Patent ID: 8246102
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: E05B,E05C,E05F,E05Y,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a door return device for a vehicle door having a travel path wherein the door pivots between a closed position in a door frame, a fully open position, and an easy-reach position between the closed position and the fully open position and spaced a predetermined distance from the fully open position, the door return device including a housing coupled to one of the vehicle door and the door frame and including a working fluid, and a link coupled to the other of the door and the door frame and movable into and out of the housing, the method comprising the steps of: (a) damping an opening movement of the door between the closed position and the easy-reach position by directing fluid from a first sub-chamber on a first side of a hold piston slidably mounted in the housing to a second sub-chamber on an opposed, second side of the hold piston through a first fluid passage extending between the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber; (b) damping an opening movement of the door between the easy-reach position and the fully open position by directing fluid from the first sub-chamber on the first side of the hold piston to the second sub-chamber on the second side of the hold piston, by directing fluid from a third sub-chamber on a first side of an end damping piston slidably mounted in the housing to the first sub-chamber on an opposed, second side of the damping piston through a second fluid passage allowing fluid to flow between the third sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber, and by deforming a spring; and (c) automatically moving the door in a closing direction between the fully open position and the easy-reach position by the spring imparting a force on and moving the end damping piston and the hold piston until the door is in the easy-reach position.