Simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door

• US 7,887,118 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lechkun, Dave Michael, Falenski, Jason, Blust, Craig, Elliott, Adrian Nicholas Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow; Jason S
• Application Number:
  US12/275,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.1, 296/155, 296/146.9, 296/146.11, 296/146.12, 16357-360, 492/09, 492/10, 492/11, 492/13, 492/16, 492/18, 492/19, 492/21, 492/23, 493/60
• US Class Current: 296/155
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/06 slidable; foldable
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/1081 specially adapted for vehicles E05D15/1068 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2015/1089 the carriage having means for preventing rotation of the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door includes a vehicle door having a door inner panel, first and second outboard members, first and second inboard members, first and second guide tracks, a third curved guide track, first and second points on the second outboard member, and first and second slide members. The first and second guide tracks are operatively mounted to the vehicle door. The third curved guide track may be operatively mounted to the vehicle door and is configured to receive a second point on the second outboard hinge arm. The first point on the second outboard hinge arm may be pivotally mounted on a second slide member.

Claims

1. A simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door, comprising:

a first outboard hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure at a first end thereof;

a second outboard hinge arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a first end thereof, the second outboard hinge arm operatively configured to include a first point and a second point;

a first guide track mounted to the vehicle door and operatively configured to receive a first slide member, the first slide member being pivotally mounted on a second end of the first outboard hinge member;

a second guide track mounted to the vehicle door and operatively configured to receive a second slide member, the second slide member being pivotally mounted on the first point of the second outboard hinge member; and

a curved third guide track operatively configured to receive the second point on the second outboard hinge arm;

wherein the third guide track extends beyond the first guide track and the second guide track in a longitudinal direction to facilitate continuous movement of the door upon opening and upon closing.

2. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the second point of the second outboard hinge arm includes at least one roller operatively configured to move along the third guide track.

3. The simultaneous movement system as defined n claim 1 wherein the first guide track is an extruded member.

4. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first guide track is a roll formed member.

5. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the third guide track is adjacent to the second guide track.

6. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a tie-bar operatively configured to rigidly connect the second hinge arm with the first hinge arm.

7. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 6, further comprising a plate affixed to the first and second slide members.

8. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the second point is affixed to a tab which is operatively configured to slide and pivot within the third guide track.

9. A simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door, comprising:

a first outboard hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure at a first end thereof, the first outboard hinge arm operatively configured to include a first point and a second point, the first point of the first outboard hinge arm being pivotally attached to a first slide member and the first slide member slidingly engaged with a first guide track;

a second outboard hinge arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a first end thereof, the second outboard hinge arm operatively configured to include a first point and a second point, the first point of the second outboard hinge arm being pivotally attached to a second slide member slidingly engaged with a second guide track; and

a third guide track mounted to the vehicle door, wherein the third guide track includes a first substantially curved portion and a first substantially linear portion, the third guide track being operatively configured to receive the second point on the second outboard hinge arm;

wherein at least a part of the curved portions of the third guide track extends beyond the first and second guide tracks.

10. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9 wherein the third guide track is integral with the second guide track.

11. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 10 wherein the third guide track is adjacent to the second guide track.

12. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9, further comprising a tie-bar operatively configured to rigidly connect the second outboard hinge arm with the first outboard hinge arm.

13. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9, further comprising a plate affixed to the first and second slide members.

14. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9 wherein the second points of the first outboard hinge arm and the second outboard hinge arms are each affixed to a tab operatively configured to slide and pivot, respectively, within the third track.

15. A vehicle door movement system comprising:

first and second hinge arms pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure;

a first guide track mounted to the vehicle door and receiving a first slide member pivotally mounted to the first hinge arm;

a second guide track mounted to the vehicle door and receiving a second slide member pivotally mounted on the second hinge arm; and

a curved third guide track operative with the second hinge arm.

16. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the third guide track extends beyond the first guide track and the second guide track in a longitudinal direction to facilitate continuous movement of the door upon opening and upon closing.

17. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the first hinge arm is pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a first end, the second hinge arm is pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a second end and is configured to include a first point and a second point, wherein the second guide track is pivotally mounted on the first point and the curved guide track receives the second point.