Patent Publication Number: US-6701671-B1

Title: Child safety slide door apparatus for vehicles

Description:
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 10(1998)-365333 filed on Dec. 22, 1998, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a slide door apparatus for vehicles. 
     2. Prior Art 
     A conventional slide door apparatus is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open Print No. Hei. 10-280806. 
     In this slide door apparatus, a slide door, which opens and closes an opening area formed in a lateral side body of a vehicle body, is associated with an electrically operated drive device for facilitating such opening and closing operations of the slide door. 
     However, the drive device is initiated subject to a predetermined displacement of the slide door, requiring that the slide door must be manually displaced through the distance. Thus, maximum utilization of the drive device cannot be achieved. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a slide door apparatus for vehicles without the foregoing drawback. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been developed to satisfy the need noted above and thus has a primary object of the provision of a vehicular slide door apparatus which comprises: 
     a slide door movable along a lengthwise direction of a vehicle body for opening and closing an opening area formed in a lateral side of the vehicle body; 
     an operation member for being manipulated before moving the slide door; 
     a drive device assisting the slide door to move; and 
     a switch associated with the operation member and driving the drive device depending on a condition of the operation member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which; 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle body to which is applied a slide door apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the slide door apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of a remote controller associated with the slide door apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV—IV in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the remote controller shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram for the remote controller shown in FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an operation of the remote controller shown in FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     First of all, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a rear portion of a vehicle body of a van type vehicle. The vehicle body is formed at its lateral side body  2  with an opening area  2   a  which is configured into a substantially rectangular shape. The opening area  2   a  is closed and opened by a slide door  1  which is supported by an upper guide rail  4   a , a lower guide rail  4   b , and a center guide rail  3  so as to be movable in the vehicle lengthwise direction which corresponds to right-and-left direction in FIG.  1 . 
     The upper guide rail  4   a  is arranged along an upper periphery of the opening area  2   a  so as to be close thereto and is secured to the lateral side of the vehicle body  2  by means of suitable connecting devices such as screws (not shown), while the lower guide rail  4   b  is arranged along a lower periphery of the opening area  2   a  so as to be close thereto and is secured to the lateral side body  2  of the vehicle body by means of suitable connecting devices such as screws (not shown). The center guide rail  3  is positioned at a rear side of the opening area  2   a  and is secured to secured to the lateral side body  2  of the vehicle body by means of suitable connecting devices such as screws (not shown). 
     The slide door  1  is provided with three guide roller units  5  which are in sliding engagement with the guide rails  3 ,  4   a , and  4   b , respectively, thereby allowing the slide door  1  to slide along the guide rails  3 ,  4   a , and  4   b . It is to be noted that the guide rails  3 ,  4   a , and  4   b  are in parallel to each other and extend in the vehicle lengthwise direction. For establishing coplanar relationship between an outer surface of the slide door and an outer surface of the lateral side  2  of the vehicle body when the opening area  2   a  is in fully closed condition by the slide door  1 , a front end of each of the guide rails  3 ,  4   a , and  4   b  is bent toward an inner space of the vehicle body  2 . When the opening area  2   a  is in fully opened condition, the slide door  1  is positioned at the rear side of the opening area  2   a  and is in an overlapped or layered condition relative to the lateral side body  2  of the vehicle body  2 . 
     The roller unit  5  which slides along the center guide rail  3  is connected to one end of a geared cable  6  which passes through guide pipes  7 ,  9 , and  10 . The other end of the geared cable  6  forms a free end of the cable. Between the guide pipes  7  and  9 , the geared cable  6  is connected to a drive device  8  which is accommodated in the lateral side body  2 . The drive device  8  includes an electric motor  81  and a clutch mechanism  83  (FIG. 6) so as to establish and interrupt a connection between the geared cable  6  and the motor  81 , which allows an electric sliding mode and a manual sliding mode of the slide door  1  when the clutch mechanism  83  is in an ON condition and an OFF condition, respectively. 
     The guide pipe  7  extends long the center guide rail  3  and is secured thereto. The guide pipe  9  is fixed to inside the vehicle body  2  and one end of the guide pipe  9  passes therethrough for being connected to the guide pipe  7  at the rear portion of the guide rail  3 . The other end of the guide pipe  9  is connected to a case  82  of the drive device  8 . The guide pipe  10  is fixed inside the vehicle body  2  and is connected to the drive device  8 . 
     In the foregoing structure, when the drive device  8  is turned on, the geared cable  6  is moved in one direction (or the opposite direction), which causes a movement of the center positioned roller unit  5  along the center guide rail  3 , with the result that the slide door  1  is moved along the guide rails  3 ,  4   a , and  4   b , thereby opening (or closing) the opening area  2   a.    
     A pair of door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b , each of which has a closer  11   c  (FIG.  6 ), is accommodated in the slide door  1  so as to be positioned at a front end and a rear end thereof, respectively. The door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b  maintain the slide door  1  in a position fully closing the opening area  2   a  by being engaged with a pair of strikers (not shown) which are secured to a front periphery and a rear periphery of the opening area  2   a , respectively. The closer  11   c  is used to pull the slide door  1  toward the opening area  2   a  for establishing a perfect closed condition of the slide door  1 . In addition, in the slide door  1  there is provided a remote control device  12  which simultaneously operates the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b.    
     As shown in FIGS. 3 to  5  inclusive, the remote control device  12  includes, as its major elements, a shaft  13 , an input lever  14 , an open lever  15 , and an output lever  16 . 
     The shaft  13  is journaled in a pair of base plates  21  and  22  which are secured to the slide door  1  by bolts (not shown). The input lever  14 , the open lever  15 , and the output lever  16  are mounted on the shaft  13  between the base plates  21  and  22 . The shaft  13  extends into an interior space of the vehicle  2  through the slide door  1  and is connected to an inside handle  23  so as to be rotated together therewith (FIG.  1 ). The input lever  14  is fixed to the shaft  13  so as to be rotated together therewith. 
     The open lever  15  is rotatable on the shaft  13  and is connected to an outside handle  24  (FIG. 1) positioned outside the slide door  1  by way of a rod (not shown). In addition, as best shown in FIG. 5, the open lever  15  is formed near its outer periphery with an arc-shaped slot  15   b  whose axis is common to the shaft  13 . The open lever  15  is also formed with an irregular-shaped slot  15   a  including a straight slot  15   c  which extends in the radial direction of the shaft  13 . 
     The output lever  16  is rotatably mounted on the shaft  13 . One arm  16   a  of the output lever  16  is coupled to the frontward positioned door lock  11   a , while the other arm  16   b  is coupled to the rear positioned door lock  11   b  by way of a cable (not shown). In addition, the output lever  16  is formed therein with a longitudinal slot  16   c  extending in the radial direction of the shaft  13  and overlapping with the irregular-shaped slot  15   a  of the open lever  15 . 
     A slide pin  17  is positioned in sliding engagement with the irregular-shaped slot  15   a  of the open lever  15  and the slot  16   c  of the output lever  16 . The slide pin  17  is, as can be seen from FIG. 4, provided on the output lever  16  so as not to be extracted therefrom. The slide pin  17  is used to rotate the output lever  16  by transmitting a rotational torque thereto when the slide pin  17  is positioned in the engaging portion  15   c  of the irregular-shaped slot  15   a  after sliding along the slot  16   c , while if the slide pin  17  is positioned in the slot  15   b  of the irregular-shaped slot  15   a , the open lever  15  is made to null relative to, or is effectively decoupled from, the output lever  16 . Thus, the slide pin  17  engages and disengages the open lever  15  with the output lever  16  in selective fashion. It is to be noted that a spring  26  is interposed between the open lever  15  and the base plate  21 , by which the open lever  15  is biased continually in the clockwise direction. 
     On the shaft  13 , there are rotatably mounted an opening-directional lever  18  and a closing-directional lever  19 . The input lever  14  is provided with an integral bent flange  14   a  which extends in parallel to the shaft  13 . The opening-directional lever  18  and the closing-directional lever  19  are formed with opposed projections  18   a  and  19   a  between which the flange  14   a  of the input lever  14  is positioned. Thus, if the input lever  14  is rotated in one direction (the clockwise direction in FIG.  3 ), engagement of the flange  14   a  of the input lever  14  with the projection  18   a  causes rotation of the opening-directional lever  18 , while if the input lever  14  is rotated in the other direction (the counterclockwise direction in FIG.  3 ), engagement of the flange  14   a  of the input lever  14  with the projection  19   a  causes rotation of the closing-directional lever  19 . It is to be noted that a spring  27  is interposed between the open-directional lever  18  and the base plate  22 , thereby urging continually the opening-directional lever  18  in a direction to engage its projection  18   a  with the flange  14   a  (in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG.  3 ), while a spring  28  is interposed between the closing-directional lever  19  and the base plate  22 , thereby urging continually the closing-directional lever  19  in a direction to engage its projection  19   a  with the flange  14   a  (in the clockwise direction in FIG.  3 ). 
     The opening-directional lever  18  is provided therein with a linear slot  18   b  which extends in the radial direction of the shaft  13 . The open lever  15  is provided with a projection  15   d  which overlaps with the slot  18   b  in such a manner that the projection  15   d  and the slot  18   b  make a right angle. A slide pin  20  is in sliding engagement with the slot  18   b  and is mounted on the lever  18  so as not to be extracted therefrom. The slide pin  20  is slidable in the slot  18   b , rotates the open lever  15  by transmitting a rotational torque thereto from the opening-directional lever  18  when the slide pin  20  is in engagement with the projection  15   d , and when the slide pin  20  is out of engagement with the projection  15   d  makes the opening-directional lever  18  null relative to, or effectively disengaged from, the open lever  15 . Thus, the slide pin  20  selectively engages and disengages the opening-directional lever  18  with the open lever  15 . 
     A locking lever  29  is rotatably mounted on the slide pin  17 . The locking lever  29  is connected via rods (not shown) to an indoor lock knob  30  in the interior of the vehicle body  2 , an outdoor key cylinder  31  positioned outside the slide door  1 , and a locking actuator  32  accommodated in the slide door  1 , respectively, as shown in FIG.  1 . The locking actuator  32  includes an electric motor (not shown) as its driving source to rotate the locking lever  29 . The locking lever  29  is formed therein with an arc-shape slot  29   a  whose center axis is in coincidence with an axis of the shaft  13 . The arc-shaped slot  29   a  overlaps with the slot  15   a  of the open lever  15  and the slot  16   a  of the output lever  16 . The slide pin  17  is fitted in the arc-shaped slot  29   a  so as to be slid therealong when the locking lever  29  is rotated. It is to be noted that the center axis of the arc-shape slot  29   a  is in coincidence with an axis of the shaft  13  when the slide pin  17  is in the engaging portion  15   c  of the irregular-shaped slot  15   a . Thus, when the open lever  15  is rotated together with the output lever  16  by way of the slide pin  17 , the resulting rotating slide pin  17  becomes free from its interference with the locking lever  29 , thereby ensuring smooth rotations of the open lever  15  and the output lever  16 . 
     Between the base plates  21  and  22 , there is provided a child-proof lever  33  so as to be movable in the horizontal direction in FIG.  4 . The child-proof lever  33  has an arc-shaped slot  33   a  whose center axis is common to that of the shaft  13 . The arc-shaped slot  33   a  overlaps with the slot  18   b  of the opening-directional lever  18 . The slide pin  20  passes through the arc-shaped slot  33   a , which moves slide pin  20  along the slot  18   b  when the childproof lever  33  is moved. It is to be noted that the center axis of arc-shape slot  33   a  is in coincidence with the axis of the shaft  13  when the slide pin  20  is in engagement with the projection  15   d  of the open lever  15 . Thus, when the open-directional lever  18  is rotated together with the open lever  15  by way of the slide pin  20 , the resulting rotating slide pin  20  becomes free from its interference with the childproof lever  33 , thereby ensuring smooth rotations of the open lever  15  and the output lever  16 . 
     The closing-directional lever  19  has a cam profile  19   b . The open lever  15  has a cam arm  15   e . A handle switch  34  is fixedly mounted on the base plate  21  so as to oppose the cam profile  19   b  and the cam arm  15   e . The handle switch  34  has a lever  34   a  which is in engagement with both the cam profile  19   b  and the cam arm  15   e  and is closed when the lever  34   a  is urged by either of the cam surface  19   b , when the closing-directional lever  19  is rotated, and the cam arm  15   e , when the open lever  15  is rotated. The handle switch  34  is covered with a water proof cover  35  which is also fixedly mounted on the base plate  21 . 
     The remote control device  12  having the foregoing structure operates as follows: 
     In FIG. 3, the slide pin  17  is located at the engaging portion  15   c  of the irregular-shaped slot  15   a  of the open lever  15 , while the slide pin  20  is in engagement with the projection  15   d  of the open lever  15 . Thus, the remote control device  12  is in its unlocked condition. 
     When a passenger (not shown) inside the vehicle body  2  manipulates the inside handle  23  to open the slide door  1  in a manual mode, the shaft  13  which rotates together with the inside handle  23  and the input lever  14  which rotates together with the shaft  13  are rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3, which causes the flange  14   a  of the input lever  14  to engage with the projection  18   a  of the open-directional lever  18 , thereby rotating the opening-directional lever  18  in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 against the urging force of the spring  27 . The resultant rotation of the opening-directional lever  18  is transmitted by way of the slide pin  20  to the open lever  15 , which causes a rotation of the open lever  15  in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 against the urging force of the spring  26 . The resultant rotation of the open lever  15  is transmitted by way of the slide pin  17  to the output lever  16 , which causes a rotation of the output lever  16  in the clockwise direction in FIG.  3 . Thus, the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b  are operated, which allows manual mode operation of the slide door  1 . 
     On the other hand, when a passenger (not shown) inside the vehicle body  2  manipulates the inside handle  23  to close the slide door  1  in a manual mode, the shaft  13  which rotates together with the inside handle  23  and the input lever  14  which rotates together with the shaft  13  are rotated in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 3, which causes the flange  14   a  of the input lever  14  to engage with the projection  19   a  of the closing-directional lever  19 , thereby rotating the closing-directional lever  19  in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 3 against the urging force of the spring  28 . The resultant rotation of the closing-directional lever  19  is not transmitted to the output lever  16  due to the fact the closing-directional lever  19  is out of engagement with the output lever  16 , which therefore does not operate the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b . This means that a slight force is required to manipulate the slide door  1 . It is to be noted that upon a closing movement of the slide door  1 , the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b  are operated in a compulsory fashion to maintain the slide door  1  at its closed condition, whereby the remote controller  12  is not requested to operate the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b . At this time, the lever  34   a  of the handle switch  34  is urged to establish the closure thereof. The closure of the handle switch  34  will be detailed later. 
     When the passenger outside the vehicle body  2  manipulates the outside handle  24  for opening the slide door  1  in a manual mode, the open lever  15 , which is connected to the outside handle by way of a rod (not shown), is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 3 against the urging force of the spring  26 . The resultant rotation of the open lever  15  is transmitted by way of the slide pin  17  to the output lever  16 , thereby rotating the output lever  16  in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 3, with the result that the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b  are operated, which allows the slide door  1  to move in a manual mode. At this time, the cam arm  15   e  of the open lever  15  is urged against the lever  34   a  of the handle switch  34 , thereby closing the handle switch  34 . The closure of the handle switch  34  will be detailed later. 
     When the passenger outside the vehicle body  2  manipulates the outside handle  24  for closing the slide door  1  in a manual mode, the open lever  15 , which is connected to the outside handle by way of a rod (not shown), is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 3 against the urging force of the spring  26 . The resultant rotation of the open lever  15  is transmitted by way of the slide pin  17  to the output lever  16 , thereby rotating the output lever  16  in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 3, with the result that the cam arm  15   e  of the open lever  15  is urged against the lever  34   a  of the handle switch  34 , thereby closing the handle switch  34 . The closure of the handle switch  34  will be detailed later. At this time, the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b  operates without troubles due to initiation of the closer  11   c  when the opening area  2   a  is fully closed. 
     Upon one of manipulation of the indoor locking knob  30 , manipulation of the outdoor key cylinder  31 , and driving of the locking actuator  32 , the locking lever  29  is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG.  3  and is moved from the engaging portion  15   c  of the irregular-shaped slot  15   a  to the null portion  15   b  thereof, with the result that a null operation of the open lever  15  is made relative to the output lever  16 . Under the resultant condition, even if the inside handle  23  or the outside handle  24  is manipulated, the rotational torque of the open lever  15  can not be transmitted to the output lever  16 , thereby operating neither of the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b . The reason is that the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b  are operated subject to the clockwise direction of the output lever  16  in FIG.  3 . Thus, the remote control device  12  is in locked condition. 
     Moving the childproof lever  33  in the leftward direction in FIG. 3 causes a sliding movement of the slide pin  20  along the slot  18   b  in the opening-directional lever  18  so as to be removed from the projection  15   d  of the open lever  15 . Thus, the movement of the opening-directional lever  18  becomes null relative to, or effectively decoupled from, the open lever  15 . Under the resultant condition, despite manipulation of the inside handle  23 , the rotation of the opening-directional lever  18  can not be transmitted to open lever  15 . Thus, without clockwise rotation of the open lever  15  in FIG. 3, the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b  fail to operate. Thus, the remote control device  12  is in a child-lock condition. It is to be noted that when the remote control device  12  is in an unlocked condition as well as a child-lock condition, manipulating the inside handle  24  fails to operate the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b . In addition, even if the remote control device  12  is in child-lock condition, manipulating the outside handle  24  rotates the open lever  15 , thereby operating the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b  when the remote control device  12  is also in unlocked condition. 
     With reference to FIG. 6, a door control device  40  includes a controller  41  which is in the form of a microprocessor, an input interface  42 , and a drive circuit  43 . The input interface  42  is connected electrically with the handle switch  34 , a junction switch  36  with a power feeding portion  36   a , a courtesy switch  37 , and a pawl switch  38 . The drive circuit  43  is connected with the closer  11   c  by way of the power feeding portion  36   a  of the junction switch  36 , the electric motor  81  and a clutch mechanism  83  of the drive device  8 . 
     The junction switch  36  is positioned between the slide door  1  and the vehicle body  2 , becomes ON condition whenever the slide door  1  closes the opening area  2   a , and becomes OFF condition whenever the slide door  1  begins to open the opening area  2   a . The junction switch  36  when in an ON condition establishes an electric power supply by way of the power feeding portion  36   a  from the side of the vehicle body  2  to the side of the slide door  1 . The courtesy switch  37 , which is provided to the vehicle body  2 , is opened and closed when engaged with the slide door  1  when in a fully closed condition and when the slide door  1  is in opened condition or imperfectly closed, respectively. The pawl switch  38 , which is attached to each of the door lock devices  11   a  and  11   b , is set to be closed when the slide door  1  is in a fully or imperfectly closed condition. The closer  11   c  is driven when its own driving source or electric motor is turned on, which causes pulling the slide door  1  toward the opening area  2   a  for establishing fully closed condition of the opening area  2   a . Terminating the driving source causes the closer  11   c  to stop. When the clutch mechanism  83  of the drive device  8  is engaged and disengaged, the electric motor  81  is coupled to and isolated from the geared cable  6 , respectively. When the motor  81  is driven in one direction and the other direction, the slide door  1  is moved in electric mode to open and close the opening area  2   a , respectively. The slide door  1  is stopped when the motor  81  is turned off. 
     Operation of the door control device  40  will be described hereinafter with reference to a timing chart illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
     As previously explained, when the passenger inside the vehicle body  2  manipulates the inside handle  23  to close the slide door  1  in a manual mode, the handle switch  34  is turned on. On the basis of the resultant electric signal or closed condition of the handle switch  34 , the clutch mechanism  83  is engaged or becomes ON, which causes coupling between the electric motor  81  and the geared cable  6  and the motor  81  is driven in the other direction, which causes the slide door  1  to close. Thus, the slide door  1  is moved in an electric mode, which assists manual closing movement of the slide door  1 . 
     When the slide door  1  reaches a position just before its fully closed condition, the junction switch  36  is turned on, which stops the electric motor  81 , thereby terminating the sliding movement of the slide door  1 . Simultaneously, the closer  11   c  is driven, and the slide door  1  begins to be pulled toward the opening area  2   a  to establish its fully closed condition. 
     If the slide door  1  is in an imperfectly closed or half-latched condition during such a pulling operation, the pawl switch  38  is closed, which causes the clutch mechanism  83  to disengage, and the coupling between the electric motor and the geared cable  6  is interrupted. In addition, upon establishment of a fully closed condition of the slide door  1 , the pawl switch  38  is closed again, which after a predetermined time duration causes the closer  11   c  to terminate. 
     As explained above, when the passenger inside the vehicle body  2  manipulates the inside handle  23  to close the slide door  1  in manual mode, immediately the slide door  1  is placed in electric mode, which assists the manual operation of the slide door  1  to close from the inside of the vehicle body  2 , thereby realizing closure of the slide door  1  from the inside of the vehicle body  2  without any effort. 
     The same operation is made when the slide door  1  is moved to close from outside the vehicle body  2 . 
     In this embodiment, the closing-directional lever  19  of the remote control device  12  is rotated to turn on or off the handle switch  34 , which assists manual operation of the slide door  1  by bringing the slide door  1  in electric mode when closing the slide door  1  in manual mode. Instead, for attaining the same results, a modification can be made wherein the handle switch  34  or an additional switch is turned on or off by the rotation of the opening-directional lever  18 . 
     In addition, the slide door  1  can be operated in electric mode by manipulating an operation switch provided near the driver&#39;s seat. In such a structure, the remote control device  12  has to include an open actuator  25  such as shown in FIG. 1 which is connected to the output lever  16  by way of a rod  25   a  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. 
     The invention has thus been shown and description with reference to specific embodiments, however, it should be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the details of the illustrates structures but changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.