Patent Publication Number: US-6656278-B2

Title: Door positioning article

Description:
BACKGROUND ART 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an article used in the manufacture of assemblies. More specifically, the invention relates to an article used to maintain a component of an assembly in a position with respect to the remainder of the assembly during surface treatment processes of a manufacturing process. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Complex assemblies often have components that have surfaces that need to be treated at some point in the manufacturing process. Treating or coating these surfaces require decisions on how and when in the manufacturing process this is to occur. 
     The decision of how and when to treat and/or coat (“coated”) assemblies increases in complexity when components of the assembly are designed to move with respect to each other. An example of such an assembly is a motor vehicle. The doors of the motor vehicle must be coated in a similar manner as the body of the motor vehicle. To ensure they look the same, i.e., they are painted the same, the two components should be coated at the same time. 
     Because the best way to ensure the door and body of a motor vehicle are coated the same way is to do them at the same time, a decision must be made with regard to assembly. More specifically, a decision must be made as to whether the doors are to be secured to the body after the coating process has cured or before the coating portion of the manufacturing process has begun. 
     If the doors are to be secured to the body after the components are treated, the process may damage the coatings that were already applied to the components. If the door is secured before, the coating on the door may bond to the coating on the body resulting in either an immovable door or a door and a body with a flawed coating and surface. 
     A resolution to this matter has typically included the step of coating the door and the body of the motor vehicle after the door is secured to the body. Referring to FIG. 9, one embodiment of a door positioning article of the prior art is shown at  20 . This embodiment  20  is fabricated from sheet metal so it is abrasive. The embodiment  20  includes a catch  22  that receives a striker from a door (neither shown) therein. This embodiment  20  requires the striker to be assembled prior to coating. This may increase the costs associated therewith because strikers typically are not coated. 
     A second embodiment of the prior art is shown at  24  in FIG.  10 . The second embodiment  24  includes a securing end  26  for securing the second embodiment  24  to the body of the motor vehicle. A door is slid over a distal end  28  and secured in place with stops  30 . A handle  32  is pushed downwardly to release the door from the second embodiment  24 , which is subsequently forced off the body of the motor vehicle with a quick downward force applied thereto. The second embodiment  24  requires a sheet metal configuration. This material requirement and design promotes faults in the coatings of both the body and the door. More specifically, forcing the second embodiment  24  into and out of position creates unsightly and highly visible marks that compromise the integrity of the coating by allowing contaminants to reach the material being coated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A door positioning article positions a door of a motor vehicle in an ajar position with respect to the motor vehicle. The door positioning article is used during coating processes for the door and the motor vehicle. The door positioning article includes a base defining a longitudinal axis. An extension is secured to the base for fastening the door positioning article to the motor vehicle. A retainer extends out from the base and holds the door in the ajar position with respect to the motor vehicle and the door positioning article. A spring extends between the base and the retainer for allowing the door to pass over the retainer and for forcing the retainer through an orifice in the door providing the defined ajar position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a top view, partially cut away, of a motor vehicle with a door retained in a desired position using one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention shown in position with respect to a motor vehicle and door, both partially cut away; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a door positioning article of the prior art; and 
     FIG. 10 is a second embodiment of a door positioning article of the prior art. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 through 8 illustrate several embodiments of the invention. Elements that are similar throughout the Figures will have similar reference characters offset by one hundred. To the extent the elements are similar between embodiments, the description for each element will not be repeated. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of a motor vehicle  34  is shown. The motor vehicle  34  includes a body  36  and a door  38 . The door  38  pivots about a door hinge (not shown) disposed adjacent a hinge end  40  of the door  38 . As is shown in FIG. 1, the door  38  is in an ajar position because it is open with respect to the body  36  of the motor vehicle  34 . 
     The invention, a door positioning article, is generally indicated at  42  in the Figures. The door positioning article  42  maintains the door  38  in the ajar position as is indicated in FIG.  1 . The door positioning article  42  is fabricated from a thermoset polymer. The material chosen is one that can maintain its shape and integrity during the coating process, which includes curing steps in ovens at high temperatures. 
     The door positioning article  42  includes a base  44  that defines a longitudinal axis  46 , shown in FIG.  3 . The base  44  is longitudinal in character. The base  44  includes a channel  48  that extends through a portion of the base  44 . While it should be appreciated that the channel  48  may extend through the entire base  44 , the embodiments shown in the Figures show the channel  48  extending through only a portion thereof. For reasons to be discussed subsequently, the third embodiment  242  shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 have a base  244  that is void of having a channel. 
     An extension  50  extends out from the base  44 . The extension  50  includes two halves that are bifurcated by the channel  48 . The extensions  50  may be symmetrical. The design of the extension  50  is due in large part to the design of the motor vehicle  34  and, in particular, the side of the door jamb  52 . When the door jamb  52  is designed to require a different or non-symmetric extension  50 , a different or non-symmetric extension  50  will be incorporated into the invention  42 . 
     The extension  50  may include a hole  54  extending therethrough. The hole  54  provides access to the space behind the extension  50 . Oftentimes, the door positioning article  42  is secured to the door jamb  52  over a hole (not shown) in the door jamb  52  that exists to allow a striker bar to be mounted to the door jamb  52 . Access is required for certain situations including, but not limited to, e-coating the inside surface of the sheet metal that is used to manufacture the door  38 . 
     Extending down from the extension  50  is a securing projection  56 . The securing projection  56  engages the doorjamb  52 , typically through a hole. The configuration of the securing projection  56 ,  156 ,  256  varies with the configuration of the doorjamb  52  and the requirements dictated by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle  34 . As may be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, a Christmas tree styled protrusion  256  is required. 
     The door positioning article  42  includes a retainer  58  that extends out from the base  44 . The retainer  58  holds the door  38  in its ajar position with respect to the motor vehicle  34  and the door positioning article  42 . The ajar position is shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The retainer  58  defines a protrusion  60 . The protrusion  60  is designed to be received by a door hole  62  (FIG.  2 ). The protrusion  60  positively engages the door  38  by extending into the door hole  62 . The protrusion includes two sides  64 ,  66  that create an apex  68 . The two sided design is utilized in the preferred embodiment because it is bidirectional. More specifically, using two sides  64 ,  66  that form an apex  68  allow the door  38  to be moved over the protrusion  60  in both directions with the same amount of force required allowing the door  38  to be moved into and out of the ajar position. 
     The retainer  58  includes a hinge  70 . The hinge  70  is at one end of one of the sides  66  opposite the apex  68  of the protrusion  60 . The hinge  70  allows the retainer  58  to flex as the door  38  is moved into and out of the ajar position. The hinge  70  allows the retainer  58  to move closer to the base  44  as the door  38  passes thereby. 
     A spring  72  is fixedly secured to one end of the other of the sides  64  opposite the apex  68  of the protrusion  60 . The spring  72  allows the retainer  58  to move back and forth as the door  38  moves into and out of the ajar position, the movement of which requires the door  38  to pass over the retainer  58 . 
     A supporting member  74  extends between the base  44  and the retainer  58 . The supporting member  74  extends upwardly from the base  44  at an angle. The supporting member  74  is secured to the retainer  58  at a position disposed adjacent the hinge  70 . Together with the spring  72 , the supporting member  74  holds the retainer  58  with respect to the base  44 . 
     The door positioning article  42  also includes an overslam stop  76 . The overslam stop  76  defines a stop surface  78  that prevents the door  38  from moving past the retainer  58 . Therefore, when the door  38  is closed with excess force, e.g., when it is slammed shut, the stop surface  78  will prevent a door flange  80  (FIG. 2) from moving therepast which will, in turn, prevent the door hole  62  from moving past a position that will allow the protrusion  60  to engage the door hole  62 . In the preferred embodiment, a solid wall  82  extends behind the stop surface  78  to provide additional support to the stop surface  78 . 
     Extending out from the base  44  is a jam prevention leg  84 . The jam prevention leg  84  includes three portions  86 ,  88 ,  90 . A first portion  86  is to the base  44 . A second portion  88  is secured to the first portion  86  and extends out therefrom at an angle askew thereto. A third portion  90  is secured to the second portion  88  and extends out therefrom at an angle askew thereto. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-4,  7  and  8 , the first  86  and third portions are parallel to each other. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the jam prevention leg  184  only includes a single portion that is flat. The jam prevention leg  84  prevents the door  38  from being jammed into the doorjamb  52  moving the door positioning article  42  out of alignment resulting in the misalignment of the protrusion  60  with respect to the door hole  62 . 
     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. 
     Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.