Vehicle door with selective full open positions

[0001] The present invention relates to motor vehicles, and more particularly to a vehicle door with selective full open positions.

[0002] Currently, most motor vehicles employ mechanisms which enable access into the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle through at least one door. The current door systems, however, only enable the occupant to open the door to approximately seventy degrees, which tends to restrict the ingress and egress of the occupants into the vehicle. In addition, by restricting the opening to approximately seventy degrees, the ability of the occupant to load cumbersome items into the vehicle is also reduced.

[0003] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a motor vehicle which has a door opening mechanism which allows the door to open beyond seventy degrees to facilitate easier ingress and egress to the motor vehicle.

[0004] The present invention provides an apparatus for establishing at least two open access door positions relative to an opening of a compartment.

[0005] The apparatus includes a position defining member having at least one engagement element, and a stop member. The position defining member is adapted to be coupled to the compartment. A housing member is adapted to be coupled to the access door for movement therewith, and has an opening therethrough for translatable receipt of the position defining member. The housing member further includes an engagement element operable to engage the at least one engagement element of the position defining member to establish a first open access door position. The stop member contacting the housing member establishes a second open access door position approximately perpendicular to the compartment.

[0006] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0016] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0017] The present invention is generally related to a vehicle door with selective full open positions. Although the following exemplary description refers to the use of the vehicle door with selective full open positions with a motor vehicle, it will be understood that the present invention may be applicable to other types of vehicles and other applications in general. Further, the foregoing description is understood to not limit the appended claims.

[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, a motor vehicle 10 is shown. The motor vehicle 10 includes a passenger compartment 12. The passenger compartment 12 is accessible via at least one door 14. The door 14 is coupled to the passenger compartment 12 via at least one hinge or multiple hinges 16 and a door release system 18. The hinges 16 and door release system 18 enable the door 14 to operate in a first position, a second position and a third position with respect to the passenger compartment 12 (as best shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D).

[0019] With continuing reference to FIG. 1, and additional reference to FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and 3, the door 14 is coupled to the passenger compartment 12 by hinges 16. The hinges 16 are generally formed of a metallic material, such as steel, however, any appropriate material could be used. The hinges 16 include a base portion 20 coupled to a door portion 22. The base portion 20 includes a generally U-shaped section 24 coupled to a base 26. The base 26 includes at least two apertures 32 operable to couple the base portion 20 to the passenger compartment 12. The U-shaped section 24 is typically formed integrally with the base 26, and a branch 28 on the U-shaped section 24 may include at least one lanced depression 30 operable to engage the door portion 22 when the door 14 is in the third position, as will be described in greater detail below. Each branch 28 further includes at least one aperture 32 operable to couple the base portion 20 to the door portion 22.

[0020] The door portion 22 of each of the hinges 16 includes a generally U-shaped section 34. The U-shaped section 34 includes at least two apertures 36, each operable to receive at least one fastener 38 to couple the door portion 22 to the base portion 20 to create a pivot axis P. The pivot axis P enables the door 14 to pivot with respect to the passenger compartment 12. The U-shaped section 34 has two branches 40 which each define an aperture 44. The apertures 44 are operable to couple the door 14 to the base portion 20, and thus, the hinges 16 enable the door 14 to pivot with respect to the passenger compartment 12. Although both the base portion 20 and door portion 22 of the hinges 16 are described as including U-shaped sections 24, 34, it will be understood that any appropriate shape could be used to achieve the same function as the U-shaped sections 24, 34. The pivoting of the door 14 on the hinges 16 is controlled via the door release system 18.

[0021] The door release system 18 includes an opening system 46 mounted on an interior surface 48 of the door 14 as best shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D. The opening system 46 is coupled to a door check strap 50. The door check strap 50 is further coupled to a housing 52. The door check strap 50 and housing 52 cooperate to enable the door 14 to open into the first, second and third full open positions.

[0022] The opening system 46 includes a first lever 54, a door latch 56 and a switch 58. The first lever 54 is coupled to the interior surface 48 of the door 14 and may be any type of mechanism which is capable of releasing the door 14 into the first and second full open positions, such as, a formed U-shaped lever, handle or other pivoting device. The first lever 54 is also coupled to the door latch 56 via a linkage (not shown). The linkage may be configured such that when the first lever 54 is pivoted the linkage will release the door latch 56.

[0023] The door latch 56 may be any mechanism capable of releasably securing the door 14 into a closed position, such as a striker and strike plate assembly (not shown). The switch 58 is coupled to the interior surface 48 of the door 14 and may also be any type of mechanism which is capable of releasing the door 14 into the third full open position, such as, a lever, handle, push button or other device. For illustrative purposes only, FIGS. 2B, 2C and 2D illustrate a first embodiment of the switch 58 as a lever and an alternative embodiment wherein a switch 58′ is a push button. It will be further understood, as shown in FIG. 5, that alternatively the switch 58, 58′ could be integrated with the first lever 54, such that a first lever 54′ may perform the function of both the first lever 54 and the switch 58. With reference back to FIG. 3, the switch 58 is coupled to the housing 52 via a linkage 66. The linkage 66 is configured such that when the switch 58 is actuated the linkage 66 will interact with the housing 52 to enable the door 14 to enter the third full open position, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 4, the door check strap 50 enables the door 14 to pivot via the hinges 16 when the opening system 46 releases the door latch 56 via the first lever 54. The door check strap 50 includes a strap body 68 having a first end 70 and a second end 72. The strap body 68 is coupled to the housing 52 in such a manner that the first end 70 and second end 72 are disposed on opposite sides of the housing 52. The first end 70 is coupled to a stop 74. The stop 74 is generally larger than the door check strap 50 and shaped to interact with the housing 52, as will be described in greater detail below. Typically, the stop 74 is shaped to have a height H which is greater than a width W, however, any appropriate shape may be used to interface with the housing 52 and door check strap 50. The stop 74 may be formed of any material suitable to interact with the housing 52, such as rubber or other polymeric materials.

[0025] The second end 72 is coupled to a door attachment flange 76. The door attachment flange 76 may be integrally formed with the strap body 68 or more typically may be attached to the second end 72 of the strap body 68 via any suitable fastening mechanism, such as screws, rivets or in the alternative, an interference fit. The door attachment flange 76 includes a generally T-shaped body 78 having branches 80 with at least one aperture 82 formed on each of the branches 80. The at least one aperture 82 is configured for receipt of at least one fastener F to couple the strap body 68 to the passenger compartment 12.

[0026] The strap body 68 includes a first protrusion 84 and a second protrusion 86. The first protrusion 84 and second protrusion 86 are generally formed in the strap body 68, but the first protrusion 84 and second protrusion 86 may also be formed in a post processing step, through machining for example. The door check strap 50 may be comprised of formed steel; however, any material with suitable strength could be employed. The first protrusion 84 cooperates with the housing 52 to enable the door 14 to pivot into the second position, while the second protrusion 86 cooperates with the housing 52 to enable the door 14 to pivot into the first position. Thus, the first protrusion 84 and second protrusion 86 are formed on the strap body 68 in such a location that the door 14 is able to pivot into the first and second positions.

[0027] The housing 52 is operable with the door check strap 50 to enable the door 14 to pivot into the first, second and third positions, as best shown in FIGS. 2b, 2c and 2d. With reference to FIG. 4, the housing 52 includes a release plate 88, a spring 90 and a pair of bearings 92 retained in a body 94 of the housing 52. The ball bearings 92 are generally disposed adjacent to a biasing member (not specifically shown) to enable the first protrusion 84 and second protrusion 86 to pass through the ball bearings 92. The housing 52 is generally mounted on an inner surface of the door 14 (not specifically shown). The body 94 of the housing 52 further includes a pair of projections 96 for receipt of the spring 90 and release plate 88. More specifically, the spring 90 includes a first end 98 and a second end 100. The first end 98 of the spring 90 is disposed adjacent to a surface 103 of the body 94 and the second end 100 of the spring 90 is coupled to the release plate 88. In addition, the first end 98 of the spring 90 is coupled to the linkage 66 and thus the switch 58. Hence, when the switch 58 is activated, the first end 98 of the spring 90 is pulled towards the second end 100 of the spring 90, thus compressing the spring 90. The first end 98, second end 100 and release plate 88 are enclosed in the projections 96.

[0028] The release plate 88 is coupled to the spring 90. The release plate 88 is sized to engage the stop 74 and to be retained in the projections 96. The release plate 88 may be comprised of a polymeric or metallic material. The release plate 88 is operable to be displaced towards the surface 103 of the body 94 when the spring 90 is compressed by the switch 58.

[0029] The pair of bearings 92 is enclosed in the body 94 of the housing 52. The bearings 92 are configured to be positioned a width W2 apart, which is slightly greater than a width W3 of the body 94 of the door check strap 50. Thus, the bearings 92 are sized such that the bearings 92 engage the first and second protrusions 84, 86 when the door check strap 50 passes through an aperture 102 defined in the housing 52 as will be described in greater detail below. The bearings 92 may be comprised of steel or other materials with sufficient rigidity.

[0030] In order to pivot the door to the first, second and third positions, the occupant (not shown) in the passenger compartment 12 may activate the first lever 54 to release the door latch 56. Once the door latch 56 is released, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2b, 2c and 2d, the weight of the door 14 will cause the door 14 to pivot open on the hinges 16. As the door 14 begins to pivot about the pivot point P, the strap body 68 will begin to pass through the bearings 92 in the body 94 of the housing 52. The door 14 will stop pivoting when the second protrusion 86 of the door check strap 50 engages the bearings 92, stopping the door 14 in a first full open position A. The first position exists generally when the door 14 is displaced approximately forty-five degrees away from the passenger compartment 12, however, the first position may be any pre-selected angle depending upon the particular motor vehicle.

[0031] Application of additional force to the door 14 will cause the second protrusion 86 to pass through the bearings 92. As the second protrusion 86 passes through the bearings 92, the strap body 68 continues to pass through the bearings 92 allowing the door 14 to pivot further on the hinges 16 until the first protrusion 84 of the door check strap 52 contacts the bearings 92. When the first protrusion 84 contacts the bearings 92, the door 14 is held in a second full open position B. When the door 14 is the in the second full open position B., the door 14 is pivoted approximately seventy degrees away from the passenger compartment 12, however, the second position may be varied depending upon the particular motor vehicle 10. Also, when the door 14 is in the second position, the stop 74 is adjacent to the release plate 88 of the housing 52.

[0032] In order to release the door 14 into the third position, the occupant in the passenger compartment 12 may activate the switch 58. By activating the switch 58, the linkage 66 operates to compress the spring 90, by pulling the first end 98 of the spring 90 towards the second end 100 of the spring 90. As the spring 90 compresses, the release plate 88 is pulled further into the projections 96 and when the spring 90 is fully compressed, the release plate 88 is recessed to the point that the stop 74 is fully housed between the projections 96. By enabling the stop 74 to enter between projections 96 of the housing 52, the strap body 68 of the door check strap 50 can move further through the bearings 92 to allow the door 14 to pivot into a third full open position C, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2d. With reference to FIG. 3, the lanced depressions 30 on the hinges 16 and the size of the spring 90 operate to stop the door 14 once it reaches the third position. In this embodiment, the door 14 is in the third position when it is rotated approximately ninety degrees from the passenger compartment 12, however, the third position could be any desired angle for the particular application as could the other two as determined by the placement of the lanced depressions 30 and the compressibility of the spring 90.

[0033] When the occupant in the passenger compartment 12 desires to close the door 14, the force used by the occupant to close the door 14 will cause the door check strap 50 to pass though the bearings 92, and depending on the force employed, the first protrusion 84 and second protrusion 86 may pass through the bearings 92 as well. As the door check strap 50 passes through the bearings 92, the stop 74 is displaced from the release plate 88 and the spring 90 is able to expand, allowing the release plate 88 to reset to its original position. Thus, the occupant, if desired, may return the door 14 into the first or second position without closing it.

[0034] The door 14 of the present invention provides an occupant in the passenger compartment 12 with improved egress and ingress to and from the passenger compartment 12 by having variable full open positions. The door 14 also makes it easier for occupants to load items into the passenger compartment 12 by allowing the door 14 to be opened at approximately ninety degrees from the passenger compartment 12. In addition, the switch 58 can be spaced apart from the first lever 54 in such a manner that it can prevent children from mistakenly opening the door 14 into the third position.

[0035] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.