Apparatus and method to retrofit a sliding door opening of a van

• US 9,139,136 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphini, LLC
• Original Assignee: David Ronsen
• Inventors: Ronsen, David
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US14/489,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20150001890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 296/155, 296/178
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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, a top edge of the sliding door opening disposed proximate to an original roof of the van; and

fitting one or more doors to the interface element of the van, wherein the one or more doors are dimensioned to accommodate an adult person and configured to be operable by a driver of the van.

2. The method of claim 1, 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.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling 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.

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

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

a frame or a rubber-like connector.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

installing an actuator configured to operate the one or more doors.

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

removing an original door from the vehicle;

fitting an interface element into a door opening of the vehicle, the door opening comprising a via left after removal of the original door, the door opening dimensioned such that a vertical height of the opening is at least sixty inches, the interface element comprising a header proximate to the original roof; and

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

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

configuring the one or more doors as 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 vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

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

11. The method of claim 8, wherein when the door opening is larger than the one or more doors in a closed position, the method further comprises:

forming at least a portion of the interface element from a portion of cut original door, the portion of the original door less than a whole of the original door.

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 door opening to couple to the interface element, by widening the door opening in a horizontal direction.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

installing an actuator configured operate the one or more doors.