Abstract:
A door holding device for selectively holding and releasing a vehicle door may include a door holding arm being connected to a vehicle and slidably connected to a door of the vehicle; a plunger shaft for selectively engaging the door holding arm; a guide pin; and a channel; a guide block to guide the plunger shaft; a bearing to stabilize the travel of the door holding arm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a door holding device and more particularly to a device to freeze the motion of a vehicle door by switches and electrical solenoids. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vehicle doors especially automobile doors can be heavy and cumbersome for the user of the doors especially the young and old. The automobile doors can be extremely heavy and present a burden to open and close. When opening the doors, gravity or other conditions such as high winds may cause these doors begin to close before the user of the door has had the opportunity to exit the vehicle. This may be a dangerous situation if the user has already placed a leg or an arm outside of the door. The slamming door can be painful and can cause injuries to the user, and the user may not have enough strength to prevent the door form slamming. Under these circumstances, it is desirable to have a mechanism to freeze the motion of the door without using the strength of the user. Furthermore, millions of dollars may be saved from preventing these types of injuries to persons and preventing damages to other vehicles. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A door holding device for selectively holding and releasing a vehicle door may include a door holding arm being connected to a vehicle and slidably connected to a door of the vehicle; a plunger shaft for selectively engaging the door holding arm; a guide block to guide the plunger shaft; a bearing to stabilize the travel of the door holding arm. 
         [0004]    The door holding arm may include teeth to engage the plunger shaft. 
         [0005]    The bearing may be biased by a bias device. 
         [0006]    The bias device may be a spring. 
         [0007]    The door holding arm may include a channel. 
         [0008]    The bearing may include a ball bearing. 
         [0009]    The plunger shaft may be controlled by a switch. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the front of the door holding device of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the door holding device of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the door holding device of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the door holding device of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom cross-sectional view of the door holding device of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates an electrical switch and fuse box. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the front of the door holding device  100  of the present invention and illustrates a door holding arm  101  which may be connected to support device  103  which may be a bracket attached to the vehicle  105  to support the door holding arm  101 . The door holding arm  101  may extend into a door of the vehicle  105 .  FIG. 1  additionally illustrates a housing  107  to house the door holding device  100  of the present invention. As the door of the vehicle  105  opens, the housing  107  and the door holding device  100  moves along the door holding arm  101 , and as the door of the vehicle  105  closes, the housing  107  and the device  100  moves along the door holding arm  101  in the opposite direction than when the door is opening. The door holding arm  101  may include a channel  109  to mate with a bearing  111  which may be a ball bearing to stabilize the door holding arm  101  as the housing  107  moves with respect to the door holding arm  101 . The door holding arm  101  may include teeth  117  which may be opposed to the channel  109 . The teeth  107  may mate with an end of a plunger shaft  119  which may extend longitudinally in the housing  107 . The plunger shaft  119  may extend through an aperture of a guide block  121  which may act as a collar for the plunger shaft  119  to stabilize the plunger shaft  119 . 
         [0018]    The plunger shaft  119  may engage the teeth  117  in order to stop the movement of the door holding arm  101  which may prevent the door from moving either open or closed and preventing an injury to the user of the door. The plunger shaft  119  may be withdrawn from the teeth  117  (see  FIG. 3 ) in order to allow the door holding arm  101  to move relatively freely with respect to the housing  107 , allowing the door of the vehicle  105  to move freely allowing the user to enter and exit the vehicle  105 . A plunger coil  123  may be energized in order to moves the plunger shaft  119  to engage or disengage with the teeth  117 . The plunger coil  123  may be connected to a battery  125  which may be the car battery such as 12 V battery which may be connected to a fuse box  127  and connected to switch  131  in order to control the plunger coil  123  and control the plunger shaft  119 . 
         [0019]    The bearing  111  may cooperate with a biasing device  113  which may include a spring to bias the bearing  111  in order to stabilize the door holding arm  101 . The spring may be connected to a movable wall  115  which extends and retracts within the housing  107 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the door holding device  100  of the present invention and illustrates a door holding arm  101  which may be connected to support device  103  which may be a bracket attached to the vehicle  105  to support the door holding arm  101 . The door holding arm  101  may extend into a door of the vehicle  105 .  FIG. 1  additionally illustrates a housing  107  to house the door holding device  100  of the present invention. As the door of the vehicle  105  opens, the housing  107  and the door holding device  100  moves along the door holding arm  101 , and as the door of the vehicle  105  closes, the housing  107  and the device  100  moves along the door holding arm  101  in the opposite direction than when the door is opening. The door holding arm  101  may include a channel  109  to mate with a bearing  111  which may be a ball bearing to stabilize the door holding arm  101  as the housing  107  moves with respect to the door holding arm  101 . The door holding arm  101  may include teeth  117  which may be opposed to the channel  109 . The teeth  107  may mate with an end of a plunger shaft  119  which may extend longitudinally in the housing  107 . The plunger shaft  119  may extend through an aperture of a guide block  121  which may act as a collar for the plunger shaft  119  to stabilize the plunger shaft  119 . 
         [0021]    The plunger shaft  119  may engage the teeth  117  in order to stop the movement of the door holding arm  101  which may prevent the door from moving either open or closed and preventing an injury to the user of the door. The plunger shaft  119  may be withdrawn from the teeth  117  (see  FIG. 3 ) in order to allow the door holding arm  101  to move relatively freely with respect to the housing  107 , allowing the door of the vehicle  105  to move freely allowing the user to enter and exit the vehicle  105 . A plunger coil  123  may be energized in order to moves the plunger shaft  119  to engage or disengage with the teeth  117 . The plunger coil  123  may be connected to a battery  125  which may be the car battery such as 12 V battery which may be connected to a fuse box  127  and connected to switch  131  in order to control the plunger coil  123  and control the plunger shaft  119 . 
         [0022]    The bearing  111  may cooperate with a biasing device  113  which may include a spring to bias the bearing  111  in order to stabilize the door holding arm  101 . The spring may be connected to a movable wall  115  which extends and retracts within the housing  107 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show the door holding arm  101  being locked by the plunger shaft  119  in a first position, and  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the actuator  141  to raise and lower the plunger shaft  119  by energizing the plunger coil  123 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows the door holding arm  101  being unlocked and able to travel unrestrained by the plunger  119  in a second position. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the door holding device  100  and illustrates the actuator  141 , the door holding arm  101  and the guide block (collar)  121 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of the door holding device  100  of the present invention and illustrates the door holding arm  101 , the solenoid  141  and the guide block (collar)  121 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates the switch  131  which may be connected to the fuse  129  which may be connected to the solenoid  141 . 
         [0028]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.