Sliding door assembly

A vehicle door assembly is provided. The door assembly is located on vehicle and includes at least first and second doors each movable between open and closed positions. A door slide assembly is coupled to the vehicle and comprises a traversing segments assembly. The traversing segments assembly includes first and second segments which are movable in first and second directions. The first door is coupled to the first segment and the second door is coupled to the second segment. Movement of the first door causes movement of the first segment in the first direction which causes movement of the second door in the second direction between open and closed positions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to vehicles and, particularly, to door assemblies for use on a vehicle.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Access doors on vehicles such as delivery vehicles are well known. Such doors conventionally use roll-up type, hinged or single sliding doors. For a myriad of reasons, such doors may not be the most suitable design for an operator. For example, most delivery vehicles employ a roll-up type cargo door so the vehicle can be backed up directly to a loading dock without, first, having to open the door. Conventional hinged or single sliding doors like those used on mini-vans are not suitable for such activity. Roll-up type doors, however, have the disadvantage of being cumbersome to operate, latch and lock. Often, the roll-up doors carry water and contaminants into the storage compartment when rolled-up causing potential harm to the cargo. It would, thus, be beneficial to provide a door assembly that provides the advantages of roll-up type doors, while eliminating the disadvantages.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising a door assembly and a door slide assembly. The door assembly is located on the vehicle and comprises first and second doors. The first and second doors are movable between open and closed positions relative to the vehicle. The door slide assembly is coupled to the vehicle and comprises a traversing segments assembly. The traversing segments assembly comprises first and second segments which are movable in first and second directions. The first door is coupled to the first segment and the second door is coupled to the second segment. Movement of the first door causes movement of the first segment in the first direction which causes movement of the second door in the second direction between open and closed positions.

The above and other illustrative embodiments may also comprise: movement of the first door causing movement of the first segment in the second direction causing movement of the second door in the first direction; the door slide assembly further comprising first and second brackets, wherein the first bracket being coupled to the first door and the first segment of the traversing segments assembly, and wherein the second bracket being coupled to the second door and the second segment of the traversing segments assembly; movement in the first direction being axially opposite movement in the second direction such that when a force is applied to the first segment of the traversing segments assembly in the first direction, the second segment is moved in the axially opposite second direction; the first segment of the traversing segments assembly being spaced apart from and movable substantially parallel to the second segment of the traversing segments assembly; the traversing segment assembly comprising a cord having coupled ends and drawn about at least one pulley wheel, wherein the cord comprises the first and second segments such that as the first segment moves in the first direction, the second segment is moved in the second direction; and a first force being applied to the first door which moves the first segment in the first direction which moves the second segment in the second direction moving both the first and second doors to an open position, and wherein a second force being applied to the first door which moves the first segment in the second direction moves the second segment in the first direction moving both the first and second doors to a closed position.

Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising first and second doors, and a movable member assembly. The first and second doors are movable with respect to each other. The movable member assembly comprises first and second members each movable in first and second directions. The first member is movable in the first direction when the second member is movable in the second direction. The first door is also coupled to and movable with the first member and the second door is coupled to and movable with the second member. Accordingly, movement of the first door in the first direction moves the second door in the second direction.

The above and other illustrative embodiments may also comprise: movement of the first door in the second direction moves the second door in the first direction; the first and second doors each being attached to a respective rail, wherein each rail being movable along a longitudinally extending track; the movable member assembly comprising a cord having coupled ends and drawn between a plurality of pulley wheels, and wherein the cord forms the first and second members such that as the first member moves in the first direction, the second member is moved in the second direction; a bracket coupled to the first door and attached to the first member to move the door in the first direction when the first member is moved in the first direction, and a second bracket coupled to the second door and attached to the second member to move the door in the second direction when the second member is moved in the second direction; and a first force being applied to the first door that moves the first member in the first direction which moves the second member in the second direction moving both the first and second doors to an open position, and wherein a second force is applied to the first door, it moves the first member in the second direction which moves the second member in the first direction moving both the first and second doors to a closed position.

Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle which comprises first and second doors and a pulley system. The first and second doors are each movable with respect to each other. The pulley system comprises first and second spaced apart pulley wheels, and a pulley cord disposed about each of the pulley wheels defining a first side and second side of the pulley system. Movement of the pulley cord on the first side in a first direction moves the pulley cord on the second side in a second direction. The first door is coupled to the pulley cable on the first side and the second door is coupled to the pulley cable on the second side. Accordingly, movement of the first door moves the pulley cord on the first side in the first direction causing the pulley cord on the second side to move in the second direction to move the second door in the second direction.

The above and other illustrative embodiments may also comprise: movement of the first door in the second direction moves the second door in the first direction; the first and second doors are each attached to a respective rail, wherein each rail is movable long a longitudinally extending track; a first force being applied to the first door which moves the first side of the cable moving the cable in first direction which moves the second side of the cable in the second direction moving both the first and second doors to an open position, and wherein a second force is applied to the first door to move the first side of the cable in the second direction which moves the second side of the cable in the first direction moving both the first and second doors to a closed position.

Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising first and second doors each movable with respect to each other between open and closed positions; a means for moving the first door to the open position; and a means for moving the second door to the open position as the first door is moved to the open position.

The above and other illustrative embodiments may also comprise a means for moving the first door to the closed position and a means for moving the second door to the closed position as the first door is moved to the closed position.

Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising a plurality of doors such that a force applied to one of the plurality of doors moves the door engages at least one other of the plurality of doors to cause the other of the plurality of doors to move as well, for opening and closing the doors.

Additional features and advantages of the vehicle door assembly will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the vehicle door assembly as presently perceived.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the vehicle door assembly, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the vehicle door assembly in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A rear perspective view of an illustrative delivery vehicle2is shown inFIG. 1. Doors4and6are located at the rear of vehicle2, are in the closed position8, and are configured to slideably move in directions10and12. The illustrative delivery vehicle2shown is configured to carry objects such as parcels, equipment, or supplies. It is appreciated that doors, such as doors4and6, can be employed on other vehicles as well. Door4illustratively comprises a handle14configured to serve as a grip for an operator. It is appreciated that alternative embodiments of handle14may also serve as the latch and/or lock. It is further appreciated that handle14may be affixed to door6, as opposed to, or in addition to, door4, as alternative embodiments.

Another rear perspective view of vehicle2is shown inFIG. 2. This view shows doors4and6located in the open position16. (See also,FIG. 3.) Opening doors4and6allow access to a storage compartment18of vehicle2. As can be seen by comparingFIG. 1andFIG. 2, doors4and6can be moved between open and closed positions without extending outwardly from the vehicle2. This matches the advantage that roll-up type doors have by allowing the vehicle to back up to a loading dock without the need for clearance for the doors.

A partially cut-away, top-rear perspective view of vehicle2, depicting doors4and6in open position16, along with the interior storage compartment18, is shown inFIG. 3. In the illustrative embodiment, doors4and6move generally parallel to rear walls20and22, respectively. It is appreciated that the doors4and6and rear walls20and22can be of any size useful for the particular vehicle intended. It is further appreciated that in alternative embodiments doors4and6can be laterally movable in other directions with respect to vehicle2.

A detailed perspective view of a portion of sliding door assembly24is shown inFIG. 4. In this view doors4,6are located in the closed position, similar to that shown inFIG. 1. Assembly24comprises doors4and6, as previously discussed, along with traversing segments or door slide assembly. In an illustrative embodiment such an assembly can be a guide pulley assembly26. Guide pulley assembly26comprises a mounting bracket28that is illustratively attached to vehicle2. Cable pulleys30and32are illustratively located near opposite ends of bracket28. A cable or cables34are strung between pulleys30and32, forming a top cable portion36and a lower cable portion38. Illustratively, door4is attached to the lower cable portion38via brackets40and43, wherein bracket43reaches over the top cable portion36and attaches to bracket40. It is appreciated, however, that bracket43may be located under top cable portion36. In either case, bracket40is fastened to the lower cable portion38of cable36. Conversely, door6is attached to brackets42and44, wherein bracket44attached to the top cable portion36of cables34.

Doors4and6being coupled to pulley system26results in lower cable portion38moving door4in direction10, for example, which causes movement of the cables34as a whole to move, which causes door6, coupled to top cable portion36, to move in the opposite direction12. Because both doors are attached to cables34, as one door moves, so too does the other door. However, as door4moves in direction10, door6is caused to move in the opposite direction12. This is how both doors4and6may open or close with only one door being acted on by the operator. Accordingly, if door4is moved in direction12towards closed position8, then the lower cable portion38is caused to move in the opposite direction10and, thus, door6as well.

It is appreciated that the illustrative embodiment of the traversing segments assembly shown herein is the pulley assembly26. It is appreciated, however, that alternative embodiments may comprise other movable member assemblies, such as a lead screw assembly, rack and pinion assembly, and gear assembly, or a cam assembly, all of which may, or may not, be used with a powered assist such as electrical, pneumatic, or fluid power supplies, for example.

Another detail perspective view of a portion of assembly24is shown inFIG. 5. In this view, door4is moving in direction10toward the open position. This movement illustratively causes lower cable portion38to move in direction10as well, and move brackets40and43closer to pulley30. Since cable34wraps around pulley30in this embodiment, as the lower cable portion38moves in direction10, top cable portion36moves in direction12, moving brackets42and44toward pulley32. As a consequence, door6moves in direction12concurrent with the movement of bracket44as door4moves in direction10concurrent with movement of bracket42. Also shown in this view are brackets46and48attached to doors6and4, respectively. These brackets46and48illustratively include a first door rail52and50attached thereto, respectively. These rails50and52ride bracket track or tracks54which are attached to mounting bracket28. (See, also,FIG. 10.)

Another detail view of a portion of assembly24is shown inFIG. 6. In this view, door4is moving in direction12toward closed position8. This movement illustratively causes brackets40and43to move in direction12, causing lower cable portion38to also move in direction12. Consequently, top cable portion36moves in direction10. Movement of top cable portion36in direction10causes brackets42and44to move in direction10as well. This movement causes door6to move in direction10to join door4in the closed position.

A detailed exploded perspective view of a portion of sliding door assembly24is shown inFIG. 7. This view shows the attachment of several of the illustrative structures of the upper portions of doors4and6. Note that this view is an opposite perspective of that shown inFIGS. 4 through 6. Bracket48is illustratively attached to door4via fasteners56, as shown. Bracket43, extending from bracket48, is illustratively bent or formed to position over bracket track54, as well as bracket28. (See, also,FIG. 5.) Bracket43attaches to bracket40via fasteners58. This arrangement allows clearance of mounting bracket28while attached to lower cable portion38. In this illustrative embodiment, the bracket43is positioned below the top cable portion36.

Similarly, bracket46is attached to door6via fasteners56, as shown. In contrast to door4, door6is attached to the top cable portion36, and bracket42is attached to bracket44via fasteners60. Bracket track54is illustratively attached to mounting bracket28with the door tracks slideably engagable therewith allowing lateral movement of doors4and6. As shown inFIG. 7, second door rail52engages bracket track54and is attached to bracket46.

Perspective and reversed-perspective views of bracket assembly24is shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, respectively. These views show the illustrative attachment of cables34with brackets40and44. With regard toFIG. 8, bracket44is shown attached to bracket42via fasteners60. The top cable portion36is shown attached to bracket44via attachments74. In this embodiment the attachments74are illustratively bolts attached to threaded ends of the cables34. As previously discussed, bracket44is configured to couple with door6such that as bracket44moves in a direction, so too does door6.

Bracket40is shown attached to bracket43via fasteners58. As shown, bracket40is configured to depend downward from bracket43and attach to the lower cable portion38of cables34via attachments72. The illustrative attachments72are loops fastened to each side of bracket40. This is in contrast with the bolted threaded ends of attachment74. The threaded ends along with the bolts allow the tension of cables34to be tightened or loosened as desired to get the proper movement of the same. Tightening attachment74will make the cables more taut, where as loosening attachment74will add slack to the cables.

With respect toFIG. 8, this view shows how both brackets40and44attach to cables34, but on opposite sides thereof. With the top cable portion36able to move above bracket43and bracket42able to move over lower cable portion38, both brackets and, consequently, doors6and4are able to move in opposite directions via the cables without interfering with those cables. Also shown in this view is an illustrative seal53configured to assist preventing dirt and other contaminants from the exterior of the vehicle from migrating into the vehicle, and particularly, into the pulley assembly26.

A cross-sectional view of vehicle2with sliding door assembly24is shown inFIG. 10. This view depicts, an illustrative, relative positioning between vehicle2and assembly24. In an illustrative embodiment, vehicle2is shown comprising a ceiling portion62and rear wall22. Illustratively, a light64extends from rear wall22. Assembly24is attached to the vehicle via a rear structure header66. Header66is configured to receive assembly24, as well as attach to vehicle2, as illustratively shown. Mounting bracket28is attached to header66via fasteners68and held in position by wall channel70. It is appreciated that header66may extend at least a portion of the length of mounting bracket28to secure same to vehicle2. Bracket track54is shown attached to mounting bracket28, and illustratively facing the interior of vehicle2. Second door rail52is shown engaging with track54. It is appreciated in alternative embodiments, rollers or other bearings may be used to assist the sliding motion between track54and rail52. Rail52is also shown attached to bracket48which itself is attached to door4via fasteners56. (See, also,FIG. 7.) Bracket43is shown extending from bracket48and attached to bracket40which, in turn, is attached to cables34at attachment72. Also shown is bracket44and its coupling to cables34at attachment74. It is appreciated from this view, illustratively, that brackets46and48attach to brackets44and40, respectively, adjacent the top cable portion36.

The lower portion of door6along with a lower guide assembly120is illustratively shown inFIGS. 11 through 13. Illustratively, while doors4and6move along a rail at the upper portion thereof, they can also move along a lower guide assembly. For example, as shown inFIG. 11, adjacent floor122and at the end thereof, is a lower guide retainer124that provides a slot126between itself and the end of floor122. Illustratively, retainer124is attached to floor122via fastener128. Attached to door6is a lower door guide130which is illustratively “J” shaped, so that a first portion of the same may fasten to door6, and a second portion may extend into slot126. Portion132extending into slot126illustratively comprises a bearing134, illustratively at the end thereof to provide enhanced movement through slot126. Seals136and138are illustratively positioned at opposed sides of slot126and are configured to engage portion132of guide130. The seals prevent contaminants from the exterior of vehicle2from migrating into the interior thereof. The seals also assist in preventing road and exterior noise from permeating through the vehicle.

A perspective view of assembly120is shown inFIG. 12. This view, in particular, shows how fasteners140attach lower door guide130to door6. Also shown is bearing134and seal138. This view also shows slot126, and how portion132of door guide130is located within slot126for movement therein.

Another perspective view of assembly120is shown inFIG. 13. In this view, assembly120moves in direction12. It is appreciated from this view how movement of assembly120, attached to door6, moves with respect to the confines of slot126in direction12.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, from the fore-going description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of the present disclosure and various changes and modifications may be made to adapt the various uses and characteristics without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.