Sliding Closures On Opposite Sides Of Body Patents (Class 296/155)
  • Publication number: 20110210576
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a sliding door has a safeguard with two mounting elements. One of the mounting elements is secured to the sliding door, while the other mounting element is arranged on a column bordering the sliding door. The mounting elements pass by each other given a sliding motion by the sliding door, and end up opposite each other during the motion of the sliding door, transversely to the sliding motion. As a result, the safeguard holds the sliding door against the column during a crash in which forces act perpendicularly on the sliding door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Markus Fischer, Michael Horneck
  • Patent number: 8007028
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure has a first structural member that at least partially defines an upper side of a door opening and a second structural member that extends downward from the first structural member and at least partially defines one side of the door opening. An elongated track member is attached on the first structural member. A sliding door is movably supported on the track member for movement along the track member between a closed position and an open position. A stopper bracket is rigidly attached on the second structural member. The stopper bracket is dimensioned and configured to absorb impacting forces of the sliding door as the sliding door moves from the closed position to the open position. The stopper bracket is rigidly attached to the track member such that the impacting forces are at least partially transmitted to the track member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Pencak, Naga A. Narayana
  • Patent number: 8004108
    Abstract: An electric power-feeding structure for feeding electric power to a moving body which is driven to be raised or lowered, includes: an arm having a distal end connected to the moving body movably in a direction perpendicular to a raising or lowering direction of the moving body, and a proximal end adapted to be rotatably driven so as to swing, to thereby drive the raising or lowering of the moving body. An electrical wire is routed alongside the arm, and one end of the electrical wire extending from the distal end of the arm is connected to the moving body to feed electric power to the moving body. In a vicinity of a rotating shaft of the arm, the electrical wire is routed around the rotating shaft to be bent and deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Suzuki, Atsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Takehiko Uehara, Katsuaki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7997639
    Abstract: A lower guide rail is mounted to a lower surface of a vehicle floor panel. Front and rear cable guides are provided on front and rear ends of the lower guide rail. A lower roller bracket fixed to a slide door is guided by the lower guide rail. An electric actuator unit is mounted to the lower surface of the floor panel. The electric actuator unit includes a cable wind/rewind drum. A watertight cover is mounted to the lower surface of the floor panel in a manner to cover the electric actuator unit. A first inner cable is guided by the front cable guide and has one end portion wound on the wind/rewind drum and the other end fixed to the lower roller bracket. A second inner cable is guided by the rear cable guide and has one end portion wound on the wind/rewind drum and the other end fixed to the lower roller bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhito Yokomori, Tomoya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7992921
    Abstract: The invention relates to an energy guide chain system comprising an energy guide chain for guiding cables, hoses or the like between a stationary and a movable connection point, an entrainment portion to which the energy guide chain is connected by way of the movable connection point, and a guide channel which has a hollow profile with a passage extending in the longitudinal direction for the entrainment portion, wherein the energy guide chain is guided in the guide passage in the longitudinal direction thereof in the form of two runs which are guided in mutually parallel relationship and which are connected to each other by way of a deflection region, as well as a sliding door system for a vehicle having the energy guide chain system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Igus GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Blase
  • Patent number: 7980622
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus for a sliding door includes a body-side fixture mounted on an automobile body, a door-side fixture mounted on the sliding door, and a flat cable gripped in the body-side fixture and the door-side fixture for supplying power to the sliding door. The flat cable is pulled out from the body-side fixture and/or the door-side fixture to form a convex flexural portion during opening and closing of the sliding door. The flat cable pull-out direction conforms with the protrusion direction of the convex flexural portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Enomoto Noritsugu, Ushiyama Masatoshi, Mukai Yasuhiko
  • Patent number: 7982589
    Abstract: A microcomputer executes initialization, which causes a memory of the microcomputer to store operational information of a window glass of a door therein in a state where no previous information is stored in the memory. The microcomputer cancels the initialization when an open state signal, which indicates an open state of the door, is outputted from a courtesy switch and/or a door closure. The microcomputer executes the initialization only when a close state signal, which indicates a close state of the door, is outputted from the courtesy switch and/or the door closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Utaka Naito, Takahiro Sumiya
  • Patent number: 7963587
    Abstract: A sliding door comprises a door structure and a guide rail. The door structure comprises a first surface, a second surface and at least one attachment assembly and defines at least one door aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface. The at least one attachment assembly comprises a first attachment member and a second attachment member. The second attachment member engages the first attachment member and extends through the at least one door aperture having at least a portion of the second attachment member extending beyond the second surface. The guide rail comprises a first contact surface and a second contact surface and defines at least one rail aperture configured to align with the at least one door aperture of the door structure. The second attachment member abuts the second contact surface of the guide rail. Methods of attaching a guide rail to a door structure are also provided herein. Vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, James Allen Hull, Jr., Matthew W. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7954880
    Abstract: A sliding door structure of a vehicle is provided for sliding a door body with respect to an opening portion of a vehicle body in forward and rearward directions of the vehicle body for opening and closing. The sliding door structure includes a rail disposed on the door body and aligned with the forward and rearward directions of the vehicle body. An arm protrudes from an edge portion on a door opening direction side of the opening portion of the vehicle body, and is configured to engage with the rail to hold the door body movably in the forward and rearward directions. The door body is able to slide in the door opening direction after engagement between the vehicle body side engagement portion and the arm side engagement portion when the arm pushes the door body outwardly in the width direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kunishima, Masaya Endo, Masato Yamamoto, Yukiko Jinishi
  • Patent number: 7950719
    Abstract: A vehicle rear door articulating and sliding mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof, and a vehicle rear door pivotally and slidably mounted to the hinge arm at an opposite end of the hinge arm. A guide track may be mounted to the rear door, and a slide block may be pivotally mounted to the hinge arm and slidably attached to the guide track. The hinge arm may be disposed at first and second angular positions relative to the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in closed and opened positions, and the slide block may be disposed at first and second positions along a length of the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in the closed and opened positions, to thus provide articulating and sliding movement of the rear door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian N. A. Elliott, Justin T. Johnson, Jason Falenski, Craig Blust
  • Patent number: 7941972
    Abstract: A powered opening and closing system includes a door supported on a vehicle body, a motor, a drive mechanism for moving the door in opening and closing directions by virtue of power of the motor, an operation detecting sensor for detecting a handle operation when the door is operated to open or close, and a control circuit for prohibiting the operation of the drive mechanism when a predetermined operation prohibiting condition is detected. The drive mechanism brakes the movement of the door by putting the clutch in an engaged state while the motor is kept stopped. While the predetermined operation prohibiting condition is detected, the control circuit controls the clutch to be engaged while keeping the motor stopped when an opening of the door is detected, and controls the clutch to be disengaged when an operation of the handle is detected by the operation detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Kamiya, Kenichi Iijima
  • Patent number: 7937893
    Abstract: The invention is a sliding door assembly operable move a vehicle door between an open and a closed position. The assembly includes a motor, reversibly operable to move the door towards one of the open and the closed position. A handle is mounted to the door and a handle sensor is provided, operable to detect the grasping of the handle. When the handle is grasped, a controller activates the motor to move the door when the handle sensor is triggered. Moving the door using the handle by at least a predetermined distance causes the controller to deactivate the motor, allowing manual movement of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Mirko Pribisic
  • Patent number: 7930855
    Abstract: A cost-reduced, downsized automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle is achieved by reducing the number of components thereof. A case of a driving unit is provided with a drum housing portion, and a driving drum is rotatably accommodated in the drum housing portion. An electric motor is attached to the case, and the driving drum is driven for rotation by the electric motor. A cable connected to a sliding door is wound around the driving drum. By rotation of the driving drum, the sliding door is opened and closed as being drawn by the cable. The case is provided with a substrate housing portion integrally with the drum housing portion, and a control substrate for controlling an operation of the electric motor is accommodated in the substrate housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignees: MITSUBA Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yoshida, Yoshitaka Sekine, Yoshitaka Urano, Taizo Kikuchi, Hidetoshi Ijuin, Ryuichi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20110089714
    Abstract: A roller assembly for a sliding vehicle closure includes a bracket secured to an associated sliding vehicle closure and a ball-type roller secured to the bracket at a location spaced apart from the associated sliding vehicle closure. The ball-type roller is fixed in position relative to the associated sliding vehicle closure during opening and closing thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kitayama
  • Patent number: 7928678
    Abstract: A device for controlling a speed of a door includes a detecting unit that detects a position of the door, and a control unit that controls the speed of the door in such a manner that an acceleration of the door becomes substantially zero at a point that is calculated based on the position. Thus, a target maximum speed of the door is adjusted depending on the remaining moving distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Imai, Tsunenori Senbongi
  • Patent number: 7909386
    Abstract: A rail system of a mounting and guide device for a sliding door of a motor vehicle is provided with a drawn-in rear part, by which the sliding door is displaceable between a closed position in which the sliding door closes a door opening and an open position in which the door is located laterally adjacent to the door opening. The rail system has a guide rail connected to the vehicle body, which is provided with an arc section, which is curved toward the vehicle middle following the drawn-in rear part and a first assembly assigned to the guide rail having a mounting unit engaging in the guide rail, which is displaceable along the guide rail with the aid of a least one displacement element. The rail system also has a support element rigidly connected to the mounting unit and projecting from the mounting unit in front of the displacement element, to which the sliding door is attached so it is pivotably movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Marcus Lange
  • Patent number: 7905543
    Abstract: A safety device in a closing-opening device of a vehicle which is provided with millimeter wave sensors as a detection device enables detecting an obstacle accurately for preventing a caught-in accident in advance caused by the closing-opening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyasu Ito
  • Publication number: 20110057473
    Abstract: A routing structure of an operating cable of a vehicle comprising a power slide door, comprises: a retractor of a seatbelt device placed between a vehicle body panel and an interior material covering an inner side of a vehicle body panel facing an interior of a vehicle chamber; a webbing pulled out from the retractor, the webbing being passed through an opening of the interior material, and pulled out from a back part of the interior material towards an inner side of the vehicle chamber; the operating cable for the power slide door routed between the vehicle body panel and the interior material by crossing over a back part of the webbing, wherein a restricting piece, restricting a displacement of the operating cable towards a direction approaching the webbing, is provided on the interior material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shirena TAKAI, Masafumi ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 7896425
    Abstract: A simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door is provided. The system includes a simultaneous movement system comprising first and second primary hinge arms, first and second secondary hinge arms, primary and secondary rails and guide track. The second primary hinge arm and the second secondary hinge arm are pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure on one end and are pivotally mounted to a primary slide and a secondary slide at the other ends respectively. The first primary hinge arm includes a guide track region and a rail region. The primary rail receives a primary slide. The secondary rail receives a secondary slide. The guide track receive the guide track region of the primary hinge arm thereby allowing the primary hinge arm to travel along both the guide track and the primary rail simultaneously through the guide track region and the rail region of the primary hinge arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Elliott, Jason Falenski, David Lechkun, Craig Blust
  • Patent number: 7887118
    Abstract: A simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door includes a vehicle door having a door inner panel, first and second outboard members, first and second inboard members, first and second guide tracks, a third curved guide track, first and second points on the second outboard member, and first and second slide members. The first and second guide tracks are operatively mounted to the vehicle door. The third curved guide track may be operatively mounted to the vehicle door and is configured to receive a second point on the second outboard hinge arm. The first point on the second outboard hinge arm may be pivotally mounted on a second slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott, Jason Falenski, Dave Michael Lechkun, Craig Blust
  • Patent number: 7878575
    Abstract: A livestock trailer with sliding safety door having a trailer with a two section sliding door mounted at the rear and hung from a slidable rail assembly at the top and retained by a guide at the bottom wherein the guides are steel reinforced. The sliding safety door, being secured at top and bottom, facilitates the loading and unloading of livestock by minimizing injuries sustained from kicking the door and eliminating injuries sustained when utilizing prior art swinging door type livestock trailers. The sliding door mechanism further eliminates the need to reposition the trailer while docking to a loading ramp so as to provide clearance to operate the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Roy Wall, Tonja Wall
  • Patent number: 7876202
    Abstract: A device for controlling the height of a load or load carrier behind the cab of a truck includes a sensor supported on a power operated air deflector on the roof of the cab. The sensor is arranged, during vertical movement of the rear end of the air deflector, to sense the maximum height of the load or the load carrier behind the cab and to send signals representing the maximum height to an indicator inside the cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Benny Liljeblad, Tobias Vikström
  • Patent number: 7866732
    Abstract: A sliding door drive assembly for a motor vehicle having a sliding door includes a transmission operatively connected to a motor for transmitting a rotating force to an output shaft. A cable drum is fixedly secured to the output shaft and rotates therewith. First and second cables are wound about the cable drum in opposite directions. The first cable extends from the cable drum forward along the sliding door. The second cable extends from the cable drum rearward along the sliding door. Support guides extend tangentially out from the cable drum to guide the first and second cables outwardly and away from the cable drum along a path minimizing frictional forces. Front and rear pulley assemblies are mounted to the motor vehicle and are operatively coupled to the first and second cables between the sliding door drive assembly and the sliding door for tensioning the first and second cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Lance Oxley
  • Patent number: 7866731
    Abstract: A power operator assembly is provided for moving a sliding door between a sliding door of a motor vehicle between a closed position and an open position. The power operator assembly includes a guide rail fixedly secured to the motor vehicle and defining a rail length. A slide mechanism slidingly engages the guide rail. A drive is fixedly secured to the guide rail for selectively moving the slide mechanism along the guide rail in either direction. First and second cables each extend between the sliding door and the slide mechanism for moving the sliding door as the slide mechanism is driven along the guide rail. A compound pulley set is operatively connected to the drive and receives the first and second cables for powered movement of the sliding door a multiplied distance greater than the rail length as the slide mechanism is driven along the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: G. Clarke Oberheide, Bruce R. Cluney
  • Patent number: 7854093
    Abstract: An automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle, which is provided with a tensioner mechanism for applying a predetermined tension to a cable member, is downsized. A case of a driving unit is provided with a tensioner housing, and the tensioner mechanism for applying the predetermined tension to a cable is accommodated in the tensioner housing. The tensioner mechanism includes a pulley holder movably mounted on a guide shaft, and a spring for biasing the pulley holder, wherein a movable pulley is rotatably supported by the pulley holder. The cable drawn in the tensioner housing is wound about the movable pulley so that a direction in which the cable is drawn out from the case is substantially parallel to a direction in which the cable is drawn out from a driving drum, whereby the predetermined tension is applied to the cable by a spring force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: MITSUBA Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Yoshida, Yoshitaka Sekine, Yoshitaka Urano, Hiroshi Eguchi, Satoshi Nagamoto
  • Patent number: 7845049
    Abstract: Door assemblies having magnetized bumpers for use with vehicles are disclosed. The door assemblies comprise a bumper assembly for use in a vehicle having a door that when fully opens contacts an adjacent body panel. The bumper assembly includes a bumper having a base and a distal end opposite the base. The base is configured for fixed attachment to the first exterior surface of a vehicle. The bumper is made of an elastomer and/or plastic and is configured for removable engagement with a second exterior surface. A magnet is provided with at least a portion of the magnet embedded in the body between the distal end and the base. The magnet is located within the bumper sufficiently close to the distal end to exert an attractive magnetic force sufficient to retain a door in contact with the bumper but without the magnet directly touching the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Cutting
  • Patent number: 7823330
    Abstract: A cable drum assembly for a power drive assembly for a vehicle sliding door, the cable drum assembly comprising: a first drum configured for use as a front drum or a rear drum of the cable drum assembly, the first drum having a first plurality of locating holes; and a second drum configured for use as a front drum or a rear drum of the cable drum assembly, the second drum having a second plurality of locating holes, the first plurality of locating holes have a first pair of locating holes configured to align with a first pair of location holes of the second plurality of locating holes when the first drum is used as a rear drum of the drum assembly and the second drum is used as a front drum of the drum assembly and the second plurality of locating holes have a second pair of locating holes configured to align with a second pair of location holes of the first plurality of locating holes when the first drum is used as a front drum of the drum assembly and the second drum is used as a rear drum of the drum assem
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Strattec Power Access LLC
    Inventors: Artur J. Ostrowski, Kevin Wright, Jae-Joung Im, Daniela L. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 7814704
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power slide door having an operable window for a vehicle for preventing an entrapment between the power slide door and a vehicle body by limiting a slidable range of the power slide door by portion of a stopper, which the stopper functions in a condition where the window is opened more than or equal to a certain range, the method comprising steps of judging if the entrapment is generated within a predetermined range in which the power slide door can be stopped by portion of the stopper in a condition where the entrapment with a foreign object is generated during an opening operation of the power slide door, performing a reverse operation of the power slide door in a closing direction by a certain distance in a condition where the entrapment is generated within the predetermined range, and stopping the power slide door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Suzuki, Eiji Itami, Masahiko Ito, Masayuki Nomura
  • Patent number: 7815242
    Abstract: An automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle is downsized, and cost of the automatic opening/closing apparatus is reduced by reducing the number of its components. A driving drum is rotatably accommodated in a main body case of a driving unit, and one ends of cables are connected to a sliding door and the other ends are wound around the driving drum. An electric motor is attached to the main body case, and the driving drum is driven for rotation. A tensioner mechanism applying a predetermined tension to the cables is accommodated in the main body case. A control device, including a control substrate and a substrate case for accommodating the control substrate, is disposed to be overlapped on an axial-directional side of the driving drum to a portion of the main body case for accommodating the tensioner mechanism, whereby an operation of the electric motor is controlled by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Yoshida, Yoshitaka Sekine, Yoshitaka Urano, Hiroshi Eguchi, Satoshi Nagamoto
  • Patent number: 7814637
    Abstract: An installation apparatus for installing a wire harness over a fixed structural body and a movable structural body which is slidingly movable to the fixed structural body, the installation apparatus includes a case that receives the wire harness such that the wire harness extends in a sliding direction of sliding movement of the movable structural body, and is folded back into a generally U-shape; and a slider that holds a distal end-side portion of the wire harness extending from the folded-back portion toward a distal end of the wire harness, and is slidably supported on the case so as to move in the sliding direction of the movable structural body, and is operatively connected to the movable structural body so as to move in accordance with the sliding movement of the movable structural body. A slit is formed in a wall of the case, and extends in the sliding direction of the movable structural body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyasu Terada
  • Patent number: 7810864
    Abstract: An opening and closing device includes an electrically conductive fixed body, a movable body, a drive motor, a speed control device, a detection assembly, and a determining device. The electrically conductive fixed body defines an opening portion therein. The movable body is displaceable between a full closed position and a full open position. The drive motor drives the movable body to open and close the opening portion of the fixed body. The detection assembly includes a sensor electrode. The determining device computes, as a detection value, a change amount of the capacitance at the sensor electrode per a predetermined constant measuring time based on the change of the capacitance detected by the sensor electrode. The determining device compares the detection value with a constant threshold value, and determines whether the object exists between the movable body and the periphery of the opening portion based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7805887
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism and a worm wheel are disposed in such a manner as to be aligned or superposed on each other via a base plate held therebetween. A circular swollen portion is formed on the base plate in such a manner as to project from one side to another side of the base plate. The swollen portion is disposed in such a manner as to face the worm wheel, and a side of a field core of a clutch mechanism is accommodated within a dish-shaped recess formed on a rear side of the swollen portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichiro Kita
  • Patent number: 7798557
    Abstract: A vehicle rear door articulating and sliding mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof, and a vehicle rear door pivotally and slidably mounted to the hinge arm at an opposite end of the hinge arm. A guide track may be mounted to the rear door, and a slide block may be pivotally mounted to the hinge arm and slidably attached to the guide track. The hinge arm may be disposed at first and second angular positions relative to the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in closed and opened positions, and the slide block may be disposed at first and second positions along a length of the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in the closed and opened positions, to thus provide articulating and sliding movement of the rear door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian N. A. Elliott, Justin T. Johnson, Jason Falenski, Henry Hausler, Dave M. Lechkun
  • Patent number: 7789022
    Abstract: The invention relates to a railway vehicle including a body defining a wall in which an access passage is embodied, at least one closing sliding door, a sealing joint carried by the door and applicable to the wall when said door in a closed position. Said wall includes a panel provided with a generally cylindrical envelop and a seat which is protruded with respect to said panel and defines a bearing surface for supporting the joint only when the door is in the closed position, wherein said bearing surface of a supporting element extends along a profile substantially identical to the joint profile and said joint profile extends transversely with respect to the door displacement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventors: Claude Pujol, Jérôme Jung
  • Patent number: 7770961
    Abstract: A sliding door drive assembly for a motor vehicle having a sliding door includes a transmission operatively connected to a motor for transmitting a rotating force to an output shaft. A cable drum is fixedly secured to the output shaft and rotates therewith. First and second cables are wound about the cable drum in opposite directions. The first cable extends from the cable drum forward along the sliding door. The second cable extends from the cable drum rearward along the sliding door. Support guides extend tangentially out from the cable drum to guide the first and second cables outwardly and away from the cable drum along a path minimizing frictional forces. Front and rear pulley assemblies are mounted to the motor vehicle and are operatively coupled to the first and second cables between the sliding door drive assembly and the sliding door for tensioning the first and second cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Lance Oxley
  • Patent number: 7765740
    Abstract: A sliding door for a vehicle comprises a guide rail, a sliding carriage which is longitudinally displaceably on the guide rail and a hinge bow which is rotatably supported at the sliding carriage and at a body flange. To improve such a sliding door, an intermediate layer is provided which is rotatably supported at the sliding carriage, a control lever which is rotatably supported at the intermediate lever and at a body flange and a drive rod for the drive of the control lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Body & Glass Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Heuel, Michael Krehmke, Ralf Rottmann
  • Patent number: 7758102
    Abstract: An interior armrest for a sliding door assembly of a motor vehicle having a hollow housing that is pivotally movable about a pivot axis between a horizontal position for use as an armrest and a vertical position for storage is disclosed. The housing includes an actuator for automatically moving the armrest to the vertical position from the horizontal position as the sliding door moves between the closed and the open position. The armrest is disposed within a recess of the sliding door assembly when in the vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Quigley, Robert Smyczynski, Irina Zavatski
  • Patent number: 7753436
    Abstract: An operator cab for heavy equipment is described to prevent a sliding door mounted on the cab from rocking or rattling in X, Y, and Z-axis directions due to a shock or vibration applied to the cab in a state that the sliding door is fully opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignees: Volvo Construction Equipment Holding Sweden AB, Press Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang Tae Kim, Hideo Kosaka, Yasushi Uchida
  • Patent number: 7748770
    Abstract: A sliding door for a vehicle is provided, the door particularly for a motor vehicle. In some examples, the sliding door comprises an inside, having a guide rail which is mounted in a sliding carriage so as to be longitudinally movable. In further examples, there is a hinge pin on the vehicle, the hinge pin for a hinge coulisse which is provided at the sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Body & Glass Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Heuel, Ralf Rottmann
  • Patent number: 7730669
    Abstract: Elongate bases (10) for guiding a movable end (37) of a conductor path (30). Cross sections taken through the bases substantially normal to the elongation directions of the bases are substantially identical to one another and substantially constant along the elongation direction of the bases. Thus, the bases (10) can be obtained by cutting an elongated raw material to a specified length in conformity with a vehicle type, thereby enabling a cost reduction. Further, since the bases (10) are symmetrical with a moving path of the movable end (37) located therebetween, it is sufficient to prepare only one kind of elongated raw material. In this respect as well, costs can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Kida, Shigeru Suzuki, Yoshinao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7731270
    Abstract: A door bracket is mounted to a vehicle sliding door. A primary track is mounted along a side and extends to a remote end. A roller bracket having rollers received by the primary track is movable between a first position proximate the opening and a second position at the remote end. A link is pivotally joined to the roller bracket by a first pivot and pivotally joined to the door bracket by a second pivot. The link is rotatable around the first pivot between a first orientation and a second orientation. The link comprises an extension arm extending from the link toward the primary track. A shift mechanism contacts the extension arm when the roller bracket is at an intermediate trip point so that the link shifts from its first orientation to its second orientation when the sliding door is being opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Fischer, Teru Tseng, Edward M. Sanocki, James A. Rochon, Eric A. Watterworth
  • Patent number: 7726723
    Abstract: A slide door structure of an automobile which enables occupants to get in and out with ease even in a narrow parking space because the door of the automobile can be largely opened and capable of reducing the constraints on the design of the body of the automobile. Forward lower rail boards (11, 13) are positioned on the lower part of the body (1) at the front of a rear wheel house (5) when the slide doors (2, 3) are closed and, when the slide doors (2, 3) are opened, extracted from the front side of the rear wheel house (5) to the outside rear side of the body (1) by the rotation of a front link mechanism, and a rear lower rail board (12) is positioned on the lower part of the body (1) at the rear of the rear wheel house (5) when the slide doors (2, 3) are closed and, when the slide doors (2, 3) are opened, extracted from the rear side of the rear wheel house (5) to the outside front side of the body (1) by the rotation of a rear link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Hisashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7717493
    Abstract: A sliding door system for a motor vehicle, including a door that is configured to be disposed within a door opening that is formed in the vehicle body, a trim panel connected to the door, and an opening formed through the trim panel. A hinge arm extends through the opening in the trim panel and has a first end connected to the vehicle body and a second end slidably connected to the door for movement of the door between a closed position and an open position. A closure panel is moveable between a deployed position, wherein the closure panel obstructs at least a portion of the opening in the trim panel, and a stowed position, wherein the closure panel does not obstruct the opening in the trim panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Patent number: 7708334
    Abstract: A slide door apparatus for a vehicle includes a driving device mounted to a slide door and a guide pulley unit mounted to the slide door. The guide pulley unit includes a plurality of guide pulleys each having first and second guide grooves. The guide pulley unit further includes first and second housing members for housing the plurality of guide pulleys, and a separating member provided between the first and second housing members for separating the first and second guide grooves of each of the plurality of guide pulleys. The slide door apparatus further includes a cable connected to the driving device and to a vehicle body. A first portion of the cable is disposed into the first groove of each of the plurality of guide pulleys. A second portion of the cable is disposed into the second groove of each of the plurality of guide pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Yamada, Yasuhiro Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20100102591
    Abstract: A sliding, toollessly removable side window for an Off-Highway or On-Highway vehicle includes a spring-back frame fixed to a longitudinal side of the vehicle which comprises a main frame and sub-frame joined by a corner bracket assembly and a spring loaded frame release latch where the latch is used to open and close the spring-back frame, a first pane installed in the spring-back frame where when the frame is opened the first pane can easily be removed for cleaning, etc., a second pane slidably mounted in the spring-back frame on a main frame guide rail assembly, a duck bill latch attached to the second pane which is adapted to release the second pane from a locked position in the main frame to be opened or closed by the operator where a guide mechanism is provided to guide the second pane the operator slides it to an open or closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: J-Dak, Inc.
    Inventors: F. C. Maynard, Clifford L. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7703837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle door for closing a door opening provided in a vehicle frame, and to a vehicle door system with the vehicle door according to the invention. The vehicle door has body panels, an inner panel which, in the fitted position, faces the vehicle interior, and an outer panel which, in the fitted position, faces away from the vehicle interior, said panels being connected fixedly to each other and delimiting a cavity. With the proviso of providing a vehicle door of the type mentioned at the beginning, which can be produced in a less complicated manner, it is proposed that an end panel for delimiting the cavity is provided as a further body panel at least on one narrow side of the vehicle door, and that the end panel is connected fixedly laterally to the outer panel and the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Lichter, Thomas Benderoth
  • Patent number: 7703838
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism of the present power device comprises a fixed gear member, a moving gear member engaged with the fixed gear member when moving to a clutch connecting position, an armature for moving the moving gear member to the clutch connecting position when rotated relatively to the moving gear member, an electromagnetic coil unit for applying a brake resistance to the armature, and a clutch holding surface for abutting against the moving gear member when the electromagnetic coil unit is turned off in the clutch connecting state and for holding the moving gear member at a brake-clutch connecting position. The abutment of the moving gear member against the clutch holding surface is released by rotating the moving gear member relatively to the armature in a state in which the electromagnetic coil unit is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhito Yokomori
  • Patent number: 7703834
    Abstract: A modular reconfigurable bumper system for an off road vehicle includes a center base mountable to the front of the vehicle. The center base has ends, a top face, and a front face. A pair of first mounting locations having associated mounting holes are located on the front face of the center base adjacent its ends and a pair of second mounting locations having associated mounting holes are located on the top face adjacent the ends of the center base. A pair of third mounting locations are located on the ends of the center base. A plurality of optional accessories including end plates, end extenders, an overrider, a prerunner, a stinger, and D-rings are selectively mountable to the center base, all via the first, second, and third mounting locations. The system also includes a rear bumper assembly mountable to the back of the vehicle and having a hinged spare tire carrier and D-rings selectively attachable to the rear bumper via common fourth mounting locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Omix-Ada, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Hardy, Patrick W. Bennett
  • Patent number: 7698855
    Abstract: A opening control apparatus for a sliding door of a vehicle, includes a driving source, a clutch arranged to connect the driving source and the sliding door in an engaged state and to disconnect the driving source and the sliding door in a disengaged state, and a control section. The control section brings the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state when a measured distance of movement of the sliding door from a stop position to a position in one of an opening direction and a closing direction reaches a first predetermined distance and then a measured distance of movement of the sliding door from the position in the one of the opening and closing directions reaches a second predetermined distance, and drives the sliding door to move in the one of the opening and closing directions by the driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Imai, Tsunenori Senbongi
  • Patent number: 7690718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powered guide chain system (1), comprising a powered guide chain (3), for guiding cables (4), hoses or the like between a stationary and a mobile connection point, a driver (7) to which the powered guide chain (3) is connected via the mobile connection point, and a guide channel (8), which comprises a hollow profile with a passage (9) for the driver (7), extending in the longitudinal direction, whereby the powered guide chain (3) is guided into the guide channel (8) in the longitudinal direction thereof, forming two runs which are guided parallel to each other and connected to each other via a deviation area. The invention also relates to a sliding door system (2) for a vehicle, provided with said powered guide chain system (1). The aim of the invention is to obtain an easy and safe guidance of cables (4), hoses or the like in at least two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Igus GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Blase