Check and control for a sliding door

• US 4,692,960 A
• Filed: 08/28/1986
• Issued: 09/15/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Auto OOO (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Jozefczak, Thadius F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Godici, Nicholas P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seidel, Richard K.
• Application Number:
  US06/901,394
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 16/85, 16/86 R, 16/86 A, 16/86 B, 16/337, 16/348, 16/360, 49/213, 188/268, 188/372
• US Class Current: 16/86.00A
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 13/04 Fasteners specially adapted for holding sliding wings open for holding wings closed E05C
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0656 Bottom guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/003 for sliding wings Fasteners specially adapted for holding sliding wings open E05D13/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/212 Buffers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/48 Leaf or leg springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

According to the invention a follower member is mounted on the door adjacent the door mounted roller and extends into the body mounted track further than the roller. A spring-like leaf is mounted in the track along at least a portion of the path of travel of the follower member along the track during the back and forth movement of the door. The leaf projects into the path of the follower member to interfere therewith so that the leaf is flexed and thereby impedes travel of the door along the track. A block of elastic material is mounted in a space between the track and the leaf to yieldably support the leaf against the flexure by the follower member during the back and forth movement of the door. The elasticity of the block of elastic material may vary along its length and determines the extent to which the movement of the door is impeded by the engagement of the follower member with the leaf.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle sliding door supported and guided by a channel shaped track mounted on the vehicle body and a roller mounted on the door and movable back and forth within the track to open and close the door, a door check and control mechanism comprising:

a follower member mounted on the door adjacent the roller and extending into the track beyond the roller and having a path of travel along the track during back and forth movement of the door,

a spring-like leaf mounted within the track along at least a portion of the path of travel of the follower member, said leaf being spaced from the track at least along a portion of the length thereof and projecting into the path of travel of the follower member to interfere therewith so that the leaf is flexed and thereby impedes the travel of the door along the track,

and a block of elastic material mounted in the space between the track and the leaf to yieldably support the leaf against said flexure by the follower member during back and forth movement of the door to an extent determined by the elasticity of the block of elastic material.

2. In combination with a vehicle sliding door supported and guided by a channel shaped track mounted on the vehicle body and a roller mounted on the door and movable back and forth within the track to open and close the door, a door check and control mechanism comprising:

a pin mounted on the door for mounting the roller and having an integral follower portion extending into the track beyond the roller and having a path of travel along the track during back and forth movement of the door,

a spring-like leaf mounted within the track along at least a portion of the path of travel of the follower member, said leaf being spaced from the track at least along a portion of the length thereof and projecting into the path of travel of the follower member to frictionally interfere therewith so that the leaf is flexed and thereby frictionally impedes the travel of the door along the track,

and a block of elastic material mounted in the space between the track and the leaf to yieldably support the leaf against said flexure by the follower member during back and forth movement of the door to an extent determined by the elasticity of the block of elastic material.

3. In combination with a vehicle sliding door supported and guided by a channel shaped track mounted on the vehicle body and a roller mounted on the door and movable back and forth within the track to open and close the door, a door check and control mechanism comprising:

a follower member mounted on the door adjacent the roller and extending into the track beyond the roller and having a path of travel along the track during back and forth movement of the door,

first and second spring-like leaves mounted within the track at opposite sides of the path of travel of the follower member along the track, said leaves being spaced from the track at least along a portion of the length thereof and projecting into the path of travel of the follower member to interfere therewith so that the leaves are flexed and thereby impede the travel of the door along the track,

and first and second blocks of elastic material mounted respectively in the spaces between the track and the first and second leaves to yieldably support the leaves against said flexure by the follower member during back and forth movement of the door to an extent determined by the flexibility of the leaves and the elasticity of the blocks of elastic material.

4. In a vehicle sliding door arrangement in which a door mounted roller is captured in a channel shaped track mounted on the vehicle body to support and guide the door for back and forth travel between open and closed positions, means adapted to check and control movement of the door comprising:

a follower member mounted on the door adjacent the roller and extending into the track beyond the roller and having a path of travel along the track during back and forth movement of the door; and

a control mechanism adapted for mounting inside the track and having a channel shaped housing receiving the follower member therein during back and forth movement of the door, a spring-like leaf mounted within the track along at least a portion of the path of travel of the follower member, said leaf being spaced from the housing at least along a portion of the length thereof and projecting into the path of travel of the follower member to interfere therewith so that the leaf is flexed and thereby impedes the travel of the door along the track, and a block of elastic material mounted in the space between the housing and the leaf to yieldably support the leaf against said flexure by the follower member during back and forth movement of the door to an extent determined by the elasticity of the block of elastic material.