Door assembly for a sport utility or similar vehicle

A door assembly with upper and lower door portions. The upper door portion has a window section with one or more clear panels mounted in a frame member. In use, the entire upper door portion including the frame member and window section can be removed as a unit and conveniently stored in a pocket or cavity in the lower door portion. The window section in one embodiment has a vertically retractable panel and in another, two clear panels are provided that can be slid horizontally to open the window area. Another embodiment has a folding or pivoting upper door portion which can be collapsed on itself and conveniently stored in the cavity or pocket of the lower door portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of door assemblies for sport utility and similar vehicles and more particularly to the field of such assemblies with removable, upper window sections.

2. Discussion of the Background

Sport utility and similar vehicles are very popular. One reason for this is their versatility in that they normally can be easily and quickly modified for different uses and situations. As for example, many such vehicles have parts such as window panels and tops that can be lowered or removed for an open air experience. Additionally, a wide variety of interior and exterior accessories such as consoles and roof racks are also commonly available for them.

Door assemblies in such vehicles come in a wide range of choices. Some of the more popular ones have removable, upper window sections. In use, the window section can be secured in place to the lower door portion to enclose the interior of the vehicle and then completely removed from the lower door portion for an open air experience. Once removed, a problem arises with current designs as to how and where to store the window section. Space is normally at a premium in sport utility vehicles so storing the removed window section, for example, in the rear deck area of the vehicle can undesirably  use up valuable space. Similarly, storing the removed window section on the exterior of the vehicle not only can use up carrying space but also can unduly expose the window section to potential damage from weather and flying debris such as stones. Storing the removed window section at home or otherwise remotely from the vehicle has the obvious disadvantage of not being able to enclose the vehicle if the weather or other conditions should change.

With this and other problems in mind, the present invention was developed. In it, a door assembly is presented that has a removable, upper window section that is storable in a neat and out of the way manner in the lower door portion when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention involves a door assembly with upper and lower door portions. The upper door portion has a window section with one or more clear panels mounted in a frame member. In use, the entire upper door portion including the frame member and window section can be removed as a unit and conveniently stored in a pocket or cavity in the lower door portion. In the stored position, a cover can be provided over the lower door portion. The cover encloses the lower door portion to keep dust, dirt, and other elements out of the storage cavity and away for the upper door portion in it. The cover can also conveniently serve as an arm rest for the driver or passengers.

In several embodiments, the window section of the upper door portion can be opened for the convenience of the driver and passengers while still mounted above the lower door portion. The window section in one embodiment has a vertically retractable panel and in another, two clear panels are provided that can be slid horizontally to open the window area. A folding or pivoting embodiment of the upper door portion is also disclosed which can be collapsed on itself and conveniently stored in the cavity or pocket of the lower door portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown inFIG. 1, the present invention involves a door assembly1for a sport utility or other vehicle2. The door assembly1includes an upper door portion3with a frame member5and window section7and a lower door portion9. The upper door portion3as illustrated inFIGS. 1–3is removably mounted to the lower door portion9. In the attached position ofFIGS. 1 and 2, the upper door portion3is supported on the lower door portion9with the frame member5and window section7extending upwardly above the lower door portion9. In one mode of operation as schematically depicted inFIGS. 1–5, the upper door portion3can first be lifted up and removed from the lower door portion9(FIG. 3). Thereafter, the upper door portion3can be inverted (FIG. 4) with the leg members11pivoted or folded substantially flush with the window or panel edge13and the upper door portion3then inserted into the lower door portion9(FIG. 5) for convenient storage.

In the stored position as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the upper door portion3including the frame member5and window section7are preferably entirely received in the storage cavity or pocket15(FIG. 6). This storage cavity15as illustrated extends between the inner and outer panel sections17and19of the lower door portion9. An elongated cover21can then be provided to sealingly engage over the storage cavity15to protect the stored upper door portion3from dirt, dust, and other elements. The cover21is preferably padded or contoured to also serve as an arm rest. Additionally, the cover21preferably has detents such as23at either end to aid in holding the cover21in place. The detents23in this regard can also contact or straddle the ends of the stored lower door portion3to help keep the upper door portion3securely in place in the lower door portion9.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, each leg member11in this first embodiment preferably has a substantially U-shape cross section with two sides11′ spaced from each other and a base11″ extending therebetween. In operation as discussed above, the leg members11can be folded about the pivotal axes25inFIG. 4from respective positions extending away from the window edge13to the folded positions shown in dotted lines extending substantially along the window edge13. In the folded positions, the window edge13is preferably received in the U-shape of each leg member11(see againFIG. 7). The line of the window edge13could vary but is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4extending substantially straight along an axis27. The leg members11are then movable between positions extending substantially perpendicular to the axis27(FIG. 4) and folded positions extending substantially parallel to the axis27. The window edge13in this regard may have a plastic or other cover member such as29on it as inFIG. 7if desired.

In manipulating the upper door portion3from the first orientation ofFIGS. 1 and 2to the second or inverted orientation ofFIGS. 4 and 5, the upper door portion3can be moved in any number of manners. Regardless, in the second orientation ofFIG. 4, the upper door portion3has preferably been inverted about a substantially horizontal axis such as27from the position ofFIG. 3. The inverted, upper door portion3can then be easily and quickly placed in the stored position ofFIG. 5and sealed in place by the cover21ofFIGS. 6 and 7.

In the embodiment ofFIGS. 8–14, the operation of the door assembly1is essentially the same as in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1–7except the clear panel7′ of the window section7is retractable. In this manner and with the clear panel7′ raised or closed as inFIGS. 8 and 9, the interior of the vehicle2is protected from the elements as inFIG. 1. The frame member5and window section7in this position like the earlier embodiment extend upwardly above the lower door panel9. However, unlike the earlier embodiment as discussed above, the clear panel7′ ofFIG. 8can be retracted or lowered relative to the frame member5for the convenience of the driver or passenger. This is illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11in which the retracted panel7′ is shown substantially received in the storage cavity15of the lower door portion9. The clear panel7′ of the window section7in this and all the embodiments is preferably made of glass but could be made of plastic or other materials as desired.

Referring again toFIGS. 8 and 9and with the panel7′ in the up or raised position, a lock mechanism31(see alsoFIG. 12) can be provided to maintain the panel7′ in this position. The illustrated locking mechanism31has a simple sliding member or stop33that can be moved beneath the glass edge13as shown inFIG. 9to keep the panel7′ locked in the raised position. Similarly, the sliding member33can be withdrawn as inFIG. 10to allow the panel7′ to be retracted or lowered into the storage cavity15of the lower door portion9. In doing so as perhaps best seen inFIG. 12, a clip mechanism35can be provided on the top edge13′ of the panel7′. The clip mechanism35has a handle37protruding outwardly of the panel7′ and in use, the handle37can be manually depressed to  lower the panel7′ as desired. In the fully retracted position ofFIG. 11, the handle37preferably abuts the inner panel section17of the lower door portion9(see alsoFIG. 12). This serves to keep the panel7′ from moving beyond the predetermined, fully retracted position ofFIGS. 10 and 11. The handle37in this regard can be conveniently received in the notch39ofFIG. 12in the lower door portion9. Alternatively and if the frame5for example extended across the bottom of the upper door portion3, the notch39as well as the locking mechanism31could be in this bottom run of the frame member5if desired.

Like the embodiment ofFIGS. 1–7, the upper door portion3of the embodiment ofFIG. 8can be removed from the lower door portion9and inverted. Similarly, and with the leg members11folded substantially flush along the glass edge13(seeFIG. 13), the upper door portion3can be inserted into the storage cavity15of the lower door portion9. Also, like the embodiment ofFIGS. 1–7and as best seen inFIGS. 8–11, the lower door portion9is preferably provided with substantially U-shaped channel members41. The members41are dimensioned to slidably receive the extended leg members11and support the upper door portion3atop the lower door portion9. A mechanism such as the screw43inFIGS. 8–11can be provided to selectively secure or lock each leg members11in place. As illustrated inFIG. 14, the screw43in each channel member41can be advanced against the respective leg member11. A threaded hole could also be provided in the leg member11if desired to receive the screw43. With the retractable panel7′ of this embodiment, each leg member11preferably includes a sealing member such as45(seeFIG. 14) to seal against the retracted panel7′.

FIGS. 15–19illustrate an embodiment of the present invention in which the window section7has two, horizontally sliding panels7′ and7″. This embodiment also has a frame member5completely surrounding the window section7. The frame member5additionally has two segments5′ and5″ that are pivotally mounted to each other. In use and with the upper door portion3mounted on the lower door portion9as in the earlier embodiments, the panels7′ and7″ ofFIG. 15can be individually slid horizontally as desired. Further and essentially in the manner of the earlier embodiments, the upper door portion3can be removed and stored in the cavity15(FIG. 19) of the lower door portion9and enclosed by the arm rest cover21.

More specifically and with the upper door portion3removed from the lower door portion9(FIG. 15) and the front panel7′ slid rearwardly adjacent the rear panel7″, the frame segments5′ and5″ can be pivoted about the axis51relative to each other (FIG. 16). In doing so, the segments5′ and5″ are moved from the open position ofFIG. 15extending away from each other to the folded position ofFIG. 16extending substantially along one another. With the leg members11folded to extend substantially along the glass edges13of the panels7′ and7″ and along the portions53of the frame segments5′ and5″, the inverted upper door portion3ofFIG. 18can subsequently be inserted and stored in the cavity15of the lower door portion9(FIG. 19) and capped by the cover21.

FIGS. 20 and 21illustrate an adaptation of the door assembly ofFIGS. 15–19to a common design of a lower door portion9. In this design, the inner and outer panel sections17and19of the lower door portion9have front pieces17′ and19′ rising up to the upstanding flag member57. Like  the embodiment ofFIGS. 15–19, the cavity15of the lower door portion9is widened to accommodate the folded frame segments5′ and5″. However, because the panel sections17and19have rising front pieces17′ and19′, the front leg member11of the embodiment ofFIGS. 15–19can be deleted if desired. The front frame segment5′ as shown inFIG. 20would then be received and supported atop the lower door portion9between the pieces17′ and19′. As illustrated inFIG. 20, the front of the frame segment5′ is received in the channel59of the flag member57with the bottom portion53of the frame segment5′ resting on the support member61(see alsoFIG. 21).

InFIGS. 22 and 23, a door assembly1similar to those ofFIGS. 1–14is shown mounted atop a lower door portion9similar to that ofFIGS. 20 and 21which has rising pieces17′ and19′. In this embodiment, the lower edge13of the window section7has a rear portion spaced from the lower door portion9creating a gap63(seeFIG. 22). Insert members65are then provided that can be slid atop the inner and outer panel sections17and19of the lower door portion9(FIG. 23). These inert members65on the inner and outer sides of the window section7serve to fill in the gap63. Like the earlier embodiments, the upper door portion3ofFIGS. 22 and 23is removable and can be stored in the lower door portion9when not in use.

Although the invention has been primarily shown in a two door vehicle, the removable and storable, upper door portions3are equally adaptable for use with front and rear door assemblies as inFIG. 24. The same is true for back or tailgate assemblies that are made essentially in the fashion of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention. In this regard and as illustrated with the rear door  assembly ofFIG. 24, the removable upper door portion of the rear door assembly could have two panels7′ and7″ with their frame member5being foldable or collapsible in the fashion of the embodiments ofFIGS. 15–21. This version could have three leg members11as shown or simply have two (e.g., the two outside leg members11) if desired. Alternatively, the panels7′ and7″ could be part of separate upper door portions from each other. It is also noted that the leg members11as disclosed above are preferably mounted for pivotal movement to the folded or collapsed positions for storage but could be removable or collapsible in other manners. Additionally, the frame member5could be of flexible or foldable materials but preferably is made of rigid ones (e.g., hard plastics or metal). Similarly, the window section could be made of flexible or foldable materials but preferably is made of rigid ones such as glass or hard plastics.

The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention described in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that various changes, modifications, other structural arrangements, and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.