Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for establishing at least two open access door positions relative to an opening of a compartment. The apparatus includes a position defining member having at least one engagement element, and a stop member. The position defining member is adapted to be coupled to the compartment. A housing member is adapted to be coupled to the access door for movement therewith, and has an opening for translatable receipt of the position defining member. The housing member further includes an engagement element operable to engage the at least one engagement element of the position defining member to establish a first open access door position. The stop member contacting the housing member establishes a second open access door position approximately perpendicular to the compartment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to motor vehicles, and more particularly to a vehicle door with selective full open positions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, most motor vehicles employ mechanisms which enable access into the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle through at least one door. The current door systems, however, only enable the occupant to open the door to approximately seventy degrees, which tends to restrict the ingress and egress of the occupants into the vehicle. In addition, by restricting the opening to approximately seventy degrees, the ability of the occupant to load cumbersome items into the vehicle is also reduced. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a motor vehicle which has a door opening mechanism which allows the door to open beyond seventy degrees to facilitate easier ingress and egress to the motor vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for establishing at least two open access door positions relative to an opening of a compartment. 
     The apparatus includes a position defining member having at least one engagement element, and a stop member. The position defining member is adapted to be coupled to the compartment. A housing member is adapted to be coupled to the access door for movement therewith, and has an opening therethrough for translatable receipt of the position defining member. The housing member further includes an engagement element operable to engage the at least one engagement element of the position defining member to establish a first open access door position. The stop member contacting the housing member establishes a second open access door position approximately perpendicular to the compartment. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       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 a perspective view of a vehicle incorporating the vehicle door with selective full open positions according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a detailed perspective view of the vehicle door of  FIG. 1  in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a detailed perspective view of the vehicle door of  FIG. 1  in a first full open position; 
         FIG. 2   c  is a detailed perspective view of the vehicle door of  FIG. 1  in a second full open position; 
         FIG. 2   d  is a detailed perspective view of the vehicle door of  FIG. 1  in a third full open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vehicle door with selective full open positions; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the opening mechanism for the vehicle door of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative opening mechanism for the vehicle door of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The present invention is generally related to a vehicle door with selective full open positions. Although the following exemplary description refers to the use of the vehicle door with selective full open positions with a motor vehicle, it will be understood that the present invention may be applicable to other types of vehicles and other applications in general. Further, the foregoing description is understood to not limit the appended claims. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B, a motor vehicle  10  is shown. The motor vehicle  10  includes a passenger compartment  12 . The passenger compartment  12  is accessible via at least one door  14 . The door  14  is coupled to the passenger compartment  12  via at least one hinge or multiple hinges  16  and a door release system  18 . The hinges  16  and door release system  18  enable the door  14  to operate in a first position, a second position and a third position with respect to the passenger compartment  12  (as best shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D). 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , and additional reference to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ,  2   d , and  3 , the door  14  is coupled to the passenger compartment  12  by hinges  16 . The hinges  16  are generally formed of a metallic material, such as steel, however, any appropriate material could be used. The hinges  16  include a base portion  20  coupled to a door portion  22 . The base portion  20  includes a generally U-shaped section  24  coupled to a base  26 . The base  26  includes at least two apertures  32  operable to couple the base portion  20  to the passenger compartment  12 . The U-shaped section  24  is typically formed integrally with the base  26 , and a branch  28  on the U-shaped section  24  may include at least one lanced depression  30  operable to engage the door portion  22  when the door  14  is in the third position, as will be described in greater detail below. Each branch  28  further includes at least one aperture  32  operable to couple the base portion  20  to the door portion  22 . 
     The door portion  22  of each of the hinges  16  includes a generally U-shaped section  34 . The U-shaped section  34  includes at least two apertures  36 , each operable to receive at least one fastener  38  to couple the door portion  22  to the base portion  20  to create a pivot axis P. The pivot axis P enables the door  14  to pivot with respect to the passenger compartment  12 . The U-shaped section  34  has two branches  40  which each define an aperture  44 . The apertures  44  are operable to couple the door  14  to the base portion  20 , and thus, the hinges  16  enable the door  14  to pivot with respect to the passenger compartment  12 . Although both the base portion  20  and door portion  22  of the hinges  16  are described as including U-shaped sections  24 ,  34 , it will be understood that any appropriate shape could be used to achieve the same function as the U-shaped sections  24 ,  34 . The pivoting of the door  14  on the hinges  16  is controlled via the door release system  18 . 
     The door release system  18  includes an opening system  46  mounted on an interior surface  48  of the door  14  as best shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D. The opening system  46  is coupled to a door check strap  50 . The door check strap  50  is further coupled to a housing  52 . The door check strap  50  and housing  52  cooperate to enable the door  14  to open into the first, second and third full open positions. 
     The opening system  46  includes a first lever  54 , a door latch  56  and a switch  58 . The first lever  54  is coupled to the interior surface  48  of the door  14  and may be any type of mechanism which is capable of releasing the door  14  into the first and second full open positions, such as, a formed U-shaped lever, handle or other pivoting device. The first lever  54  is also coupled to the door latch  56  via a linkage (not shown). The linkage may be configured such that when the first lever  54  is pivoted the linkage will release the door latch  56 . 
     The door latch  56  may be any mechanism capable of releasably securing the door  14  into a closed position, such as a striker and strike plate assembly (not shown). The switch  58  is coupled to the interior surface  48  of the door  14  and may also be any type of mechanism which is capable of releasing the door  14  into the third full open position, such as, a lever, handle, push button or other device. For illustrative purposes only,  FIGS. 2B ,  2 C and  2 D illustrate a first embodiment of the switch  58  as a lever and an alternative embodiment wherein a switch  58 ′ is a push button. It will be further understood, as shown in  FIG. 5 , that alternatively the switch  58 ,  58 ′ could be integrated with the first lever  54 , such that a first lever  54 ′ may perform the function of both the first lever  54  and the switch  58 . With reference back to  FIG. 3 , the switch  58  is coupled to the housing  52  via a linkage  66 . The linkage  66  is configured such that when the switch  58  is actuated the linkage  66  will interact with the housing  52  to enable the door  14  to enter the third full open position, as will be described in greater detail below. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the door check strap  50  enables the door  14  to pivot via the hinges  16  when the opening system  46  releases the door latch  56  via the first lever  54 . The door check strap  50  includes a strap body  68  having a first end  70  and a second end  72 . The strap body  68  is coupled to the housing  52  in such a manner that the first end  70  and second end  72  are disposed on opposite sides of the housing  52 . The first end  70  is coupled to a stop  74 . The stop  74  is generally larger than the door check strap  50  and shaped to interact with the housing  52 , as will be described in greater detail below. Typically, the stop  74  is shaped to have a height H which is greater than a width W, however, any appropriate shape may be used to interface with the housing  52  and door check strap  50 . The stop  74  may be formed of any material suitable to interact with the housing  52 , such as rubber or other polymeric materials. 
     The second end  72  is coupled to a door attachment flange  76 . The door attachment flange  76  may be integrally formed with the strap body  68  or more typically may be attached to the second end  72  of the strap body  68  via any suitable fastening mechanism, such as screws, rivets or in the alternative, an interference fit. The door attachment flange  76  includes a generally T-shaped body  78  having branches  80  with at least one aperture  82  formed on each of the branches  80 . The at least one aperture  82  is configured for receipt of at least one fastener F to couple the strap body  68  to the passenger compartment  12 . 
     The strap body  68  includes a first protrusion  84  and a second protrusion  86 . The first protrusion  84  and second protrusion  86  are generally formed in the strap body  68 , but the first protrusion  84  and second protrusion  86  may also be formed in a post processing step, through machining for example. The door check strap  50  may be comprised of formed steel; however, any material with suitable strength could be employed. The first protrusion  84  cooperates with the housing  52  to enable the door  14  to pivot into the second position, while the second protrusion  86  cooperates with the housing  52  to enable the door  14  to pivot into the first position. Thus, the first protrusion  84  and second protrusion  86  are formed on the strap body  68  in such a location that the door  14  is able to pivot into the first and second positions. 
     The housing  52  is operable with the door check strap  50  to enable the door  14  to pivot into the first, second and third positions, as best shown in  FIGS. 2   b ,  2   c  and  2   d . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the housing  52  includes a release plate  88 , a spring  90  and a pair of bearings  92  retained in a body  94  of the housing  52 . The ball bearings  92  are generally disposed adjacent to a biasing member (not specifically shown) to enable the first protrusion  84  and second protrusion  86  to pass through the ball bearings  92 . The housing  52  is generally mounted on an inner surface of the door  14  (not specifically shown). The body  94  of the housing  52  further includes a pair of projections  96  for receipt of the spring  90  and release plate  88 . More specifically, the spring  90  includes a first end  98  and a second end  100 . The first end  98  of the spring  90  is disposed adjacent to a surface  103  of the body  94  and the second end  100  of the spring  90  is coupled to the release plate  88 . In addition, the first end  98  of the spring  90  is coupled to the linkage  66  and thus the switch  58 . Hence, when the switch  58  is activated, the first end  98  of the spring  90  is pulled towards the second end  100  of the spring  90 , thus compressing the spring  90 . The first end  98 , second end  100  and release plate  88  are enclosed in the projections  96 . 
     The release plate  88  is coupled to the spring  90 . The release plate  88  is sized to engage the stop  74  and to be retained in the projections  96 . The release plate  88  may be comprised of a polymeric or metallic material. The release plate  88  is operable to be displaced towards the surface  103  of the body  94  when the spring  90  is compressed by the switch  58 . 
     The pair of bearings  92  is enclosed in the body  94  of the housing  52 . The bearings  92  are configured to be positioned a width W 2  apart, which is slightly greater than a width W 3  of the body  94  of the door check strap  50 . Thus, the bearings  92  are sized such that the bearings  92  engage the first and second protrusions  84 ,  86  when the door check strap  50  passes through an aperture  102  defined in the housing  52  as will be described in greater detail below. The bearings  92  may be comprised of steel or other materials with sufficient rigidity. 
     In order to pivot the door to the first, second and third positions, the occupant (not shown) in the passenger compartment  12  may activate the first lever  54  to release the door latch  56 . Once the door latch  56  is released, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 b,  2 c and  2 d, the weight of the door  14  will cause the door  14  to pivot open on the hinges  16 . As the door  14  begins to pivot about the pivot point P, the strap body  68  will begin to pass through the bearings  92  in the body  94  of the housing  52 . The door  14  will stop pivoting when the second protrusion  86  of the door check strap  50  engages the bearings  92 , stopping the door  14  in a first full open position A. The first position exists generally when the door  14  is displaced approximately forty-five degrees away from the passenger compartment  12 , however, the first position may be any pre-selected angle depending upon the particular motor vehicle. 
     Application of additional force to the door  14  will cause the second protrusion  86  to pass through the bearings  92 . As the second protrusion  86  passes through the bearings  92 , the strap body  68  continues to pass through the bearings  92  allowing the door  14  to pivot further on the hinges  16  until the first protrusion  84  of the door check strap  52  contacts the bearings  92 . When the first protrusion  84  contacts the bearings  92 , the door  14  is held in a second full open position B. When the door  14  is the in the second full open position B., the door  14  is pivoted approximately seventy degrees away from the passenger compartment  12 , however, the second position may be varied depending upon the particular motor vehicle  10 . Also, when the door  14  is in the second position, the stop  74  is adjacent to the release plate  88  of the housing  52 . 
     In order to release the door  14  into the third position, the occupant in the passenger compartment  12  may activate the switch  58 . By activating the switch  58 , the linkage  66  operates to compress the spring  90 , by pulling the first end  98  of the spring  90  towards the second end  100  of the spring  90 . As the spring  90  compresses, the release plate  88  is pulled further into the projections  96  and when the spring  90  is fully compressed, the release plate  88  is recessed to the point that the stop  74  is fully housed between the projections  96 . By enabling the stop  74  to enter between projections  96  of the housing  52 , the strap body  68  of the door check strap  50  can move further through the bearings  92  to allow the door  14  to pivot into a third full open position C, as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2   d . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the lanced depressions  30  on the hinges  16  and the size of the spring  90  operate to stop the door  14  once it reaches the third position. In this embodiment, the door  14  is in the third position when it is rotated approximately ninety degrees from the passenger compartment  12 , however, the third position could be any desired angle for the particular application as could the other two as determined by the placement of the lanced depressions  30  and the compressibility of the spring  90 . 
     When the occupant in the passenger compartment  12  desires to close the door  14 , the force used by the occupant to close the door  14  will cause the door check strap  50  to pass though the bearings  92 , and depending on the force employed, the first protrusion  84  and second protrusion  86  may pass through the bearings  92  as well. As the door check strap  50  passes through the bearings  92 , the stop  74  is displaced from the release plate  88  and the spring  90  is able to expand, allowing the release plate  88  to reset to its original position. Thus, the occupant, if desired, may return the door  14  into the first or second position without closing it. 
     The door  14  of the present invention provides an occupant in the passenger compartment  12  with improved egress and ingress to and from the passenger compartment  12  by having variable full open positions. The door  14  also makes it easier for occupants to load items into the passenger compartment  12  by allowing the door  14  to be opened at approximately ninety degrees from the passenger compartment  12 . In addition, the switch  58  can be spaced apart from the first lever  54  in such a manner that it can prevent children from mistakenly opening the door  14  into the third position. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.