Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-21
2001-12-11
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C049S213000, C049S214000, C049S215000, C049S216000, C049S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328374
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to slidable doors for automotive vehicles, particularly slidable side doors for van-type vehicles.
BACKGROUND ART
A conventional van-type vehicle typically has at least one side door slidably mounted for movement between a closed position in a door opening and an opened position wherein the door extends along the outer side surface of the vehicle. The door typically is slidably connected to an upper track located in the door opening (near the vehicle roof), a lower track located in the door opening (near the sill area), and a third waist-high center track located in the vehicle side wall to the rear of the door opening.
The vehicle door has arm structure extending into each track, such that the door has multiple-point slidable support on the vehicle. The travel of the door between the open and closed positions is somewhat limited because the forward arm structure for the lower track necessarily extends through the door opening.
Each of the arm structures can travel horizontally only the distance between the front and rear edges of the door opening, less the horizontal cross-sectional dimension of each arm structure. Therefore, when the door is in the fully opened position, the door opening will still be partially obstructed.
The problem of door opening access efficiency is of particular concern in compact vans wherein the slidable door has a rear edge that is cut away (or contoured) to follow the contour of the rear wheel well (tire clearance space). In such compact vans, the lower edge of the slidable door is considerably shorter than the door upper edge. The shorter door lower edge limits door travel so that a significant portion of the door opening remains covered when the slidable door is in the fully opened position.
In compact vans, the limited door opening results in inadequate aisle clearance for comfortable and unobstructed access to the rearmost seats or cargo area.
In many compact vans, there are no articulated seats that slide and tip completely forward to clear the aisle or path to the rear seats. Thus, a partially obstructed side door opening in a compact van is particularly troublesome. Often there are no grab handles at critical locations to aid in ingress and egress of a passenger into and out of the rear seats.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a slidable vehicle door having support arms slidably attached to the door, whereby the door can be moved beyond the opened position determined by the geometry of the tracks in the door opening. This additional door movement provided by the slidable support arms makes it possible for the opened door to be completely out of registry with the door opening. The door opening, therefore, permits unobstructed ingress and egress.
In some compact vans, the door size and contour are dictated partially by styling considerations. The non-rectangular contoured door configuration has a tailored, stylish appearance that has visual appeal to vehicle owners who may not prefer a commercial, van-like appearance of a rectangular door. The present invention offers a solution to the door opening obstruction problem presented by a contoured (non-rectangular) door in compact van-type vehicles.
The invention includes a slidable door with an open position wherein the door extends outside the vehicle body out of registry with the door opening. Upper and lower tracks extend along the upper and lower margins of the door opening. Upper and lower guidance structures extend from the door into the tracks.
The lower door guidance structure includes a linear guide carried by the door and a slide assembly within the guide. An arm is connected to the slide assembly and to antifriction members within the lower track. The door guidance structure provides for movement of the door to an open position as the slide assembly moves along the linear guide. The door opening movement extends to a fully open position beyond the linear extent of the lower track.
Specific features of the invention will be apparent from the attached drawings and description of the invention.
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Coletta Lori L.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Gordon Stephen T.
Kelley David B.
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