Patent ID: 6178697
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B60J,E05D,E05Y

Abstract:
An apparatus for mounting a sliding door to a vehicle side wall comprising:a) a generally planar plate having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension, said plate having at least one outboard marginal edge, at least one inboard marginal edge, at least one forward marginal edge, and at least one aft marginal edge;b) said plate includes a guide slot formed therein, said guide slot having an aft end, a relatively straight aft section, a forward curved section and a forward end, said guide slot being oriented so that said aft section is adapted to be generally parallel to said vehicle side wall and said slot has a substantially uniform width throughout the length of said guide slot;c) an insert and release hole in said plate, said insert and release hole has a diameter greater than said guide slot width and intersects said guide slot at a chord of said hole at a position forward of the aft end of said guide slot;d) a roller assembly, said roller assembly including a roller having a first portion, said first portion has a diameter dimensioned to fit in and roll along said guide slot, and a keeper structure being dimensioned to permit mounting of said roller in said hole and to retain said roller in said guide slot;e) a floating arm member to which said roller assembly is adjustably mountable adjacent a first, inboard end of said floating arm member, and said arm member is pivotably mountable to said door adjacent a second, outboard end of said arm member;f) said floating arm member is pivotable in an up and down direction relative to the plane of said plate so that said roller can be inserted into and removed from said guide slot via said insert and release hole; andg) said roller assembly being adapted to permit said door to slide along said guide slot.