Door support system

• US 6,607,236 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ventra Group Company (Ventra Group)
• Original Assignee: Ventra Group Incorporated (Flex-N-Gate Corporation)
• Inventors: Mooy, Robert H., Patzer, Bradley F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US10/090,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.11, 163/21, 16/85, 163/42
• US Class Current: 296/146.11
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/084 the friction depending on direction of rotation or opening angle of the hinge
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/087 with substantially axial friction, e.g. friction disks
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/062 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A door support system for supporting a vehicle door on a vehicle body for movement in opening and closing directions includes a door hinge system and an infinite door check system. The door hinge system includes a pair of first mounting structures and a pair of second mounting structures pivotally coupled to provide for movement of the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body. The infinite door check system includes first and second one-way check devices. The first one way check device applies a biasing force to resist movement of the vehicle door in the closing direction, and the second one way check device applies a biasing force to resist movement of the vehicle door in the opening direction. Each of the check devices includes a biasing structure that provide the biasing force and a clutch that enables or disables the application of the biasing force to the vehicle door.

Claims

1. A door support system for supporting a door on a body for movement in opposing opening and closing directions, said door support system comprising:

a door hinge system comprising (a) a pair of first mounting structures constructed and arranged to be mounted to one of the door and the body in spaced apart relation, and (b) a pair of second mounting structures constructed and arranged to be mounted to the other of the door and the body in spaced apart relation, said first mounting structures and said second mounting structures being pivotally coupled to support the door and provide for said movement of the door relative to the body in said opening and closing directions; and

an infinite door check system comprising first and second one-way check devices, each of said check devices comprising;

a drive structure fixed with respect to said one of said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures;

a pivot structure mounted for pivotal movement in opposing first and second directions relative to the other of said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures;

a biasing structure connected between the other of said pairs of mounting structures and said pivot structure, said biasing structure being constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force to said pivot structure to resist relative pivotal movement between pivot structure and the other of said pairs of mounting structures;

a clutch being movable between (a) an engaged position operatively coupling said drive structure and said pivot structure for movement together so that said biasing force resists relative movement between said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures by virtue of said drive structure being fixed with respect to said one of said pairs of mounting structures, said biasing force resisting relative pivotal movement between said pivot structure and the other of said pairs of mounting structures, and (b) a released position wherein said pivot structure is decoupled from said drive structure to enable said drive structure and said pivot structure to pivot relative to one another substantially free from resistance by said biasing force;

said biasing structure of said first check device applying its biasing force against a pivotal movement of said pivot structure relative to said one of said pairs of mounting structures in a direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door, said clutch of said first check device being constructed and arranged to remain in said engaged position as said first and second mounting structures are pivoted relative to one another in the direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door, said clutch responsively moving to said released position upon said first and second mounting structures being pivoted relative to one another a predetermined angular distance in the direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door against said biasing structure of said first check device;

said biasing structure of said second check device applying its biasing force against a pivotal movement of said pivot structure relative to said one of said pairs of mounting structures in a direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door, said clutch of said second check device being constructed and arranged to remain in said engaged position as said first and second mounting structures are pivoted relative to one another in the direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door, said clutch responsively moving to said released position upon said first and second mounting structures being pivoted relative to one another a predetermined angular distance in the direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door against said biasing structure of said second check device.

2. A door support system according to claim 1, wherein said clutch of said first one-way infinite check device is in said released position while said first and second mounting structures are stationary and is constructed and arranged to responsively move to said engaged position upon initiation of said first and second mounting structures in the direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door;

and

said clutch of said second one-way infinite check device is in said released position while said first and second mounting structures are stationary and is constructed and arranged to responsively move to said engaged position upon initiation of said first and second mounting structures in the direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door.

3. A door support system according to claim 1, wherein said drive structure of said first check device is fixed with respect to said pair of first mounting structures, wherein said pivot structure of said first check device is mounted for pivotal movement in opposing first and second directions relative to said pair of second mounting structures, and wherein said biasing structure of said first check device is connected between said pair of second mounting structures and said pivot structure, said biasing structure of said first check, device being constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force to said pivot structure to resist relative pivotal movement between pivot structure and said pair of second mounting structures.

4. A door support system according to claim 3, wherein said drive structure of said second check device is fixed with respect to said pair of first mounting structures, wherein said pivot structure of said second check device is mounted for pivotal movement in opposing first and second directions relative to said pair of second mounting structures, and wherein said biasing structure of said second check device is connected between said pair of second mounting structures and said pivot structure, said biasing structure of said second check device being constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force to said pivot structure to resist relative pivotal movement between pivot structure and said pair of second mounting structures.

5. A door support system according to claim 4, wherein said pivotally coupled first and second mounting structures include an upper pair of mounting structures defined by upper ones of said first and second pairs pivotally coupled together and a lower pair of mounting structures defined by lower ones of said first and second pairs pivotally coupled together;

said drive structure of said first check device being fixed to the second mounting structure of said upper pair, said pivot structure of said first check device being pivotally mounted to said first mounting structure of said upper pair, and said biasing structure of said second check device being connected between said first mounting structure of said upper pair and said pivot structure;

said drive structure of said second check device being fixed to the second mounting structure of said lower pair, said pivot structure of said second check device being pivotally mounted to said first mounting structure of said lower pair, and said biasing structure of said second check device being connected between said first mounting structure of said lower pair and said pivot structure.

6. A door support system according to claim 5, wherein each of said first and second check devices further comprises a housing, said housing of said first check device being fixed to said first mounting structure of said upper pair, and said housing of said second check device being fixed to the second mounting structure of said lower pair.

7. A door support system according to claim 6, wherein each of said biasing structures is a spiral spring, each of said spiral springs having a leg received within a groove in its associated housing and another leg received within a slot provided in its associated pivot structure so as to apply said biasing force to said pivot structure.

8. A door support system according to claim 1, wherein in each check device said pivot structure comprises a clutch hub and said drive structure comprises a clutch hub, said clutches of said door check devices being each being a torsion spring which in said engaged position frictionally embraces said clutch hubs to couple said clutch hubs, and in said disengaged position is spread to decouple said clutch hubs.

9. A door support system according to claim 6, wherein in each check device said pivot structure comprises a clutch hub and said drive structure comprises a clutch hub, said clutches of said door check devices being each being a torsion spring which in said engaged position frictionally embraces said clutch hubs to couple said clutch hubs, and in said disengaged position is spread to decouple said clutch hubs.

10. A door support system according to claim 8, wherein each of said housings has a groove on an interior thereof and wherein said torsion spring includes a tang member received within the grooves in the housing, the tang member being configured and positioned to deactivate the torsion spring, thereby uncoupling said clutch hubs.

11. A door support system according to claim 1, wherein said first mounting structures are body mounting brackets constructed and arranged to be mounted to the body and wherein said second mounting structures are door mounting brackets constructed and arranged to be mounted to the door.

12. The combination comprising:

a vehicle body;

a vehicle door; and

a door support system for supporting the vehicle door on the vehicle body for movement in opposing opening and closing directions, said door support system comprising;

a door hinge system comprising (a) a pair of first mounting structures constructed and arranged to be mounted to one of the door and the body in spaced apart relation, and (b) a pair of second mounting structures constructed and arranged to be mounted to the other of the door and the body in spaced apart relation, said first mounting structures and said second mounting structures being pivotally coupled to support the door and provide for said movement of the door relative to the body in said opening and closing directions; and

an infinite door check system comprising first and second one-way check devices, each of said check devices comprising;

a drive structure fixed with respect to said one of said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures;

a pivot structure mounted for pivotal movement in opposing first and second directions relative to the other of said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures;

a biasing structure connected between the other of said pairs of mounting structures and said pivot structure, said biasing structure being constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force to said pivot structure to resist relative pivotal movement between pivot structure and the other of said pairs of mounting structures;

a clutch being movable between (a) an engaged position operatively coupling said drive structure and said pivot structure for movement together so that said biasing force resists relative movement between said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures by virtue of said drive structure being fixed with respect to said one of said pairs of mounting structures, said biasing force resisting relative pivotal movement between said pivot structure and the other of said pairs of mounting structures, and (b) a released position wherein said pivot structure is decoupled from said drive structure to enable said drive structure and said pivot structure to pivot relative to one another substantially free from resistance by said biasing force;

said biasing structure of said first check device applying its biasing force against a pivotal movement of said pivot structure relative to said one of said pairs of mounting structures in a direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door, said clutch of said first check device being constructed and arranged to remain in said engaged position as said first and second mounting structures are pivoted relative to one another in the direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door, said clutch responsively moving to said released position upon said first and second mounting structures being pivoted relative to one another a predetermined angular distance in the direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door against said biasing structure of said first check device;

said biasing structure of said second check device applying its biasing force against a pivotal movement of said pivot structure relative to said one of said pairs of mounting structures in a direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door, said clutch of said second check device being constructed and arranged to remain in said engaged position as said first and second mounting structures are pivoted relative to one another in the direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door, said clutch responsively moving to said released position upon said first and second mounting structures being pivoted relative to one another a predetermined angular distance in the direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door against said biasing structure of said second check device.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein said clutch of said first one-way infinite check device is in said released position while said first and second mounting structures are stationary and is constructed and arranged to responsively move to said engaged position upon initiation of said first and second mounting structures in the direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door;

and

said clutch of said second one-way infinite check device is in said released position while said first and second mounting structures are stationary and is constructed and arranged to responsively move to said engaged position upon initiation of said first and second mounting structures in the direction corresponding to the opening direction.of the door.

14. The combination according to claim 12, wherein said drive structure of said first check device is fixed with respect to said pair of first mounting structures, wherein said pivot structure of said first check device is mounted for pivotal movement in opposing first and second directions relative to said pair of second mounting structures, and wherein said biasing structure of said first check device is connected between said pair of second mounting structures and said pivot structure, said biasing structure of said first check device being constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force to said pivot structure to resist relative pivotal movement between pivot structure and said pair of second mounting structures.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said drive structure of said second check device is fixed with respect to said pair of first mounting structures, wherein said pivot structure of said second check device is mounted for pivotal movement in opposing first and second directions relative to said pair of second mounting structures, and wherein said biasing structure of said second check device, is connected between said pair of second mounting structures and said pivot structure, said biasing structure of said second check device being constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force to said pivot structure to resist relative pivotal movement between pivot structure and said pair of second mounting structures.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein said pivotally coupled first and second mounting structures include an upper pair of mounting structures defined by upper ones of said first and second pairs pivotally coupled together and a lower pair of mounting structures defined by lower ones of said first and second pairs pivotally coupled together;

said drive structure of said first check device being fixed to the second mounting structure of said upper pair, said pivot structure of said first check device being pivotally mounted to said first mounting structure of said upper pair, and said biasing structure of said second check device being connected between said first mounting structure of said upper pair and said pivot structure;

said drive structure of said second check device being fixed to the second mounting structure of said lower pair, said pivot structure of said second check device being pivotally mounted to said first mounting structure of said lower pair, and said biasing structure of said second check device being connected between said first mounting structure of said lower pair and said pivot structure.

17. The combination according to claim 16, wherein each of said first and second check devices further comprises a housing, said housing of said first check device being fixed to said first mounting structure of said upper pair, and said housing of said second check device being fixed to the second mounting structure of said lower pair.

18. The combination according to claim 17, wherein each of said biasing structures is a spiral spring, each of said spiral springs having a leg received within a groove in its associated housing and another leg received within a slot provided in its associated pivot structure so as to apply said biasing force to said pivot structure.

19. The combination according to claim 12, wherein in each check device said pivot structure comprises a clutch hub and said drive structure comprises a clutch hub, said clutches of said door check devices being each being a torsion spring which in said engaged position frictionally embraces said clutch hubs to couple said clutch hubs, and in said disengaged position is spread to decouple said clutch hubs.

20. The combination according to claim 17, wherein in each check device said pivot structure comprises a clutch hub and said drive structure comprises a clutch hub, said clutches of said door check devices being each being a torsion spring which in said engaged position frictionally embraces said clutch hubs to couple said clutch hubs, and in said disengaged position is spread to decouple said clutch hubs.

21. The combination according to claim 19, wherein each of said housings has a groove on an interior thereof and wherein said torsion spring includes a tang member received within the grooves in the housing, the tang member being configured and positioned to deactivate the torsion spring, thereby uncoupling said clutch hubs.

22. A The combination according to claim 12, wherein said first mounting structures are body mounting brackets constructed and arranged to be mounted to the body and wherein said second mounting structures are door mounting brackets constructed and arranged to be mounted to the door.