Patent Publication Number: US-7913354-B2

Title: Automobile door checker

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a U.S. National phase of, and claims priority based on PCT/JP2006/313946 filed 13 Jul. 2006, which, in turn, claims priority from Japanese patent application 2005-207481, filed 15 Jul. 2005. The entire disclosure of each of the referenced priority documents is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an improvement of an automobile door checker that includes a case secured to one of an automobile body and a door pivotably supported on the automobile body, a check plate that runs movably through the case and is coupled to the other one of the body and the door, a detent member slidably fitted into and retained by the case so as to retain the door at a predetermined open position in cooperation with a detent face of the check plate, and a resilient member that is made of a resilient material, is provided in a compressed state in a housing chamber defined between an outer end face of the detent member on a side opposite to the check plate and an inner end face of the case opposite this outer end face, and generates a detent force between the detent member and the detent face. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Such a door checker is already known, as disclosed in Patent Publication 1. Patent Publication 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-256714 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     In such a conventional automobile door checker, since a space for allowing the resilient member to resiliently deform is provided between an outer face of the resilient member and the inner face of the case, rainwater might infiltrate into this space by moving along the check plate, etc., and if the rainwater freezes, the resilient deformation characteristics of the resilient member change, thus causing an uncomfortable sensation when opening and closing the door. 
     Accordingly, an arrangement is known in which the case or the check plate is covered by a waterproof cover to thus prevent rainwater from infiltrating into the case, but even in such an arrangement it is impossible to make the interior of the case completely watertight, the number of components increases, and the cost becomes high. 
     The present invention has been accomplished in the light of such circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide an automobile door checker of the above type that as far as possible prevents rainwater from infiltrating into a housing chamber for a resilient member and that, even if some rainwater that has infiltrated freezes, prevents the resilient deformation characteristics of the resilient member from changing, thus avoiding the occurrence of an uncomfortable sensation when opening and closing a door. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile door checker comprising a case secured to one of an automobile body and a door pivotably supported on the automobile body, a check plate that runs movably through the case and is coupled to the other one of the body and the door, a detent member slidably fitted into and retained by the case so as to retain the door at a predetermined open position in cooperation with a detent face of the check plate, and a resilient member that is made of a resilient material, is provided in a compressed state in a housing chamber defined between an outer end face of the detent member on a side opposite to the check plate and an inner end face of the case opposite the outer end face, and generates a detent force between the detent member and the detent face, characterized in that the resilient member is formed so as to substantially fill the housing chamber, the resilient member is provided with a hole portion that allows resilient deformation of the resilient member, the hole portion being sealed by the outer end face and the inner end face, and one half of the resilient member on the outer end face side and the other half on the inner end face side are symmetrical. 
     Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the resilient member is provided with a dividing wall for dividing the hole portion into two portions that are blocked from each other. 
     Moreover, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, annular seal lips are formed on the outer face of the resilient member, the annular seal lips surrounding an open end of the hole portion and being in intimate contact with the outer end face or the inner end face. 
     Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to third aspects, the hole portion is formed so as to have a circular cross-section. 
     Furthermore, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a left half of the resilient member on a left inside face side of the case and a right half on a right inside face side of the case are symmetrical. 
     EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, since the resilient member can be formed so as to substantially fill the housing chamber within the case, it is possible to prevent as far as possible rainwater from infiltrating into the housing chamber. 
     Moreover, since the resilient member is provided with the hole portion for allowing its resilient deformation so that the hole portion is sealed by the outer end face and the inner end face, even if some rainwater infiltrates into the housing chamber and freezes, resilient deformation of the resilient member is allowed as normal within the sealed hole portion, the resilient deformation characteristics of the resilient member therefore do not change, and the good opening and closing feel of the door can always be maintained. 
     Furthermore, since the hole portion opens on the outer face of the resilient member, this can be easily formed using a mold when molding the resilient member. 
     Moreover, since one half of the resilient member on the outer end face side and the other half thereof on the inner end face side are symmetrical, when fitting the resilient member into the housing chamber, it is unnecessary to restrict the direction of the resilient member with respect to the outer end face and the inner end face, the ease of assembly is good, and it is consequently possible to not only avoid misassembly but also for the proper function of the resilient member to always be exhibited. 
     In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, even if rainwater infiltrates into one half of the hole portion divided by the dividing wall and freezes, resilient deformation of the resilient member can be allowed in the other half of the hole portion, which is free from the infiltration of rainwater, thus enhancing the reliability. 
     In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, since the annular seal lip is formed on the outer face of the resilient member so as to surround the open end of the hole portion and is in intimate contact with the outer end face or the inner end face, it is possible to reliably prevent rainwater from infiltrating into the hole portion, thus further enhancing the reliability. 
     In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the hole portion of the resilient member has a circular cross-section, when the resilient member undergoes compressive deformation, stress occurring on the inner peripheral wall of the hole portion can be equalized, thus contributing to an improvement in the durability of the resilient member. 
     In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is unnecessary to restrict the direction of the resilient member in either the vertical direction or the lateral direction when fitting the resilient member into the housing chamber, thus still further improving the ease of assembly. 
     The above-mentioned object, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from an explanation of a preferred embodiment described in detail below by reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an essential part of an automobile on which the door checker of the present invention is mounted (first embodiment). 
         FIG. 2  is a side view in which an essential part of the door checker is vertically sectioned (first embodiment). 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2  (first embodiment). 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2  (first embodiment). 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an essential part of the door checker (first embodiment). 
     
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS 
     
         
         B Body 
         C Door checker 
         D Door 
           1  Case 
           6  Check plate 
           10  Detent face 
           16  Detent member 
           17  Resilient member 
           18  Housing chamber 
           18   a  Detent member outer end face 
           18   b  Case inner end face 
           20  Hole portion 
           21  Dividing wall 
           22  Seal lip 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION INCLUDING BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained below by reference to the attached drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
     First, in  FIG. 1 , a door D is pivotably mounted on an automobile body B via a hinge H so as to open and close its entrance, and a door checker C of the present invention is mounted on the door D between the body B and the door D. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , the door checker C has a case  1  secured to an inner face of an end wall of the door D. This case  1  is formed from a box-shaped case main body  1   a  having one end open and a cover  1   b  joined to the case main body  1   a  via swage portions  11  and  11  (see  FIG. 4 ) while covering the open end, and the case main body  1   a  and the cover  1   b  are secured to the end wall of the door D by means of a pair of upper and lower bolts  2  and  2  so that the cover  1   b  abuts against the inner face of the end wall. The cover  1   b  and the case main body  1   a  are provided with through holes  4  and  5  arranged coaxially with a through hole  3  opening in the end wall of the door D, a base end of a check plate  6  running through these three through holes  3 ,  4 , and  5  is coupled to a bracket  7  via a pivot  8  so that they are mutually pivotable, and this bracket  7  is secured to the body B via a bolt  9  so that the pivot  8  is disposed parallel to the pivot axis of the hinge H. The check plate  6  is disposed substantially horizontally, and upper and lower faces thereof serve as detent faces  10  and  10 . 
     The check plate  6  is formed from a steel plate main body  6   a  directly coupled to the bracket  7  and disposed substantially horizontally and a synthetic resin covering body  6   b  mold-bonded to a peripheral face of the plate main body  6   a  apart from at opposite ends. The covering body  6   b  is formed so that a gap between the upper and lower detent faces  10  and  10  of the check plate  6  gradually increases from the base end side (the bracket  7  side) toward the free end side of the plate  6 , a half-open detent notch  10   a  is formed in a longitudinally middle section of the detent faces  10  and  10 , a fully-open detent notch  10   b  is formed in the vicinity of the free end portion, and a fully-open stopper  12  adjacent to the fully-open detent notch  10   b  is attached to the plate main body  6   a . This fully-open stopper  12  is formed from a steel stopper plate  14  secured to the plate main body  6   a  via a pin  13  and a stopper rubber  15  mounted on the stopper plate  14  and facing the fully-open detent notch  10   b , and a large number of cushion projections  15   a  protrude from an end face of the stopper rubber  15  facing the fully-open detent notch  10   b . The width of the check plate  6  is substantially constant apart from opposite ends thereof. 
     In  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 5 , a pair of upper and lower synthetic resin detent members  16  and  16  are fitted into and retained by the case  1  so that they can slide along the plate thickness direction of the check plate  6 , the detent members  16  and  16  retaining the door D at a predetermined open position in cooperation with the pair of detent faces  10  and  10  of the check plate  6 . These detent members  16  and  16  include a semi-cylindrical engagement portion  16   a  that can engage with the half-open detent notch  10   a  and the fully-open detent notch  10   b . Furthermore, the two detent members  16  and  16  include guide walls  16   b  and  16   b  slidably supporting opposite side faces in the fore-and-aft direction of the check plate  6  in cooperation with each other. 
     Moreover, housing chambers  18  and  18  are defined in the interior of the case  1  between outer end faces  18   a  of the detent members  16  and  16  on the side opposite to the check plate  6  and upper and lower inner end faces  18   b  of the case  1  facing the outer end faces  18   a , and a pair of upper and lower resilient members  17  and  17  are fitted in a compressed state into the housing chambers  18  and  18 , the resilient members  17  and  17  resiliently urging the detent members  16  and  16  against the detent faces  10  and  10  of the check plate  6 . 
     Each resilient member  17  is formed from a resilient material such as an elastomer so that the housing chamber  18  is substantially filled therewith and one half of the resilient member  17  on the outer end face  18   a  side of the detent member  16  and the other half on the inner end face  18   b  side of the case  1  are symmetrical. Furthermore, each resilient member  17  is formed so that a left half on the left inside face side of the case  1  and a right half on the right inside face side of the case  1  are symmetrical. 
     In the case of the illustrated example, a pair of extension walls  16   c  and  16   c  are projectingly provided on opposite end portions of the outer end face  18   a  of each detent member  16  for lengthening the sliding span of the detent member  16  relative to the two inner faces of the case  1 , and in order to receive these extension walls  16   c  and  16   c  a pair of steps  17   a  and  17   a  descending by one step are formed on opposite end portions of the resilient member  17 . In order to obtain the above-mentioned symmetrical shape, a pair of steps  17   a  and  17   a  are also provided on the end face of the resilient member  17  on the inner end face  18   b  side of the case  1 . 
     Furthermore, each resilient member  17  is provided with a circular cross-section hole portion  20  opening on upper and lower end faces and allowing resilient deformation of the resilient member  17 , and the hole portion  20  is divided by a dividing wall  21  integral with the resilient member  17  into two portions  20  and  20  that are blocked from each other. Moreover, annular seal lips  22  and  22  surrounding the open ends of the hole portions  20  and  20  are integrally and projectingly provided on upper and lower end faces of the resilient member  17 , and the hole portions  20  and  20  are sealed by the outer end face  18   a  of the detent member  16  and the upper and lower inner end faces  18   b  of the case  1  coming into intimate contact with the seal lips  22  and  22 . 
     The operation of this embodiment is now explained. 
     When the door D is opened from a closed state, since the engagement portions  16   a  and  16   a  of the detent members  16  and  16  slide in response thereto so as to ascend the detent faces  10  and  10  of the check plate  6 , and the resilient members  17  and  17  are compressed accompanying this, due to an increase in the resilient force a pressure contact force against the detent faces  10  and  10  of the detent members  16  and  16  increases, and an opening torque for the door D increases appropriately. 
     When the door D is opened to a predetermined half-open position, since the engagement portions  16   a  and  16   a  of the detent members  16  and  16  drop into the half-open detent notches  10   a  and  10   a  of the check plate  6  due to the resilient force of the resilient members  17  and  17 , the opening torque for the door D rapidly increases, thereby retaining the door D at the predetermined half-open position. 
     Furthermore, when the engagement portions  16   a  and  16   a  of the detent members  16  and  16  are pulled out from the half-open detent notches  10   a  and  10   a  by applying a further opening force to the door D, and the door D is opened to a predetermined fully-open position, in this case the engagement portions  16   a  and  16   a  drop into the fully-open detent notches  10   b  and  10   b  and at the same time the case  1  is resiliently received by the stopper rubber  15 , thereby retaining the door D at the fully-open position. 
     Furthermore, in the course of the door D being closed from the fully-open position, in the same manner as above the door D can be retained at the predetermined half-open position due to engagement between the engagement portions  16   a  and  16   a  of the detent members  16  and  16  and the half-open detent notches  10   a  and  10   a  and, moreover, when further closing the door D, since the engagement portions  16   a  and  16   a  of the detent members  16  and  16  slide so as to descend the detent faces  10  and  10  of the check plate  6 , a closing torque for the door D decreases appropriately, thus enabling the closing to be carried out with little effort. 
     In this process, the detent members  16  and  16  slide vertically within the case  1  in response to them ascending and descending on the detent faces  10  and  10  and engaging with and disengaging from the detent notches  10   a  and  10   b ;  10   a  and  10   b , the resilient members  17  and  17  accordingly repeatedly undergo resilient deformation, that is, compression and expansion, and the resilient deformation is allowed by a change in volume of the hole portion  20  of each of the resilient members  17 . 
     Since the resilient member  17  is formed so that it substantially fills the housing chamber  18  within the case  1 , it is possible to prevent as far as possible rainwater from infiltrating into the housing chamber  18 . Moreover, since the resilient member  17  has the hole portion  20 , which is sealed by the outer end face  18   a  of the detent member  16  and the inner end face of the case  1 , even if some rainwater infiltrates into the housing chamber  18  and freezes, the hole portion  20  allows resilient deformation of the resilient member  17  as normal, and the resilient deformation characteristics of the resilient member  17  do not change, thus always maintaining a good opening and closing feel for the door D. 
     In particular, since the hole portion  20  is divided into two portions  20  and  20  blocked from each other via the dividing wall  21  integral with the resilient member  17 , even if rainwater infiltrates into one half of the hole portion  20  and freezes, resilient deformation of the resilient member  17  can be allowed by the other half of the hole portion  20 , which is free from the infiltration of rainwater, thus enhancing the reliability. 
     Furthermore, since the annular seal lips  22  and  22  are formed on the outer face of the resilient member  17 , the annular seal lips  22  and  22  surrounding the open end of the hole portion  20  and being in intimate contact with the outer end face  18   a  and the inner end face  18   b , it is possible to reliably prevent rainwater from infiltrating into the hole portion  20 , thus further enhancing the reliability. Moreover, since the hole portion  20  opens on the outer face of the resilient member  17 , this can easily be formed by means of a mold when molding the resilient member  17 . 
     Furthermore, since the hole portion  20  of the resilient member  17  has a circular cross-section, stress occurring on the inner peripheral wall of the hole portion  20  when the resilient member  17  is compressed and deformed can be equalized, thus contributing to an improvement in the durability of the resilient member  17 . 
     Moreover, since the resilient member  17  is formed so that a half on the side in which it is in intimate contact with the outer end face  18   a  and the other half on the side in which it is intimate contact with the inner end face  18   b  are symmetrical and, furthermore, a left half on the left inside face side of the case  1  and a right half on the right inside face side of the case  1  are symmetrical, it is unnecessary to restrict the direction of the resilient member  17  with respect to the outer end face  18   a  and the inner end face  18   b  in either the vertical direction or the lateral direction when fitting the resilient member  17  into the housing chamber  18 , the ease of assembly is good, and it is consequently possible to not only avoid misassembly but also for the proper function of the resilient member  17  to be always exhibited. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be modified in a variety of ways as long as the modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, when the detent member  16  does not have the extension walls  16   c  and  16   c , the resilient member  17  may be formed with a simple rectangular cross-sectional shape without the steps  17   a  and  17   a.