Composite check arm for vehicle door
First Claim
1. A check arm for a vehicle door, comprising:
- a body having a length and defining a longitudinal axis, and having a first body end and a second body end;
a pivot connector positioned at the first body end and is configured for pivotally connecting the check arm to one of a vehicle body and a vehicle door; and
an end stop positioned at the second body end, and is positioned to limit the amount of withdrawal of the check arm from a check arm keeper on the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door,wherein the body is non-metallic and includes a plurality of elongate structural fibers and a binder that connects the structural fibers together, wherein each structural fiber extends longitudinally along substantially the length of the body,wherein each structural fiber extends from a first structural fiber end positioned proximate the second body end, along the length of the body to the pivot connector, around a distal end of the pivot connector, and along the length of the body to a second structural fiber end that is positioned proximate the second body end,wherein the pivot connector is a pivot aperture that is positioned to receive a pin on said one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, wherein the pivot aperture has a pivot aperture axis, andwherein the plurality of elongate structural fibers are in the form of a strip having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length is bigger than the width and the width is bigger than the thickness,wherein, along a first portion of the length of the body outside of the first body end the width and length of the strip define a surface that is perpendicular to the pivot aperture axis, and wherein, proximate the first body end, the strip is twisted at an angle of approximately 90 degrees such that the width and length of the strip define a surface that is substantially parallel to the pivot aperture axis.
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Abstract
In an aspect, a check arm for a vehicle door is provided, and includes a body, a pivot connector and an end stop. The body has a length and defines a longitudinal axis, and has a first body end and a second body end. The pivot connector is positioned at the first body end and is configured for pivotally connecting the check arm to one of a vehicle body and a vehicle door. The end stop is positioned at the second body end, and is positioned to limit the amount of withdrawal of the check arm from a check arm keeper on the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door. The body includes a plurality of elongate structural fibers and a binder that connects the structural fibers together. Each structural fiber extends longitudinally along substantially the length of the body.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A check arm for a vehicle door, comprising:
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a body having a length and defining a longitudinal axis, and having a first body end and a second body end; a pivot connector positioned at the first body end and is configured for pivotally connecting the check arm to one of a vehicle body and a vehicle door; and an end stop positioned at the second body end, and is positioned to limit the amount of withdrawal of the check arm from a check arm keeper on the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, wherein the body is non-metallic and includes a plurality of elongate structural fibers and a binder that connects the structural fibers together, wherein each structural fiber extends longitudinally along substantially the length of the body, wherein each structural fiber extends from a first structural fiber end positioned proximate the second body end, along the length of the body to the pivot connector, around a distal end of the pivot connector, and along the length of the body to a second structural fiber end that is positioned proximate the second body end, wherein the pivot connector is a pivot aperture that is positioned to receive a pin on said one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, wherein the pivot aperture has a pivot aperture axis, and wherein the plurality of elongate structural fibers are in the form of a strip having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length is bigger than the width and the width is bigger than the thickness, wherein, along a first portion of the length of the body outside of the first body end the width and length of the strip define a surface that is perpendicular to the pivot aperture axis, and wherein, proximate the first body end, the strip is twisted at an angle of approximately 90 degrees such that the width and length of the strip define a surface that is substantially parallel to the pivot aperture axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17)
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10. A check arm for a vehicle door, comprising:
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a body defining a longitudinal axis and having a first body end and a second body end; a pivot connector positioned at the first body end and configured for pivotally connecting the check arm to one of a vehicle body and a vehicle door; and an end stop positioned at the second body end, and positioned to limit the amount of withdrawal of the check arm from a check arm keeper on the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, wherein the body has a plurality of first teeth thereon which are skewed towards the first body end, each first tooth having a first tooth face facing the first body end and a second tooth face facing the second body end, and wherein the end stop includes a blocking member and a wedge member, wherein the blocking member is positioned to engage a limit surface on at least one of the vehicle door, the vehicle body and the check arm keeper to limit the amount of withdrawal of the check arm from a check arm keeper, and has a first wedge surface that faces generally towards the second body end, and wherein the wedge member has a plurality of second teeth thereon that are skewed towards the second body end, wherein the wedge member further includes a second wedge surface that is engageable with the first wedge surface and is oriented such that a longitudinal force exerted on the blocking member towards the second body end urges the first wedge surface into the second wedge surface, which in turn urges the second teeth transversely inwardly towards the second tooth faces of the first teeth and longitudinally towards the first tooth faces of the first teeth. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A check arm for a vehicle door, comprising:
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a body having a length defining a longitudinal axis and having a first body end and a second body end; a pivot connector positioned at the first body end and is configured for pivotally connecting the check arm to one of a vehicle body and a vehicle door, wherein the pivot connector is a pivot aperture that is positioned to receive a pin on said one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door; and an end stop positioned at the second body end, and positioned to limit the amount of withdrawal of the check arm from a check arm keeper on the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, wherein the body is non-metallic and includes a plurality of elongate structural fibers and a binder that connects the structural fibers together, wherein the structural fibers and the binder together form a core that extends from a first core end positioned proximate the second body end, along the length of the body to the pivot connector, around a distal end of the pivot connector, and along the length of the body to a second core end that is positioned proximate the second body end, wherein the pivot connector is a pivot aperture that is positioned to receive a pin on said one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, wherein the pivot aperture has a pivot aperture axis, and wherein the core is a strip having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length is bigger than the width and the width is bigger than the thickness, wherein, along a first portion of the length of the body outside of the first body end the width and length of the core define a surface that is perpendicular to the pivot aperture axis, and wherein, proximate the first body end, the strip is twisted at an angle of approximately 90 degrees such that the width and length of the core define a surface that is substantially parallel to the pivot aperture axis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification