Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-06
2001-06-12
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C049S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244652
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 10(1998)-347649 filed on Dec. 7, 1998, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle door. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a slide door apparatus for vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A known slide door apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 9-317324. In this apparatus, when an electrically operated driving mechanism is turned on, the resulting rotation of the driving mechanism in one direction moves the slide door in its opening direction, thereby opening the opening area formed in the lateral side of the vehicle body. The resulting rotation of the driving mechanism in the other direction moves the slide door in its closing direction to thereby close the opening area in the lateral side of the vehicle body.
The slide door is supported by rails secured to the vehicle body in such a manner that a roller provided on the slide door moves along each of the rails. A geared wire is interposed between the driving mechanism and the slide door, and this geared wire is pulled and pushed by the driving mechanism to respectively open and close the slide door.
When forces are applied from the driving mechanism to the geared cable for opening and closing the slide door, the horizontal component of the force is transmitted to a side wall of the rail, and this causes a deformation of the side wall of the rail, thereby disturbing or adversely affecting smooth movement of the roller. One proposal for addressing this problem involves reinforcing the side wall of the rail. However, this increases the overall weight of the rail, a result that is not very acceptable due to the desire to utilize vehicle components that are as light as possible.
Accordingly, a need exists for a slide door apparatus for vehicles in which the guide rail, or a side wall of the guide rail, is reinforced without increasing the weight of the rail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a vehicular slide door apparatus that includes a slide door movable along the lengthwise direction of the vehicle body for opening and closing an opening area formed in the lateral side of the vehicle body, a rail secured to the lateral side of the vehicle body to extend in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle body, and a driving device for moving the slide door. The rail possesses first and second side walls, and a roller operatively connected to the slide door is slidably fitted in the rail. A guide pipe extends along the rail and is secured to a surface of one of the side walls of the rail to strengthen the rail. A cable passes through the guide pipe in a movable manner and includes one end connected to the driving device and an opposite end connected to the slide door.
According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicular slide door apparatus includes a slide door mounted on a lateral side of a vehicle body for movement in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle body between an open position and a closed position, a supporting device connected to the slide door and provided with at least one roller, and a guide rail provided on the lateral side of the vehicle body and extending in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle body. The roller of the supporting device is slidably positioned in the guide rail. A driving device is provided from moving the slide door, and a guide pipe extends along the guide rail and is fixed to at least a portion of the guide rail. A cable extends through the guide pipe in a movable manner, with one end of the cable being operatively connected to the driving device and the opposite end of the cable being operatively connected to the slide door.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a vehicular slide door apparatus includes a slide door mounted on the lateral side of a vehicle body for movement in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle body between an open position and a closed position, at least movable member connected to the slide door, and a rail provided on the lateral side of the vehicle body and extending in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle body. The movable member is supported in the rail for movement along the rail, and a driving device is provided for moving the slide door. A guide pipe extends along the rail and is fixed by welding to at least a portion of the rail. A cable extends through the guide pipe for movement relative to the guide pipe, with one end of the cable being operatively connected to the driving device and the opposite end of the cable being operatively connected to the slide door so that operation of the driving device causes movement of the slide door by way of the cable.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6087794 (2000-07-01), Kawanobe
patent: 9-317324 (1997-09-01), None
Fukumoto Ryoichi
Kobashi Kenji
Miyazaki Hiroshi
Ohhashi Masao
Shoudou Shingo
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Engle Patricia
Pape Joseph D.
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