Automotive vehicle door system

• US 6,305,737 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: ASC Incorporated
• Inventors: Corder, George A., Schaller, Bernard W., Tousignant, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US09/630,901
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.11, 296/146.12, 492/09, 492/10, 492/11, 492/16, 492/18, 492/19, 492/20, 492/54, 492/57, 492/58, 492/59, 493/67
• US Class Current: 296/146.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0479 without B-pillar or releasable B-pillar, i.e. the pillar is moving with door
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/56 with successive different movements raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/127 for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/53 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A vehicle door system including a door being pivotally moved about a first axis and a second axis. In another aspect of the present invention, the system provides a locking device that is slidably engaged to lock the door. Another aspect of the present invention pertains to a pair of adjacent passenger doors that open in opposite directions.

Claims

1. A door system for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle body, the door system comprising:

a door having an outer surface, the outer surface defining a plane;

a hinge coupling the door to the vehicle body, the hinge having a first axis and a second axis;

a first locking component extending from the door;

a second locking component mountable to the vehicle body, the second locking component being lockingly engageable with the first locking component during a locking movement of the door, the door pivoting about the first axis and the second axis thereby slidably engaging the first locking component with the second locking component, the siding of the first locking component being substantially parallel to the plane of the door; and

an actuator assembly coupling the door and the hinge, the actuator assembly operably urging the door toward the hinge about the second axis.

2. The door system according to claim 1, further comprising a power-actuating device coupled to at least one of the hinge and the door for automatically driving the door between a first position and a second position.

3. The door system according to claim 2 wherein the power-actuating device includes:

a driven gearset;

a linkage pivotally coupling the driven gearset and one of the hinge and the door;

a motor operably driving the driven gearset; and

a controller coupled to the motor for selectively engaging the motor.

4. The door system according to claim 3, further comprising a cable drive interconnecting the motor and the driven gearset to operably transmit rotational power to the driven gearset.

5. The door system according to claim 3 wherein the driven gearset is a clutching sector gear and the clutching sector gear has a releasable latch to enable free articulation of the door.

6. The door system according to claim 2 wherein the power-actuating device further comprises:

a bell crank;

a first linkage pivotally coupling the bell crank and the hinge;

a driven gearset;

a second linkage pivotally coupling the crank and the driven gearset;

a motor operably driving the driven gearset; and

a controller coupled to the motor for selectively engaging the motor.

7. The door system according to claim 6 wherein the driven gearset is a clutching sector gear and the clutching sector gear has a releasable latch to enable free articulation of the door.

8. The door system according to claim 1 wherein the door is a front-access rear door.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first locking component is a bayonet and the second locking component is a receiver for receiving the bayonet.

10. A door system for a vehicle, the door system comprising:

a door;

a link pivotally connected to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a first axis and to the door for pivotal movement about a second axis; and

an actuator coupling the door and the link, the actuator operably urging the door toward the link about the second axis.

11. The door system according to claim 10, further comprising a power-actuating device coupled to one of the link and the door operably driving the door between a first position and a second position.

12. The door system according to claim 11 wherein the power-actuating device includes:

a driven gearset;

a linkage pivotally coupling the driven gearset and one of the link and the door;

a motor operably driving the driven gearset; and

a controller coupled to the motor for selectively engaging the motor.

13. The door system according to claim 12, further comprising a cable drive interconnecting the motor and the driven gearset to operably transmit rotational power to the driven gearset.

14. The door system according to claim 12 wherein the driven gearset is a clutching sector gear and the clutching sector gear has a releasable latch to enable free articulation of the door.

15. The door system according to claim 11 wherein the power-actuating device further comprises:

a bell crank;

a first linkage pivotally coupling the bell crank and one of the link and the door;

a driven gearset;

a second linkage pivotally coupling between the bell crank and the driven gearset;

a motor operably driving the driven gearset; and

a controller coupled to the motor for selectively engaging the motor.

16. The door system according to claim 15 wherein the driven gearset is a clutching sector gear and the clutching sector gear has a releasable latch to enable manual rotation of the door.

17. The door system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a locking extension extending from the door; and

a receiver mountable to the vehicle,

during a locking movement of the door, the door pivots about the first axis and the second axis simultaneously, thereby slidably engaging the locking extension with the receiver device, the sliding of the locking extension being substantially parallel to a plane of the door.

18. The door system according to claim 10 wherein the door is a front-access rear door.

19. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a body structure;

a door having an outer surface, the outer surface defining a plane;

a hinge pivotally connected to the body structure for pivotal movement about a first axis and to the door for pivotal movement about a second axis;

an actuator assembly coupling the door and the hinge, the actuator assembly urging the door toward the hinge about the second axis;

a power-actuating device coupled to at least one of the hinge and the door operably driving the door between a first position and a second position;

a first locking component extending generally from the second opposing end of the door; and

a second locking component mounted to the body structure,

during a locking movement of the door, the door simultaneously pivoting about the first axis and the second axis, thereby slidably engaging the first locking component with the second locking component, the sliding of the first locking component being substantially parallel to the plane of the door.

20. The automotive vehicle according to claim 19 wherein the power-actuating device includes:

a driven gearset;

a connecting device pivotally coupling the driven gearset and at least one of the hinge and the door;

a motor operably driving the driven gearset; and

a controller coupled to the motor for selectively engaging the motor.

21. The automotive vehicle according to claim 20 wherein the connecting device comprises:

a bell crank;

a first linkage pivotally coupling the bell crank and at least one of the hinge and the door; and

a second linkage pivotally coupling the bell crank and the driven gearset.

22. The automotive vehicle according to claim 20, further comprising a cable drive interconnecting the motor and the driven gearset to operably transmit rotational power to the driven gearset.

23. The automotive vehicle according to claim 20 wherein the driven gearset is a clutching sector gear and the clutching sector gear has a releasable latch to enable manual rotation of the door.

24. The automotive vehicle according to claim 19 wherein the first locking component is a bayonet and the second locking component is a receiver for receiving the bayonet.

25. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a body structure defining first and second openings, the first and second openings being adjacent each other and generally defining a plane;

a first door pivotably coupled to the body structure for covering the first opening, the first door being pivotable in a first direction;

a second door pivotably coupled to the body structure for covering the second opening, the second door being pivotable in a second direction, the second direction being opposite of the first direction;

a first locking component mounted to the body structure; and

a second locking component extending from at least one of the first door and the second door, the second locking component slidably engaging the first locking component, the sliding of the second locking component being substantially parallel to the plane.

26. The automotive vehicle according to claim 25 further comprising:

a third locking component being mounted to the body structure; and

a fourth locking component extending from the other of the first door and the second door, the fourth locking component slidably engaging the third locking component, the sliding of the fourth locking component being substantially parallel to the plane.

27. The automotive vehicle according to claim 26 wherein the first locking component and the third locking component are integrally formed as a single component.

28. The automotive vehicle according to claim 25 wherein the first opening and the second opening together define a single continuous opening.

29. The automotive vehicle according to claim 25 wherein the first locking component is a receiver and the second locking component is a bayonet for sliding engagement with the receiver.

30. The automotive vehicle according to claim 26 wherein the third locking component is a receiver and the fourth locking component is a bayonet for sliding engagement with the receiver.

31. A method of operating a door in a motor vehicle, the door having a hinging section and an opposing section, the door being positionable between a locked position and an opened position, comprising:

(a) unlocking the door from the motor vehicle;

(b) moving the hinging section of the door outward relative to the opposing section of the door; and

(c) pivoting the opposing section of the door about the hinging section to the opened position after step (b).

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the moving the hinging section of the door outward relative to the opposing section of the door includes pivoting the door about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis simultaneously.

33. The method according to claim 32 wherein the pivoting the opposing section of the door about the hinging section to the opened position includes pivoting the door about the first pivot axis only.

34. The method according to claim 31 wherein the door pivots at least about 70 degrees relative to the closed position.

35. A method of opening a door in a vehicle having a lock, comprising:

(a) moving the door outwardly from the vehicle and longitudinally away from the lock to unlock the door; and

(b) thereafter pivoting the door to an opened position.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein the moving the door outwardly from the vehicle and longitudinally away from the lock to unlock the door includes pivoting the door about a first axis and a second axis simultaneously.

37. The method according to claim 35 wherein the thereafter pivoting the door to an opened position includes pivoting the door about the first axis only.

38. The method according to claim 35 wherein the door pivots at least about 70 degrees relative to the closed position.