Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5035463?dq=5,666,293
Timestamp: 2015-01-29 09:43:24
Document Index: 228022315

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 9', 'art 56', 'art 56', 'art 56', 'art 56', 'art 56', 'art 56', 'art 56']

Patent US5035463 - Roof door device of motor vehicle - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA roof door device of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has a roof and a side door operable to close a side door opening. The roof has a roof side opening which is positioned above and merged with the side door opening. A roof door is pivotally connected to the roof to open and close the roof...http://www.google.com/patents/US5035463?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5035463 - Roof door device of motor vehicleAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5035463 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/585,989Publication dateJul 30, 1991Filing dateSep 21, 1990Priority dateSep 26, 1989Fee statusLapsedPublication number07585989, 585989, US 5035463 A, US 5035463A, US-A-5035463, US5035463 A, US5035463AInventorsYuichi Kato, Hiroshi Yoshida, Kozo MizusawaOriginal AssigneeOhi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (5), Referenced by (28), Classifications (13), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRoof door device of motor vehicleUS 5035463 AAbstract A roof door device of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has a roof and a side door operable to close a side door opening. The roof has a roof side opening which is positioned above and merged with the side door opening. A roof door is pivotally connected to the roof to open and close the roof side opening. A guide rail is mounted on the roof at a position near the roof side opening. A slider is slidable in and along the guide rail. A pivotal arm has one end pivotally connected to the roof and the other end connected to the roof door. A link member has one end pivotally connected to the slider and the other end pivotally connected to the pivotal arm, so that a movement of the slider in and along the guide rail in one direction causes folding of the pivotal arm thereby closing the roof side opening with the roof door. A pin is connected to the pivotal arm. The link member has a holding recess. The holding recess catches the pin to achieve a latched condition of the pivotal arm relative to the link member when the pivotal arm is folded to lie parallel with the link member.
What is claimed is: 1. In a motor vehicle having a roof and a side door operable to close a side door opening,a roof door device comprising: first means defining in said roof a roof side opening which is positioned above said side door opening; a roof door pivotally connected to said roof to open and close said roof side opening; a guide rail mounted on said roof at a position near said roof side opening; a slider slidable in and along said guiderail ; a pivotal arm having one end pivotally connected to said roof and the other end connected to said roof door; a link member having one end pivotally connected to said slider and the other end pivotally connected to said pivotal arm, so that a movement of said slider in and along said guide rail in a given direction causes folding of said pivotal arm thereby closing said roof side opening with said roof door; a first pin connected to one of said pivotal arm and said link member; and second means defining in the other of said pivotal arm and said link member a holding recess, said holding recess catching said first pin to achieve a latched condition of said pivotal arm relative to said link member when said pivotal arm is folded to lie parallel with said link member. 2. A roof door device as claimed in claim 1, in which said first pin is possessed by said pivotal arm and said holding recess is defined by said link member.
7. A roof door device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a pivot means which includes:a second pin fixed to the other end of said link member; and third means defining in said pivotal arm a longitudinally extending slot with which said second pin is slidably engaged. 8. A roof door device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a guide means which includes:a third pin fixed to said pivotal arm; and fourth means defining in the other end of said link member a guide slot with which said third pin is slidably engaged, said guide slot including a semicircular slot part and an elongate slot part. 9. A roof door device as claimed in claim 8, in which said semicircular slot part of said guide slot is formed concentric with said second pin.
10. A roof door device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising drive means which includes:a geared cable having one end connected to said slider, said geared cable extending along said guide rail; 11. A roof door device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising position detecting means which includes:first and second position detecting pins movably connected to longitudinally spaced portions of said guide rail in such an arrangement that when said slider moves along said guide rail in one and the other directions, the slider is brought into abutment with said first and second position detecting pins to move the same; a position detecting bracket held by said first and second position detecting pins to move therewith, said position detecting bracket having a bent portion; and an electric switch actuated by said bent portion of said position detecting bracket. 12. A roof door device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a forked member which is fixed to a rotary shaft of said rotary switch, said forked member pivotally catching said bent portion of said position detecting bracket.
13. In a motor vehicle having a roof and a side door operable to close a side door opening,a roof door device comprising: means defining in said roof a roof side opening which is positioned above said side door opening; a roof door pivotally connected to said roof to open and close said roof side opening; a guide rail mounted on said roof at a position near said roof side opening; a slider slidable in and along said guide rail; a pivotal arm having one end pivotally connected to said roof and the other end equipped with a first pin, said pivotal arm having a longitudinally extending slot formed therethrough; a mounting bracket secured to said roof door, said mounting bracket having a curved slot with which said first pin is slidably engaged; a link member having one end pivotally connected to said slider and the other end equipped with a second pin which is slidably engaged with said longitudinally extending slot of said pivotal arm; means defining in said one end of said link member a holding recess, said holding recess catching and latching said first pin when said pivotal arm is folded to lie parallel with said link member and thereafter said link member moves in a given direction relative to the folded pivotal arm. 14. A roof door device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:a third pin fixed to said pivotal arm; and means defining in the other end of said link member a guide slot with which said third pin is slidably engaged, said guide slot including a semicircular slot part and an elongate slot part, said semicircular slot part being formed concentric with said second pin. 15. A roof door device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising drive means which includes:a geared cable having one end connected to said slider, said geared cable extending along said guide rail; 16. A roof door device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising position detecting means which includes:first and second position detecting pins movably connected to longitudinally spaced portions of said guide rail in such an arrangement that when said slider moves along said guide rail in one and the other directions, the slider is brought into abutment with said first and second position detecting pins to move the same; a position detecting bracket held by said first and second position detecting pins to move therewith, said position detecting bracket having a bent portion; and an electric switch actuated by said bent portion of said position detecting bracket. 17. A roof door device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a forked member which is fixed to a rotary shaft of said rotary switch, said forked member pivotally catching said bent portion of said position detecting bracket.
The present invention relates in general to roof door devices of a motor vehicle, and more particularly to roof door devices of a type which has a roof door hinged to the roof of the vehicle to open and close a roof side opening which is positioned above and merged with a side door opening of the vehicle.
In order to facilitate egress and ingress of a passenger, some motor vehicles are equipped with a roof door device which has a hinged roof door operable to open and close a roof side opening positioned above and merged with a side door opening. Upon egress or ingress, both the side door and roof door are opened to provide the vehicle body with a larger or vertically enlarged opening for the passenger. This type roof door device is very convenient when a handicapped person, aged person or person having a hat on uses the vehicle because the person needs not largely bend his or her body upon leaving or entering the vehicle. One of such roof door devices is described in Japanese Utility Model First Provisional Publication No. 62-16021.
Particularly, in the roof door device disclosed by the Publication, a separate latch device is used along with a roof door operating device. As is apparent, mounting the two devices to the vehicle roof results in greater assembly time and thus greater cost. In fact, the assembly of them must be made by checking and adjusting the positional relationship therebetween.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a roof door device which is free of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
According to the present invention, there is provided, in a motor vehicle having a roof and a side door operable to close a side door opening, a roof door device. The roof door device comprises first means defining in the roof a roof side opening which is positioned above and merged with the side door opening; a roof door pivotally connected to the roof to open and close the roof side opening; a guide rail mounted on the roof at a position near the roof side opening; a slider slidable in and along the guide rail; a pivotal arm having one end pivotally connected to the roof and the other end connected to the roof door; a link member having one end pivotally connected to the slider and the other end pivotally connected to the pivotal arm, so that a movement of the slider in and along the guide rail in a given direction causes folding of the pivotal arm thereby closing the roof side opening with the roof door; a pin connected to one of the pivotal arm and the link member; and second means defining in the other of the pivotal arm and the link member a holding recess, the holding recess catching the pin to achieve a latched condition of the pivotal arm relative to the link member when the pivotal arm is folded to lie parallel with the link member.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the roof door device, showing a closed condition of the roof door by a solid line and an open condition by a phantom line.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a motor vehicle of four-door sedan type, which has two front doors and two rear doors 10. Each rear door 10 is hinged at a front edge thereof to a center pillar to open and close a rear door opening 11.
As is shown in FIG. 1, the motor vehicle has two roof door devices 14 which are respectively and symmetrically mounted on laterally opposed portions of the vehicle roof. As shown in the drawing, roof doors 15 of the units 14 are arranged swingable like wings of a bird.
As is seen from FIGS. 1 and 4, the roof door 15 has an inboard end 16 pivotally connected through two hinges 17 to the vehicle roof, so that the roof door 15 is movable like a bird's wing. As is seen from FIG. 4, the roof has around the roof side opening 12 a weather strip 12A to achieve a watertight sealing of the roof door 15 when the door 15 assumes the closed position.
As is understood from FIGS. 2 and 4, each operating mechanism 20 comprises generally a pivotal arm 30 which is pivotally arranged at a front (or rear) edge portion 13 of the roof side opening 12, a slider drive unit 40 which extends along the front (or rear) edge portion 13 of the roof side opening 12, and a link member 50 which is operatively connected between the slider drive unit 40 and the pivotal arm 30.
As is seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, the pivotal arm 30 is pivotally connected at its base end portion 32 to the edge portion 13 of the roof side opening 12 through a pivot bracket 31. The roof door 15 has a mounting bracket 18 secured thereto. The mounting bracket 18 has a curved slot 18a with which a pin 33 provided at a leading end of the pivotal arm 30 is slidably engaged.
The slider drive unit 40 comprises a guide rail 41 which extends along the edge portion 13 of the roof side opening 12, a slider 42 which is slidably engaged with the guide rail 41, and a position detecting bracket 43 which is movably connected to the guide rail 41.
That is, the position detecting bracket 43 is movably connected to the guide rail 41 through position detecting pins 44a and 44b which pass through respective elongate slots (no numerals) formed in longitudinally spaced portions of a side wall portion of the guide rail 41. When the slider 42 in the guide rail 41 comes to its front or rear terminal position, the same is brought into abutment with the position detecting pin 44a or 44b inducing a slight forward or rearward movement of the position detecting bracket 43 by a distance determined by the length of the corresponding slot. The position detecting bracket 43 has a bent portion 43a operatively engaged with a forked member 45a which is fixed to a rotary shaft of a rotary switch 45. Thus, the position of the slider 42 in the guide rail 41 is detected by the degree in which the rotary shaft of the switch 45 rotates. The rotary switch 45 is held by a supporting bracket 46.
The pivot bracket 31 for the pivotal arm 30 is fixed to the inboard end of the guide rail 41. The pivot bracket 31, a raised lug 46a of the supporting bracket 46 and a flange portion 41a of the guide rail 41 constitute a supporting structure by which the base end portion 32 of the pivotal arm 30 is pivotally supported.
The pivotal arm 30 is formed at a generally middle portion thereof with a longitudinally extending slot 34 with which a slide pin 53 fixed to an inboard end 52 of the link member 50 is slidably engaged. The inboard end 52 of the link member 50 is formed with a guide slot 54 which consists of a semicircular slot part and an elongate slot part. The semicircular slot is formed concentric with the pin 53. A guide pin 35 is fixed to the pivotal arm 30 and slidably engaged with the guide slot 54.
As is best seen from FIG. 3A, the outboard end 55 of the link member 50 is formed with a holding recess 56 into which the pin 33 of the pivotal arm 30 is inserted when the pivotal arm 30 is folded. The holding recess 56 consists of an entrance part 56a and a major part 56b. In order to achieve a slidable engagement with the pin 33, the major part 56b is shaped to extend longitudinally in the link member 50, as shown.
As will be understood from FIG. 3C, when the pivotal arm 30 is folded, the slot 34 of the pivotal arm 30 and the major part 56b of the recess 56 of the link member 50 lie on a common imaginary line permitting a slidable movement of the slide pin 53 and pin 33 in the corresponding slots 34 and 56b. With this, the link member 50 is slidable rightward in FIG. 3C, relative to the folded pivotal arm 30, to a position wherein the pin 33 is deeply engaged with the major part 56b of the holding recess 56 and the slide pin 53 assumes the rightmost position in the slot 34, as is seen from FIG. 3D.
Under this condition, the roof side opening 12 is opened. Thus, if the side door 10 is opened, there is produced a vertically enlarged opening which consists of the side door opening 11 and the roof side opening 12. Thus, the egress and ingress of a passenger are facilitated.
Furthermore, in the condition wherein the roof door 15 is opened, the operating mechanism 20 assumes a condition as shown in FIG. 3A. That is, the pivotal arm 30 is raised and the slider 42 is positioned at the inboard end of the guide rail 41 causing the link member 50 to support or stand the pivotal arm 30. As shown, the pin 33 of the pivotal arm 30 assumes the lowermost position of the curved slot 18a of the mounting bracket 18, the guide pin 35 of the pivotal arm 30 assumes the lowermost position of the guide slot 54 of the link member 50 and the slide pin 53 of the link member 50 assumes the lowermost position of the slot 34 of the pivotal arm 30.
When now it is intended to close the roof door 15, a roof door control switch (not shown) is manipulated. Upon this, the electric drive device (not shown) is energized to draw out the geared cable 47, so that the slider 42 slides in the guide rail 41 toward the outboard end of the guide rail 41. Due to the sliding of the slider 42, the link member 50 is moved toward the outboard end of the guide rail 41 while folding the pivotal arm 30 toward the outboard end of the guide rail 41.
That is, at a first stage of this movement of the link member 50, the engagement between the pin 53 of the link member 50 and the slot 34 of the pivotal arm 30 serves to pull the pivotal arm 30 toward the outboard end of the guide rail 41 without inducing a sliding movement of the pin 53 in the slot 34. This is because, at such first stage, the pin 35 is forced to to move in the semicircular part of the slot 54.
When, as is seen from FIG. 3B, the pivotal arm 30 is folded, the link member 50 is also folded and overlapped with the folded pivotal arm 30 causing the outboard end 55 of the link member 50 and the leading end 36 of the pivotal arm 30 to be put side by side. When the link member 50 and the pivotal arm 30 are almost folded up, the pin 33 of the pivotal arm 30 enters the holding recess 56 of the link member 50 through the entrance part 56a of the same and the slot 34 of the pivotal arm 30 lies in parallel with the guide rail 41, as shown in FIG. 3C.
When the slider 42 further moves in the same direction and finally comes to its outmost position, the link member 50 is further drawn by the slider 42 permitting the pins 53 and 33 to slide in the slot 34 and the holding recess 56 respectively and finally comes to its outermost position as shown in FIG. 3D. In this condition, the folded pivotal arm 30 is latched by the link member 50, and thus, the roof door 15 is latched to close the roof side opening 12.
When, under this latched condition, an external force is applied to the pivotal arm 30 in a direction to raise the same, the pin 33 on the leading end of the pivotal arm 30 is pressed against an upper edge of the major part 56b of the holding recess 56 thereby preventing a raising movement of the pivotal arm 30. Thus, the latched closed condition of the roof door 15 is maintained.
As will be understood when viewing the conditions depicted by FIGS. 3A to 3D, during the above-mentioned folding of the pivotal arm 30, the guide pin 35 of the. pivotal arm 30 is forced to slide in the guide slot 54 of the link member 50 toward the other end of the slot 54.
When the slider 42 comes to the outmost position in a manner as is described hereinabove, the same abuts against the position detecting pin 44a causing an outward movement of the position detecting bracket 43. Thus, the rotary switch 45 is actuated by the bracket 43 and issues an information signal representing that the roof door 15 is fully closed.
When now it is intented to open the roof door 15, the roof door control switch (not shown) is manipulated. Upon this, the electric drive device (not shown) is energized to draw or pull the geared cable 47 toward thereto, so that the slider 42 slides in the guide rail 41 toward the inboard end of the guide rail 41. Due to this sliding of the slider 42, the link member 50 instantly comes to the position where the pin 33 of the pivotal arm 33 is disengageable from the holding recess 56, as is understood from FIG. 3C.
When the slider 42 comes to the innermost position in the above-mentioned manner, the same abuts against another position detecting pin 44b causing an inboard movement of the position detecting bracket 43. Thus, the rotary switch 45 is actuated by the bracket 43 and issues an information signal representing that the roof door 15 is fully opened.
As will be understood from the foregoing description, the roof door device of the present invention can smooth the opening and closing movement of the hinged roof door 15. Furthermore, due to the unique structure possessed by the device, the roof door 15 can be latched automatically when assuming a fully closed position. Furthermore, since the roof door device of the invention has a roof door latching mechanism as a unit, assembly of the same to the vehicle roof is easily achieved, unlike the case of the conventional roof door device disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Publication.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2857198 *Jan 18, 1956Oct 21, 1958Gen Motors CorpDoor actuated roof closure for vehicle side door openingUS4301622 *Jun 27, 1980Nov 24, 1981Peachtree Doors, Inc.Casement window operating mechanismJPS6216021A * Title not availableJPS58101821A * Title not availableJPS62134330A * Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5957511 *Aug 26, 1997Sep 28, 1999Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche AgClosure for a passenger car coverUS5992918 *May 7, 1998Nov 30, 1999General Motors CorporationBi-fold gull wing vehicle doorUS6003936 *Jul 31, 1997Dec 21, 1999Fleet Air Industries, Inc.Sport-utility vehicle topUS6203100Nov 12, 1999Mar 20, 2001Fleet Air Industries, Inc.Sport-utility vehicle topUS6401392 *Mar 29, 2000Jun 11, 2002Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.Power operating apparatus for vehicle doorUS6402223 *May 1, 2001Jun 11, 2002Kia Motors CorporationRoof door opening and closing device for roof opening type containerUS6460222 *Jun 13, 2001Oct 8, 2002Hyundai Motor CompanyHinge structure for back doorUS6581331 *May 25, 1999Jun 24, 2003Joseph Michael KralWindow and door closing mechanismUS6758511Jul 31, 2002Jul 6, 2004Asc IncorporatedVehicle latch mechanism for convertible topsUS6767047Jul 29, 2003Jul 27, 2004Asc IncorporatedConvertible roof latchUS6808223Jan 14, 2004Oct 26, 2004Robert BaumTwo way hinge for motor vehicle doorsUS6837535Jul 28, 2003Jan 4, 2005Asc IncorporatedConvertible roof systemUS6926354Nov 9, 2001Aug 9, 2005Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.Open roof construction for a vehicle, as well as a vehicle fitted with such an open roof constructionUS7007346Mar 25, 2003Mar 7, 2006Lawrence Andrew HoffmanMulti-axis door hinge and swing-out vertical-lift assemblyUS7021696Nov 14, 2002Apr 4, 2006Asc IncorporatedConvertible top latchUS7059655Nov 24, 2003Jun 13, 2006Decah, LlcVertical door conversion kitUS7063372 *Nov 9, 2001Jun 20, 2006Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.Open roof construction for a vehicle, as well as a vehicle having such open roof constructionUS7140075Jul 10, 2004Nov 28, 2006Decah, LlcVertical door conversion kit with lag mechanism and motion range limiterUS7210200Feb 11, 2005May 1, 2007The Hoffman Group, LlcMulti-axis door hingeUS7226110Aug 16, 2005Jun 5, 2007Asc IncorporatedConvertible top latchUS7243985 *Sep 22, 2005Jul 17, 2007Mitsubishi, Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki KaishaVehicle structureUS7334835Oct 31, 2005Feb 26, 2008Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.Open roof construction for a vehicle, as well as a vehicle having such open roof constructionUS7784155 *May 4, 2007Aug 31, 2010Lawrence Andrew HoffmanSimultaneous, multiple plane opening hingeUS7941897Jun 1, 2009May 17, 2011Vertical Doors, Inc.Vertical door conversion kitUS8064154 *Jul 24, 2009Nov 22, 2011Thales Alenia Space Italia SpADevice for protecting optical and/or electronic apparatuses, space telescope comprising said device, and device for removably occluding an apertureUS8151417Apr 19, 2011Apr 10, 2012Vertical Doors, Inc.Vertical door conversion kitUS8756763Mar 22, 2012Jun 24, 2014Vertical Doors, Inc.Vertical door conversion kitUSRE42492 *Apr 22, 2005Jun 28, 2011Vertical Doors, Inc.Two way hinge for motor vehicle doors* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification296/223, 296/146.4, 296/146.11, 49/36, 296/224, 49/345, 296/216.02, 49/280International ClassificationB60J7/08, B60J7/185, B60J5/04Cooperative ClassificationB60J7/1642European ClassificationB60J7/16G2CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 23, 2003FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20030730Jul 30, 2003LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesFeb 12, 2003REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedJan 19, 1999FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jan 19, 1995FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Sep 21, 1990ASAssignmentOwner name: OHI SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:KATO, YUICHI;YOSHIDA, HIROSHI;MIZUSAWA, KOZO;REEL/FRAME:005464/0849;SIGNING DATES FROM 19900905 TO 19900910RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services