VEHICLE DOOR CHECK MECHANISM

Abstract: A door check mechanism for regulating pivotal movement of a vehicle door (37) between a closed position and one or more open positions, which mechanism is sometimes incorporated in a hinge, includes an elongated track member (36) having a track surface (46) with at least one detent receptacle (48, 49) in that track surface (46); a detent roller (56) engages the track surface (46) in rolling pressure contact at least part of the time whenever the door (37) moves between its open and closed positions. A second detent member (57) may engage a second track surface (47) on the track member (36); the second detent member (57) may also be a roller. Either the detent roller (56, 57) or the track has a resilient elastomer core (64), preferably an elastomer material (e.g., a silicone polymer) that retains its elastic properties over a temperature range that extends much higher than any temperature usually endurable by humans; the core (64) is usually covered by a hard, relatively non-elastic but flexible sheath (66). The engaging portions of the roller and track surfaces are preferably dissimilar materials, usually a metal and a resin.

Description: Background of the Invention On automobiles, recreational vehicles, vans, small trucks, and virtually all other vehicles, a door check mechanism for each vehicle door is usually considered a necessity. In many applications, the door check mechanism provides two open positions, one at which the door is partially open and thy other at which the door is fully open, though even the full pen position is usually appreciably less than ninety degrees. In some applications the door check mechanism for a vehicle door provides only one open retention position. Door check mechanisms of this sort are quite common and have been used for many years. However, they are far from uniform in construction or in application. In many vehicles the manufacturer provides a check mechanism that is separate from the door hinges. In this arrangement, particularly in small cars, each door is supported upon two simple hinges that do not establish any retained or detented open positions for the door. In other instances, particularly in larger automobiles, the manufacturer may prefer hinges that incorporate check mechanisms in the hinge structures. Thus, in a typical large car construction, each door is hung from two hinges,and one of those hinges includes a door check mechanism establishing two retention or detented positions for holding the door open. Door check mechanisms, as applied to vehicle doors, have exhibited some substantial difficulties. Thus, the door check mechanisms used in automobiles and similar applications, whether separate from or combined with hinges, have frequently required lubrication, without which they tend to squeak and to make other undesirable noises. Some of these door check devices only produce noises when opened to full detented open position or beyond that position. Many of these door check mechanisms afford inadequate operating life; they do not last for the full life of the vehicle. In any of these door checks, corrosion may be a substantial problem. In at least some door check mechanisms, processing of the vehicle body after installation of the doors, particularly in the curing of external finishes, may require temperatures well beyond the tolerance range of materials used in the door check mechanisms. Thus, it is not uncommon for a vehicle body to be subjected, at least for a brief interval, to temperatures up to near 400°F after the door installations are completed. This may result in appreciable damage to a door check mechanism, whether incorporated in or separate from a door hinge, and may even require replacement of the door check. It is a primary object of the invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved door check mechanism for regulating movements of a vehicle door, which mechanism provides positive retention of the vehicle door in one or in either of two defined open positions without interferring with opening and closing movements of the doors, yet exhibits long life and is essentially unaffected by very high temperatures and by quite low temperatures. A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved door check mechanism for a vehicle door that affords an extended operating life without requiring lubrication, yet is simple and relatively inexpensive in construction and in operation. EP-A-165693 discloses a door check mechanism according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1 in which the track member is arranged between a pair of rollers each comprising an outer metal sleeve and an inner metal sleeve with an elastic rubber core therebetween, the inner metal sleeves being journalled on a fixed axis. The distance between the two rollers are such that with their outer metal sleeves they are tightly in contact with the surfaces of the track member under deformation of the rubber core. The result may be that, after a relatively short time, the outer and inner metal sleeves may lose their concentric arrangement, resulting in an uneven motion when opening or closing the vehicle door. Also FR-A-2284740 discloses a door check mechanism according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1 in which a non-resilient roller detent member is provided opposite to another roller detent member. DE-A-2406906 discloses another door check mechanism comprising a pair of non-roller detent members aligned with each other for engaging detent receptacles on opposite sides of a track member. The non-roller detent members include bias means consisting of a resilient core supporting a rigid external plastic sheath that engages the track member. These sliding detent members tend to rapid wear. The problem to be solved by the invention is to avoid uneven motion when opening or closing the door without the risk of considerable wear of the detent members. This problem is solved by the mechanism as defined in claim 1. The invention will be explained more detailedly with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a vehicle door mounting, employed to describe an& illustrate use of a door check mechanism; Fig. 2 is a partially sectional plan view of a vehicle door check mechanism constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, with the door closed; Fig. 3 is a partially sectional plan view like Fig. 2 but with the door fully open; Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in cross section, of the mechanism of Figs. 2 and 3 ; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately as indicated by line 19-19 in Fig. 4. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Fig. 1 affords a partially exploded perspective view of a portion of the side of a vehicle, including a part of a door opening. At the right-hand side of Fig. 1 a portion of the right front side body of the vehicle is shown. This could be an automobile, a small or large truck, or virtually any other kind of vehicle. The edge of the door opening, along the left-hand vertical side of body member 21, is identified by reference numeral 22. Closely adjacent to it there is a vertical frame member 24, a part of the vehicle frame. The door arrangement shown in Fig. 1 includes an upper hinge 26 that includes appropriate provisions for mounting on the vertical frame member 24 at three mounting locations 27. Similarly, there is a second, lower hinge 29 that is fastened to the vertical frame member 24 at plural locations such as the locations 31. In addition, a clevis 33 is shown mounted on the vertical frame member 24. Clevis 33 has a vertical axis 34. The clevis is a part of a door check mechanism 40 comprising one embodiment of the present invention, described more fully in connection with Figs. 2-5. The clevis affords a pivotal connection for an elongated track member 36 that projects outwardly from frame member 24 and clevis 33 toward a door 37. Track member 36 extends through a guide device 38 that is mounted on door 37. Door 37 includes a vertical support member 39 that is an integral part of the door. Guide device 38 is mounted on support member 39 by a plurality of appropriate fasteners 41. Clevis 33, track member 36, and guide device 38 all are part of check mechanism 40. Of course, upper hinge 26 is mounted on door 37, preferably as indicated at points 42 on support member 39. Similarly, lower hinge 29 is secured to the vertical support member 39 of door 37 at appropriate locations 43. The two hinges 26 and 29, in an accurately installed door, should have a common pivotal axis 45, the axis for pivotal movement of the door. According to an embodiment of the invention, the door ckeck 640 shown in Figs. 2-5, an elongated track member 636 has two opposed track surfaces 646 and 647, both surfaces appearing in Fig.4. As best seen in Fig.4, there are two depressions or detent receptacles 648 and 649 in the one track surface 646. There are no detent receptacles in the other track surface 647. The number and distribution of the detent receptacles in track surface 646 is determined by the number of retention positions desired for door 37 when opened away from body 21 (Fig. 1) and also by the number of detent rollers used in the mechanism. The guide device 638 for door check 640 includes an external housing 655 preferably molded of a relatively strong resin such as glass-reinforced nylon. Housing 655 is mounted upon door support element 39 by bolts or other fasteners 41; see Fig.4. The configuration of housing 655 is not particularly critical. The housing does provide a firm mounting for a detent roller member 656 and a non-roller detent member 657. The detent roller member 656 engages one track surface 646 on track member 636. The other detent member 657 engages the other track surface 647 of member 636. Detent roller 656, as shown in detail in Fig. 5, may comprise a central shaft 661 on which the roller is journalled. Shaft 661 may be formed from ordinary steel rod stock. Roller 656 may be of a molded plastic, such as a glass fiber reinforced resin (e.g., nylon). The other detent member 657 is a generally cup-shaped retainer, preferably molded from a strong, rigid, durable plastic such as glass fiber reinforced nylon. Another appropriate material is an aramid fiber filled PTFE resin. It is supported on a resilient elastomer pad 664 that also urges member 657 toward surface 647 of track member 636. Preferably, the spring pad 664 is formed of a resilient elastomer material that is capable of retaining its resiliency over a broad range of temperatures, temperatures far beyond those likely to be encountered in any vehicle usage and, indeed, substantially beyond any that might be tolerated by human beings. Thus, the elastomer used should retain its its elastic, resilient properties at temperatures well below 20°C (0°F). and at temperatures exceeding about 200°C (400°F)., the later requirement being based on temperatures used in curing vehicle finishes. Silicone polymer rubbers (polydimethylsiloxane) are preferred for the spring pad 664. In explaining the operation of vehicle door check mechanism 640, it is most convenient to start from the closed position of door 37, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. In those views, detent members 656 and 657 are shown engaged with track surfaces 646 and 647 of track member 636 (Fig. 4). However, this is not essential; for the closed position of door 37, the detent members could be spaced from the track surfaces. To open door 37, the door latch (not shown) is released and the door is pivoted toward an open position with respect to car body 21 and particularly its frame member 24 (Fig. 1). The direction of this movement is counterclockwise about hinge axis 45, viewed from above, as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2. This pivotal movement of the door drives guide device 638 along track member 636, in the direction generally indicated by the arrows B in Figs. 2 and 4, and compels track member 636 to pivot, again in a counterclockwise direction, about axis 34 of clevis 33. This movement continues, as the door proceeds in its pivotal opening movement, until the detent roller member 656 comes into alignment with the first receptacle 648 in track surface 646 of member 636. At this point the detent roller 656, which has been driven a short distance away from the detent/retainer member 657 by the thickness of the track member 636 that they are traversing, drops into detent receptacle 648, seating there as indicated generally by the phantom outline 656A in Fig.4. See also outline 657A. If this position 37A (Fig.3) is as far as the vehicle user wants to open door 37, roller 656 remains engaged in receptacle 648 and the door is held firmly in a partially open position; the door support member 39 is a position 39A, Fig.3. In a typical automotive vehicle, this might be an opening angle of about 30° to 40° for the door. In general, the position for guide device 638 on track member 636, for this initial open position of the door, is indicated by the phantom outline 638A in Fig.3. Additional impetus can be applied to door 37 to swing it further open, as to the full open position shown in solid lines in Fig.3. To this end, the door is pivoted further in the clockwise direction of arrow A; members 656 and 657 ride along track surfaces 646 and 647 of member 636 until roller 656 comes into engagement with the outer detent roller receptacle 649, reaching the position shown in solid lines in Fig.3. For this full open door position, with the detents in the positions 656B and 657B, Fig.4 the total pivotal movement of door 37, angle D, Fig.3, may be about 60°. For the full open door position, as in the intermediate open position defined by detent receptacle 648, the vehicle door is held firmly in the desired open position, allowing egress and ingress of people and objects from and into the vehicle. In any of various possible embodiments of the invention the door check mechanism should afford excellent performance characteristics over the full vehicle life. These door check mechanisms provide quiet operation over the full range of door movement, require little or no lubrication and have a minimum of moving parts; they are light in weight and adaptable to use with bolts, butt welding, or virtually any other mounting arrangement. Corrosion is effectively avoided; adjustment of operational force requirements is readily achieved.

Claims: A door check mechanism for regulating movement of a vehicle door, pivotally mounted on a first support element (39) comprising part of a vehicle frame, between a closed position and an open position that is displaced from the closed position by a predetermined angle, the vehicle door including a second support element (24), the door check mechanism comprising: a track member (636) including first and second elongated track surfaces (646,647) on opposite sides thereof, the first track surface (646) having a roller detent receptacle (648,649) therein; a first detent member (656), comprising a roller; a second detent member; mounting means (34,41,655) for mounting the track member (636) on one of the support elements and for mounting the detent members on the other of the support elements with the detent members aligned with the track surface; and bias means for maintaining the roller detent member (656) in rolling pressure engagement with the track surface during movement of the door between its closed and open positions so that the roller detent member (656) engages in the detent receptacle (648,649) when the door is pivoted to its open position and the roller detent member (656) and the track member (636) releasably maintain the door in its open position; characterized in that the second detent member is a non-roller detent member (657,664), aligned with the roller detent member (656), engaging the second track surface (647) in sliding contact; said second track surface (647) being without any detent receptacles; and the bias means (664) is incorporated in the non-roller detent member (657, 664) and comprises a resilient, locally distortable elastomer core (664) supporting a hard, rigid external sheath (657) that engages the track member (636). A door check mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: the second detent member (657,664) includes a cup shaped, rigid, non-resilient retainer (657) partially encompassing and supported by a resilient elastomer core (664). A door check mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: the retainer member (657) is molded from a hard, fiber reinforced resin. A door check mechanism according to any of claims 1 - 3 further characterized in that: the elastomer core (664) is formed of an elastomer material that retains its resiliency and elasticity even though subjected to elevated temperatures of the order of 200°C. A door check mechanism according to any of claims 1 - 4 further characterized in that: the track surface and the external surface of the detent roller (656) and/or the second, non-roller detent member (657,664) that engages the track surface are formed of dissimilar materials. A door check mechanism according to any of claims 1 - 5 characterized in that: said detent roller (656) is made of molded resin.

Inventors: COGO, RONALD J., DUNBAR, PAUL J., GIGNAC, ROBERT J.
Applicants: THUNDERLINE CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E05C17
IPC codes: E05C17, B60J5