Abstract:
A motor vehicle includes a body and a door pivotably attached to the body. A stop mechanism limits the pivoting of the door to an angular range. The stop mechanism is adjustable by a user such that the user may define the angular range to which the pivoting of the door is limited.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/353,520 filed on Jun. 22, 2016, which the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a door opening mechanism in a motor vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is a common problem that a car door cannot be opened in an easily controllable manner, particularly when the force of wind pushes the door farther open after the door has begun to open. This often results in a passenger being unable to limit how far the door swings open, and the door may hit other objects, such as an adjacent parked car or shopping cart, or the door may even bit a person. Although vehicle doors include stop mechanisms, the stop mechanisms only stop the doors when they are fully open. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention may provide a device that limits the cars door&#39;s swing anywhere between a fully open position to a fully closed position dependent upon when the user decides to use it. In one embodiment, the invention includes an electronically adjustable stop mechanism which enables the user to selectively limit how far the door may open. For example, if the door normally pivots 80 degrees from a closed position to a fully open position, the user may selectively limit the range of pivoting of the door when opening to a discrete value of 30 degrees, 50 degrees, or 70 degrees. Alternatively, the user may select any door pivoting range value between zero degrees and 80 degrees. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the invention allows the door to open fully, but enables the user to select a level of constant braking force to be applied to the door as it opens. For example, the user may select between an additional 5 pounds, 10 pounds or 15 pounds of force being required to push open the door. Thus, the additional resistive force may enable the user to more easily control how far and how quickly the door opens. 
         [0006]    In yet another embodiment, the invention allows the door to open fully, but enables the user to select a level of braking force to be applied to the door, wherein the level of braking force continuously increases as the door pivots farther open. For example, the user may select between the resistive force continuously increasing from one pound at the closed position to 10 pounds at the fully open position; the resistive force continuously increasing from five pounds at the Closed position to 15 pounds at the fully open position; or the resistive force continuously increasing from 10 pounds at the closed position to 20 pounds at the fully open position. Thus, the user may more easily, control how far and how quickly the door opens, particularly near the fully open position. In one embodiment, the level of braking force not only continuously increases as the door pivots farther open, but also increases asymptotically or increases parabolically as the door pivots farther open. For example, the resistive force may continuously and parabolically increase from 10 pounds at the closed position, to 20 pounds at a position half way between the closed position and the fully open position, and 100 pounds at the fully open position. Thus, as the door get closer to the fully open position, which presents the most danger, opening the door further becomes much more difficult. A dampening element may provide the resistive force. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the invention comprises a motor vehicle including a body and a door pivotably attached to the body. A stop mechanism limits the pivoting of the door to an angular range. The stop mechanism is adjustable by a user such that the user may define the angular range to which the pivoting of the door is limited. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the invention comprises a motor vehicle including a body and a door attached to the body such that the door is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. A dampening element is coupled between the body and the door. The dampening element provides mechanical resistance to the pivoting of the door from the closed position to the open position. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a motor vehicle including a body and a door attached to the body such that the door is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. A dampening element is coupled between the body and the door. The dampening element provides an increasing level of mechanical resistance to the pivoting of the door as the door is pivoted from the closed position to the open position. 
         [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that it may enable a user to more easily control or limit the opening of a vehicle door. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one example embodiment of a car door swing control arrangement of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of one embodiment of a control device which a user may use to control the car door swing control arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of one example embodiment of a dampening apparatus which may be included in the car door swing control arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of one embodiment of a control device which a user may use to control the dampening apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a car door swing control arrangement  10  of the present invention, including a vehicle  12  having a door  14  which may pivot about 80 degrees between a closed position  16  and a fully open position  18 . A door stop  19 , which is only schematically indicated in  FIG. 1 , may be in position to limit the opening of door  14  to the fully open position  18 . According to the invention, the position of the door stop may be selectively adjustable so that the door stop may limit the opening of door  14  to any of the semi-open positions indicated at  20 ,  22  and  24 . The door may be pivotable within a range of about 70 degrees, 50 degrees, and 30 degrees, respectively, in positions  20 ,  22  and  24 . The position of door stop  19  may be movable mechanically and/or hydraulically, and may be controlled by the user via an electrical or electronic control device within the passenger compartment. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of one embodiment of an electrical or electronic control device  28  which a user may use to control the car door swing control arrangement of  FIG. 1 . The control device includes a pin  30  disposed in an arcuate slot  32  representing the path of the outer edge of ear door  14  as the door opens. With pin  30  in the position  34  at the outer end of slot  32 , the position of door stop  19  may be such that door  14  can be opened to the fully open position  18 . However, if pin  30  is moved to position  36 , the position of door stop  19  may also be caused to move such that the opening of door  14  is limited to the semi-open position indicated at  20 . Similarly, if pin  30  is moved to position  38 , the position of door stop  19  may also be caused to move such that the opening of door  14  is limited to the semi-open position indicated at  22 ; and if pin  30  is moved to position  40 , the position of door stop  19  may also be caused to move such that the opening of door  14  is limited to the semi-open position indicated at  24 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates one example embodiment of a dampening apparatus  42  which may be included in the car door swing control arrangement  10  of  FIG. 1 . Dampening apparatus  42  includes a dampening element  44  which may be similar to a shock absorber. Dampening element  44  includes a hydraulic cylinder  46  having a fixed rod  48  extending from a first end of cylinder  46 , and a slidable rod  50  extending from a second end of cylinder  46 . An outer end of rod  48  is pivotably attached to a fixed structure  52 , and an outer end of rod  50  is slidingly coupled to car door  14 . As door  14  further opens from the position indicated at  54  to the position indicated at  56 , rod  50  slides out of cylinder  46 , and the outer end of rod  50  slides along the length of door  14 . 
         [0019]    Dampening element  44  may provide resistance or a dampening force that resists the force with which the user pushes on door  14  in order to open door  14 . Thus, the user is required to exert more force on door  14  in order to open the door, which may enable the user to better control how far the door opens. In one embodiment, dampening element  44  applies a constant level of resistance to the opening of door, regardless of how far the door has already been opened. In another embodiment, dampening element  44  applies an increasing level of resistance as door  14  opens farther, thus providing the user with an increased level of control on the door as the door approaches the limit of how far it can open, which is where the door is also most likely to collide with another object. In yet another embodiment, dampening element  44  applies not only an increasing level of resistance as door  14  opens farther, but applies an asymptotically increasing or parabolically increasing level of resistance as door  14  opens farther. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of one embodiment of a control device  58  which a user may use to control the dampening apparatus of  FIG. 3 . Control device  58  may include a dial  60  having an indicator  62  which may be rotated to a maximum force position, a minimum force position, or any position in-between. The position of dial  60  may control a hydraulic pump (not shown) which pumps hydraulic fluid into or out of hydraulic cylinder  46 , and thereby affects the level of resistive force that dampening element  44  exerts on door  14 . 
         [0021]    A vehicle may include the dooring limiting apparatus of  FIGS. 1-2  without the dampening apparatus of  FIGS. 3-4 ; may include the dampening apparatus of  FIGS. 3-4  without the dooring limiting apparatus of  FIGS. 1-2 ; or may include both the dooring limiting apparatus of  FIGS. 1-2  and the dampening apparatus of  FIGS. 3-4 . 
         [0022]    The invention may be disabled in the event of a user pressing a panic button (not shown) within a vehicle passenger compartment; an air bag deployment; a moisture sensor that is shielded from rain and road spray detecting that the vehicle is under water; or a heat sensor detecting that the vehicle is in a fire. In case of such disablement, door  14  may be opened as freely as if car door swing control arrangement  10  were not in place. 
         [0023]    The foregoing description may refer to “motor vehicle”, “automobile”, “automotive”, or similar expressions. It is to be understood that these terms are not intended to limit the invention to any particular type of transportation vehicle. Rather, the invention may be applied to any type of transportation vehicle whether traveling by air, water, or ground, such as airplanes, boats, etc. 
         [0024]    The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications can be made by those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.