Dual function adjustable bumper for automotive vehicle sliding door

• US 5,895,089 A
• Filed: 03/31/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Singh, Rajinder Pal, Pusilo, Timothy Dean, Bell, Mary Teresa, Cannella, Giuseppe Joe, Shipman, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/828,851
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 296/207, 296/155, 296/146.12, 49/213, 49/2.5, 16/82, 16/85, 16/86 R, 16/86 B, 16/DIG. 6, 16/DIG. 10, 16/DIG. 17
• US Class Current: 296/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/06 slidable; foldable
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/003 for sliding wings Fasteners specially adapted for holding sliding wings open E05D13/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/025 specially adapted for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 7/04 Arrangements affording protection against rattling with buffering action E05F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/06 Anti-rattle

Abstract

A door bumper assembly for an automotive vehicle sliding door has an adjustable bumper head with a door face for mating with a door inner surface when the door is in a closed position to provide a predetermined lateral load to the door. A bumper base is mounted between the bumper head and a vehicle body surface at a rearward end of a door track and has a hinge face for contacting a door hinge to prevent door rearward longitudinal movement when the door is moved to a fully open position. A bolt threaded on both ends is attached on a first end to the bumper head to allow lateral adjustment with respect to the bumper base, and passes through the bumper base for attachment on a second end to a vehicle body portion.

Claims

1. In an automotive vehicle having a body opening closable by a sliding door movable between a closed position and an open position within a door track along a door peripheral edge by a roller connected to the door by a hinge, a dual function, adjustable door bumper assembly comprising:

a bumper head having a door face contactable with an inner surface of the door when the door is in the closed position;

a bumper base mounted between the bumper head and a vehicle body surface at a rearward end of the door track, and having a hinge face for contacting the hinge to prevent door movement when the door is moved to the open position;

means for attaching the bumper head to the bumper base; and

means for laterally adjusting the bumper head with respect to the bumper base so that the door face contacts the inner surface of the door to provide a predetermined lateral load thereto.

2. A door bumper assembly according to claim 1 and further including bias means for biasing the bumper head against the door inner surface.

3. A door bumper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the door face has a conical portion to provide point contact with the door inner surface.

4. In an automotive vehicle having a body opening closable by a sliding door movable between a closed position and an open position within a door track along a door peripheral edge by a roller connected to the door by a hinge, a dual function, adjustable door bumper assembly comprising:

a bumper head having a door face contactable with a door inner surface when the door is in the closed position and a base face with an attachment receiving member therein;

a bumper base mounted between the bumper head and a vehicle body surface at a rearward end of the door track, and having a hinge face for contacting the hinge to prevent door movement when the door is moved to the open position;

an attachment member having a first end attached to the attachment receiving member of the bumper head, a shaft passing through the bumper base, and a second end attached to a vehicle body portion; and

the attachment receiving member cooperating with the attachment member to provide lateral adjustment of the bumper head with respect to the vehicle so that the door face contacts the inner surface of the door to provide a predetermined lateral load thereto.

5. A door bumper assembly according to claim 4 wherein the attachment receiving member is a threaded nut.

6. A door bumper assembly according to claim 5 wherein the attachment member is a bolt having threads on the first and second ends, the bumper head rotatable about the bolt to provide lateral adjustment.

7. A door bumper assembly according to claim 4 wherein the door face has a conical portion to provide point contact with the door inner surface.

8. A door bumper assembly according to claim 4 wherein the bumper head and the bumper base are made of a molded rubber material.

9. A dual function, adjustable door bumper assembly for an automotive vehicle having a body opening closable by a sliding door movable between a closed position and a fully open position within a door track along a door peripheral edge by a roller connected to the door by a hinge, the assembly mounted near the door track and comprising:

a generally cylindrically shaped bumper member having a substantially flat face contactable with a door inner surface when the sliding door is in the closed position, and a base face having a depression with a threaded member therein;

a bumper base mounted between the bumper head and a vehicle body surface at a rearward end of the door track, the bumper base having;

a first portion with a hinge face for contacting the hinge to prevent door movement when the door is moved to the open position; and

a second portion having a channel therethrough;

an attachment bolt passing through the channel with a first end attached to the threaded member in the base face of the bumper head, and a second end mounted to a vehicle body portion; and

the bumper member laterally adjustable with respect to the vehicle so that the door face contacts the inner surface of the door to provide a predetermined lateral load thereto.

10. An assembly according to claim 9 wherein the second end is movably mounted to the vehicle body portion, and the assembly has bias means for biasing the bumper member against the inner door surface.

11. An assembly according to claim 10 wherein the bias means comprises a torsional spring mounted between the bumper member and the bumber base with the attachment bolt passing therethrough.

12. An assembly according to claim 9 wherein the second portion of the bumper base is situated on top of the first portion of the bumper base.