Power sliding vehicle door
First Claim
1. A power sliding door for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a door structure constructed and arranged to be mounted on a motor vehicle for movement between closed and opened positions;
a drive assembly mounted on said door structure, said drive assembly including a rotatable gear engageable with a gear track provided on the vehicle, said rotatable gear being drivable in a one direction to effect movement of said door towards said opened position and drivable an opposite direction to effect movement of said door structure towards said closed position;
a drive shaft coupled with said drive assembly and constructed and arranged to rotatably drive said rotatable gear;
a reversible motor mounted on said door structure, said motor being energizable to drive said drive shaft in a first direction to enable said drive shaft to drive said rotatable gear in said one direction, and energizable to drive said drive shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction to enable said drive shaft to drive said rotatable gear in said opposite direction;
a clutch assembly constructed and arranged to selectively couple said reversible motor with said drive shaft, so that said reversible motor is coupled to said drive shaft when energized to rotate said drive shaft in either of said first and second directions, and so that said reversible motor is de-coupled from said drive shaft to prevent back-driving of said motor when said door structure is manually moved between said opened and closed positions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power sliding door assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a door structure constructed and arranged to be mounted on a motor vehicle for movement between closed and opened positions and a drive assembly mounted on the door structure. The drive assembly includes a rotatable gear engageable with a gear track provided on the vehicle. The rotatable gear is drivable in a one direction to effect movement of the door towards the opened position and drivable in an opposite direction to effect movement of the door structure towards the closed position. A drive shaft is coupled with the drive assembly and is constructed and arranged to rotatably drive the rotatable gear. A reversible motor is mounted on said door structure and is energizable to drive the drive shaft in a first direction to enable the drive shaft to drive the rotatable gear in the one direction, and energizable to drive the drive shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction to enable the drive shaft to drive the rotatable gear in the opposite direction. A clutch assembly is provided that is constructed and arranged to selectively couple the reversible motor with the drive shaft, so that the reversible motor is coupled to the drive shaft when energized to rotate the drive shaft in either of the first and second directions, and so that the reversible motor is de-coupled from the drive shaft to prevent back-driving of the motor when the door structure is manually moved between the opened and closed positions.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A power sliding door for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a door structure constructed and arranged to be mounted on a motor vehicle for movement between closed and opened positions;
a drive assembly mounted on said door structure, said drive assembly including a rotatable gear engageable with a gear track provided on the vehicle, said rotatable gear being drivable in a one direction to effect movement of said door towards said opened position and drivable an opposite direction to effect movement of said door structure towards said closed position;
a drive shaft coupled with said drive assembly and constructed and arranged to rotatably drive said rotatable gear;
a reversible motor mounted on said door structure, said motor being energizable to drive said drive shaft in a first direction to enable said drive shaft to drive said rotatable gear in said one direction, and energizable to drive said drive shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction to enable said drive shaft to drive said rotatable gear in said opposite direction;
a clutch assembly constructed and arranged to selectively couple said reversible motor with said drive shaft, so that said reversible motor is coupled to said drive shaft when energized to rotate said drive shaft in either of said first and second directions, and so that said reversible motor is de-coupled from said drive shaft to prevent back-driving of said motor when said door structure is manually moved between said opened and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A power sliding door for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a door structure constructed and arranged to be mounted on a motor vehicle for movement between closed and opened positions;
a drive assembly mounted on said door structure, said drive assembly including a rotatable gear engagable with a gear track provided on the vehicle, said rotatable gear being drivable in a one direction to effect movement of said door structure toward said opened position and drivable in an opposite direction to effect movement of said door structure toward said closed position;
a flexible drive shaft coupled with said drive assembly and constructed and arranged to rotatably drive said rotatable gear;
a reversible motor mounted on said door structure at a position remote from said drive assembly, said motor being coupled to said drive assembly by said flexible drive shaft, said motor being energizable to drive said drive shaft in a first direction to enable said drive shaft to drive said rotatable gear in said one direction, and energizable to drive said drive shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction to enable said drive shaft to drive said rotatable gear in said opposite direction;
said power sliding door further comprising a clutch assembly constructed and arranged to selectively couple said reversible motor with said drive shaft, so that said reversible motor is coupled to said drive shaft when energized to rotate said drive shaft in either of said first and second directions, and so that said reversible motor is de-coupled from said drive shaft to prevent back-driving of said motor when said door structure is manually moved between said opened and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification