Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-30
2001-03-06
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S146500, C296S202000, C296S146800, C296S016000, C016S331000, C016S334000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196617
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a door structure for the rear end of a vehicle such as, for example, a hearse.
2. Background Discussion
Some vehicles, in particular hearses, use a rear door that is mounted to be opened to the left or right, rather than being lowered and raised to open and close. It is desirable to provide such a door which is lightweight yet sturdy, and incorporates many of the desirable features of modern vehicles such as automatic closing mechanisms commonly provided on trunks of automotive vehicles. It is also desirable to provide a hinge mechanism which is reliable, easy to install, low cost to manufacture, and which has an attractive appearance. It is the objective of this invention to provide a door structure with these desirable attributes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention has several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims which follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled, “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT,” one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits, which include low cost, simplified manufacture, reliability, and a streamline hinge appearance.
The first feature of the door structure of this invention is that it is particularly designed to be mounted at an open rear end of a vehicle, such as a hearse, between the opposed sides of the vehicle. It includes a door member, preferably having exterior and interior spaced apart wall members made of a light weight, polymeric material. A honeycomb reinforcing member is positioned between the wall members, and a mounting plate made of metal is secured to the interior wall in a position to be nearby one side of the vehicle when the door member is attached to the open rear end of the vehicle.
The second feature is that the door structure includes a door jam frame at the rear end of the vehicle in which the door member is seated when closed and from which said door member extends when opened. The door jam fame has a first upright disposed nearby the one side of the vehicle to provide a space between this one side of the vehicle and the first upright. A second upright nearby the opposite side of the vehicle. A hinge member is attached to the mounting plate and extends through an opening in the first upright.
The third feature is that the hinge member has a first connecting member attached to the mounting plate, a second connecting member pivotally attached to the first upright and disposed in the space between the one side of the vehicle and the first upright, and an intermediate arcuate member connected between the first and second connecting members which extends through the opening in the first upright. The first connecting member is substantially planar. The second connecting member is also substantially planar and is at an angle in excess of 90 degrees with respect to the second connecting member, preferably from about 120 to about 130 degrees. The intermediate arcuate member has a substantially smooth, continuous, external surface. Such a surface provides an attractive, streamline appearance. Preferably, the arcuate member is a segment of a cylindrical wall. The axis of rotation of the hinge member is the centerline of the cylinder from which the cylindrical wall segment is taken. In other words, the centerline of the segment of the cylindrical wall is coincident with the axis of rotation of the hinge member. The hinge member pivots around this centerline as the door member is opened and closed. There are walls adjacent the hinge member which are covered with a decorative material. These walls are positioned so that only the arcuate member of the hinge is exposed as the door is opened and closed.
The fourth feature is that a mounting member is attached to the door jam frame in a fixed position in the space between the one side of the vehicle and the first upright. This mounting member has a cam surface thereon, with a portion which acts to hold the door member in an open position when engaging a cam follower. The hinge member has a cam follower attached to it. This cam follower, when the door member has been partially opened, engages the cam surface, and, when the door member has been opened to a predetermined maximum open position, it engages the stop to hold the door member in the predetermined maximum open position.
The fifth feature is a latch mechanism attached to the door member. The exterior wall member has a handle member therein near the opposite side of the vehicle which, when activated, engages and disengages the latch mechanism. A striker mechanism is provided having a motor which pulls the door into the door jam frame when the latch mechanism initially contacts the striker mechanism.
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Connors John J.
Connors & Associates
Krystal Koach, Inc.
Pape Joseph D.
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