Vehicle door check

• US 6,349,448 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sanders, William Thomas, Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodgers, Matthew E.
• Application Number:
  US09/576,065
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 16/82, 163/27, 16/85, 16/86, 163/37
• US Class Current: 16/82
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/006 with means for detecting obstacles outside the doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/203 concealed, e.g. for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/301 Friction catch

Abstract

An infinite door check mechanism for enabling a door to be moved from a closed position in a door frame to any one of a plurality of different open positions including a clevis adapted to be mounted to the frame, an elongate strip member mounted to the clevis and directed outward from the frame, a door check housing adapted to be mounted on the door, the strip member extending at least partially through the housing, and a support member arranged in the housing. A rotatable locking member is arranged in the housing such that the strip member is interposed between the locking member and the support member. A biasing member such as a spring is positioned in the housing for selectively pressing the locking member against the strip member to force the strip member against the support member and thereby retain the strip member in a fixed position resulting in checking of the door and releasing pressure of the locking member against the strip member and thereby enable movement of the strip member. Structure is also provided to apply torque to the locking member to prevent the locking member from slipping when the checking is occurring.

Claims

1. A door check mechanism for enabling a door to be moved from a closed position in a door frame to any one of a plurality of different open positions, comprising

a door check housing adapted to be mounted on the door,

a support member arranged in said housing,

a rotatable locking member arranged in said housing,

an arcuate member adapted to be mounted to and extend outward from the frame, said arcuate member being arranged at least partially in said housing and being at least partially interposed between said locking member and at least a part of said support member, said arcuate member being movable relative to said locking member,

biasing means for selectively pressing said locking member against said arcuate member to force said arcuate member against said support member and thereby retain said arcuate member in a fixed position and releasing pressure of said locking member against said arcuate member and thereby enable movement of said arcuate member, and

torque means for applying a variable torque to said locking member to thereby vary a force necessary to cause movement of said arcuate member relative to said locking member.

2. The door check mechanism of claim 1, wherein said arcuate member is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the frame, said arcuate member having opposed longitudinally extending surfaces, one of said surfaces engaging said locking member and another of said surfaces engaging said support member.

3. The door check mechanism of claim 1, wherein said locking member is a cam including an integral cam shaft defining a rotational axis for said cam, said cam having an irregular shape and being arranged to press said arcuate member against said support member with a variable force depending on the position of said cam.

4. The door check mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a locking member holder connected to said locking member, said biasing means comprising an elastic spring operative at one end against said housing and operative at an opposite end against said locking member holder.

5. The door check mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a locking member holder connected to said locking member, said torque means comprising at least one elastica spring, each mounted at one end to said locking member holder and bearing against said locking member at an opposite end.

6. The door check mechanism of claim 1, further comprising

a locking member holder connected to said locking member,

said torque means comprising a cantilevered spring mounted at one end to said locking member holder and having its opposite end movable between two projections arranged on said locking member.

7. The door check mechanism of claim 1, wherein said arcuate member is serrated on a surface engaging said locking member to thereby form alternating teeth and grooves, said locking member having a tip positionable within one of said grooves.

8. The door check mechanism of claim 1, wherein said locking member has a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to be pressed against said arcuate member and a pointed tip defined between said arcuate surfaces.

9. The door check mechanism of claim 1, wherein said locking member has a beveled edge, said arcuate member having a groove for at least partially receiving said beveled edge of said locking member.

10. The door check mechanism of claim 1, wherein said locking member comprises

a driven member fixedly mounted in said housing, and

a movable member interposed between said driven member and said arcuate member, said movable member being movable along a contoured surface said driven member into different positions to thereby vary the pressure exerted by said biasing means pressing said arcuate member against said support member.

11. The door check mechanism of claim 1, wherein said locking member has at least one planar surface.

12. The door check mechanism of claim 1, wherein said arcuate member and said locking member are structured and arranged such that said locking member is pressable against any portion of said arcuate member between ends of said arcuate member in contact with said locking member by said biasing means to fix said arcuate member relative to said locking member and prevent movement of said arcuate member relative to said locking member.

13. A door check mechanism for enabling a door to be moved from a closed position in a door frame to any one of a plurality of different open positions, comprising

a door check housing adapted to be mounted on the door,

a support member arranged in said housing,

a rotatable locking member arranged in said housing,

a strip member adapted to be mounted to and extend outward from the frame,

biasing means for urging said locking member in a direction toward said strip member and at least a part of said support member, and

means for increasing a drag force upon rotation of said locking member beyond a predetermined limit.

14. The door check mechanism of claim 13, wherein said locking member has a plurality of projections on a surface thereof, further comprising

a locking member holder coupled to said locking member,

said means for increasing the drag force comprise a cantilevered spring mounted at one end to said locking member holder and having its opposite end movable between two of said projections on said locking member, said cantilevered spring applying a variable torque to said locking member to thereby vary a force necessary to cause movement of said strip member relative to said locking member.

15. The door check mechanism of claim 13, wherein said strip member is serrated on a surface engaging said locking member to thereby form alternating teeth and grooves, said locking member having a tip positionable in said grooves.

16. The door check mechanism of claim 13, wherein said strip member is arcuate and adapted to be pivotally mounted to the frame, said strip member having opposed longitudinally extending surfaces, one of said surfaces engaging said locking member and another of said surfaces engaging said support member.

17. The door check mechanism of claim 13, wherein said locking member is a cam including an integral cam shaft defining a rotational axis for said cam, said cam having an irregular shape and being arranged to press said strip member against said support member with a variable force depending on the position of said cam.

18. The door check mechanism of claim 13, further comprising

rotation limiting means arranged in said housing for limiting rotation of said locking member, said rotation limiting means comprising a tab at least partially extending into a recessed surface of said locking member.

19. The door check mechanism of claim 13, wherein said locking member has at least one planar surface.

20. The door check mechanism of claim 13, wherein said strip member and said locking member are structured and arranged such that said locking member is pressable against any portion of said strip member between ends of said strip member in contact with said locking member by said biasing means to fix said strip member relative to said locking member and prevent movement of said strip member relative to said locking member.

21. A door check mechanism for enabling a door to be moved from a closed position in a door frame to any one of a plurality of different open positions, comprising

a door check housing adapted to be mounted on the door,

a support member arranged in said housing,

a movable locking member arranged in said housing,

a strip member adapted to be mounted to and extend outward from the frame, said strip member being arranged at least partially in said housing and being at least partially interposed between said locking member and at least a part of said support member, and

biasing and torque means for biasing said locking member toward said strip member and applying a variable torque to said locking member to thereby vary a force necessary to result in movement of said strip member relative to said locking member.

22. The door check mechanism of claim 21, wherein said locking member comprises a cam, further comprising

a shaft for supporting said cam in said housing, said cam having a groove through which said shaft passes.

23. The door check mechanism of claim 21, wherein said biasing and torque means comprise a single spring coupled at one end to said housing and at an opposite end to said locking member.

24. The door check mechanism of claim 21, wherein said strip member has a first surface in contact with said locking member and a second surface opposite said first surface and including a groove, said support member having a conical portion engaging with said groove of said strip member.

25. The door check mechanism of claim 21, wherein said locking member has at least one planar surface.

26. The door check mechanism of claim 21, wherein said strip member and said locking member are structured and arranged such that said locking member is pressable against any portion of said strip member between ends of said strip member in contact with said locking member by said biasing and torque means to fix said strip member relative to said locking member and prevent movement of said strip member relative to said locking member.