Simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door II

• US 7,896,425 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Falenski, Jason, Blust, Craig, Elliott, Adrian, Lechkun, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US12/503,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 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: 296/146.12
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0608 caused by track lay-out
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/101 specially adapted for vehicles E05D15/1007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/58 with both swinging and sliding movements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/62 Synchronisation of transmission members
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door is provided. The system includes a simultaneous movement system comprising first and second primary hinge arms, first and second secondary hinge arms, primary and secondary rails and guide track. The second primary hinge arm and the second secondary hinge arm are pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure on one end and are pivotally mounted to a primary slide and a secondary slide at the other ends respectively. The first primary hinge arm includes a guide track region and a rail region. The primary rail receives a primary slide. The secondary rail receives a secondary slide. The guide track receive the guide track region of the primary hinge arm thereby allowing the primary hinge arm to travel along both the guide track and the primary rail simultaneously through the guide track region and the rail region of the primary hinge arm.

Claims

1. A simultaneous movement system for a pick-up truck door, the simultaneous movement system comprising:

a first secondary hinge arm having a door end and a body end, the first secondary hinge arm being pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure at the body end thereof;

a first primary hinge arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a body end thereof, the first primary hinge arm operatively configured to include a guide track region and a rail region, the first primary hinge arm and the first secondary hinge arm being affixed to a tie bar;

a second primary hinge arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a body end thereof, the second primary hinge arm pivotally mounted on a primary slide at a door end thereof;

a second secondary hinge arm having a door end and a body end, the second secondary hinge arm being pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at the body end thereof;

a primary rail mounted to the pick-up truck door and operatively configured to receive the primary slide, the primary slide being pivotally mounted on the door end of the second primary hinge arm and the rail region of the first primary hinge arm;

a secondary rail mounted to the pick-up truck door and operatively configured to receive a secondary slide, the secondary slide being pivotally mounted on a door end of the first secondary hinge arm and a door end of the second secondary hinge arm; and

a guide track operatively configured to receive the guide track region of the first primary hinge arm thereby allowing the first primary hinge arm to travel along both the guide track and the primary rail simultaneously through the guide track region and the rail region of the first primary hinge arm.

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

3. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the primary rail and the secondary rail are each an extruded member.

4. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the primary rail and the secondary rail are each a roll formed member.

5. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the guide track is affixed to a door inner.

6. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tie bar is operatively configured to rigidly connect the first primary hinge arm to the first secondary hinge arm.

7. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a connection member affixed to the primary and secondary slides.

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

20. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 1 wherein the guide track comprises a primary guide track and a secondary guide track, and the first primary hinge arm comprises first and second projections, wherein the first projection engages the first guide track and the second projection engages the second guide track.

21. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 20 wherein the first projection comprises a first roller and the second projection comprises a second roller.

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

a first lower hinge arm having a door end and a body end, the first lower hinge arm being pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure at the body end thereof;

a first upper hinge arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a body end thereof, the first upper hinge arm operatively configured to include a guide track region and a rail region, the first upper hinge arm and the first lower hinge arm being affixed to a tie bar;

a second upper hinge arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a body end thereof, the second upper hinge arm pivotally mounted on an upper slide at a door end thereof;

a second lower hinge arm having a door end and a body end, the second lower hinge arm being pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at the body end thereof;

an upper rail mounted to a vehicle door and operatively configured to receive the upper slide, the upper slide being pivotally mounted on the door end of the second upper hinge arm and the rail region of the first upper hinge arm;

a lower rail mounted to the vehicle door and operatively configured to receive a lower slide, the lower slide being pivotally mounted on a door end of the first lower hinge arm and a door end of the second lower hinge arm; and

a guide track operatively configured to receive the guide track region of the first upper hinge arm thereby allowing the first upper hinge arm to travel along both the guide track and the upper rail simultaneously through the guide track region and the rail region of the first upper hinge arm.

10. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9 wherein the guide track region of the first upper hinge arm includes at least one roller operatively configured to move along the guide track.

11. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9 wherein the upper rail and the lower rail are each an extruded member.

12. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9 wherein the upper rail and the lower rail are each a roll formed member.

13. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9 wherein the guide track is affixed to a door inner.

14. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9 wherein the tie bar is operatively configured to rigidly connect the second upper hinge arm to the second lower hinge arm.

15. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9, further comprising a connection member affixed to the upper and lower slides.

16. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 9 wherein the guide track region is affixed to a projection which is operatively configured to slide and pivot within the guide track.

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

a first secondary hinge arm having a door end and a body end, the first secondary hinge arm being pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure at the body end thereof;

a first primary hinge arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a body end thereof, the first primary hinge arm operatively configured to include a first guide track region, a second guide track region, and a rail region,

a second primary hinge arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at a body end thereof, the second primary hinge arm pivotally mounted on a primary slide at a door end thereof;

a second secondary hinge arm having a door end and a body end, the second secondary hinge arm being pivotally mounted to the vehicle body structure at the body end thereof;

rails mounted to the vehicle door and operatively configured to receive, respectively, the primary slide and a second slide, the primary slide being pivotally mounted on the door end of the second primary hinge arm and the rail region of the first primary hinge arm;

the secondary slide being pivotally mounted on a door end of the first secondary hinge arm and a door end of the second secondary hinge arm; and

a guide track operatively configured to receive the first guide track region and the second guide track region of the first primary hinge arm thereby allowing the first primary hinge arm to travel along both the guide track and the primary rail simultaneously through the guide track region and the rail region of the first primary hinge arm.

18. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 17 wherein the guide track comprises a primary guide track and a secondary guide track, and the first primary hinge arm comprises first and second projections, wherein the first projection engages the first guide track and the second projection engages the second guide track.

19. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 18 wherein the first projection comprises a first roller and the second projection comprises a second roller.

22. A vehicle door movement system comprising:

first and second primary hinge arms;

first and second secondary hinge arms;

a primary rail receiving a primary slide pivotally mounted to the first and second primary hinge arms;

a secondary rail receiving a secondary slide pivotally mounted to the first and second secondary hinge arms; and

a guide track configured to receive the first primary hinge arm to travel along the guide track and the primary rail simultaneously.

23. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 22 wherein the guide track comprises a primary guide track and a secondary guide track, and the first primary hinge arm comprises first and second projections, wherein the first projection engages the first guide track and the second projection engages the second guide track.

24. The simultaneous movement system as defined in claim 23 wherein the first projection comprises a first roller and the second projection comprises a second roller.