INTUITIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR POWER ASSISTED VEHICLE DOORS

• US 20110204675A1
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Original Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Inventors: SONNEK, TOM F., HEMANN, BRANDON L., DONALDSON, ROBERT W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,132,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.4
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/01 Locks for military or armoured vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/24 Bolts rotating about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/445 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/113 Power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/504 for armored vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/226 Doors on armoured vehicles or structures F41H5/263 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/102 Lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1022 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and push outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle. Perimeter bump strips offer safety functions to prevent injuries when remote function is active.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle door having a latch assembly, a lock assembly and an interior joystick operatively connected to the lock and latch assemblies, the joystick being pivotal about first and second perpendicular axes, comprising:

pivoting the joystick forwardly about the first axis to lock the door;

pivoting the joystick rearwardly about the first axis to unlock and unlatch the door;

pivoting the joystick to laterally outwardly about the second axis to open the door; and

pivoting the joystick to laterally inwardly about the second axis to close the door.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the joystick is operatively connecting to a power unit, and whereby pivoting the joystick laterally to actuate the power unit to assist in opening and closing the door.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising actuating the power unit in opposite directions by pivoting the joystick laterally outwardly and inwardly, respectively.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein actuation of the power unit stops when the joystick is released.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising overriding the joystick with an exterior lever to latch, unlatch, open and close the door.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising operatively connecting the exterior handle to the power unit whereby pivoting the lever up and down actuates the power unit.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising actuating the power unit in opposite directions by pivoting the lever up and down.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein actuation of the power unit stops when the lever is released.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing a similar second joystick from a similarly equipped vehicle door, and installing the second joystick on a shaft on the exterior door, the shaft being coupled to the lock and latch assemblies, and turning the second joystick to unlock and unlatch the door.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing an obstruction which precludes closing of the door and automatically stopping further closing of the door.

11. A vehicle door mounted in a door frame for movement between open and closed positions, comprising:

a latch assembly moveable between latched and unlatched positions;

a lock assembly moveable between locked and unlocked positions;

a power unit mounted in the door with opposite ends connected to the door and the door frame;

a joystick on an interior side of the door;

the joystick being pivotal about first and second perpendicular axes;

whereby pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis actuates the latch and lock assemblies; and

whereby pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis actuates the power unit to open and closed the door.

12. The vehicle door of claim 11 wherein the joystick pivots outwardly to open the door and pivots inwardly to close the door.

13. The vehicle door of claim 11 wherein the joystick pivots forwardly to lock and latch the door and pivots rearwardly to unlock and unlatch the door.

14. The vehicle door of claim 11 wherein the power unit is actuated in opposite directions by pivoting the joystick in opposite directions about the second pivot axis.

15. The vehicle door of claim 11 further comprising a handle on an exterior side of the door, coupled to the power unit, and pivotal so as to actuate the power unit for opening and closing the door.

16. The vehicle door of claim 15 wherein the handle is coupled to the latch assembly and pivotal movement of the handle actuates the latch assembly from the latched to unlatched positions.

17. The vehicle door of claim 15 wherein the power unit is actuated in opposite directions by pivoting the handle in opposite directions.

18. The vehicle door of claim 15 wherein the handle is biased to a neutral position.

19. The vehicle door of claim 11 wherein the joystick is biased to a neutral position.

20. The vehicle door of claim 11 further comprising a shaft connected to the lock assembly and having an outer end extending outside the door, and a second joystick from a second similarly equipped vehicle door being mountable on the outer end of the shaft and pivotal to unlock the door for opening without actuation of the power unit.

21. A power-assisted door mounted in a door frame adapted for intuitive operation, comprising:

a latch assembly moveable between latched and unlatched positions;

a lock assembly moveable between locked and unlocked positions;

a power unit with opposite ends connected to the door and the door frame to move the door between open and close positions;

a single handle to operate latch and unlatch functions of the latch assembly, lock and unlock functions of the lock assembly, and open and close functions of the power unit.

22. The vehicle door of claim 21 wherein the handle comprises a joystick.