APPARATUS AND METHOD TO RETROFIT A SLIDING DOOR OPENING OF A VAN

• US 20150001890A1
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphini, LLC
• Original Assignee: David Ronsen
• Inventors: Ronsen, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,139,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/062 for utility vehicles or public transport B60J5/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

A van includes an interface element and one or more doors. The interface element can be a frame or connector that is configured to fit a sliding door opening of the van. The one or more doors are configured to fit the interface connector of the van. The one or more doors are configured to be operable by a driver of the van.

Claims

1. A van comprising:

a bus door apparatus, the bus door apparatus comprising;

an interface element configured to fit a sliding door opening of the van; and

one or more bus-style doors configured to fit the interface element of the van, wherein the one or more bus-style doors are configured to be operable by a driver of the van.

2. The van of claim 1, wherein the one or more bus-style doors are configured as one of:

a double door, a bi-fold door, a parallel door, or a sedan door; and

are retrofitted to the van.

3. The van of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more of a tread and a riser within the interface element to connect a sill of the interface element to a floor of the van.

4. The van of claim 1, wherein the one or more bus-style doors are operable from outside the van.

5. The van of claim 1, wherein the interface element comprises at least one of:

a frame or a rubber-like connector.

6. The van of claim 1, further comprising a retractable step configured to operate in conjunction with the one or more bus-style doors.

7. The van of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator configured operate the one or more bus-style doors.

8. A method for converting a van, the method comprising:

removing a sliding door from the van;

fitting an interface element into a sliding door opening of the van, the sliding door opening comprising a via left after removal of the sliding door; and

fitting one or more doors to the interface element of the van, wherein the one or more doors are configured to be operable by a driver of the van.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

configuring the one or more doors one of;

a double door, a bi-fold door, a parallel door, and a sedan door; and

retrofitting the one or more doors to the van.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

coupling connect a sill of the frame to a floor of the van with one or more of a tread and a riser within the interface element.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more doors are operable from outside the van.

12. The method claim 8, wherein the interface element comprises at least one of:

a frame or a rubber-like connector.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

modifying the sliding door opening to couple to the interface element.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

installing an actuator configured operate the one or more doors.

15. An apparatus comprising:

an interface element configured to fit a sliding door opening of a van; and

one or more bus-style doors configured to fit the interface element of the van, wherein the one or more bus-style doors are configured to be operable by a driver of the van.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more bus-style doors are configured as one of:

a double door, a bi-fold door, a parallel door, and a sedan door; and

are retrofitted to the van.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

one or more of a tread and a riser within the frame to connect a sill of the interface element to a floor of the van.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more bus-style doors are operable from outside the van.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the interface element comprises one of a frame and a rubber-like connector.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a retractable step configured to operate in conjunction with the one or more bus-style doors.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

an actuator configured operate the one or more bus-style doors.