Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Work vehicles, such as skid steer loaders or compact track loaders, include a cab structure to protect the operator. The cab structures fully enclosure the operator and include an elongated door that is pivotably connected to the cab structure. During operation, it may be possible for the lifting structure associated with the work vehicle that manipulates an attachment such as a bucket, to stall in a position that prevents the door from pivoting sufficiently with respect to the cab structure, thereby trapping an operator inside of the cab structure. Moreover, in case the operator is incapacitated or otherwise unable to operate egress equipment accessible only from interior of the cab structure, extreme measures, such as removing the attachment from the work vehicle, which may not be possible, or otherwise damaging the cab structure to extricate the operator may be required. 
         [0002]    Accordingly, it would be desirable for a door assembly having features permitting easy manual removal of the door assembly from exterior (as well as interior) of the work vehicle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a door escape includes a hinge member securable to a door pivotably movable between an open position and a closed position relative to an enclosure. A first securing device secures the hinge member to the door. The first securing device is manually removable from the hinge member from exterior of the enclosure, permitting removal of the door from the enclosure. A second securing device secures the hinge member to the door. The second securing device is manually removable from the hinge member from interior of the enclosure, permitting removal of the door from the enclosure. 
         [0004]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a door escape includes a hinge member securable to a door pivotably movable between an open position and a closed position relative to an enclosure. A first securing device secures the hinge member to the door. The first securing device is manually removable from the hinge member from exterior of the enclosure, permitting removal of the door from the enclosure. A second securing device secures the hinge member to the door. The second securing device is manually removable from the hinge member from interior of the enclosure, permitting removal of the door from the enclosure. Mating support features are formed in corresponding portions of the hinge member and the door. 
         [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for removing a door from an enclosure including providing a hinge member secured to a door pivotably movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the enclosure. The method further includes providing a first securing device for securing the hinge member to the door, the first securing device being manually removable from the hinge member from exterior of the enclosure. The method further includes providing a second securing device for securing the hinge member to the door, the second securing device being manually removable from the hinge member from interior of the enclosure. The method further includes manually removing the first securing device or the second securing device. 
         [0006]    An advantage of the door escape of the present invention is an ability to manually access and remove a door from either a position interior or exterior of an enclosure (i.e., from either side of the door). 
         [0007]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of an embodiment of a work machine. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are respective front and upper perspective views of an exterior surface of a door assembly of the work machine. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are respective front and upper perspective views of an interior surface of a door assembly of the work machine. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  is an exploded view of the door assembly of  FIG. 2B . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4B  is an exploded view of the door assembly of  FIG. 3B . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, partial view of the door assembly of an exemplary embodiment taken along region  5  of  FIG. 4A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a work vehicle  10  having a lifting structure  12  that includes an arrangement of structural members and actuators controllable by an operator (not shown) to manipulate an implement  14  to perform work. Work vehicle  10  further includes an enclosure or enclosed space, such as a cab structure  15  to surround and protect the operator. As further shown in  FIG. 1 , cab structure  15  supports a door assembly  16  that is pivotably connected along one side of the door assembly about a pair of hinge assemblies  22  ( FIG. 2A ) to cab structure  15  to provide operator ingress/egress to work vehicle  10 . Door assembly  16  includes a handle and latch to maintain the door assembly in a closed position in a manner that is well known and will not be further discussed herein.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show different views of an exterior surface  52  of a substantially transparent door  20  of the door assembly.  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show different views of an interior surface  54  of substantially transparent door  20  of the door assembly. As further shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the door assembly includes a pair of hinge assemblies  22  that are secured to substantially transparent door  20 . 
         [0015]    For purposes of the disclosure, the terms door and door assembly may be used interchangeably. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show respective exploded views of the door assemblies of  FIGS. 2B and 3B . For purposes of clarity, two exemplary embodiments will be discussed based from  FIG. 5 , which is taken from region  5  of  FIG. 4A . 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, As shown in  FIG. 5 , which permits an operator to manually remove the door assembly from interior of cab structure  15  ( FIG. 1 ), facing an interior surface  54  of door  20  is securing device  28 , such as a thumb screw or threaded fastener with a knurled and/or otherwise easily grasped head for manual installation or removal of the securing device with respect to the door. It is to be understood that the term manual, manually and the like, such as manual installation, manually removeable and the like refers to the ability of an individual to install, remove and the like of the securing device without requiring hand tools. Securing device  28  includes a shank portion or shank  29  that extends through a washer  30  and a resilient spacer  50  that is positioned in an opening  48  formed in substantially transparent door  20 . Shank  29  further extends through an aperture  40  formed in a resilient member  38  that abuts exterior surface  52  of door  20  and then is threadedly inserted into a threaded opening  36  formed in receiving member  32 . In another embodiment, shank  29  can engage opening  36  such as in the form of a ball-lock or other type of manually actuated engagement therebetween, i.e., without either shank  29  or opening  36  being threaded. Although threaded opening  36  may extend through receiving member  32 , shank  29  is sized so as to only partially extend into (and not entirely through) receiving member  32 . In a yet further embodiment, shank  29  may extend through receiving member  32  and threadedly engage an aperture  27  formed in a hinge member  24 , also commonly referred to as a hinge wing. As will be discussed in further detail below, it is to be understood that with this further embodiment, the door assembly would be manually removable only from interior of cab structure  15 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 5  shows hinge wing or hinge member  24  that is included as part of hinge assembly  22 . One end of hinge wing or hinge member  24  includes a hollow cap  46  that pivotably engages a hinge pin (not shown) forming a hinged connection that is well known and not further discussed herein. As further shown in  FIG. 5 , hinge member  24  includes a support feature  42 A, such as an opening that corresponds with a mating support feature  42 B, such as a protrusion configured to receive the opening formed in frame  18  of door assembly  16  ( FIG. 1 ). In another embodiment, support features  42 A and  42 B may be reversed. The purpose of support features  42 A and  42 B is to support the weight of the door assembly in response to inadvertent removal of at least one of securing device  28  (i.e., having respective heads positioned interior and/or exterior of the cab structure). That is, in order for the door to be removed or separated from the cab structure subsequent to removal of securing device  28 , sufficient force, typically applied in a direction parallel to the protruding portion of support features  42 A and  42 B, is required. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment that permits removal of the door from exterior of cab structure  15  ( FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment, securing device  28  having a shank  29 , such as previously discussed is inserted through a washer  30  and then through an aperture  26  formed in hinge member  24 . Shank  29  further extends and is threadedly engaged with a threaded opening  34  formed in receiving member  32 . In another embodiment, shank  29  can engage opening  34  such as in the form of a ball-lock or other type of manually actuated engagement therebetween, i.e., without either shank  29  or opening  34  being threaded. Similar to a previous embodiment, shank  29  is of insufficient length to extend through threaded opening  34  of receiving member  32 . Hinge member  24  includes support features  42 A and  42 B as previously discussed above. 
         [0020]    In operation, to remove the door from exterior of the cab structure without actuating the door handle from its latched position, shank  29  of each of the pair of securing devices  28  having respective heads positioned exterior of the cab structure and facing exterior surface  52  of door  20  is sufficiently rotated in a direction to remove the securing device  28  from threaded opening  34 , followed by a sufficient force directed at least partially, if not substantially parallel to the direction of a protrusion of support features  42 A and  42 B, resulting in separation of hinge member  24  from both frame  18  and receiving member  32 . 
         [0021]    Similarly, to remove the door from interior of the cab structure without actuating the door handle from its latched position, shank  29  of each of the pair of securing devices  28  having respective heads positioned interior of the cab structure and facing interior surface  54  of door  20  is sufficiently rotated in a direction to remove the securing device  28  from threaded opening  36 , followed by application of a sufficient force directed at least partially, if not substantially parallel to the direction of a protrusion of support features  42 A and  42 B, resulting in separation of receiving member  32  from door  20  and separation of support features  42 A and  42 B between hinge member  24  and frame  18 . 
         [0022]    It is to be realized that in view of the above, one having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that for an embodiment in which each shank  29  of respective securing devices  28  having respective heads positioned interior of the cab structure, extending through threaded opening  36  and then threadedly engaging apertures  27  of hinge member  24 , removal of securing devices  28  having respective heads positioned exterior of the cab structure would not result in removal of the door. 
         [0023]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 4