Abstract:
A vehicle door that opens from a point of rotation in a scissors like motion is provided. When the door is unlatched, it moves away from the side of the vehicle and swivels upward in a scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the vehicle. It is suitable for use with any vehicles including four door sedan, two door coupe, two or four door convertible, pick-up truck, van, minivan and minibus.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation-in-part application and claims priority under 35 USC 120 from U.S. Regular Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/986,890, filed Nov. 27, 2007, of common inventorship herewith entitled, “scissor style pivoting vehicle door,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety as though the same was fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of vehicle doors, and more specifically to automobile doors. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Most car doors on automobiles in use today open outward. This requires additional space to accommodate the width of the door in addition to the width of the automobile. The problem of car doors opening outward into traffic, outward onto crowded sidewalks and in crowded parking lots has increased with the number of cars in use today. Several solutions have been put forward by the prior art. Examples of such solutions are found in the following U.S. patents. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,172 to “Vehicle Closure” describes displaceable panel apertures formed in generally curved exterior walls and multipart aperture closures where the lower part of the door slides sown, and the upper part of the door slides up parallel to the outside of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,611 to “Upwardly Retracting Vehicle Door” describes a door for the rear of a minivan where the back door and window slide upward into a pocket in the vehicle roof. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,036 and 5,524,960 “Sliding Automobile Door” both describe an automobile passenger door that slides in a vertical direction. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,267 “Device for Pivoting a Vehicle Door or a Vehicle Lid” describes a “universal joint” type apparatus for pivoting the door. 
         [0008]    Nowhere in the prior art is found a vehicle door design similar to the instant invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a vehicle door that opens from a point of rotation on the door in a scissors like motion. The door design of the present invention is suitable for any type of vehicle including, but not limited to: four door passenger vehicle, four door sedan, two door coupe, two or four door convertible, pick up trucks, vans, minivans, and minibuses. 
         [0010]    The vehicle door of the present invention provides better aerodynamics, a more aesthetically pleasing profile, and an easier ingress and egress for passengers. This feature is especially useful for elderly or persons having physically impairments. 
         [0011]    Other benefits of the car door of the present invention include saving space in crowded parking spaces in parking lots, driveways and small or standard garages without the worry or cost of dents, dings and scratches. An additional advantage of the car door of the present invention is the door will not open into traffic or crowded sidewalks. The present invention will increase the ease of entering and exiting the vehicle. A vehicle equipped with the door of the present invention can be parked within  12  inches of another vehicle or any other obstruction and the passenger(s) will be able to comfortably exit or enter the vehicle. 
         [0012]    The door can be ergonomically engineered for anyone to open and shut with utmost ease. The doors can also be engineered to open automatically, or shut with a remote control device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts a side view of the vehicle door of the present invention on a four door vehicle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of the vehicle door of the present invention on a four door vehicle. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  depicts a side view of the vehicle door of the present invention on a convertible. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of the vehicle door of the present invention on a convertible. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  depicts a side view of the vehicle door of the present invention on a pick-up truck. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of the vehicle door of the present invention on a pick-up truck 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    As used herein, the term “upper” refers to the top half or top 50% of the door. As used herein, the term “lower” refers to the bottom half, or bottom 50% of the door. As used herein the term “rear” refers to the back half, or back 50% of the door. As used herein, the term “front” refers to the front half, or front 50% of the door of the vehicle. 
         [0020]    The vehicle door of the present invention provides advantages over conventional double hinged doors. The vehicle door of the present invention can be opened in a swivel, upward motion which clears the front corner panels of the vehicle when engaged. When the door is unlatched, the pivoting swivel point  10  will move away from the body of the vehicle sufficiently to clear the corner panel and swivel upward. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a four door vehicle is depicted where the driver&#39;s door and front passenger&#39;s door is shown to pivot from pivoting swivel point  10  located at the upper rear portion of the door. The driver&#39;s door pivots from the upper rear of the door and opens from the top in an upward scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the side of the vehicle. The rear passenger door is shown to pivot from pivoting swivel point  10  also located at the upper rear of the door. The passenger&#39;s door pivots from the upper rear of the door and opens from the top in an upward scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the side of the vehicle. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a four door vehicle is depicted where the driver&#39;s door and front passenger&#39;s door is shown to pivot from pivoting swivel point  10  located at the lower front portion of the door. The door pivots from the lower front of the door and opens from bottom to top in an upward scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the side of the vehicle. The door can be mounted at any point so that when fully opened the bottom of the door is completely out of the way of the entrance of the vehicle. The rear passenger door is shown to pivot from pivoting swivel point  10  also located at the upper rear of the door. The door pivots from the upper rear portion of the door and opens from the top in an upward scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the side of the vehicle. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a two door convertible is depicted wherein the driver&#39;s door and passenger&#39;s door is shown to pivot from the pivoting swivel point  10  located at the lower front portion of the door. The door pivots from the lower front of the door and opens from bottom to top in an upward scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the side of the vehicle. The door can be mounted at any point so that when fully opened the bottom of the door is completely out of the way of the entrance of the vehicle. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a two door convertible is depicted wherein the driver&#39;s door and passenger&#39;s door is shown to pivot from the pivoting swivel point  10  located at the lower rear portion of the door. The door pivots from the lower rear of the door and opens from bottom to top in an upward scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the side of the vehicle 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a pick-up truck is depicted wherein the driver&#39;s door and the passenger&#39;s door is shown to pivot from the pivoting swivel point  10  located at the lower front portion of the door. The door pivots from the lower front of the door and opens from bottom to top in an upward scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the side of the vehicle. The door can be mounted at any point so that when fully opened the bottom of the door is completely out of the way of the entrance of the vehicle. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a pick-up truck is depicted wherein the driver&#39;s door and the passenger&#39;s door is shown to pivot from the pivoting swivel point  10  located at the upper rear portion of the door. The door pivots from the upper rear portion of the door and opens from the top in an upward scissors like motion traveling along an arcuate path which parallels the curvature of the side of the vehicle. 
         [0027]    The arcuate path traversed by the door should be about from one to about three inches away from the body of the vehicle. 
         [0028]    It is important to note that the door should completely clear any corner panel, whether front or rear, when opening. When the door is unlatched, the door should move away from the body of the vehicle from about one to about three inches to assure adequate tolerance in clearing the body of the vehicle. 
         [0029]    An alternative embodiment for doors opening from a lower pivoting swivel point would be to design the door to traverse a path so that it opens at an angle of about 1 to about 15 degrees from the body of the vehicle. 
         [0030]    The doors will be equipped with an additional handle near the lower edge so that a person can easily reach the handle and close the door from inside the vehicle. 
         [0031]    The hinge can comprise a threaded unit or threaded cylindrical member so that the door rotates and moves away from the body of the vehicle when the door is unlatched in an unscrew type motion, allowing the car door to spin away from any corner panel thus clearing the entryway to the vehicle. Conversely, when closing the door, the opposite happens, as the driver or passenger closes the door, the threaded unit or threaded cylindrical member will spin shut in a screw inward motion and proceed to shut and latch the door. The unlatching or opening of the doors from the inside of the vehicle can be easily achieved. The driver or passenger need only give a slight pull upward to unlatch, then continue to pull upward slightly and then the door will continue to completely rotate on its own until it stops at the appropriate position. This can be accomplished through the use of spring action, shock absorption, hydraulic, motorized, air, electrical, gravity or other unmanned force or means. 
         [0032]    To close and shut the car door when it is opened while the driver or passenger is inside the vehicle, just the opposite happens; the driver or passenger grabs hold of the same latch handle and slightly pulls downward to about chest height or dashboard height and then the car door will continue to gently shut on its own. This can be accomplished through the use of spring action, shock absorption, hydraulic, motorized, air, electrical, gravity or other unmanned force or means. 
         [0033]    The unlatching of the doors from the outside of the vehicle can also be done. The driver or passenger gives a slight pull upward to unlatch, then continue to pull upward slightly up to chest height and then the door will continue to completely rotate on its own until it stops at the appropriate position. 
         [0034]    To close and shut the car door when it is opened while outside, just the opposite happens; the driver or passenger grabs hold of the same latch handle and slightly pulls downward to about chest height or dashboard height and then the car door will continue to gently shut on its own. This can be accomplished through the use of spring action, shock absorption, hydraulic, motorized, air, electrical, gravity or other unmanned force or means. 
         [0035]    Latch placement is critical to correct functioning of the door of the present invention. The latch to the pivoting car door concept is quite simple. The door latch is situated on the lower part of the door when the driver is sitting in the car. 
         [0036]    For Example, if the driver were in the sitting position in the car, the door latch would be engaged by reaching with the left hand to the lower corner part of the door just below the thigh or lower part of the seat and backrest. The drivers&#39; left hand would naturally rest to his or her side and the latch will be located in that position. This design will be ergonomically correct for all drivers because the door latch can also be positioned at an angle where the wrist will not have to bend. The latch is not positioned on the upper forward side to where the drivers&#39; wrist would have to bend into the latch and pull with the wrist to unlatch, unlike in many present day vehicles. Once the driver unlatches the door, he or she then gently pulls the door with the latch handle upwards a few inches, then the door would gently continue to swivel up and forward in an arc from the pivoting area until the door is completely opened. This design can be mirrored on the passenger side as well. 
         [0037]    When entering the vehicle from the driver&#39;s side, the outside latch is located in the upper corner at the rear of the door just under the window as is typical, but with a slight angle, less than 15°, for example, for correct hand alignment for proper ergonomics and to be aesthetically pleasing. This design will be mirrored on the passenger side as well. 
         [0038]    The latch itself can vary and will depend on manufacturers&#39; specifications. The latch on the door where it is currently located on most car doors will be rotated around up to 90° downward so that the latch can be engaged when the door is coming down to shut. This new latch angle will allow accommodation for the “latch hook” to receive the latch once they (latch hook and latch) connect. 
         [0039]    The “latch hook can be modified as well. The latch hook is located in the center opposite side of the door hinge with basically configured in the shape of a square or rectangle. This design will comprise steel or other material of ¼ inch round thickness for durability, 1 to 1½ inch height from the frame for tolerance and 1¾ (one and three quarters) length. The latch hook will be welded to a plate that is the same thickness as the latch hook with 2 holes on either side of the latch hook for anchoring bolts. The latch hook and plate will be screwed onto the doorframe by 2 anchoring bolts, securing it into the designated position. The position will be where the length of the latch hook is upward and downward in accommodation to the door latch pathway. 
         [0040]    An alternative embodiment includes a button inside the vehicle to activate the door opening or closing when the button is pressed. 
         [0041]    Another feature can be added as an option is the use of a remote control key fob. One can be near the vehicle and remotely unlatch the door of the vehicle from a distance as well as latch the vehicle door from a distance. This feature can also include automatic open and close to completion without the aid of the driver or passenger using only the key fob. 
         [0042]    Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.