Feeder arrangement of sliding door

• US 6,108,976 A
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amso Corporation, Ltd., ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AMSO Company Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Yukiyasu, Tamada, Kiyoshi, Harada, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Curtis A.
• Application Number:
  US09/054,310
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 49/139, 49/360, 49/361, 49/352, 242/378, 242/388, 191/12-2 R
• US Class Current: 49/360
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• 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 15/646 allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by auxiliary motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3015 Power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/334 by using pulse generators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/445 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/654 by electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/854 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/458 in or on a transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A feeder arrangement supplying power from a battery to an on-door electric device disposed in a sliding door includes a flexible cable for supplying electric power to the on-door electric device and a spool unit for winding and unwinding the flexible cable. The feeder arrangement includes an actuator for driving the sliding door in synchronism with the spool unit, a driving tape linking the actuator and the sliding door.

Claims

1. A feeder arrangement supplying power from a battery to an on-door electric device disposed in a sliding door comprising:

a flexible cable, adapted to electrically connect between the battery and the on-door electric device, and adapted to supply electric power to the on-door electric device; and

a spool unit, having an attachment mechanism that is adapted to attach to said vehicle body, winding and unwinding said flexible cable in synchronism with motion of said sliding door;

wherein said spool unit comprises a rotary drum rotatable to wind and unwind said flexible cable in synchronism with motion of said sliding door, stationary drum and retractable adjusting cable disposed between said rotary drum and said stationary drum for electrically connecting said battery and said flexible cable.

2. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said rotary drum is disposed around stationary drum.

3. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said adjusting cable is integrated with said flexible cable, and said rotary drum has a slit, and wherein

said adjusting cable and said flexible cable is divided by said slit.

4. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein

said adjusting cable and said flexible cable are further divided by a bent disposed at said slit.

5. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein

said rotary drum comprises a cylindrical member having an open end.

6. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said sliding door is disposed on a vehicle.

7. A feeder arrangement supplying power from a battery to an on-door electric device disposed in a sliding door comprising:

a flexible cable, electrically connected to said battery and said on-door electric device, for supplying electric power to said on-door electric device; and

a spool unit including a rotary drum rotatable to wind or unwind said flexible cable in synchronism with motion of said sliding door, stationary drum and a movable contact member secured to said rotary drum to be electrically connected to said flexible cable and a slip ring secured to said stationary drum in contact with said movable contact.

8. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein

said rotary drum is disposed around said stationary drum, and said spool further comprises a cover disposed around said rotary drum for guiding said flexible cable.

9. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein

said spool unit further comprises a movable contact member secured to said rotary dram to be electrically connected to said flexible cable and a slip ring secured to said stationary drum in contact with said movable contact member.

10. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein

said slip ring is connected to said battery to supply electric power to said flexible cable.

11. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 7, said sliding door is disposed on a vehicle.

12. A feeder arrangement supplying power from a battery to an on-door electric device disposed in a sliding door comprising:

a flexible cable, adapted to electrically connect between the battery and the on-door electric device, and adapted to supply electric power to the on-door electric device; and

a spool unit, having an attachment mechanism that is adapted to attach to said vehicle body, winding and unwinding said flexible cable in synchronism with motion of said sliding door;

a door stay secured to said sliding door and extending therefrom, said door stay being connected to said on-door electric device;

a movable connecting member fixed to said stay for electrically connecting said flexible cable and said stay.

13. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a motor for driving said movable connecting member and said spool unit in synchronism with motion of said sliding door.

14. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein said flexible cable comprises a flat cable.

15. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 12, said sliding door is disposed on a vehicle.

16. A feeder arrangement supplying power to an on-door electric device disposed in a sliding door comprising:

a rechargeable on-door battery adapted to be disposed in said sliding door;

an on-door battery-charging unit adapted to be disposed in said sliding door and connected to said on-door battery;

a connecting unit adapted to be disposed between said sliding door and a portion of said vehicle body outside said sliding door for connecting said main battery and said on-door battery-charging unit when said sliding door is closed;

an actuator for driving said sliding door; and

means, disposed in said sliding door, for providing said actuator with a signal controlling said actuator;

wherein said means comprises a flexible cable for transmitting said signals and a spool unit for winding and unwinding said flexible cable in synchronism with motion of said sliding door.

17. A feeder arrangement supplying power from a battery to an on-door electric device disposed in a sliding door comprising:

first means for driving said sliding door;

second means, disposed in said sliding door, for providing a signal controlling said actuator;

a flexible cable electrically connected to said battery and said on-door electrical device;

a spool unit for winding and unwinding said flexible cable in synchronism with motion of said sliding door; and

third means for transmitting said signal to said actuator.

18. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein said third means comprises a signal transmitting cable disposed in said spool unit.

19. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein

said flexible cable and signal transmitting cable are integrated and wound and unwound by said spool unit in synchronism with motion of said sliding door.

20. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein said third means comprises:

a stationary electromagnetic wave transmitter-receiver connected to said first means and disposed outside said sliding door; and

an on-door electromagnetic wave transmitter-receiver disposed in said sliding door and connected to said second means.

21. A feeder arrangement supplying power from a battery to an on-door electric device disposed in a sliding door comprising:

a flexible cable, adapted to electrically connect between the battery and the on-door electric device, and adapted to supply electric power to the on-door electric device;

a spool unit, having an attachment mechanism that is adapted to attach to said vehicle body, winding and unwinding said flexible cable in synchronism with motion of said sliding door;

an actuator for driving said sliding door;

a plurality of switches for providing signals for controlling said actuator; and

an alarm unit for providing a plurality of different sounds according to operation of said switches.

22. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 21, wherein

said sliding door has a door handle and a door-opening switch and a door-closing switch, and

said door-opening switch is disposed on a side of said door handle where manual door-opening force is applied and said door-closing switch is disposed on a side of said door handle where manual door-closing force is applied.

23. A feeder arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein

said door handle comprises a door-opening handle member linked with said door-opening switch and a door-closing handle member linked with said door-closing switch.