Patent Publication Number: US-7908709-B2

Title: Check link assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/887,690, filed Feb. 1, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to door systems having springs to selectively urge a door toward its open position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A typical automotive vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment. Doors are selectively movable between open and closed positions to permit access (ingress and egress) to the passenger compartment and obstruct access to the passenger compartment, respectively, as understood by those skilled in the art. A latch is typically employed to maintain a door in its closed position. To open a door, a vehicle user must pull on a door handle to release the latch and manually move the door to the open position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A check link assembly is provided for a door rotatably mounted to a vehicle body. The door is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position. The check link assembly includes a link having a contoured surface, a member contacting the contoured surface, and a spring biasing the member into contact with the contoured surface. The contoured surface is configured such that, when the link is operatively connected to one of the body and the door and the member is operatively connected to the other of the body and the door, and the door is in the closed position, the spring is operative to cause the door to move toward the open position. 
     Accordingly, the check link assembly facilitates movement of the door from the closed position toward the open position. The check link assembly also facilitates the absence of an outside door handle operative to release a door latch, because the check link assembly is operative to move the door from its closed position upon the release of the latch. 
     A vehicle body is also provided. The vehicle body includes vehicle body structure and a vehicle door that is operatively connected to the vehicle body structure. The door is selectively rotatable between a closed position and an open position. A check link assembly operatively interconnects the door and the vehicle body structure, and includes a spring and a link characterized by a contoured surface operatively engaging the spring. The contoured surface is configured such that compression of the spring varies with the position of the door so that resistance to movement of the door between the closed position and the open position varies with the position of the door. The contoured surface is configured such that the spring is decompressed during movement of the door from the closed position to a partially open position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, cross sectional top view of a vehicle door in a closed position with respect to a vehicle body, and a check link assembly operatively interconnecting the door and the body; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, perspective view of the check link assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, exploded view of the check link assembly of  FIG. 1 , including a housing, springs, bumpers, and a check link; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a portion of the check link assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic, perspective view of the check link of the check link assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic, side view of the check link and bumpers when the door is in the closed position; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic, side view of the check link and bumpers when the door is in a partially open position; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic, cross-sectional, top view of the door and body of  FIG. 1  with the door in the partially open position; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic, cross-sectional side view of an alternative check link configuration. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle body  10  includes a hinge pillar  14 , as understood by those skilled in the art. A vehicle door  18  is rotatably mounted to the hinge pillar  14  via at least one hinge (not shown) as understood by those skilled in the art for rotation between a closed position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and an open position. The door  18  includes an inner panel  22  and an outer panel  24  operatively connected to one another, such as by hemming. Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , A check link assembly  26 , also sometimes referred to as a “door check” or a “hold open,” includes a check link  30 . A bracket  34  is mounted to the hinge pillar  14 , and is pivotably mounted to the check link  30  such that the check link  30  is selectively rotatable with respect to the hinge pillar  14  about a vertical axis  36  that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the door  18 . As used herein, a “hinge pillar” may include a front hinge pillar, a B-pillar, etc. 
     The check link  30  extends through an aperture  38  formed in the inner panel  22  and into the door cavity  42 , which is defined by the inner panel  22  and the outer panel  24 . The check link assembly  26  also includes a housing  46  that is disposed within the door cavity  42  and mounted to the inner panel  22 . In the embodiment depicted, threaded studs  44  mounted to the housing  46  extend through holes (not shown) in the inner panel  22  and engage nuts (not shown) to retain the housing  46  against the inner panel  22 . Accordingly, rotation of the door  18  with respect to the hinge pillar  14  causes relative movement between the housing  46 , which is mounted to the door  18 , and the check link  30 , which is mounted to the hinge pillar  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the housing  46  in the embodiment depicted includes two housing portions  47 ,  48  that are operatively connected together by fasteners  49 . Each housing portion  47 ,  48  contains a respective spring  50 A,  50 B. More specifically, each housing portion  47 ,  48  defines a respective cavity  52 A,  52 B that at least partially contains a respective one of the springs  50 A,  50 B. The housing portions  47 ,  48  are connected to one another such that the housing  46  defines a passageway  54 . The check link  30  extends through the passageway  54  of the housing  46 , and is selectively moveable therethrough between the springs  50 A,  50 B. Springs  50 A,  50 B are depicted as metal coil springs; however, those skilled in the art will recognize a variety of spring configurations and materials that may be employed within the scope of the claimed invention. For example, the springs may be rubber pads, torsion springs, etc. 
     The check link  30  is characterized by contoured surfaces  55 A,  55 B on opposite sides of the link  30 . The surfaces  55 A,  55 B define ramps, depressions, etc. that interact with the springs  50 A,  50 B to vary the resistance to movement of the door  18  during its rotation between the open and closed positions. In the embodiment depicted, the ramps, depressions, etc. interact with the springs  50 A,  50 B via first and second members, namely bumpers  56 A,  56 B. More specifically, bumper  56 A is slidingly engaged with the walls of cavity  52 A. Spring  50 A biases the bumper  56 A into contact with the portion of surface  55 A that is inside the passageway  54 . Bumper  56 B is slidingly engaged with the walls of cavity  52 B. Spring  50 B biases the bumper  56 B into contact with the portion of surface  55 B that is inside the passageway  54 . Accordingly, the thickness of the check link  30  between the bumpers  56 A,  56 B determines the amount of compression to which the springs  50 A,  50 B are subjected. 
     A stop  58  is mounted at one end of the check link  30  to restrict excessive movement of the check link  30  with respect to the housing  46 . More specifically, the stop  58  is larger than the passageway  54  in the housing  46  through which the check link  30  extends, and therefore prevents movement of the end of the check link  30  through the housing  46  by physically interacting with the housing  46 . The check link  30  defines a hole  60  at one end  62  through which a pin  64  is insertable to pivotably attach the bracket  34  to the end  62 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the door  18  includes a latch assembly  68  mounted to the inner panel  22  and positioned within the door cavity  42 . A striker  72  is mounted to the vehicle body  10 , as understood by those skilled in the art. The striker  72  is sufficiently positioned to extend through a hole in the inner panel  22  to engage the latch assembly  68  when the door  18  is in the closed position, so that the latch assembly  68  retains the striker  72  and, correspondingly, maintains the door  18  in the closed position. 
     Seals  76  are mounted to the body  10  and are positioned to contact the door  18  when the door  18  is in the closed position, as shown, to seal the door opening of the body  10 . More specifically, the door  18  in the closed position elastically compresses the seals  76  so that the seals  76  store energy. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the check link  30  is characterized by a segment  108  adjacent end  62 . Check link segment  108  includes segments  112 A and  112 B of surfaces  55 A and  55 B. Segment  108  of the check link  30  is sufficiently thick, i.e., surface segments  112 A,  112 B are sufficiently far apart from one another, that if bumpers  56 A,  56 B contact surface segments  112 A,  112 B, respectively, the springs  50 A,  50 B are compressed. 
     Check link segment  116  is adjacent to check link segment  108 . Check link segment  116  is a ramp segment, i.e., the check link segment  116  becomes progressively thinner in the direction away from check link segment  108 . Check link segment  116  includes segments  120 A,  120 B of surfaces  55 A,  55 B. Surface segments  120 A,  120 B are not parallel; rather, the distance therebetween decreases with distance from check link segment  108 . Segment  124  of the check link  30 , on the opposite side of the ramp segment  116  from segment  108 , is characterized by parallel segments  128 A,  128 B of surfaces  55 A,  55 B. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , when the door is in the closed position, bumpers  56 A,  56 B contact surfaces segments  120 A,  120 B of the ramp segment  116  so that the springs  50 A,  50 B are compressed. The latch assembly  68  is electrically actuated, i.e., the latch assembly  68  includes an electrically powered actuator, such as a servomotor or solenoid, that is operable to selectively disengage the striker  72  from the latch assembly  68 . In one exemplary embodiment, the latch assembly  68  is operatively connected to a switch or other input device (not shown) mounted with respect to the vehicle body  10  that is operable to cause the disengagement of the striker  72  from the latch assembly  68 . In another exemplary embodiment, the latch assembly  68  is responsive to radio frequency signals from a key fob transmitter (not shown) to disengage the striker  72  from the latch assembly  68 . The electric actuation of the latch assembly  68  enables the door  18  to be characterized by the absence of an outside door handle. 
     When the latch assembly  68  releases the striker  72 , the door  18  is free to rotate. The compressed springs  50 A,  50 B exert force on surface segments  120 A,  120 B via bumpers  56 A,  56 B. Surface segments  112 A,  112 B are substantially planar and horizontally oriented. Similarly, surface segments  128 A,  128 B are substantially planar and horizontally oriented. Surface segments  120 A,  120 B are inclined with respect to the horizontal orientation. Accordingly, when bumpers  56 A,  56 B exert forces on surface segments  120 A,  120 B, surface segments  120 A,  120 B exert reaction forces on the bumpers  56 A,  56 B that have a horizontal component. The horizontal component of the reaction forces urge the housing  46 , and therefore the door  18 , away from the hinge pillar  14 . The horizontal component of the reaction forces move the bumpers  56 A,  56 B away from check link segment  108  until the bumpers  56 A,  56 B contact surface segments  128 A,  128 B, as shown in  FIG. 7 , and the door  18  is moved from the closed position to a partially open position, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when the bumpers  56 A,  56 B are acting on surface segments  128 A,  128 B, the door  18  has rotated sufficiently such that a vehicle user can grasp the edge  130  of the door  18  to rotate the door further toward its fully open position (shown in phantom at  18 A). Check link segment  132 , on the opposite side of check link segment  124  from segment  116 , is thicker than segment  124 . Accordingly, as the door  18  is moved further toward the open position, the housing  46  moves such that check link segment  132  enters the passageway; since check link segment  132  is thicker than segment  124 , the springs  50 A,  50 B are compressed, and resistance to rotation of the door  18  is provided. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , check link segment  136  is between check link segments  132  and  138 . Check link segment  136  is thinner than check link segments  132  and  138 . Accordingly, when check link segment  136  is within the passageway  54 , rotation of the door  18  in either direction results in compression of the springs  50 A,  50 B and a corresponding resistance to rotation. Thus, check link segment  136  provides an intermediate detent position for the door  18 . Similarly, check link segment  140  is between check link segments  138  and  144 . When the door is in the fully open position shown at  18 A in  FIG. 8 , the housing  46  is positioned so that check link segment  140  is between the bumpers  56 A,  56 B. Check link segment  140  is thinner than segments  138 ,  144 . Accordingly, when check link segment  140  is within the passageway  54 , rotation of the door  18  in either direction results in compression of the springs  50 A,  50 B and a corresponding resistance to rotation. Thus, check link segment  140  provides a detent position for the door  18  when the door is in the fully open position. 
     It should be noted that, when the striker  72  is released from the latch assembly  68 , the seals  76  exert a force on the door  18  urging it toward its open position as they release elastic strain. Seals  76  may thus act as springs. 
     As a vehicle user closes the door  18 , the springs  50 A,  50 B are recompressed, storing energy to be employed in moving the door  18  toward the open position when the striker and latch are released. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-8 , an alternative check link configuration is schematically depicted. Check link  30 A may be employed with the check link assembly shown at  26  in  FIGS. 1-8 . Check link  30 A includes contoured surfaces  155 A,  155 B. Surface  155 A is in contact with bumper  56 A, and surface  155 B is in contact with bumper  56 B. Surface  155 A is characterized by surface segments  112 A,  120 A,  128 A. Surface  155 B is characterized by surface segments  112 B,  120 B,  128 B. Segments  112 A,  112 B,  128 A,  128 B are parallel to one another. Segment  120 A interconnects segments  112 A,  128 A. Segment  120 B interconnects segments  112 B,  128 B. Segments  120 A,  120 B are similarly sized and shaped, but the check link  30 A is asymmetrical such that segments  120 A,  120 B are offset from one another. 
     More specifically, in the embodiment depicted, segment  112 A is approximately 1.5 millimeters shorter than segment  112 B, so that segment  120 A is approximately 1.5 millimeters closer to the axis of rotation of the check link  30 A than segment  120 B. Correspondingly, segment  128 A is approximately 1.5 millimeters closer to the axis of rotation than segment  128 B. 
     The asymmetry of the surfaces  155 A,  155 B compensates for build tolerance in the distance between the hinge pillar (shown at  14  in  FIG. 1 ) and the mounting position of the housing on the inner panel (shown at  46  and  22 , respectively, in  FIG. 1 ) by ensuring that at least one of the bumpers  56 A,  56 B is in contact with one of the ramp segments  120 A,  120 B when the door is in the closed position. For example, and with reference to  FIG. 6 , if build tolerance is such that bumpers  56 A,  56 B contact surface segments  112 A,  112 B, respectively, when the door is in the closed position, then the check link will not provide a reaction force sufficient to move the door toward the open position. Similarly, if build tolerance is such that bumpers  56 A,  56 B contact surface segments  128 A,  128 B, respectively, when the door is in the closed position, then the check link will not provide a reaction force sufficient to move the door toward the open position. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 9 , because of the offset of surfaces  120 A,  120 B, bumper  56 A contacts surface segment  128 A when bumper  56 B contacts surface segment  120 B. Accordingly, although surface segment  128 A does not provide a reaction force to bumper  56 A having a component sufficient to move the door toward the open position, bumper  56 B is in contact with segment  120 B, which, due to its incline, provides a reaction force to bumper  56 B having a component effective to move the door toward its open position. Similarly, the offset is such that bumper  56 A contacts surface segment  120 A when bumper  56 B contacts surface segment  112 B, ensuring that at least one of the bumpers is in contact with a ramp segment  120 A,  120 B when the door is in the closed position. 
     When bumper  56 A contacts surface segment  128 A, and when bumper  56 B contacts surface segment  128 B, the door is in the partially open position shown at  18  in  FIG. 8 . Segments  160 A,  160 B of surfaces  155 A,  155 B, respectively, are parellel to surface segments  112 A,  112 B,  128 A,  128 B. The thickness of the check link  30 A between surface segments  160 A,  160 B is greater than the thickness between surface segments  128 A,  128 B. Surface segment  164 A is a ramp that interconnects surface segment  128 A and surface segment  160 A. Surface segment  164 B is a ramp that interconnects surface segment  128 B and surface segment  160 B. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , as the door  18  is rotated from the partially open position toward the fully open position shown at  18 A, the bumpers  56 A,  56 B contact surface segments  164 A,  164 B, respectively. As the bumpers  56 A,  56 B traverse surface segments  164 A,  164 B, the bumpers  56 A,  56 B compress springs  50 A,  50 B, thereby causing increased resistance to the rotation of the door. 
     In the embodiment depicted, the placement and shape of surface segments  164 A,  164 B are sufficient to prevent the door  18  from opening beyond the partially open position unless at least a predetermined amount of force is applied to the door. For example, if the vehicle body is on an incline, gravity may exert a force on the door that urges the door toward the fully open position. Accordingly, the predetermined amount of force may be higher than the gravitional force that urges the door toward the fully open position when the body is on an inclined plane of less than a predetermined angle. 
     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.