Vehicle door opening structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11679652-B2
Application number	US-202117381719-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2021
Priority date	Jan 12, 2021
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

Abstract

An embodiment vehicle door opening structure includes a first door unit positioned at a side of a vehicle and including a first door, a second door unit including a second door positioned adjacent to the first door, a locking device configured to selectively lock the first door unit and the second door unit together, and a controller configured to fix the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened together or to release the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened independently.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle door opening structure, the structure comprising:
a first door unit positioned at a side of a vehicle and including a first door;
a second door unit including a second door positioned adjacent to the first door and a guide positioned at a first end of the second door, wherein the second door is configured to be moved along the guide in an opening direction of the first door;
a locking device configured to selectively lock the first door unit and the second door unit together; and
a controller configured to fix the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened together or to release the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened independently.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the second door unit further comprises a rotary portion positioned adjacent to a portion of the guide and configured to apply a rotating force to the second door so that the second door is rotated open with respect to the guide when the locking device is in a released state.

3. The structure of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to apply an electric force to the rotary portion so that the second door is rotated open with respect to the guide independently of the first door when the locking device is in the released state.

4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the locking device further comprises:
a housing positioned at the first door unit;
a rod positioned in the housing and configured to selectively protrude to a position adjacent to the first door corresponding to the first door unit; and
an insertion portion positioned at the second door corresponding to the second door unit, wherein the rod is configured to be selectively inserted into the insertion portion.

5. The structure of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control the rod to be inserted into the insertion portion when the first door and the second door are opened together.

6. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the locking device further comprises:
a housing positioned at the second door unit;
a rod positioned in the housing and configured to selectively protrude to a position adjacent to the second door corresponding to the second door unit; and
an insertion portion positioned at the first door corresponding to the first door unit, wherein the rod is configured to be selectively inserted into the insertion portion.

7. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to control the rod to be inserted into the insertion portion when the first door and the second door are opened together.

8. A vehicle door opening structure, the structure comprising:
a first door unit positioned at a side of a vehicle, the first door unit comprising:
a first door; and
a driving unit fastened to the first door and configured to perform a movement in a longitudinal direction of the driving unit;

a second door unit comprising a second door positioned adjacent to the first door;
a locking device configured to selectively lock the first door unit and the second door unit together; and
a controller configured to fix the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened together or to release the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened independently.

9. The structure of claim 8 , wherein the driving unit further comprises:
a spindle positioned at a vehicle body of the vehicle, wherein a first end of the spindle is fastened to a rear surface of the first door; and
a fixing portion configured to fix the spindle to the first door.

10. The structure of claim 8 , wherein the first door and the second door are configured to be opened together when the driving unit is driven while the locking device is in a locked state.

11. The structure of claim 8 , wherein the first door is configured to be opened independently from the second door when the driving unit is driven while the locking device is in a released state.

12. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body including an opening at a side or rear of the vehicle body;
a first door unit coupled to the vehicle body at the opening of the vehicle body, the first door unit including a first door;
a second door unit including a second door positioned below and adjacent to the first door and a guide positioned at a first end of the second door, wherein the second door is configured to be moved along the guide in an opening direction of the first door;
a locking device configured to selectively couple the first door unit and the second door unit together; and
a controller configured to fix the locking device in a locked state in which the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened together or in a released state in which the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened independently.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first door unit further comprises a driving unit fastened to the first door and configured to perform a movement in a longitudinal direction of the driving unit.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the driving unit further comprises:
a spindle positioned at the vehicle body, wherein a first end of the spindle is fastened to a rear surface of the first door; and
a fixing portion configured to fix the spindle to the first door.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first door and the second door are configured to be opened together when the driving unit is driven while the locking device is in the locked state.

16. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first door is configured to be opened independently from the second door when the driving unit is driven while the locking device is in the released state.

17. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the second door unit further comprises a rotary portion positioned adjacent to a portion of the guide and configured to apply a rotating force to the second door so that the second door is rotated open with respect to the guide when the locking device is in the released state.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to apply an electric force to the rotary portion so that the second door is rotated open with respect to the guide independently of the first door when the locking device is in the released state.

19. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the locking device further comprises:
a housing positioned at the first door unit;
a rod positioned in the housing and configured to selectively protrude to a position adjacent to the first door corresponding to the first door unit; and
an insertion portion positioned at the second door corresponding to the second door unit, wherein the rod is configured to be selectively inserted into the insertion portion; and
wherein the controller is configured to control the rod to be inserted into the insertion portion when the first door and the second door are opened together.

20. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the locking device further comprises:
a housing positioned at the second door unit;
a rod positioned in the housing and configured to selectively protrude to a position adjacent to the second door corresponding to the second door unit; and
an insertion portion positioned at the first door corresponding to the first door unit, wherein the rod is configured to be selectively inserted into the insertion portion; and
wherein the controller is configured to control the rod to be in

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Kia Corporotion

Inventors

• Lee Jae Seung

Classifications

• E05Y2900/516

  for trucks or trailers · CPC title

• E05Y2800/102

  Additional wing movements · CPC title

• E05Y2400/45

  Control modes · CPC title

• E05Y2201/434

  Electromotors; Details thereof · CPC title

• E05Y2201/684

  Rails; Tracks · CPC title