Slide door apparatus for vehicles

Details Slide door apparatus for vehicles Slide door apparatus for vehicles

1999-11-30

2001-08-07

Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Door or window with specified vehicle feature

C049S360000, C303S006100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06270149

ABSTRACT:

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 10(1998)-355196 filed on Dec. 14, 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
Known types of slide door apparatus are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. Hei. 9-4323, Hei. 10-8828, and Hei. 10-18708.
In each of these apparatus, when an electrically operated driving mechanism is turned on, the resultant rotation in one direction moves the slide door in its opening direction, thereby opening the opening area formed in the side of the vehicle body. The resulting rotation in the other direction moves the slide door in its closing direction, thereby closing the opening area formed in the side of the vehicle body.
A clutch mechanism is interposed between the driving mechanism and the slide door. If the clutch mechanism is in its disengaged condition, the slide door is isolated from the driving mechanism, thereby allowing the slide door to be moved manually. However, when the vehicle is parked on a sloping road, the gravity applied to the inclined slide door causes the door to be opened unexpectedly and excessively fast.
Accordingly, a need exists for a slide door apparatus for vehicles in which the sliding speed of the slide door is controllable or adjustable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a vehicular slide door apparatus that includes a plurality of guide rails mounted on a lateral side of a vehicle body, a slide door mounted on the guide rails for sliding movement in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle body between a fully open position and a fully closed position, an elongated member connected to the slide door, and a brake device operatively associated with the elongated member for applying a brake force to the elongated member during sliding movement of the slide door from the fully open position towards the fully closed position to control movement of the slide door during movement from the fully open position towards the fully closed position.
According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicular slide door apparatus includes a slide door movable along a lengthwise direction of the vehicle body for opening and closing an opening area formed in a lateral side of the vehicle body, and a brake device provided at the lateral side of the vehicle body for applying a brake force to the slide door.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4984385 (1991-01-01), De Land
patent: 5140316 (1992-08-01), De Land et al.
patent: 5913563 (1999-06-01), Wantanabe et al.
patent: 6009671 (2000-01-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 6087794 (2000-07-01), Kawanobe
patent: 6119825 (2000-09-01), Nisley
patent: 6125583 (2000-10-01), Murray et al.
patent: 0199722 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 9-4323 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 10-8828 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 10-18708 (1998-01-01), None

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