Vehicle door opener

• US 6,412,584 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Campbell, Douglas P., Faigle, Ernst M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanaman, Frank
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/458,218
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 180/274, 180/271, 180/268, 180/279, 180/281, 180/282, 180/283, 180/284, 280/735, 307/10.1, 89/11.4, 162/21, 162/54, 163/86, 16/86.C
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 51/023 actuated in response to external pressure, blast or explosion E05B65/102 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/12 Automatic locking or unlocking at the moment of collision
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/00 Additional features or accessories of hinges edge protecting devices E06B3/88
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A vehicle (10) has an opening (14) for ingress to and egress from a passenger compartment (12) in the vehicle. A door (16) has a closed position blocking the opening (14) and an open position enabling ingress and egress through the opening. A structure (22, 60) assists in maintaining the door (16) in the closed position. An actuatable device (30, 74), when actuated, renders the structure unable to assist in maintaining the door in the closed position.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a vehicle body having an opening for ingress to and egress from a passenger compartment in the vehicle body;

a vehicle door;

at least one hinge connected between said vehicle body and said vehicle door and supporting said door for pivotal movement relative to said vehicle body between a closed position blocking said opening and an open position enabling ingress and egress through said opening;

said hinge comprising a first hinge part fixedly connected to said vehicle body, a second hinge part fixedly connected to said vehicle door, and a hinge pin connected between said first and second hinge parts;

a first pyrotechnic fastener which connects said first hinge part to the vehicle body and which when actuated disconnects said first hinge part and thereby said hinge from the vehicle body;

a latch mechanism having a latched condition maintaining said vehicle door in the closed position and having an unlatched condition enabling said vehicle door to be pivoted from the closed position to the open position;

said latch mechanism comprising a door latch fixed to said vehicle body and a latch pin fixed to said vehicle door and movable with said vehicle door, said latch pin being receivable by said door latch to maintain said vehicle door in the closed position, said latch pin being releasable by said door latch to enable said vehicle door to be moved from the closed position to the open position;

a second pyrotechnic fastener which connects said door latch to the vehicle body and which when actuated disconnects said door latch and thereby said latch mechanism from the vehicle body;

a crash sensor for sensing a vehicle collision of a predetermined severity and providing an output signal in response to such a collision; and

a controller for receiving said output signal and actuating said first and second pyrotechnic fasteners;

said latch pin being received by said door latch prior to said crash sensor sensing a vehicle collision to maintain said door in the closed position;

said first pyrotechnic fastener when actuated causing said first hinge part and thereby said hinge to be disconnected from said vehicle body thereby rendering said hinge unable to assist in maintaining said door in the closed position;

said second pyrotechnic fastener when actuated causing said door latch and thereby said latch mechanism to be disconnected from said vehicle body thereby rendering said latch mechanism unable to assist in maintaining said door in the closed position;

said door being removable from said vehicle body without tools to enable ingress and egress from said opening when said hinge and said latch mechanism are disconnected from said vehicle body.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge pin of said hinge is not a pyrotechnic device and is not destroyed upon actuation of said first pyrotechnic fastener.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said latch pin of said latch mechanism is not a pyrotechnic device and is not destroyed upon actuation of said second pyrotechnic fastener.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller actuates said first and second pyrotechnic fasteners at least two seconds after the collision.