VEHICLE UNSEQUENCED REAR DOOR ARTICULATING MECHANISM

• US 20090072582A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lechkun, Dave M., Falenski, Jason, Blust, Craig, Elliott, Adrian N. A., Johnson, Justin T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.110
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/203 concealed, e.g. for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1007 with positive locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/127 for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/604 Transmission members
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/62 Synchronisation of transmission members
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/686 Rods, links
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/532 Back doors or end doors

Abstract

A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism including one or more articulating hinge assemblies having one or more hinge arms pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof via a C-pillar hinge mount and pivotally mounted to a vehicle rear door at another end thereof via a door hinge mount. The hinge arm may include a generally J-shaped profile between the ends thereof for permitting unsequenced articulation of the rear door up to approximately 180° from a rear door closed position. The door hinge mount may include a door stop engageable with a stop surface on the hinge arm for limiting pivotal movement of the vehicle rear door.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism comprising:

at least one articulating hinge assembly including;

at least one hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof via a C-pillar hinge mount and pivotally mounted to a vehicle rear door at another end thereof via a door hinge mount, said hinge arm including a generally J-shaped profile between said ends thereof for permitting unsequenced articulation of the rear door up to approximately 180°

from a rear door closed position, said door hinge mount including a door stop engageable with a stop surface on said hinge arm for limiting pivotal movement of the vehicle rear door.

2. A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a tie-bar connected to an upper and lower hinge arm for thereby providing rigidity for simultaneous operation of upper and lower hinge assemblies.

3. A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said tie-bar, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent in a vehicle body for maintaining the rear door at a predetermined angle relative to the rear door initial closed position.

4. A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said tie-bar, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent provided in the rear door for maintaining the rear door at a predetermined angle relative to the rear door initial closed position.

5. A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said tie-bar, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent provided in the vehicle C-pillar for maintaining the rear door at a predetermined angle relative to the rear door initial closed position.

6. A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising at least one first and second door check straps pivotally connected to said tie-bar, said first and second door check straps each including at least one recess and each recess being respectively engageable with a detent provided in the rear door and the vehicle C-pillar for maintaining the rear door at predetermined angles relative to the rear door initial closed position and allowing unsequenced pivotal movement of the rear door between rear door opening and closing directions, said predetermined angles being selectable by a user based on a force applied for opening and closing the rear door.

7. A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said first door check strap includes two recesses, and said second door check strap includes one recess, said recesses permitting unsequenced pivotal movement of the rear door between the rear door opening and closing directions.

8. A vehicle door unsequenced articulating mechanism comprising:

at least one articulating hinge assembly including;

at least one hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure at one end thereof via a body structure hinge mount and pivotally mounted to a vehicle door at another end thereof via a door hinge mount, said hinge arm including a generally curved profile between said ends thereof for permitting unsequenced articulation of the door up to a predetermined angle from a door closed position, said door hinge mount including a door stop engageable with a stop surface on said hinge arm for limiting pivotal movement of the vehicle door.

9. A vehicle door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising a tie-bar connected to an upper and lower hinge arm for thereby providing rigidity for simultaneous operation of upper and lower hinge assemblies.

10. A vehicle door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said hinge assembly, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent in a vehicle body for maintaining the door at a predetermined angle relative to the door initial closed position.

11. A vehicle door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said hinge assembly, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent provided in the door for maintaining the door at a predetermined angle relative to the door initial closed position.

12. A vehicle door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said hinge assembly, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent provided in the vehicle body structure for maintaining the door at a predetermined angle relative to the door initial closed position.

13. A vehicle door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising at least one first and second door check straps pivotally connected to said hinge assembly, said first and second door check straps each including at least one recess and each recess being respectively engageable with a detent provided in the door and the vehicle body structure for maintaining the door at predetermined angles relative to the door initial closed position and allowing unsequenced pivotal movement of the door between door opening and closing directions, said predetermined angles being selectable by a user based on a force applied for opening and closing the door.

14. A vehicle door unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said first door check strap includes two recesses, and said second door check strap includes one recess, said recesses permitting unsequenced pivotal movement of the door between the door opening and closing directions.

15. A vehicle compartment closure unsequenced articulating mechanism comprising:

at least one articulating hinge assembly including;

at least one hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure at one end thereof via a body structure hinge mount and pivotally mounted to a vehicle compartment closure at another end thereof via a door hinge mount, said hinge arm including a generally curved profile between said ends thereof for permitting unsequenced articulation of the compartment closure up to a predetermined angle from a compartment closure closed position, said door hinge mount including a door stop engageable with a stop surface on said hinge arm for limiting pivotal movement of the vehicle compartment closure.

16. A vehicle compartment closure unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 15, farther comprising a tie-bar connected to a first and second hinge arm for thereby providing rigidity for simultaneous operation of first and second hinge assemblies.

17. A vehicle compartment closure unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 15, further comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said hinge assembly, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent in a vehicle body for maintaining the compartment closure at a predetermined angle relative to the compartment closure initial closed position.

18. A vehicle compartment closure unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 15, further comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said hinge assembly, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent provided in the compartment closure for maintaining the compartment closure at a predetermined angle relative to the compartment closure initial closed position.

19. A vehicle compartment closure unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 15, her comprising at least one door check strap pivotally connected to said hinge assembly, said door check strap including at least one recess engageable with a detent provided in the vehicle body structure for maintaining the compartment closure at a predetermined angle relative to the compartment closure initial closed position.

20. A vehicle compartment closure unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 15, further comprising at least one first and second door check straps pivotally connected to said hinge assembly, said first and second door check straps each including at least one recess and each recess being respectively engageable with a detent provided in the compartment closure and the vehicle body structure for maintaining the compartment closure at predetermined angles relative to the compartment closure initial closed position and allowing unsequenced pivotal movement of the compartment closure between compartment closure opening and closing directions, said predetermined angles being selectable by a user based on a force applied for opening and closing the compartment closure.

21. A vehicle compartment closure unsequenced articulating mechanism according to claim 20, wherein said first door check strap includes two recesses, and said second door check strap includes one recess, said recesses permitting unsequenced pivotal movement of the compartment closure between the compartment closure opening and closing directions.