Patent ID: 7654608
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: E05D,E05Y

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 track mounted along an exterior side of the vehicle and extending away from the opening to a remote end, the length of the 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; and a roller bracket having rollers received by the track and movable between a first position proximate the opening and a second position at the remote end of the track, wherein the roller bracket includes an articulating arm pivotally retained by the roller bracket at a first end of the articulating arm by a first pivot and pivotally retained at a second end by the door bracket, wherein the articulating arm has a first orientation for rotationally positioning the sliding door toward the closed position and a second orientation for rotationally positioning the sliding door away from the closed position and into the fully open position, wherein movement of the roller bearing into the second position results in the articulating arm moving from the first orientation to the second orientation; and wherein the roller bracket includes a spring biasing the articulating arm to the first orientation when the roller bracket is substantially not in the second position, and the spring biases the articulating arm to the second orientation when the roller bracket is substantially in the second position.