Operator Drives Closure Along Guide Patents (Class 49/360)
  • Patent number: 9476245
    Abstract: A door cable pulley system for use with a motor vehicle having a closure movable between an open and closed position. The door cable pulley system includes a first tension pulley, a second tension pulley, a cable drum driven by a motor, and a pair of drive cables. The first drive cable includes a first end coupled to the cable drum and a second end coupled to the closure, where the first drive cable extends from the cable drum, passes over the first tension pulley, and exits the body through the second exit opening. The second drive cable includes a first end coupled to the cable drum and a second end coupled to the closure, where the second drive cable extends from the cable drum, passes over the second tension pulley, and exits the body through the first exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC
    Inventor: Eric R. Hansen
  • Patent number: 9458656
    Abstract: An internally powered sliding panel has a power source and drive train contained internally within the stiles and rails of a frame. A driven wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame and connected to the power source via the drive train. The panel may further include a lift system including a second power source, a lift mechanism, and a lift drive which are contained internally within the stiles and rails of the frame. The power sources, drive train, lift mechanism, and lift drive may be contained completely inside the stiles and rails of the frame. The movement of the panel along a fixed path, and the raising and lowering of the panel, may be regulated by a control system. The control system includes a microcontroller and sensor used to determine the position of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ANDERSEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brad Mickelson
  • Patent number: 9399388
    Abstract: A guide-pulley device is equipped with: a guide pulley having a plurality of grooves configured so as to independently accommodate two cables for moving in a manner such that when one moves in a winding direction, the other moves in a feeding direction; and a storage body for storing the guide pulley. The storage body has first and second storage members which attach to one another. The first storage member has a base on which a support shaft for supporting the guide pulley stands upright. The second storage member has a lid section which faces the base section. The first storage member also has a partition wall for forming two routing channels for routing each of the cables, and a plurality of hooks projecting from the partition into the grooves. The base, the partition wall, and the hooks are formed integrally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yasunaga, Kazuo Kojima
  • Patent number: 9199716
    Abstract: A door system for an aircraft or spacecraft having a door and an actuator for actuating the door. The actuator includes an actuator drive which moves the door in relation to the aircraft or spacecraft, a detection device which determines movement information of the door and/or of the actuator, an actuator control unit which controls the actuator based on the movement information, and an actuator housing which surrounds the actuator drive and the actuator control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Knijnenburg
  • Patent number: 9169676
    Abstract: A latch device for vehicle LA provided on a door D of a vehicle, including: a latch 20, which meshes with a striker S; a ratchet 30, which regulates rotation of the latch 20; a detecting sensor 200 including a body 201 and terminals 202a and 202b exposed from the body 201, which detects operation of the latch 20 or the ratchet 30; and a main body 40 in which the detecting sensor 200 is arranged, wherein the main body 40 includes a discharging portion 417 formed on a position corresponding to the terminals 202a and 202b of the latch detecting sensor 200, and the terminals 202a and 202b of the detecting sensor 200 are arranged on an upper side of a vehicle than the discharging portion 417 in a state in which the door D is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Watanabe, Shintaro Okawa
  • Patent number: 9089047
    Abstract: A grounded belt and drawer apparatus including a drawer, mounted on a first track, a tensioner body having a first pulley, a supporting member, and a first belt. The drawer moveable on a first line in a first direction and a second direction. The tensioner body mounted on a second track and moveable in the first direction and the second direction. The first belt having a first end and a second end, rounded over the first pulley, and a first segment and second segment extending distally from the first pulley in the first direction. The first belt conductively connected to the drawer and to a first fixed point which forms a conductive path from the drawer to the first fixed point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ross T. Fredericksen, Don A. Gilliland, Dennis J. Wurth
  • Patent number: 9050878
    Abstract: A motor vehicle sliding door that may be supported by a pillar of the motor vehicle and having a sliding door assembly with a self-adaptive carriage. The self-adaptive carriage can allow for attachment of the door to the vehicle body at the A, B, or C pillars with reduced movement efforts and increased stability while accommodating manufacturing tolerance variation over large scale production runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: DURA GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Hendren, Ali Tavakoli Targhi, Alex M. Langreet
  • Patent number: 9045919
    Abstract: A pneumatic door system and a method of using the same are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a trailer may include a seamless main door and at least one side door. The doors may be configured to be locked shut with a system of pneumatic locks. The main door may be configured to open and close as controlled by pneumatic pressure applied to a door cylinder. The pneumatic system may be configured to be controlled by an interior control box. The pneumatic system may be configured to operate off of pneumatic pressure in an auxiliary air tank, the pressure being protected by a series of one-way check valves. The pneumatic system may also be configured to operate wirelessly using RFID or Bluetooth technology, among other things, to secure the cargo and facilitate ingress and egress to the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: COLD CHAIN, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel M. Aragon, Peter J. Wachtell, John J. Prehn, Todd J. Lindsey, John C. Cash
  • Patent number: 9038317
    Abstract: A power actuator for a window in a building includes a drive unit, a cable system, and a controller. The drive unit is positioned within a sill of the window. The cable system is engagable with the drive unit for moving a pane of the window relative to a window frame between an opened position and a closed position. The controller is electrically coupled to the drive unit and a power outlet located in the building and connected to an external power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC
    Inventor: Eric Hansen
  • Patent number: 9038316
    Abstract: An automatic patio sliding door for residential (home) use is created using an existing motorized automatic system which is now in use in commercial, industrial, and public building entrances. A method incorporating a bracket system is used to apply the commercial (hanging track type) automatic door system to existing residential patio sliding doors or to new patio sliding doors. The purpose is to provide hands free opening and closing of patio glass or screen doors (single or double panels). This allows for ease of use of sliding doors when hands are full, guarantees the closing of screen doors or glass doors behind the person to prevent insects getting into the house or loss of air conditioning in the house, and provides an easy access door system in the home for the physically handicapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Richard Von Gerichten
  • Patent number: 9021742
    Abstract: An opening and closing apparatus includes: a drive unit provided in an opening and closing body which is openably and closeably attached to a main body, and opening and closing the opening and closing body with respect to the main body by driving the opening and closing body using electric power; a secondary energy storage device provided in the opening and closing body and electrically connected to the drive unit in such a manner that the secondary energy storage device can be inductively charged and can supply electric power to the drive unit; and an electric power receiving coil provided in the opening and closing body so as to be capable of facing an electric power transmitting coil which is provided on the main body, and is electrically connected to a primary energy storage device installed on the main body, and electrically connected to the secondary energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kotaro Mizuma, Gang Xie, Takashi Nakamura, Seiichi Sumiya, Michihiro Asai, Tomio Yasuda, Kazuhiko Ida, Hiroyuki Kishi
  • Patent number: 9016762
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure 1 comprises a slide door panel 6 for opening and closing a front region of a rear door opening in a vehicle body 2, a swing door panel 7 for opening and closing a rear region of the rear door opening in cooperation with the slide door panel 6, an opening degree detection mechanism 30 for presuming a locked state on the slide door panel 6 and swing door panel 7 by detecting the opening degree of the slide door panel 6, and a handle idling mechanism 31, provided with the swing door panel 7, for nullifying an operation of a swing door handle 10 when the swing door panel 7 is fully closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshio Ojima, Katsuya Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9010026
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of operating a movable barrier operator includes engaging a flexible driven member with a drive of the movable barrier operator. The method includes moving the flexible driven member in a first direction to move a movable barrier connected to the driven member and monitoring the position of the movable barrier. In response to the movable barrier reaching a given position, the driven member is moved in a second direction without moving the movable barrier to remove slack from the driven member. A movable barrier apparatus includes a movable barrier controller operatively coupled to the movable barrier operator. The movable barrier controller is configured to cause the movable barrier operator to reverse direction of the flexible driven member a distance after stopping movement of the movable barrier without moving the movable barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: James Scott Murray, William George Gioia
  • Patent number: 9008909
    Abstract: In an in-vehicle device which is carried on an automotive vehicle, an operation unit causes the vehicle to execute a predetermined operation in response to a remote control request from a user. A detection unit detects existence of a moving object in a passenger compartment of the vehicle or in areas surrounding the vehicle. An operation inhibition unit inhibits execution of the predetermined operation by the operation unit when existence of the moving object is detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Takeshi Matsumura, Atsushi Watanabe, Mayumi Otsuka, Keizoh Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8959836
    Abstract: A sliding door apparatus for closing and opening in a wall. The sliding door apparatus includes a sliding door having top and bottom edges, a door frame, a carriage secured to the top edge of the door and a drive mechanism for opening and closing movement of the door. The drive mechanism preferably includes a bi-directional effector, a power-storing power source and a controller configured to enable the door to be continuously closed but not locked when a continuously-closed signal is received by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hydra DoorCo LLC
    Inventor: Gary Gayhart
  • Patent number: 8950117
    Abstract: A sliding door drive assembly is provided for a vehicle. The assembly includes at least one grooveless drum. The drum has a cable wrap surface and is rotatable to wind cable thereon and unwind cable therefrom. A guide is positioned to be aligned generally with a first axial edge of the cable wrap surface. As cable is wrapped on the drum, the angle of the cable (due to the position of the guide) biases the cable towards the first axial edge, so that successive wraps of cable are snuggly positioned adjacent prior wraps. In another aspect, a cable drum includes a ramp at a second axial edge of the cable wrap surface, which guides the cable radially outwardly to start a second layer of wraps of cable on the first layer of wraps. In another aspect, an absolute position sensor is provided for a powered sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Nebojsa Djordjevic, Kristopher B. Rogers
  • Patent number: 8935887
    Abstract: A linear actuator, particularly for sliding doors and for sliding doors and windows in general, comprising a supporting body, to be fixed by corresponding fixing elements between the two jambs of a door or of a door or window frame, motor drive elements being accommodated and fixed within the supporting body and being adapted for the rotation of a driving gear, which is intended to mesh with a driven rack, which in turn is fixed to a leaf of the door to be moved in translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Topp S.p.A. a Socio Unico
    Inventor: Toni Cavalcante
  • Patent number: 8931216
    Abstract: The present invention relates to sliding door systems, apparatus and methods of using and making the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to systems for opening horizontally sliding doors on a structure, such as, for example, a barn, warehouse, hangar, or other building or structure. Moreover, the present invention relates to apparatuses for providing the automatic opening of sliding doors. In addition, methods of making and using the same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Propel Doors LLC
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence Gazda, James Michael Norris
  • Patent number: 8910767
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism includes a field core into which an electromagnetic coil is incorporated and is fixed to a base member, a rotor rotatably fitted on a shaft and passing through a central portion of the field core to be connected to a speed reduction mechanism and an armature accommodated on an inside diameter side of the output drum. The armature is fitted on the shaft in order to rotate and move in an axial direction and is magnetically attracted to the rotor when the electromagnetic coil is energized. Drum side locking portions are provided inside of the output drum such that armature side locking portions provided on an outer circumferential portion of the armature can move in an axial direction of the shaft relative thereto and can be brought into engagement therewith in a rotational direction to transmit the rotation of the armature to the output drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichiro Kita
  • Patent number: 8907608
    Abstract: Disclosed are alternate embodiments of various components of a barrier operator system. and methods of operation, including of the mechanical drive subsystem with segmented and self-locking rail unit, rail mounting supports, belt and chain drive tensioning, and drive assembly carriage and interface; the electronics and software routines for controlled operation of the various barrier operator functions; wall console communications with the barrier operator; encryption and decryption of access codes; establishment and monitoring of travel limits and barrier speed and force profiles; thermal protection of barrier operator drive motors; and establishment and control of communications from the barrier operator to accessories by way of a wireless adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Leroy G. Krupke, Mark Kenneth Siegesmund, Mark Raymond Wilzbach
  • Patent number: 8893436
    Abstract: An invisible sliding door link structure includes a door bracket disposed at an inner surface of a door sliding part of a vehicle body to open or close, a body bracket provided in an invisible slider to slide the door, a main arm with one end connected to one side of the door bracket and the other end connected to one side of the body bracket, a first link having one end rotatably connected to the other side of the body bracket, a second link having one end rotatably connected to the other end of the first link and the other end connected to the other side of the door bracket, and a third link having one end rotatably connected to one side of the main arm and the other end connected to a hinge point at which the first and second links are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kwangjin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hong Choi, Seung Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 8857104
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening device comprises a drive unit, an opening cable and a closing cable. The drive unit comprises a housing, a motor mounted to the housing and having armature, and a drum rotated by the motor. At a vertex of the housing, an exterior angle was approximately right angles. The axis of the armature is perpendicular to a side of the housing having the vertex at the end. The drive unit can be made smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishigaki, Kazuhito Yokomori
  • Patent number: 8857015
    Abstract: A carriage includes body, at which at least one first roller is freely rotatably mounted, as well as a carriage suspension member with an upper terminal section is supported at or in the body and, with regard to the body, is pivotable about at least one axis of rotation extending parallel to the longitudinal extension of the carriage. A lower terminal section, the carriage suspension member is configured to extend in a downward direction towards a panel to be moved. The lower terminal section is adapted to suspend the panel to be moved therefrom. An axis of rotation of the at least one first roller extends transversely to the downward direction and transversely to a tangent of the travel path of the at least one panel to be moved in an area of the at least one first roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Hufen, Axel Richstein, Andreas Finke
  • Patent number: 8844198
    Abstract: A multilayer window guiderail is disclosed. The window guiderail includes a rail portion having an outer edge, a rail surface and an opposing rear surface. The rail portion includes a core and an integral rail cover layer disposed on the core. The core includes a first polymer material and the rail cover layer includes a second polymer material. An apparatus for making a multilayer guiderail includes a plurality of die portions having respective cavity portions. The cavity portions are configured to define a die cavity having the shape of the guiderail, at least one of the die portions being a slidable die portion and at least one of the die portions being a fixed die portion. The parting surface of the slidable die portion is configured for sliding translation of its parting surface over the parting surface of the fixed die portion along a translation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Inteva Products, LLC
    Inventors: Jayprakash U. Raisoni, Suresh D. Shah, Geoff Barr
  • Patent number: 8844197
    Abstract: A sliding door for a vehicle includes a guide rail, a sliding carriage and a guide pin (34). The sliding carriage is longitudinally displaceably journalled at the guide rail and is connected by a multijoint to the vehicle body. The guide pin (34) is guided in a guide track (41) provided at the sliding door. To improve such a sliding door, the guide track (41) includes a first guide track (42) and a second guide track (43) which is elastically biased (47) with respect to the first guide track (42) (FIG. 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Body & Glass Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Heuel, Michael Krehmke, Ralf Rottmann
  • Patent number: 8839560
    Abstract: This power unit includes a base plate fixed with an annular coil part, and a slot-shaped insertion hole formed at the base plate and extending in a radiating direction to the annular coil part. After a lead wire of the annular coil part is inserted into the insertion hole from one side of the base plate at which the annular coil part is provided, the lead wire is extended in the radiating direction along the insertion hole. Next, the lead wire is led out to the other side of the base plate. Covers having semicircular shapes in cross section are provided to the ends of the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichiro Kita
  • Publication number: 20140259930
    Abstract: An example portable gate includes a platform. A frame is mounted to the platform, the platform configured to support a portable weight. A gate is movably supported by the frame. A drive system is configured to open and close the gate in both right-hand operation and left-hand operation based only on direction of travel of the drive system without other modification. A control panel may be operatively associated with the drive system to operate and/or configure operation of the portable gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Chester A. Gilliam
  • Publication number: 20140259929
    Abstract: A sliding door assembly is provided comprising a first door having a tortuous leading edge, a door frame, a guide track, and a member having a complementary tortuous edge to that of the door. The drive assembly includes magnets to drive the door between open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Veritas Medical Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: David P. Farrell, Herbert Todd Ferrence
  • Patent number: 8818621
    Abstract: In an in-vehicle device which is carried on an automotive vehicle, an operation unit causes the vehicle to execute a predetermined operation in response to a remote control request from a user. A detection unit detects existence of a moving object in a passenger compartment of the vehicle or in areas surrounding the vehicle. An operation inhibition unit inhibits execution of the predetermined operation by the operation unit when existence of the moving object is detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Takeshi Matsumura, Atsushi Watanabe, Mayumi Otsuka, Keizoh Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20140223825
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of operating a movable barrier operator includes engaging a flexible driven member with a drive of the movable barrier operator. The method includes moving the flexible driven member in a first direction to move a movable barrier connected to the driven member and monitoring the position of the movable barrier. In response to the movable barrier reaching a given position, the driven member is moved in a second direction without moving the movable barrier to remove slack from the driven member. A movable barrier apparatus includes a movable barrier controller operatively coupled to a movable barrier operator. The movable barrier controller is configured to cause the movable barrier operator to reverse direction of a flexible driven member a distance after stopping movement of a movable barrier toward a limit position and without moving the movable barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: James Scott Murray, William George Gioia
  • Patent number: 8800205
    Abstract: A door opening-and-closing apparatus for a vehicle includes a rotatably driven drum, a first cable and a second cable, which cables are wound around the drum, a rotating shaft, a first pulley supported by the rotating shaft, a second pulley supported by the rotating shaft, an attachment member supporting the rotating shaft, a rigid protruding portion integral with one of the first and second pulleys, and an annular recessed portion integrally formed in the other one of the first and second pulleys. When the first and second pulleys are correctly assembled on the rotating shaft, a relative rotation between the first and second pulleys is allowed, and when the first and second pulleys are not correctly assembly on the rotating shaft, the predetermined length of the rotating shaft is not sufficient to support both the first and second pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Yamaguchi, Koji Adachi, Masayuki Uchitsunemi
  • Patent number: 8713852
    Abstract: A sliding door may include a rail slidably supported by a rail anchor, a body part fixed to the rail, a main arm hinge-connected with the body part, a driving bar hinge-connected with the body part, a first link hinge-connected with the main arm and the driving bar, a second link hinge-connected with the main arm and a first slot of the driving bar, a door part hinge-connected with the main arm and having a second slot hinge-connected with the second link through the first slot, a gear part of the main bar, a first drum engaged to the gear part, a first cable connected with the first drum and the rail anchor, a second drum rotatably mounted at the rail, a second cable wound around the second drum and connected with the first drum, and a third cable connected with the second drum and the rail anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Hong Choi
  • Patent number: 8707627
    Abstract: A method of operating a movable barrier operator includes engaging a flexible driven member with a drive of the movable barrier operator. The method includes moving the flexible driven member in a first direction to move a movable barrier connected to the driven member and monitoring the position of the movable barrier. In response to the movable barrier reaching a given position, the driven member is moved in a second direction without moving the movable barrier to remove slack from the driven member. A movable barrier apparatus includes a movable barrier controller operatively coupled to the movable barrier operator. The movable barrier controller is configured to cause the movable barrier operator to reverse direction of the flexible driven member a distance after stopping movement of a movable barrier without moving the movable barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: James Scott Murray, William George Gioia
  • Patent number: 8701348
    Abstract: Provided is a slide door device for a vehicle, including: a body side lower rail disposed below a door opening formed on a side of a vehicle body and extends in a front-rear direction; a body side rail disposed above the body side lower rail and behind the door opening and extends in the front-rear direction; a door side lower guide roller unit and a door side guide roller unit connected to a slide door and configured to slide on the body side lower rail and the body side rail respectively; a door side lower rail disposed in a lower portion of the slide door positioned below the floor surface in the door opening and extends in the front-rear direction; and a body side lower guide roller unit connected to the lower portion of the door opening and configured to slide on the door side lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshichika Ito, Junji Yamaguchi, Tomohide Kato
  • Publication number: 20140090301
    Abstract: A door suspension having a compact structure. First door rollers run in contact with a lower rail, and are rotatably supported to a first door roller supporting member that suspends a door. Second door rollers are rotatably supported to swing members swingably connected to the first door roller supporting member, and are provided so as to be capable of coming into contact with an upper rail. A drive connection portion holds the door and connects the door to an open-close drive mechanism. An elastic connection mechanism includes an elastic portion capable of changing the relative positions of the second door rollers and the drive connection portion, and connects the swing members to the drive connection portion. The second door rollers are installed between the first door rollers on the door leading end side and the door trailing end side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutama Takahashi, Katsuji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8677692
    Abstract: A cover for an automatic vehicle door latch. The cover comprises a first wall having a free top and bottom edge, and a second edge intersecting an edge of a second wall. The second wall also includes top, free and bottom edges, wherein the bottom and top edge of the first and second walls are contiguous. The first and second walls are angled relative to one another at the intersecting edges. A top ridge protrudes from the walls adjacent the top edges, and a second ridge protrudes from the wall between the top and bottom ridges such that the top ridge and the second ridge define a channel therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, Aaron R. Kerestan, Andrew Philip Dean
  • Patent number: 8671622
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the at least partial closing of an opening (2) of a room comprising a closing element (3) which is placeable sealingly on an opening bottom (1) and is guided vertically movable in guides (4), which are arranged vertically on both sides of the opening (2), between an open position in a upper area of the opening (2) and a closed position on the opening bottom (2) and which is connected to at least one counterweight (5), by means of which the closing element (3) is held motionless in its particular position without an additional force acting on the closing element (3). According to the invention, the closing element (3) is coupled to at least one pneumatic, hydraulic, and/or motor drive unit (8) for moving the closing element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Werner Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140047770
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to motorized closure assembly, comprising: an opening frame configured to fit around the opening; a substantially rectangular closure slab having a closure slab frame configured to surround the substantially rectangular closure slab and sealingly fit within the opening frame; and a motorized driver, wherein the motorized driver is entirely embedded within the closure slab frame or within a combination of the closure slab frame and the opening frame, the motorized driver configured to slidably move the slab between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: New Vision Yezirot Aluminum Ltd.
    Inventors: Oren Vaknin, Yoav Rodan, Moti Levi, Giora Silne
  • Publication number: 20140041305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to sliding door systems, apparatus and methods of using and making the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to systems for opening horizontally sliding doors on a structure, such as, for example, a barn, warehouse, hangar, or other building or structure. Moreover, the present invention relates to apparatuses for providing the automatic opening of sliding doors. In addition, methods of making and using the same are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence Gazda, James Michael Norris
  • Patent number: 8646208
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to selectable-mode vehicle door assemblies. Some embodiments include door assemblies that are capable of operating in a sliding mode, and in a swinging mode according to user selection. Some embodiments can include one or more doorframes that can be selectably engaged in a swing mode or a slide mode. Other embodiments generally relate to methods associated with selectable-mode door assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Matt Taracko
  • Patent number: 8613160
    Abstract: A door opening and closing apparatus for a vehicle, includes a latch mechanism adapted so as to retain a vehicle door in a closed state relative to a vehicle body, an outside lever provided within a space formed inside of the vehicle door so as to be positioned closer to an interior of the vehicle and linked to an outside handle adapted to be rotatably supported by the vehicle door, a detection switch detecting an operation to the outside handle when the outside lever contacts the detection switch in response to an operation of the outside lever, and a release device releasing a retention of the vehicle door in the closed state by means of the latch mechanism by the release device actuating the latch mechanism when a rotational operation of the outside handle is detected by the detection switch while the vehicle door is in a locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Matsumoto, Yoshitaka Kato, Toshitsugu Oda, Tomoaki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8607504
    Abstract: A stator element is disclosed for an electrical driving of a slidable body, such as a sliding door. Such a sliding door and a method for displacing thereof are also disclosed. In at least one embodiment, he stator element includes an elongate holder; a number of carrier elements arranged adjacently of each other and connected to the holder, wherein the carrier element includes a number of plate-like strips; and at least one winding arranged round each carrier element, wherein during use the winding is connected to a voltage source for the purpose of generating an electromagnetic field which during use is operatively connected to at least one counter-element in the form of a magnet or magnetizable element provided on the slidable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Petrus Johannes Maria Peeters Weem
  • Patent number: 8595977
    Abstract: A driving system for an automatic sliding door includes a driver and a rack and pinion mechanism. The pinion is selectively attachable to the driver in a first position to cause sliding movement of the door in the first direction and in a second position to cause sliding movement of the door in the second direction. A device for indicating whether a driving system is suitable for driving a sliding door includes a first end, a region including one or more calibrations; and a second end. The first end is adapted to be pulled by a user. The second end is adapted to be selectively and detachably attached to one of the calibrations. The region is located between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Autoslide Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Mark Steven Hancock, Tim Gulliver
  • Patent number: 8585105
    Abstract: An electromagnetic lock assembly locks sliding double doors having abutting edges when closed. The lock assembly includes an armature plate member mounted through an L-shaped bracket member to a first sliding door adjacent an abutting edge thereof. An electromagnetic body member is mounted through another L-shaped bracket member to a second sliding door adjacent an abutting edge thereof. The armature plate member and electromagnetic body member are in register contact with the sliding double doors closed. The electromagnetic body member includes an electrical conductor portion movably contacting a stationary, linear power strip member mounted to a nonmoving support adjacent to the second sliding door. Electrical power is maintained to the electromagnetic body member of the lock assembly by the electrical conductor portion thereof, movably contacting the stationary power strip member upon movement of the sliding double doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Vincent A. Dobbins, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8585127
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle having a component whose position can be changed and which is provided with a cable. For this cable, the motor vehicle has a cable store with a force and/or torque storage means, of which the stored force and/or stored torque changes with the position of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Johnson Controls Interiors GmbH & Co. KG, Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Detlef Zimmermann, Christophe Luciani, Ansgar Blessing, Waldemar Kurpiers, Helmut Zischka, Vedat Nuyan
  • Patent number: 8584317
    Abstract: A ceiling track system including a guiding rail, in which at least one wall element is received and an encasing element that is affixed to the guiding rail. A long leg extends in a vertical joining direction and has a latching geometry, into which a latching hook can be latched such that the encasing element is affixed to the guiding rail in a self-retaining manner. The long leg has a web with a projection. The guiding rail has a groove into which the projection engages for the purpose of self-retaining the encasing element. Adjacent to the groove the guiding rail has a screw reception into which a screw element is screwable by which a clamping action is achieved. The screw reception is at an angle with regard to the vertical joining direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Arne Liebscher, Olaf Lüttmann
  • Publication number: 20130298469
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for bonding automotive brackets to a surface of a glass substrate. The adhesives of certain example embodiments may be applied to the surface(s) of the bracket and/or substrate without first priming and/or cleaning the surface(s). These adhesives may be silanol-inclusive moisture-cured adhesives. In certain example instances, the adhesive may be moisture-cured at ambient or other conditions such that the component and the substrate are adapted to remain adhered to each other upon application of high shear forces thereto, even after prolonged exposure to a high temperature and high humidity environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.,
    Inventors: Duane O. RECKER, Keith Aldrich
  • Patent number: 8578654
    Abstract: A window drive mechanism is used to cover and uncover an opening formed in a first window panel. A second window panel is mounted for movement relative to the first window panel. The second window panel is moved by the window drive mechanism between an open position where the opening is uncovered and a closed position where the second window panel covers the opening. When the second window panel is in the closed position, the second window panel is flush with the first window panel. A guide member is mounted for movement with the second window panel and has a notch that defines a first path of movement where the second window panel is moved inwardly of the first window panel. When activated, the drive mechanism moves the second window panel inwardly to a non-flush position via the notch, and then moves the second window panel axially to uncover the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Body Systems USA, LLC
    Inventors: Narendra Somashekhar Rao, Santhosh Karumuri, Everardo A. Hernandez, Balaji Ramanan
  • Patent number: 8572895
    Abstract: A system for protecting an emitter/receiver device, including a cover and an active material actuator operable to selectively cause the cover to move between default protective and open positions, wherein the actuator includes at least one active material element, such as an SMA wire configured to cause the retraction of the cover and present a heating net when activated, and an activation signal source, and preferably further including at least one pulley and/or jack mechanism configured to redirect a displacement force vector, synchronization means, an antagonistic element for biasing the cover towards the protective or open position, and a controller presenting overheating protection through control logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Craig A. Kollar, Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8572896
    Abstract: A linear drive for sliding doors, particularly linear drives based on linear motors. A linear drive, for at least one part which is movable along a movement path, particularly a sliding door leaf, has at least one linear motor for the at least one part. A stator part of the linear motor is received in a receiving profile so as to be prevented from falling out. The receiving profile is constructed to be arranged at a fastening device, which is arranged in turn on the installation side of a wall portion or top portion. Accordingly, the stator part and receiving profile form a module or unit, which can be mounted in its entirety. Therefore, a person performing the mounting can use the receiving profile for mounting, which helps to reduce the risk of damaging the stator part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Sven Busch