Vehicle door checker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10968668-B2
Application number	US-201916539662-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2019
Priority date	Nov 6, 2015
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A door checker includes a housing which has a base from which first and second opposing flanges extend. First and second guide pins are spaced apart from one another and are interconnected to the first and second flanges. The first and second guide pins are configured to deflect in response to a load. A check arm extends through the base and is arranged between the first and second guide pins. The check arm is configured to move relative to the housing and includes a profile that corresponds to a variable door holding force. A bearing member is arranged on one side of the check arm and the bearing member coacts with the profile and is supported on the first and second guide pins and is configured to slide thereon in response to movement of the check arm relative to the bearing member. The bearing member transfers the load from the check arm to the first and second guide pins.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door checker comprising:
a housing which includes a base from which first and second opposing flanges extend;
first and second guide pins spaced apart from one another and interconnected to the first and second flanges, the first and second guide pins configured to deflect in response to a load;
a check arm which extends through the base and is arranged between the first and second guide pins, the check arm configured to move relative to the housing and including a profile that corresponds to a variable door holding force;
a bearing member arranged on one side of the check arm wherein the bearing member coacts with the profile and is supported on the first and second guide pins and is configured to slide thereon in response to movement of the check arm relative to the bearing member, and wherein the bearing member transfers the load from the check arm to the first and second guide pins; and
wherein a portion of the bearing member selectively engages the check arm based upon a sliding position of the check arm relative to the housing, the variable holding force is a first variable door holding force, and the portions provided by lateral sides define a width that varies along a length of the check arm, and a second variable door holding force is provided between the bearing member and the lateral sides based upon a position along the length.

2. The door checker according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing member includes a bearing case that has first and second sleeves that respectively receive the first and second guide pins, the sleeves extend to a region adjacent to the lateral sides, the first and second sleeves are spaced from the lateral sides with the check arm in the position corresponding to a first position, and the sleeves engage the lateral sides and deflect the first and second guide pins with the check arm in the position corresponding to a second position to generate the load.

3. The door checker according to claim 2 , wherein the sleeves engage the first and second lateral sides and deflect the first and second guide pins with the check arm in another position that is different than the second position, the check arm deflecting the first and second guide pins such that the load is a first load in the second position, and the check arm deflecting the first and second guide pins such that the load is a second load in the other position that is different than the first load.

4. The door checker according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second sleeves include first and second elongated slots respectively along their lengths, the first and second slots respectively receive the first and second guide pins, and the first and second sleeves have an arcuate cross-section and are open on one side.

5. The door checker according to claim 1 , comprising another bearing member arranged on another side of the check arm, wherein the other bearing member coacts with another profile on the other side of the check arm, wherein the profiles have a variable height, and the bearing members are configured to slide along the first and second guide pins as the bearing members coact with the profiles.

6. The door checker according to claim 4 , wherein the bearing member includes a bearing case with an aperture within which a ball is arranged, the ball engages the profile, and a spring is arranged between the first flange and the bearing case and is configured to urge the ball into engagement with the profile to provide the variable door holding force.

7. The door checker according to claim 6 , wherein the bearing case is configured to slide on the first and second guide pins as the ball slides in the groove.

8. The door checker according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing member includes a bearing case slidable on the first and second guide pins during operation, and comprising a clevis pivotally attached to one end of the check arm, and a stop at the other end of the check arm on a side of the bearing case with an outer face having spaced apart protrusions configured to laterally locate the stop with the check arm in a fully extended position, wherein the bearing case includes an inner face spaced from the base in a first position, and the guide pins are configured to flex thereby transferring the load and permitting the inner face to engage the base in another position in which the stop engages the outer face.

9. The door checker according to claim 8 , wherein the base includes spaced apart lips, and the bearing case includes opposing edges adjoining the inner face near the lips, the lips configured to arrest lateral motion of the bearing case with respect to the housing in the other position.

10. The door checker according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second guide pins includes swaged ends securing the first and second guide pins to the first and second flanges.

11. The door checker according to claim 10 , wherein the housing is plastic.

12. A method of holding a door in a desired open position, the method comprising the steps of:
sliding a check arm relative to a bearing member which selectively engages the check arm based upon a sliding position of the check arm relative to a housing and transfers a load from the check arm to first and second guide pins to provide a first variable door holding force;
sliding the bearing member along the first and second guide pins in response to the check arm sliding step; and
engaging lateral sides of the check arm which define a width that varies along a length of the check arm with a portion of the bearing member in response to the check arm sliding step to provide a second variable door holding force between the bearing member and the lateral sides in addition to the first variable door holding force based upon the position along the length.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein a portion of the bearing member selectively engages the check arm during the check arm sliding step, the portion is spaced from the check arm at a first check arm position, and the portion engages the check arm at a second check arm position.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the portion is provided by first and second sleeves that are slidably supported on the first and second guide pins.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the check arm is arranged between a pair of bearing members, and the bearing members move relative to one another during the bearing member sliding step.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the bearing member includes a bearing case having a ball that rides along a groove in the check arm that provides a profile.

17. The method according to claim 12 , comprising a housing supporting the first and second guide pins that support the bearing case for sliding movement in response to the check arm sliding step.

18. The method according to claim 12 , comprising the step of engaging the bearing case with a check arm stop which deflects the guide pin and moves the bearing case into engagement with the housing.

Assignees

• Multimatic Inc

Inventors

• Gruber Rudolf
• Carswell David Edward

Classifications

• E05C17/203 Primary

  concealed, e.g. for vehicles · CPC title

• E05Y2900/531

  Doors · CPC title

• E05C17/12 Primary

  consisting of a single rod · CPC title

• E05C17/22

  with braking, clamping or securing means in the guide {(E05C17/203 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05C17/00

  Devices for holding wings open; Devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing; Braking devices, stops or buffers, combined therewith (combined with hinges E05D11/00; combined with operating apparatus for wings E05F; other braking devices, stops, buffers E05F5/00) · CPC title