Automobile door opening apparatus

• US 5,369,911 A
• Filed: 09/16/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nick Fortunato
• Original Assignee: Nick Fortunato
• Inventors: Fortunato, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): KANNAN, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US08/121,563
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 49/25, 49/379, 49/339, 49/340, 49/276, 49/279, 49/280, 49/357, 70/256, 70/257
• US Class Current: 49/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/025 specially adapted for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/424 for the final opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control

Abstract

Remote control equipment for remotely opening a vehicle door. A manual operated remote control transmitter transmits a signal to a receiver mounted on the vehicle which causes door mounted motor actuators to unlock and unlatch the door after which a prebiased mechanical door opener functions to open the door wide enough to permit ready access to the vehicle.

Claims

1. Door opening means for remotely operation at least one closed passenger door of a vehicle equipped with power door locks, said door including a lock, a latch, first and second relays, each of said relays including a coil, an armature, a make contact connected to DC power of a first polarity, and a break contact connected to DC power of a second polarity, a first actuator connected to said lock and including circuit connections to said first and second relay armatures, a non-locking switch including a first contact connected to said first relay coil, a second contact connected to said second relay coil, and a wiper connected to DC power of said first polarity, said switch manually operated to connect said DC power of said first polarity via said wiper through said first contact to said first relay coil to operate said first relay to connect said DC power of said first polarity via said first relay make contact and said first relay armature to said first actuator, to operate said first actuator to a first position to lock said lock, said switch manually operated to a second position to connect said DC power of said first polarity via said wiper to said second contact to said second relay coil to operate said second relay, said second relay in response to operation connecting said DC power of said first polarity, via said second relay make contact and said second relay armature to said first actuator to operate said first actuator to a second position to unlock said lock, the improvement comprising:

second actuator means coupled to said latch;

a remote control receiver including a connection to said DC power of said first polarity and output circuit connections to said second relay coil and to said second actuator means;

unidirectional conducting means included in said circuit connection between said receiver and said second relay coil;

said unidirectional conducting means operated to inhibit operation of said second actuator means in response to the manual operation of said switch to operate said second relay;

a remote control transmitter manually operated to transmit an operating signal to said receiver;

said receiver operated in response to said signal to connect DC power of said first polarity over said circuit connections to said second relay coil and to said second actuator;

said second relay in response to said DC power of said first polarity operated to connect DC power of said first polarity via said second relay make contact and armature to said first actuator to render said first actuator means operated to unlock said lock, said second actuator operated in response to said DC power of said first polarity received from said receiver, to unlatch said latch;

and a door opener comprising prebiased mechanical means in contact with said closed door operated in response to both the unlocking of said lock and the unlatching of said latch to open said door.

2. Door opening means as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said transmitter transmits radio frequency signals to said receiver to render said receiver operated.

3. Door opening means as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said transmitter transmits optical frequency signals to said receiver to render said receiver operated.

4. Door opening means as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said transmitter transmits sonic frequency signals to said receiver to render said receiver operated.

5. Door opening means as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said door opener comprises a spring loaded piston.

6. Door opening means as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said door opener comprises a pressurized gas cylinder including a piston.

7. Door opening means as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said door opener is mounted on said vehicle normally in contact with said door when said door is closed.

8. Door opening means as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said door opener is mounted on said door normally in contact with said vehicle when said door is closed.