Abstract:
A vehicle door check assembly is provided including a roller in rolling engagement with an arm. The roller cooperatively engages the arm such that an elastically deformable material is encountered at the roller arm interface providing the vehicle door with an infinite number of secure resting positions between fully closed and fully open conditions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to articulating doors for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a checkstrap assembly operative to positively locate a passenger door in an infinite number of positions between a fully open position and a closed position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a conventional manner, passenger doors of motor vehicles are pivotally mounted to the vehicle body for movement between a fully open position and a closed position. Many such vehicle doors are designed to cooperate with a checkstrap which is operative for positively locating the door relative to the vehicle body. Additionally, on sloped surfaces, the checkstrap provides a mechanism to hold the door in its open position. Typically, a vehicle door will have an intermediate point between fully open and fully closed where the door will rest in a stable fashion. In situations where a space laterally adjacent to a passenger door prohibits the door from fully opening, opening of the door to the intermediate position may reduce incidents of unintentional damage. 
     In one common form, prior checkstraps for vehicle doors include a roller mounted to the vehicle body and an arm contoured to cooperate with the roller which is carried by the vehicle door. In this regard, the arm is formed to include one or more camming surfaces. The roller functions as the cam follower. As the door is moved between its fully opened position and its closed position, the arm remains in constant engagement with the roller. When the door is gently opened or closed, the cam surfaces of the arm and the roller cooperatively function to positively define an intermediate position at which the door may be located relative to the vehicle body. 
     While known arrangements are commercially acceptable, they are also limited with specific disadvantages and thereby subject to improvement. In this regard, the common roller camming arm configuration provides one set intermediate position which the door can securely rest. Usually the camming surface encourages the door to rest in one of the defined locations. This situation often requires the operator to hold the door when the defined locations are not acceptable. Often the intermediate position may not be in an optimal location for a given situation. It may be desired to open the door securely in a position greater or less than the set intermediate point and leave it thereby unassisted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a door check assembly for a passenger door of a motor vehicle having an infinite amount of secure door locations between the fully closed and fully open position. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a door check assembly for a passenger door of a motor vehicle having a minimal amount of resistance. 
     In order to obtain these and other objects, a first embodiment of the present invention provides a door checkstrap assembly for a door of a vehicle which is movable in relation to a frame between a closed position and an open position. The checkstrap assembly includes an arm passing through an aperture in the closure member. The arm has a first end interconnected to the frame and a second end retained within the door such that the door may be selectively moved relative to the arm. The cam arm and roller configuration cooperate such that an elastically deformable material is encountered at the interface point. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the check assembly includes a hinge connecting the door to the frame of the vehicle. The hinge includes a roller biased against a uniform camming surface. The hinge is configured such that an elastically deformable material is encountered at the interface point. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a checkstrap assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and shown operatively installed within a vehicle so as to interconnect a passenger door with the body of the vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the checkstrap assembly of FIG. 1 removed from the vehicle for purposes of illustration; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the checkstrap assembly of FIG. 2, illustrating the checkstrap assembly as the vehicle door is in a closed position relative to the vehicle body; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the checkstrap assembly similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the checkstrap assembly as the vehicle door is in an intermediate position relative to the vehicle body; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross 
     sectional view of the roller housing of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the roller housing taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5 shown with the arm in motion and elastically deformable material disposed on the arm; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 6 shown with the arm in a static state and the elastically deformable material being deformed; 
     FIG. 7 a  is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 6 shown immediately after initial movement of the arm; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 6 shown with the elastically deformable material disposed on the roller and with the arm in motion; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 8 shown with the elastically deformable material disposed on the roller and with the arm in a static state; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention provides an improved checkstrap assembly specifically intended for use with a passenger door of a motor vehicle. With reference to the drawings, a checkstrap assembly constructed in accordance to the teachings of the present invention is illustrated and identified with reference numeral  10  as shown in FIG.  1 . The checkstrap assembly is installed on an otherwise conventional vehicle  12  and functions to operatively interconnect a passenger door  14  of the vehicle  12  with the body  16  of the vehicle  12 . The intended purpose of the checkstrap assembly  10  to positively locate the door  14  in an infinite number of secure positions between a fully open and fully closed position will become apparent below. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 2-4, the checkstrap assembly  10  of the present invention is shown to generally include a locating mechanism  18 , a cooperating arm or strap  20  and a mounting bracket  22 . The locating mechanism  18  is suitably fastened to an adapter plate  24  which is in turn welded or otherwise suitably fastened to an inner side of the forward panel  34  of passenger door  14 . While not specifically shown, it will be understood that the adapter plate  24  may be attached to a forward panel  34  of passenger door  14  by welding or any other suitable manner well known in the art. As a result, the locating mechanism  18  and the adapter plate  24  are disposed within an interior chamber  30  of the passenger door  14  which is defined in part by the forward panel  34  of the door  14  (best shown in FIGS.  3  and  4 ). 
     Prior to describing the specific operation and function of the locating mechanism  18  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention an understanding of the remaining components of the checkstrap assembly  10 , which would be understood to be largely exemplary in nature, is warranted. 
     The arm  20  is pivotally mounted at one end to the mounting bracket  22 . The mounting bracket is adapted to be mounted to the frame or body  16  of the vehicle  12 . A stop member  33  is mounted to a second end of the arm  20 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the locating mechanism  18  of the checkstrap assembly  10  includes a housing  31  and a cover  32  which are crimped together and define an internal cavity  36 . A channel  35  passes through the locating mechanism  18  through which the arm  20  passes. Disposed within the internal cavity  36  of the locating mechanism  18  are a pair of rollers  38  which are rotatably supported by a cooperating pair of roller cases  52  by an axle  53 . The roller cases  52  are biased toward one another by a pair of springs  40 . The springs  40  are seated against detents  41  formed in the housing  31 . The rollers  38  are located on opposite sides of the arm  20  and are biased into engagement with the arm  20  by springs  40 . Alternatively, the rollers  38  and the arm  20  may be constructed of magnetic materials such that a magnetic force biases the rollers  38  to the arm  20 . 
     As will become apparent below, the locating mechanism  18  is positively located relative to the arm  20 , and in turn, the passenger door  14  is positively located relative to the body  16  of the vehicle  12  through engagement of the rollers  38  onto the cooperating arm  20 . As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a layer of elastically deformable material  44  such as foam, rubber or any suitable material capable of changing shape after exertion of a load is disposed on the surface of the cooperating arm  20  by adhesive or other conventional means. FIG. 6 depicts the elastically deformable material  44  disposed on the cooperating arm  20  engaged by the rollers  38  in a dynamic state as the door  14  is moved between a closed position and a fully open position. The illustrated dynamic condition in FIG. 6 exists when a force exerted on arm  20  overcomes the Force A supplied by the springs  40 . FIG. 7 depicts the elastically deformable material  44  disposed on the cooperating arm  20  engaging the rollers  38  in a static state. The rollers  38  are recessed securely into the deformed elastically deformable material  44  due to the Force A exerted from the springs  40 . In order to move the door  14  when the rollers  38  are recessed securely into the deformed elastically deformable material  44 , a checking force is necessary to overcome the Force A. FIG. 7 a  illustrates the elastically deformable material  44  immediately after initial movement of the arm  20 . A preliminary indentation is shown in the elastically deformable material  44  behind the rollers  38  which retracts to its original condition as the arm proceeds to translate. When the arm  20  is in motion, the rollers  38  roll across the surface of the elastically deformable material  44  and the surface of the elastically deformable material  44  does not have time to deform. When the speed of arm  20  falls below a predetermined amount (dependent on the load force and the characteristics of the deformable material), the elastically deformable material  44  deforms to allow the roller  38  to recess therein to create a secure position of the arm  20  relative to the locating mechanism  18 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 depict a variation in that the elastically deformable material  46  is disposed on the rollers  38 . The illustrated dynamic condition in FIG. 8 exists when a force exerted on arm  20  is greater than the Force A supplied by the springs  40 . FIG. 8 shows the cooperating arm  20  engaging the elastically deformable material  46  disposed on the rollers  38  in a dynamic state as the door  14  is moved between a closed position and a fully open position. FIG. 9 shows the elastically deformable material  46  disposed on the rollers  38  in a static state. The surface of the rollers  38  are flattened at the interface with the arm  20  and inhibit relative movement of the arm  20  relative to the rollers  38 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 10, the door check mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a hinge and roller configuration  70  at the vehicle frame, door interface. The roller  75  is rotatably mounted and secured with a lock washer  97  or other suitable fastener to the end of shaft  77  and connected to a bracket  80  which is welded or suitably affixed to the door  14  and is configured to follow the camming arm  84  included in the frame of vehicle  12 . The cam arm  84  is pivotally attached by rivets  89  to a mounting bracket  91  that is welded or suitably affixed to vehicle  12 . The roller  75  and camming surface  86  are biased magnetically or by a spring force (not specifically shown). The camming surface  86  includes an elastically deformable material  44 ′. When the arm  20  is in motion, the roller  75  rolls across the surface of the elastically deformable material  44 ′ and the surface of the elastically deformable material  44 ′ does not have time to deform. When the speed of arm  20  falls below a predetermined amount (dependent on the load force and the characteristics of the deformable material), the elastically deformable material  44 ′ deforms to allow the roller  75  to recess therein to create a secure position. When the arm  20  stops moving, the elastically deformable material  44 ′ deforms to allow the roller  75  to recess therein to create a secure resting position. 
     FIG. 11 is an alternative configuration of the second embodiment wherein the elastically deformable material  44 ′ is disposed on the roller  75 . When the arm  20  is in motion, the roller rolls across the surface of the elastically deformable material  44 ′ and the elastically deformable material  44 ′ does not have time to deform. When the arm  20  stops moving, the elastically deformable material  44 ′ on the roller  75  compresses allowing the camming surface  86  to seat into the roller  75  to create a secure position of the arm  20  relative to the locating mechanism  18 . 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.