Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2001-09-04
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S146100, C296S146800, C296S056000, C049S339000, C049S340000, C049S341000, C049S342000, C049S343000, C049S344000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283535
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
1. Description of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving a vehicle door such as a back vehicle door to open and close by driving a motor, in other words, a switching apparatus for opening and closing an open-close structure such as the back door vehicle.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. Hei. 11-234566 and 11-310366 which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
There exists an apparatus for driving a back door of a station wagon, or a switching apparatus for opening and closing the back door by driving a motor as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei. 6-71852, for example.
In the switching apparatus above, the roof of the vehicle body is equipped with a motor, a reduction mechanism provided in parallel to the motor, a segment gear engaging with the pinion gear of the reduction mechanism and rockingly pivotally connected thereto in the horizontal direction to form a transmission member, and a linearly-reciprocating rod pivotally connected to a part separated from the rotational center of the segment gear to form a coupling member. In this case, the rear end portion of the rod is pivotally connected to the vertically opening-closing door so that the door can be opened and closed by rocking the segment gear to move the rod back and forth.
In the conventional apparatus for driving a vehicle door to open and close, however, it is necessary to secure a great deal of space for use in providing the rod in the vehicular roof because the segment gear is moved along the roof surface so as to linearly rock the rod back and forth. Consequently, the problem lies in the fact that the interior room space needs decreasing in consideration of head clearance intended for anyone sitting in the rear seat.
Further, in the conventional switching apparatus, a ball joint is used for coupling the front end portion of the rod to the segment gear so that the rod can vertically tilt round the front end portion thereof coupled to the segment gear as the door opens or closes. Consequently, the way of coupling the rod to the segment gear tends to become complicated and this will result in an increase in costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention made in view of the foregoing problems is to provide an apparatus for driving a vehicle door to open and close such that the apparatus therefor can be placed in a limited and narrow installation space whereby to prevent the interior car room space from being reduced.
Another object of the present invention made in view of the foregoing problems is to provide an apparatus for switching a vehicular open-close structure, which apparatus is designed to reduce costs by coupling the transmission member of a driving unit to a coupling member in a simply way.
According to the present invention, the foregoing problems can be solved as follows:
In an apparatus for driving a vehicle door to open and close, a coupling member is used for coupling the output portion of a kinetic conversion mechanism for converting the torque of a motor fitted to a vehicle body into a linear motion and outputting the linear motion to a door pivotally connected to the vehicle body with a hinge shaft so that the door can be opened and closed via the kinetic conversion mechanism and the coupling member by making use of the torque of the motor, the kinetic conversion mechanism including a driving pulley pivotally connected to one end portion of a board which is pointed in the direction of substantially crossing the hinge shaft, coupled to the output shaft of the motor and capable of forward and reverse rotation; a driven pulley pivotally connected to the other end of the board; and an endless transmission member wound on the driving pulley and the driven pulley, wherein the coupling member is coupled to a part of the transmission member as the output portion thereof; and the kinetic conversion mechanism and the motor are arranged in the shape of substantial L-letter by coupling the motor to one end portion of the kinetic conversion mechanism at substantially right angles.
The motor may be coupled to the close-to-the-door-side end portion of the kinetic conversion mechanism.
The wound transmission member may be composed of a belt.
The motor and the kinetic conversion mechanism may be arranged along the edge of the vehicular roof in one corner portion thereof.
The kinetic conversion mechanism and the motor may be arranged along the corner portion of a window on the side of the vehicle.
In an apparatus for switching a vehicular open-close structure, a coupling member is used for coupling the transmission member of an output mechanism for converting the torque of a motor fitted to a vehicle body into a linear motion and outputting the linear motion to a portion parted from the hinge shaft of the open-close structure pivotally connected to the vehicle body with the hinge shaft so that the open-close structure can be opened and closed via the transmission member and the coupling member by making use of the torque of the motor, wherein the transmission member is made bendable and also pivotal within a plane substantially perpendicular to the hinge shaft; one end of the coupling member is pivotally connected to the open-close structure, whereas the other end thereof is pivotally connected to the transmission member; and the coupling member follows the open-close movement of the open-close structure and is caused to tilt while bending the transmission member.
The output mechanism may be formed with an endless transmission member wound on a driving pulley which is journaled onto one end portion of a board directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hinge shaft and capable of forward and reverse rotation as the motor rotates, and a driven pulley pivotally connected to the other end portion of the board.
The transmission member may be made of a belt of elastic flat rubber.
A coupling portion in contact with and joined to the flat face of the belt may be formed in the other end portion of the coupling member.
Both ends of the belt may be joined to the other end portion of the coupling member to make the belt endless.
Features and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments described in conjunction with the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5332279 (1994-07-01), Golemis et al.
patent: 5477642 (1995-12-01), Legendre
patent: 5513467 (1996-05-01), Current et al.
patent: 6055775 (2000-05-01), Dering et al.
patent: 6092337 (2000-07-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 6138412 (2000-10-01), Rieckmann et al.
patent: 6142551 (2000-11-01), Ciavaglia et al.
patent: 6145917 (2000-11-01), Ishii et al.
patent: 6-71852 (1994-10-01), None
Coletta Lori L.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Foley & Lardner
Ohi Seisakusho Co. Ltd.
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