardly extended state with the rearward door in the substantially closed position and with the releasable connector engaging the distal end of the front link member, and an inwardly retracted locked state in which the rearward door is moved forward and inward to a closed state and securely held within the pillarless door opening.

20. An automotive vehicle having a pair of opposed outwardly opening doors on one side of a vehicle body which cooperate to enclose a pillarless door opening, the vehicle comprising:

a forward door hinged to the vehicle adjacent a front edge of a pillarless door opening for pivotal movement about a generally vertical first hinge axis between an open position and a closed position;

a forward door latch mechanism for releasably latching the forward door to the vehicle body;

a rearward door hinged to the vehicle adjacent a rear edge of the pillarless door opening and having a spaced apart front edge and a rear edge sized to close the pillarless door opening in cooperation with the forward door when in the closed position;

a rear link member having a fixed end, pivotally attached to the vehicle adjacent the rear edge of the pillarless door opening, and a distal end which is movable along an arcuate path and is pivotally attached to the rearward door adjacent the rear edge thereof enabling rotation of the rearward door about a generally vertical second hinge axis between an open position and a substantially closed position;

a rearward door forward latch assembly having a first latch member affixed to the vehicle and a corresponding second latch member affixed to the rear door adjacent the front edge, wherein one of the first and second latch members releasably engages the other at an engagement location allowing limited forward movement of the rear door relative to the vehicle body while the first and second latch members are engaged; and

a locking mechanism cooperating with the vehicle body and at least one of the rearward door and rear link member, wherein the rear link member is capable of pivoting between an outwardly extended state with the rearward door in the substantially closed position and with the first and second latch members initially engaged, and an inwardly retracted locked state in which the rearward door is moved forward and inward to a closed state and securely held within the pillarless door opening.