SLIDING DOOR MODULE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR

• US 20110072726A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH (Forvia SE)
• Inventors: Boecker, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,819,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/356
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/06 slidable; foldable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0012 for lock parts held in place before or during mounting on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/04 Mounting of lock casings to the vehicle, e.g. to the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/40 for sliding doors

Abstract

A door module for a sliding door of a vehicle is disclosed. The door module includes two closing modules. When in a first installation position, the first closing module does not protrude beyond a first outer edge of the door module. When in a first functional position, the first closing module protrudes beyond the first outer edge of the door module. While the second closing module is in a second installation position, it does not protrude beyond a second outer edge of the door module; however, when in a second functional position, the second closing module protrudes beyond the second outer edge of the door module and the first and second outer edges are spatially separated from each other. Finally, at least an actuating rod, comprised of plastic, transmits an actuating force from the first closing module to the second closing module.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A sliding door module for a sliding door of a motor vehicle, said sliding door module comprising:

a first closing module, whereby said first closing module in a first installation position does not protrude beyond a first outer edge of the sliding door module, whereby said first closing module is constructed for transfer into a first functional position, whereby said first closing module in said first functional position protrudes beyond said first edge of the sliding door module;

a second closing module, whereby said second closing module in a second installation position does not protrude beyond a second outer edge of the sliding door module, whereby said second closing module is constructed for transfer into a second functional position, whereby said second closing module in said second functional position protrudes beyond said second edge of the sliding door module, whereby said first outer edge is spatially separated from said second outer edge;

at least two first actuating rods for transmitting an actuating force from said first closing module to said second closing module, whereby said at least two first actuating rods are comprised of plastic, whereby said at least two first actuating rods are flexibly connected with said first and second closing modules, respectively, and with a pivoting lever around a swivel axis in the y-direction;

further with a third actuating rod for transmitting an actuating force from said first or second closing module to an actuating element, whereby said actuating element is a door-lock exterior control and/or a door-lock interior control and/or a door-lock interior safety, whereby said third actuating rod is comprised of plastic, and wherein said third actuating rod is formed by a first and a second rail and features a connecting element for connecting said first and second rails with one another and a locking mechanism for locking said first and second rails in said functional position of said first and/or second closing module.

24. The sliding door module according to claim 23, additionally comprising a door locking device, whereby said door locking device is connected with said second closing module essentially vertically above a second actuating rod for transmitting an actuating force, whereby said second actuating rod is comprised of plastic.

25. The sliding door module according to claim 24, whereby said door locking device is arranged on a lower door edge of the sliding door.

26. The sliding door module according to claim 23, additionally comprising at least:

a first latching element, whereby said first latching element is constructed for fixing said first closing module in said first installation position and/or in said first functional position; and

/or

a second latching element, whereby said second latching element is constructed for fixing said second closing module in said second installation position and/or in said second functional position.

27. The sliding door module according to claim 26, whereby said first and/or second latching element is generally rod-shaped.

28. The sliding door module according to claim 26, whereby said first and/or said second latching elements feature a plurality of latching positions.

29. The sliding door module according to one of claim 26, whereby said first and/or said second latching element is constructed in one piece with the sliding door module.

30. The sliding door module according to claim 23, whereby said connecting element is a hinge or a film hinge.

31. The sliding door module according to claim 23, whereby said locking mechanism is constructed to lock the first and second rails in said first functional position of said first closing module and/or said second functional position of said second closing module.

32. The sliding door module according to claim 23, whereby at least one of said actuating rods features one or more reinforcing ribs, said reinforcing ribs arranged on a radius of said actuating rod.

33. The sliding door module according to claim 23, whereby at least one of said actuating rods features a variable cross-section in said actuating rods longitudinal course.

34. The sliding door module according to claim 23, whereby at least one of said actuating rods is comprised of at least two different plastics.

35. The sliding door module according to claim 23, whereby:

said first closing module is transferred into said first functional position by a first translational movement and/or a first rotary movement around a first swivel axis; and

/or

said second closing module is transferred into said second functional position by a second translational movement and/or a second rotary movement around a second swivel axis.

36. The sliding door module according to claim 35, whereby said first swivel axis and/or said second swivel axis runs essentially in the y-direction of the motor vehicle.

37. The sliding door module according to claim 35, additionally comprising a rod-shaped latching element constructed for directing said first translational movement and/or said second translational movement.

38. The sliding door module according to claim 35, whereby said first closing module and said second closing module are transferred together into their respective functional positions by said first translational movement or said second translational movement.

39. The sliding door module according to claim 23, whereby:

said first closing module has a first draw hook mounting for a draw hook, whereby said first draw hook mounting is provided for transferring said first closing module from said first installation position into said first functional position using said draw hook; and

/or

said second closing module has a second draw hook mounting for said draw hook, whereby said second draw hook mounting is provided for transferring said second closing module from said second installation position into said second functional position using said draw hook.

40. The sliding door module according to claim 39, whereby

said first draw hook mounting is a rotary latch of said first closing module;

and/or

said second draw hook mounting is a rotary latch of said second closing module.

41. A method for installation of a sliding door module for a sliding door of a motor vehicle, said method comprising:

positioning the sliding door module in a mounting device of the sliding door, whereby a first closing module is in a first installation position and a second closing module is in a second installation position, said first closing module not protruding beyond a first outer edge of the sliding door module when in said first installation position and said second closing module not protruding beyond a second outer edge of the sliding door module when in said second installation position;

transferring said first closing module from said first installation position into a first functional position, said first closing module protruding beyond said first outer edge of the sliding door when in said first functional position;

transferring said second closing module from said second installation position into a second functional position, said second closing module protruding beyond said second outer edge of the sliding door when in said second functional position;

transmitting an actuating force from said first closing module to said second closing module via at least two first actuating rods, whereby said at least two first actuating rods comprise plastic and are flexibly connected with said first closing module and said second closing module and a lever that pivots around a swivel axis in the y-direction;

transmitting said actuating force from said first closing module or said second closing module to an actuating element via a third actuating rod, whereby said actuating element is a door-lock exterior control and/or a door-lock interior control and/or a door-lock interior safety, said third actuating rod comprises plastic and constructed of a first rail, a second rail, a connecting element, and a locking mechanism, said connecting element for connecting said first rail to said second rail, and said locking mechanism for locking said first rail and said second rail in said first functional position for said first closing module and/or in said second functional position for said second closing module.

42. The method according to claim 41, whereby said first closing module has a first draw hook mounting for a draw hook and/or said second closing module has a second draw hook mounting for said draw hook, whereby said transfer of said first closing module and said second closing module from their respective installation positions into their respective functional positions comprises the following steps:

insertion of said draw hook into said first draw hook mounting and transfer of said first closing module from said first installation position into said first functional position by a pulling movement with said draw hook; and

/or

insertion of said draw hook into said second draw hook mounting and transfer of said second closing module from said second installation position into said second functional position by a pulling movement with said draw hook.

43. The method according to claim 41, whereby through said transfer of said first closing module or said second closing module, said first closing module and said second closing module are transferred together into their respective functional positions.