Vehicle door check

• US 5,152,030 A
• Filed: 09/11/1990
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geauga Company
• Original Assignee: Thunderline Corp (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Cogo, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Lowell A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHOEFFLER, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US07/580,565
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 16/82, 16/85, 16/86 A, 16/86 B, 16/86 C, 16/86 R, 16/325, 16/332, 16/333, 16/334, 16/335, 16/344, 16/345, 16/347, 16/DIG. 10, 16/DIG. 17 , 16/DIG. 21, 292/14, 292/15, 292/16, 292/17
• US Class Current: 16/86.00C
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/206 with elastomeric springs to hold wing open
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/21 Checks, closers, check valve construction

Abstract

A door check for controlling pivotal movement of a vehicle door between a closed position and one or more open positions, sometimes incorporated in a hinge, includes a rigid, elongated track member having two opposed track surfaces with at least one detent receptacle in one track surface or in both track surfaces. A roller detent member engages one track surface in rolling pressure contact at least part of the time whenever the door moves between its open and closed positions; a second detent member, comprising a sliding, self-aligning, non-rotational bearing, engages the other track surface. Both detent members are formed of a fiber reinforced resin, such as a glass fiber reinforced nylon. The second detent member is urged toward one track surface by an elastomer pad, preferably an elastomer such as a silicone polymer that retains its elastic properties over a wide temperature range that extends beyond the temperatures of manufacturing processes or human environments.

Claims

1. A door check for controlling pivotal movement of a vehicle door, pivotally mounted on a first support element comprising part of a vehicle frame, between a closed position and an open position that is displaced from the closed position by a predetermined angle, the vehicle door including a second support element, the door check comprising:

a rigid, non-elastic track member, including two elongated, opposed track surfaces, one track surface having a roller detent receptacle therein;

a first detent member, comprising a roller;

a second detent member, comprising a non-rotational, self-aligning sliding bearing;

mounting means for mounting the track member on one of the support elements and for mounting the detent members on the other of the support elements on opposite sides of the track member with the first detent member aligned with the one track surface;

the second detent member having a resilient distortable construction afforded by a resilient elastomer material;

the mounting means and the resilient distortable construction of the second detent member conjointly maintaining the first detent member in pressure rolling engagement with the one track surface and maintaining the second detent member in sliding contact with the other track surface during at least a portion of the movement of the door between its closed and open positions; and

the alignment of the first detent member and the one track surface causing the first detent member to engage in the detent receptacle when the door is pivoted to its open position so that the two detent members and the track member releasably maintain the door in its open position.

2. A door check according to claim 1 in which the elastomer material retains its resiliency and elasticity even though subjected to elevated temperatures of the order of 400°

F.

3. A door check according to claim 1 in which the second detent member comprises a rigid cup-shaped retainer mounted on a resilient pad of elastomer material.

4. A door check according to claim 3 in which the elastomer material retains its resiliency and elasticity even though subjected to elevated temperatures of the order of 400°

F.

5. A door check according to claim 3 in which the cup-shaped retainer is molded from a hard, fiber reinforced resin.

6. A door check according to claim 1 in which the track member is formed of a fiber-reinforced, heat stabilized resin.

7. A door check according to claim 6 in which the resin is nylon and the reinforcing fibers are glass.

8. A door check according to claim 6 in which the second detent member comprises a rigid cup-shaped retainer mounted on a resilient pad of elastomer material.

9. A door check according to claim 8 in which the cup-shaped retainer is molded from a hard, fiber reinforced resin.

10. A door check according to claim 1 in which the door check is incorporated in a door hinge, comprising two hinge members pivotally interconnected by a hinge pin, with the track member mounted on one hinge member and the detent members mounted on the other hinge member, the track member projecting between the detent members, and each hinge member comprising a part of one mounting means.