Door closure assist assemblies

• US 7,815,232 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Henry, Christopher P., Barvosa-Carter, William, Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Massey, Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Application Number:
  US11/077,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20050198774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• Field of Search: 292/251.5, 292/DIG.65
• US Class Current: 292/251.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/15 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/16 consisting of two or more plastic materials having different physical or chemical properties B60J10/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/244 inflatable or deflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/40 characterised by contact between two or more cooperating sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/50 characterised by means for prevention or reduction of noise, e.g. of rattling or vibration of windows
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/16 Use of special materials for parts of locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/1607 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0011 with piezoelectric actuators piezoelectric devices per se H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/001 with bolts extending over a considerable extent, e.g. nearly along the whole length of at least one side of the wing movable sealing strips E06B7/18
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/166 electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/00 Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/43 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/614 charging thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/67 Materials; Strength alteration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/2314 : characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 : characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/025 : and with at least one flexible lip
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/027 : and with a hollow profile
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/028 : the packing being mechanically expanded against the sealing surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/061 : with positioning means F16J15/0831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/064 : the packing combining the sealing function with other functions
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/0806 : characterised by material or surface treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/921 : Closure or weather strip seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 : Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 : Magnetic

Abstract

Door closure assist assemblies that assist in providing a final closing motion generally includes an extender portion comprised of an active material adapted to linearly expand in response to an activation signal and a releasable fastener having one component in movable communication with the extender portion and a second component attached to the other selected one of the door and doorframe. During operation, the door closure assist assembly provides the final closing action.

Claims

1. A door closure assist assembly for assisting in the closing of a door with respect to a doorframe, the assembly comprising:

an extender portion attached to one of the door and the doorframe, the extender portion comprising a shape memory material;

a releasable fastener comprising a magnet attached to the extender portion and a ferrous material attached to the other one of the door and the doorframe;

an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material; and

a controller in operative communication with the activation device,

wherein, when the door is moved toward a closed position, an energy field will be created when the magnet is proximate to the ferrous material at a first distance, the energy field will be detected, making the controller activate the activation device, the activation device will send an activation signal to the extender portion, the shape memory material will be operated to change the fundamental property of the shape memory material when exposed to the activation signal so that the extender portion is caused to linearly expand to a first position, attaching the magnet to the ferrous material, when the magnet is attached to the ferrous material at a second distance, the activation signal will be deactivate, making the shape memory material reverse the change in fundamental property and return the extender portion to its original position, providing a final closing action to the door against the doorframe.

2. The door closure assist assembly of claim 1, wherein the extender portion comprises an electroactive polymer or a dielectric elastomer.

3. The door closure assist assembly of claim 1, wherein the extender portion comprises a unimorphic or bimorphic piezoelectric material.

4. The door closure assist assembly of claim 1, further comprising a linear motion amplifier in operative communication with the extender portion.

5. The door closure assist assembly of claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises a piezoelectric material, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, an electroactive polymer, a dielectric elastomer, a magnetorheological elastomer, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

6. The door closure assist assembly of claim 1, wherein the extender portion is disposed within a seal body.

7. A method for assisting a final closing motion of a door within a doorframe comprising:

providing an extender portion attached to one of the door and the doorframe, the extender portion comprising a shape memory material;

providing a releasable fastener comprising a magnet attached to the extender portion and a ferrous material attached to the other one of the door and the doorframe;

providing an activation device in operative communication with the releasable fastener and the shape memory material;

providing a controller in operative communication with the activation device;

closing the door to a first distance from the doorframe;

sensing an energy field created between the magnet and the ferrous material;

sending a signal to the activation device from the controller;

sending an activation signal to the shape memory material from the activation device to change the fundamental property of the shape memory material in order to allow the extender portion to linearly extend to a position where the magnet can engage the ferrous material at a second distance from the doorframe; and

deactivating the activation signal when the magnet is attaché

to the ferrous material, making the shape memory material to reversible change the fundamental property of the shape memory material to return the extender portion to its original position, providing a final closing action to the door against the doorframe.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the magnet comprises a permanent magnet or a electromagnet.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the shape memory material comprises a piezoelectric material, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, an electroactive polymer, a dielectric elastomer, a magnetorheological elastomer, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein activating the door closure assist assembly and deactivating the door closure assist assembly is repeatable.