Patent ID: 7731270
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: B60J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for supporting a sliding door that moves between a closed position and a fully open position to selectively cover an opening in a vehicle, comprising: a door bracket for fixedly mounting to the sliding door; a primary track mounted along an exterior side of the vehicle and extending away from the opening to a remote end, the length of the primary track from the opening to the remote end being less than the distance traveled by the sliding door between the closed position and the fully open position; a roller bracket having rollers received by the primary track and movable between a first position proximate the opening and a second position at the remote end of the primary track; a link pivotally joined to the roller bracket by a first pivot and pivotally joined to the door bracket by a second pivot, wherein the link is rotatable around the first pivot between a first orientation for positioning the sliding door toward its closed position and a second orientation for positioning the sliding door toward the fully open position, wherein the link comprises an extension arm extending from the link generally toward the primary track, wherein the extension arm includes a roller mounted at the distal end thereof; and a shift mechanism contacting the extension arm when the roller bracket is at an intermediate trip point between the first position and the second position so that the link shifts from its first orientation to its second orientation when the sliding door is being opened and so that the link shifts from its second orientation to its first orientation when the sliding door is being closed, wherein the shift mechanism comprises a secondary track substantially parallel with the primary track and receiving the extension arm roller, and wherein the secondary track has a curved shape having a single point of maximum separation from the primary track at the intermediate trip point.