Title of Invention

A DOOR CHECKING AND STOPPING APPARATUS

Abstract A door checking and stopping apparatus for an automotive cargo door comprises: (a) a housing containing an energy storage device and guidance arrangement adapted to be rigidly mounted to a vehicular door; (b) an arm containing a cam profile with detent position, permanently pivotally connected to the body structure of the vehicle and configured to interface with the guidance arrangement in the housing; (c) a striker device adapted to be rigidly mounted to a resilient member that is configured to constrain the striker from translational motion parallel to the arm centreline but to facilitate translational motion perpendicular to the arm centreline; and (d) a hook feature incorporated into the free end of the arm that is adapted to interlock with the striker; wherein the resilient member biases the striker into engagement with the hook feature when the door reaches its predetermined intermediate stop position, providing adequate motion resistance until striker is disengaged by simply forcing the resilient member so that the striker disengages the hook feature.
Full Text FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [See section 10]
A DOOR CHECKING AND STOPPING APPARATUS;
MULTIMATIC INC., A CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF CANADA, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 85 VALLEYWOOD DRIVE, MARKHAM, ONTARIO L3R 5E5, CANADA AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY A COMPANY ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF DELAWARE, U.S.A., WHOSE ADDRESS IS C/O. FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 911 PARKLANE TOWERS EAST, ONE PARKLANE BLVD., DEARBORN , MICHIGAN, U.S.A. 48126,


THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE NATURE OF THIS INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN * WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

20-10-2004

This invention relates to a door checking and stopping apparatus for an automotive cargo door.
In particular, the invention provides a mechanical device capable of positively stopping an automotive door from rotation at a predetermined position and then facilitating simple single-handed release to allow further rotation when desired.
Commercial vans utilize cargo-loading doors that are required to open to higher • angles than other automotive closure panels. These doors are regularly configured with a motion range of 180 degrees and in some cases up to 270 degrees in comparison to standard automotive passenger doors, which utilize not more than 90 degrees of rotation. As with other automotive closure applications, it is desirable to check the door at a number of predetermined open positions with a predetermined force to assure convenient and safe ingress/egress of the occupants and cargo; The door is normally checked against movement in at least one open position with an effort adequate to resist wind gusts and the effect of parking on a grade. Additionally, it has been found useful, and in some countries it is legislated, to constrain an automotive cargo door against rotation with a solid stop at a predetermined angle. This intermediate constraint is usually placed at 90 degrees and is configured so that the door cannot over swing the stop condition by imparting operator generated loads. This solid intermediate stop is in contrast to a check condition, which can be overcome by exceeding a predetermined force. The intermediate stop is then configured with some manual method of defeat so that
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the cargo door can swing through its remaining range of motion to its full open -stop position.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the most common form of automotive door check is a mechanical device that resists motion via releasably storing energy in response to forced motion of the system. In cargo van applications the most common configuration of door check is as an autonomous mechanical assembly, separate from the door hinge. This device usually consists of a door or body mounted housing (1) containing some form of energy storage device such as an elastomer spring and an arm (2) that contains a cam profile with detent positions that dictate the check positions and forces. The full open door stop is normally configured to be incorporated into the hinge assembly while the intermediate stop is normally contained in the door check device. This intermediate stop usually consists of a plate (3) attached to the end of the door check arm (2) that constrains it from movement against the housing (1). There is a wide range of intermediate stop defeat methods but the most common is some form of manual disconnect of the arm from the door mounted housing (4) or pivot end (5). This type of manual disconnection is awkward and in many cases relies on the operator to reconnect when the door is being closed. Some systems do facilitate automatic reconnection but still require two hands to operate the defeat, are complex and susceptible to corrosion and wear and can prove dangerous to the operator as they normally contain numerous pinch points.
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The present invention is targeted at simplifying the operation of defeating and activating an automotive cargo door intermediate stop. It specifically packages the intermediate stop in an autonomous door check assembly and provides a mechanism that facilitates simple one finger disconnection and automatic reconnection.
In a principal aspect of the invention, a door checking and stopping apparatus for an automotive cargo door comprises: a housing containing an energy V storage device and guidance arrangement adapted to be rigidly mounted to a vehicular door; an arm containing a cam profile with detent positions, permanently pivotally connected to the body structure of the vehicle and configured to interface with the guidance arrangement in the housing; a striker device adapted to be rigidly mounted to a resilient member that is configured to constrain the striker from translational motion parallel to the arm centreline but to facilitate translational motion perpendicular to the arm centreline; a hook feature incorporated into the free end of the arm that is adapted to interlock with the striker; such that the resilient member biases the striker into engagement with the hook feature when the door reaches its predetermined intermediate stop position, providing adequate motion resistance until it is disengaged by simply forcing the resilient member so that the striker disengages the hook f feature.
In further aspects of the door checking and stopping apparatus invention:
(a) the resilient member is adapted to be rigidly mounted to the housing
creating a single assembly of housing, resilient member and striker;
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(b) the resilient member is provided with a tab feature that interfaces with a sliding pin and bushing assembly, adapted to be mounted to the vehicular door structure, facilitating simple actuation of the striker defeat;
(c) the resilient member is provided with an attachment to a cable that is terminated externally to the door facilitating simple actuation of the striker defeat;
(d) the resilient member is manufactured from a high strength spring steel;
(e) the resilient member is manufactured from high strength composite material such as carbon fibre.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a break away perspective view of a typical automotive cargo door hinge and check installation;
FIG. 2 is a break away perspective view of a typical prior art door check; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical prior art door check with its arm disconnected from arm pivot;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a typical prior art door check with its arm disconnected from the housing;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the components of the inventive door checking and stopping assembly;
FIG. 6 is a close up view showing the striker and hook feature of the inventive door checking and stopping assembly;
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FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the inventive door checking and stopping assembly in the stop-released position;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the inventive door checking and stopping assembly in the stop-released position incorporating a tab feature and sliding pin;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the inventive door checking and stopping assembly in the stop-released position incorporating a release cable;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the inventive door checking and stopping assembly in the door fully open position (180 DEG ).
A preferred embodiment will now be described in relation to the drawings of Figures 5 to 10. A door checking arm (6) is permanently pivotally connected to the body structure of a vehicle (7) via a bracket (8) and pivot pin (9). The arm contains a cam profile with detents (10) that dictate the check positions and forces. The arm (6) passes through a housing (11) that is rigidly connected to the vehicular door structure (12). The housing (11) contains an energy storage device consisting of springs, elastomers or similar components known in the prior art and an arm guidance arrangement consisting of balls, rollers, sliders or similar components known in the prior art. The arm (6) contains a hook feature (13) that is configured to interlock with a striker (14) when the door reaches the intermediate stop position. The striker (14) is rigidly mounted to a resilient member (15) that is adapted to constrain the striker (14) from translational motion parallel to the arm (6) centreline but facilitates translational motion perpendicular to the arm (6) centreline. The striker and resilient member are also configured with sufficient structural stiffness and strength to provide
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adequate resistance to motion between the housing and arm so that the intermediate stop load requirements are met or exceeded. Additionally, the resilient member (15) is geometrically configured to bias the striker into the hook feature so that it automatically engages when the door rotates to the intermediate stop position.
The resilient member (15) can be adapted to be mounted directly to the housing (11) creating a single assembly of housing, resilient member and striker. The striker can be disengaged from the hook feature by manually forcing the resilient member to create translational motion of the striker perpendicular to the arm centreline. An alternative method of striker disengagement is to provide a tab feature (16) incorporated into the resilient member and configured to interface with a sliding pin (17) and bushing (18) assembly, adapted to be mounted to the vehicular door structure (12). The sliding pin (17) is configured to be easily accessible to an operator and when pushed provides adequate force and motion of the resilient member so that the striker translates perpendicular to the arm centreline and disengages from the hook feature. In this way the cargo door intermediate stop feature can be defeated by a single finger actuation of the sliding pin (17) and reengage automatically as the resilient member biases the striker into engagement with the hook feature. Alternatively a cable (19) attached to the striker can also be used to disengage the striker from the hook feature to release the arm from its stop position.
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WE CLAIM :
1. A door checking and stopping apparatus for an automotive cargo door comprises:
(a) a housing containing an energy storage device and guidance arrangement adapted to be rigidly mounted to a vehicular door;
(b) an arm containing a cam profile with detent position, permanently pivotally connected to the body structure of the vehicle and configured to interface with the guidance arrangement in the housing;
(c) a striker device adapted to be rigidly mounted to a resilient member that is configured to constrain the striker from translational motion parallel to the arm centreline but to facilitate translational motion perpendicular to the arm centreline; and
(d) a hook feature incorporated into the free end of the arm that is adapted to interlock with the striker;
wherein the resilient member biases the striker into engagement with the hook feature when the door reaches its predetermined intermediate stop position, providing adequate motion resistance until striker is disengaged by simply forcing the resilient member so that the striker disengages the hook feature.
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2. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the resilient member is adapted to be rigidly mounted to the housing creating a single assembly of housing, resilient member and striker.
3. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the resilient member is provided with a tab feature that interfaces with a sliding pin and bushing assembly, adapted to be mounted to the vehicular door structure, facilitating simple actuation of the striker defeat.

4. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the resilient member is provided with a tab feature that interfaces with a sliding pin and bushing assembly, adapted to be mounted to the vehicular door structure, facilitating simple actuation of the striker defeat.
5. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the resilient member is provided with an attachment to a cable that is terminated externally to the door facilitating simple actuation of the striker defeat.
6. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 2,
wherein the resilient member is provided with an attachment to a cable that is
terminated externally to the door facilitating simple actuation of the striker
defeat.
7. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the resilient member is manufactured from high strength spring steel.
8. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the resilient member is manufactured from high strength spring steel.
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9. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the resilient member is manufactured from high strength spring steel.
10. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the resilient member is manufactured from high strength spring steel.
11. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the resilient member is manufactured from high strength composite material such as carbon fiber.
12. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 2,
wherein the resilient member is manufactured from high strength composite
material such as carbon fiber.
13. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the resilient member is manufactured from high strength composite material such as carbon fiber.
14. A door checking and stopping apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, Wherein the resilient member is manufactured from high strength composite material such as carbon fiber.
Dated this 7th day of February, 2001.
FOR MULTIMATIC INC & FORD MOTOR COMPANY ByheirAgent
(RANI BOAZ) KRISHNA & SAURASTRI

Documents:

138-mum-2001-cancelled pages(20-10-2004).pdf

138-mum-2001-claims(granted)-(20-10-2004).doc

138-mum-2001-correspondence(20-10-2004).pdf

138-mum-2001-correspondence(ipo)-(23-01-2006).pdf

138-mum-2001-drawing(07-02-2001).pdf

138-mum-2001-form 1(24-05-2001).pdf

138-mum-2001-form 19(02-07-2003).pdf

138-mum-2001-form 2(granted)-(20-10-2004).doc

138-mum-2001-form 2(granted)-(20-10-2004).pdf

138-mum-2001-form 3(08-05-2001).pdf

138-mum-2001-form 3(12-02-2004).pdf

138-mum-2001-form 3(17-09-2001).pdf

138-mum-2001-form 5(08-05-2001).pdf

138-mum-2001-petition under rule 137(12-02-2004).pdf

138-mum-2001-petition under rule 138(12-02-2004).pdf

138-mum-2001-power of attorney(08-05-2001).pdf

abstract1.jpg


Patent Number 197835
Indian Patent Application Number 138/MUM/2001
PG Journal Number 41/2007
Publication Date 12-Oct-2007
Grant Date 23-Jan-2006
Date of Filing 07-Feb-2001
Name of Patentee MULTIMATIC INC
Applicant Address 85 VALLEYWOOD DRIVE, MARKHAM, ONTARIO L3R 5E5,
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 BILL CHEAN WANG NG 863 HILTON BLVD., NEWMARKET, ONTARIO L3X 2H7,
2 RUDOLF GRUBER 12 HILBORNE CRT., UXBRIDGE, ONTARIO L9P 1R4,
3 DAVID H. GRANDINETT 15426 ELLEN DRIVE, LIVONIA, MI, U.S.A. 48154.
PCT International Classification Number N/A
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2298853 2000-02-15 Canada