Patent Publication Number: US-2022220781-A1

Title: Tool and method for installing a door striker pin in a vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to tools for vehicles and, more specifically, to tools and methods for installing a striker pin that interacts with a latch of a door. 
     Many vehicles include a door with a latch. To close the door and keep it securely closed, the latch engages a striker pin that is carried by the frame of the vehicle. If the latch and the striker pin are not properly aligned, the door may fail to securely close and/or may not be able to close at all. 
     What is needed in the art is a way to reliably and accurately install a striker pin in a vehicle so the door can be securely closed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments provided according to the present disclosure include a tool that has a striker pin that can engage a latch of a door so a striker pin slot of the tool can be positioned in alignment with a striker pin installation location when the striker pin is engaged with the latch and an abutment surface of the tool rests against a frame to which the door is pivotably coupled. 
     In some exemplary embodiments provided in accordance with the present disclosure, a tool for installing a door striker pin includes: a latch engagement section having a first surface, a striker pin extending from the first surface, and an abutment surface that extends generally orthogonal to the first surface; and a pin positioning section coupled to the latch engagement section and including a positioning surface with a striker pin slot formed therethrough that extends in parallel with the striker pin. The striker pin slot is positioned in the positioning surface such that the striker pin slot is aligned with a striker pin installation location when the striker pin of the latch engagement section is engaged with a latch of a door and the abutment surface rests against a frame to which the door is pivotably coupled. 
     In some exemplary embodiments provided in accordance with the present disclosure, a door assembly for a vehicle includes: a frame including a first frame member coupled to a second frame member, the second frame member having a door striker pin slot; a door pivotably coupled to the first frame member and including a latch; a tool including a latch engagement section having a first surface, a striker pin extending from the first surface and engaged with the latch, and an abutment surface extending generally orthogonal to the first surface and abutting against the second frame member; and a pin positioning section coupled to the latch engagement section and having a positioning surface with a striker pin slot formed therethrough that extends in parallel with the striker pin, the striker pin slot being aligned with the door striker pin slot; and a door striker pin held in the striker pin slot and the door striker pin slot. The door striker pin is positioned such that the latch of the door is engageably aligned with the door striker pin. 
     In some exemplary embodiments provided in accordance with the present disclosure, a method of using a tool to install at least one door striker pin in at least one vehicle is provided. The at least one vehicle includes a first vehicle having a frame with a first frame member and a second frame member and a door pivotably coupled to the first frame member and including a latch. The method includes: placing a door striker pin in a striker pin slot of the tool; engaging a striker pin of the tool with the latch of the door; abutting the tool against the second frame member; and fixating the door striker pin to the second frame member while the door striker pin is placed in the striker pin slot, the striker pin is engaged with the latch of the door, and the tool is abutted against the second frame member. 
     One possible advantage that may be realized by exemplary embodiments provided according to the present disclosure is that the tool can be used to quickly install a door striker pin in the correct position without requiring an installer to install the door striker pin by “trial and error”. 
     Another possible advantage that may be realized by exemplary embodiments provided according to the present disclosure is that the tool can be used to install door striker pins in various vehicles so the door of each vehicle has the same closing force. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the drawings certain embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements, dimensions, and instruments shown. Like numerals indicate like elements throughout the drawings. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with a door assembly installed, provided in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a tool for installing a door striker pin, provided in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another perspective view of the tool illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the tool illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3  holding a door striker pin and being affixed to a frame of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a latch of a door of the vehicle of  FIG. 1  being moved towards engagement with a striker pin of the tool of  FIGS. 2-4 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the latch of the door of the vehicle engaged with the striker pin of the tool; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the door striker pin fixated to the frame and the tool removed; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the latch of the door properly engaged with the door striker pin after fixation; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method of using a tool to install at least one door striker pin at least one vehicle, provided in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle  100 , illustrated in the form of a tractor, provided according to the present disclosure is illustrated. The vehicle  100  includes a chassis  101  and an operator cab  110  that is carried by the chassis  101 . Various controls for the work vehicle  100  may be placed in the operator cab  110 , as is known. The chassis  101  may be supported by multiple pairs of wheels  102 , which are linked to an engine  103  by a transmission to propel the vehicle  100 . It should be appreciated that while the vehicle  100  is illustrated and described as being in the form of a tractor, the vehicle provided according to the present disclosure can take other forms, including but not limited to an automobile, a semi-truck, an agricultural harvester, a skid loader, a dozer, etc. 
     The operator cab  110  includes a frame  111  that has two frame members, illustrated as a first frame member  112  and a second frame member  113 , and a roof  114 . The frame members  112 ,  113  and the roof  114  define a door opening therebetween. A door assembly  115  includes a door  116  that is pivotably coupled to, for example, the first frame member  112  and can be pivoted to open and close the door opening. 
     In known vehicles, the door often carries a latch that engages a door striker pin to securely close the door. The door striker pin, which is fixated to the frame, is often installed by a technician that has to determine the location for installation of the door striker pin by trial and error. This method of using trial and error to determine the installation location of the door striker pin can result in the door striker pins of various vehicles being placed in differing locations, with the closing force needed to close the respective door varying. Potential customers visiting a dealership location with vehicles that require different closing forces to close the door may believe that such a variance indicates low quality. Further, the trial and error method of installing the door striker pin can take a significant amount of time, such as an average of 10-20 minutes, to install the door striker pin and reduce the number of vehicles that can be produced. 
     To address some of the previously described issues, and referring now to  FIGS. 2-3 , an exemplary embodiment of a tool  200  for installing a door striker pin is provided according to the present disclosure. The tool  200  includes a latch engagement section  210  and a pin positioning section  220  coupled to the latch engagement section  210 . The tool  200  may comprise any suitable material, including but not limited to a metal, such as a non-ferrous metal, and/or a polymer. In some embodiments, the tool  200  comprises a molded polymer so the tool  200  can be fabricated in an economical manner. 
     The latch engagement section  210  has a first surface  211 , a striker pin  212  extending from the first surface  211 , and an abutment surface  213  that extends generally orthogonal to the first surface  211 . As used herein, “generally orthogonal” refers to the first surface  211  and the abutment surface  213  forming an angle that is between 85° and 95°. The first surface  211  may have any suitable shape, such as angled rectangular with or without a cutout. The abutment surface  213  may be formed as part of a spacer section  214  that has a width W chosen so the pin positioning section  220  is properly oriented to install a door striker pin, as will be described further herein. In some embodiments, the width W of the spacer section  214  tapers so the width W is at a maximum near a top surface  215  of the spacer section  214  and is at a minimum near a bottom surface  216  of the spacer section  214 . 
     The pin positioning section  220  is coupled to the latch engagement section  210  and includes a positioning surface  221  with a striker pin slot  222  formed therethrough. The striker pin slot  222  extends in parallel with the striker pin  212  so an axis A 1  that extends through the striker pin slot  222  is parallel to an axis A 2  defined by the striker pin  212 . The striker pin slot  222  is positioned in the positioning surface  221  such that the striker pin slot  222  is aligned with a striker pin installation location, such as a door striker pin slot in a frame described further herein, when the striker pin  212  of the latch engagement section  210  is engaged with a latch of a door (also described further herein) and the abutment surface  213  rests against a frame to which the door is pivotably coupled. As illustrated, the striker pin slot  222  may have a curved shape, which can be adjusted to tightly hold a door striker pin therein. The pin positioning section  220  may define a width W 2  that is chosen so the striker pin slot  222  is properly positioned to align with the striker pin installation location during use of the tool  200 . In some embodiments, the pin positioning section  220  is coupled to the first surface  211  of the latch engagement section  210  and the positioning surface  221  extends in parallel with the first surface  211 . 
     In some embodiments, a cover  230  is slidably coupled to the pin positioning section  220  and is slidable between a first position, illustrated in solid lines in  FIGS. 2-3 , where the cover  230  closes the striker pin slot  222  and a second position, illustrated in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 , where the striker pin slot  222  is open. By providing a slidable cover  230 , a door striker pin can be held securely in the closed striker pin slot  222  when the cover  230  is in the first position and the cover  230  can be slid to the second position to open the striker pin slot  222  for removing the tool  200  after installing the door striker pin. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  230  has a cover slot  231  formed therein that holds one or more bolts  232 A,  232 B that have an accompanying washer  233 A,  233 B. The bolts  232 A,  232 B can be tightened or loosened to lock or unlock, respectively, the cover  230  and prevent or allow, respectively, sliding of the cover  230 . It should be appreciated that other ways of holding a door striker pin in the striker pin slot  222  may be provided according to the present disclosure, and the illustrated cover  230  is just one example. It should be further appreciated that the cover  230  may be removed while installing a door striker pin, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4-8 . 
     In some embodiments, at least one fixater, illustrated as two magnets  217 A,  217 B, is associated with the abutment surface  213 . While the fixaters  217 A,  217 B are illustrated and described as magnets, it should be appreciated that the fixaters  217 A,  217 B may be other types of elements that can reversibly fixate the tool  200  to a frame, including but not limited to a pad of a sticky substance, such as glue, or a physical fixation element such as a bolt, a screw, etc. The fixaters  217 A,  217 B can provide sufficient fixation so the tool  200  is resistant to moving while installing a door striker pin so the tool  200 , and the door striker pin, does not move during the installation process. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-8 , an exemplary embodiment of a door assembly, which may be door assembly  115 , that is formed when using the tool  200  to install a door striker pin  410  is illustrated. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the tool  200  is positioned so the door striker pin  410 , which is initially loosely placed adjacent to a door striker pin slot  411  of the second frame member  113 , is held in the striker pin slot  222  of the tool  200 . When the door striker pin  410  is held in the striker pin slot  222 , the fixaters  217 A,  217 B can be affixed to the second frame member  113  to initially hold the tool  200  in place. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , it is illustrated that the door striker pin  410  is held in the striker pin slot  222  of the tool  200  and the door  116  is pivoted toward the second frame member  113 , i.e., toward the closed position. As the door  116  is being brought toward the closed position, a latch  412  of the door  116  is brought toward the striker pin  212  of the tool  200 . The latch  412  may include jaws  413  for grasping a striker pin, such as the striker pin  212  of the tool  200  as well as the door striker pin  410 . In some embodiments, the striker pin  212  of the tool  200  and the door striker pin  410  are identical so engagement of the latch  412  with the striker pin  212  of the tool  200  approximates the engagement of the latch  412  with the door striker pin  410 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , it is illustrated that the latch  412  of the door  116  has engaged the striker pin  212  of the tool  200 , the door striker pin  410  is held in the striker pin slot  222 , and the abutment surface  213  of the tool  200  is abutting against the frame  111 , specifically against the second frame member  113 . When the tool  200  is in this position, the striker pin slot  222  of the tool  200  is aligned with the door striker pin slot  411  of the second frame member  113  so the door striker pin  410  is held in both the striker pin slot  222  of the tool  200  and the door striker pin slot  411  in the proper orientation. A user can then fixate the door striker pin  410  to the second frame member  113 , such as by tightening the door striker pin  410  with a wrench, until the door striker pin  410  is prevented from going further into the door striker pin slot  411  by abutting against the tool  200 , at which point the door striker pin  410  is properly oriented and located within the door striker pin slot  411 . 
     The latch  412  of the door  116  is engageably aligned with the door striker pin  410  when the door striker pin  410  is in the proper location and orientation, as illustrated in  FIG. 7  with the tool  200  removed. When the door striker pin  410  and the latch  412  are engageably aligned, pivoting of the door  116  to the closed position causes the latch  412  to engage with the door striker pin  410  and secure the door  116  in the closed position, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In this respect, using the tool  200  to position and orient the door striker pin  410  with the proper positioning and location allows the installer to precisely and accurately install the door striker pin  410  to the second frame member  113 . 
     While one exemplary embodiment of a tool  200  provided according to the present disclosure is illustrated, it should be understood that tools provided according to the present disclosure can be configured in a variety of ways. Since the correct location and orientation of the door striker pin that is to be installed will vary based on various dimensions of the frame and the door, forming the tool is generally specific to a particular model of vehicle. For example, one way to determine the configuration of the tool is to initially install a door striker pin in a frame of a vehicle so the latch of the door of the vehicle engages the door striker pin with a desired closing force, which may be measured in any suitable way. Once it is confirmed that the door closes and is secured with the desired closing force, measurements can be taken to determine how the latch engagement section and the pin positioning section of the tool should be configured so the striker pin of the latch engagement section engages the latch of the door, the abutment surface of the latch engagement section abuts against the frame, and the striker pin slot is properly aligned with the door striker pin slot. The measurements can be used, for example, to determine the positioning of the striker pin on the first surface of the latch engagement section, the width of the spacer section having the abutment surface, and the positioning of the striker pin slot in the positioning surface. A corresponding tool incorporating the correct positioning of each of the elements can then be created and used to correctly install door striker pins in other similar vehicles with the same closing force. 
     From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the tool  200  provided according to the present disclosure allows an installer to precisely, accurately, and quickly install a door striker pin  410  in a frame  111  of a vehicle  100  so a latch  412  of the door  116  can engage the door striker pin  410  and be securely closed when the door  116  pivots to the closed position. Further, because the tool  200  can be used to install multiple door striker pins  410  in the same manner, each door striker pin  410  installed using the tool  200  should result in similar, if not identical, door closing forces required for the door  116  of each vehicle  100  to close. Thus, the tool provided according to the present disclosure can simplify the procedure for installing door striker pins in vehicles and also ensure the doors of the vehicles close in a similar manner so a potential customer does not believe that the door of one vehicle is incorrectly installed compared to the door of a different vehicle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an exemplary embodiment of a method  900  of using a tool, such as the previously described tool  200 , to install at least one door striker pin  410  in at least one vehicle  100  is illustrated. The at least one vehicle includes a first vehicle  100  having a frame  111  with a first frame member  112  and a second frame member  113  and a door  116  pivotably coupled to the first frame member  112  and including a latch  412 . The method  900  includes placing  901  a door striker pin  410  in a striker pin slot  222  of the tool  200 ; engaging  902  a striker pin  212  of the tool  200  with the latch  412  of the door  116 ; abutting  903  the tool  200  against the second frame member  113 ; and fixating  904  the door striker pin  410  to the second frame member  113  while the door striker pin  410  is placed  901  in the striker pin slot  222 , the striker pin  212  is engaged  902  with the latch  412  of the door  116 , and the tool  200  is abutted  903  against the second frame member  113 . By fixating  904  the door striker pin  410  to the second frame member  113  in this manner, the door striker pin  410  can be precisely and accurately installed. In some embodiments, the method  900  further includes sliding  905  a cover  230  of the tool  200  from a first position to a second position to open the striker pin slot  222  so the tool  200  can be uncoupled from the door striker pin  410  after the fixating  904 . In some embodiments, the method includes reversibly fixating  906  the tool  200  to the second frame member  113 , which may include affixing at least one magnet  217 A,  217 B to the second frame member  113 . 
     In some embodiments, the at least one vehicle includes a second vehicle that is similar to the first vehicle  100  and includes a second frame and a second door pivotably coupled to the second frame and including a second latch. The method  900  may further include placing  907  a second door striker pin in the striker pin slot  222  of the tool  200 ; engaging  908  the striker pin  212  of the tool  200  with the second latch of the second door; abutting  909  the tool  200  against the second frame of the second vehicle; and fixating  910  the second door striker pin to the second frame while the second door striker pin is placed in the striker pin slot  222 , the striker pin  212  is engaged with the second latch of the second door, and the tool  200  is abutted against the second frame. In this respect, the steps  907 ,  908 ,  909 , and  910  are similar to the steps  901 ,  902 ,  903 , and  904  that are performed to fixate the door striker pin  410  in the first vehicle  100 , but are performed to fixate a door striker pin  410  in a second vehicle. Since the door striker pin  410  is installed in the first vehicle  100  using the tool  200  in a similar fashion to install a door striker pin in the second vehicle, in some embodiments a closing force to engage the latch  412  of the first vehicle  100  with the door striker pin  410  is the same as a closing force to engage the second latch of the second vehicle with the second door striker pin after fixating  904  the door striker pin  410  to the second frame member  113  and after fixating  910  the second door striker pin to the second frame. In this respect, the doors of both vehicles should have generally the same closing force so both doors securely close and engage their respective latches in a similar manner. 
     These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it is to be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention.