Vehicle door opening and closing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11725448-B2
Application number	US-202017009173-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2020
Priority date	Dec 5, 2019
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus includes a rail configured to be mounted on a vehicle body, a roller unit configured to be mounted on a vehicle door, move along the rail, and allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode and a swing mode, a center rail configured to extend from a rear edge of a door aperture of the vehicle body, a center roller unit configured to be guided along the center rail, and a flap mechanism configured to prevent the center roller unit from being separated from the center rail in the sliding mode, and to allow the center roller unit to be released from the center rail in the swing mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus, comprising:
a rail configured to be mounted on a vehicle body;
a roller unit configured to be mounted on a vehicle door, move along the rail, and allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode and a swing mode;
a center rail configured to extend from a rear edge of a door aperture of the vehicle body;
a center roller unit configured to be guided along the center rail; and
a flap mechanism configured to prevent the center roller unit from being separated from the center rail in the sliding mode, and to allow the center roller unit to be released from the center rail in the swing mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flap mechanism includes a flap configured to be rotatably mounted on the center rail, and a locking lever configured to releasably engage with the flap.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the locking lever is configured to move between an engaging position, in which the locking lever engages with the flap, and a release position, in which the locking lever releases the flap.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the locking lever is movable to the release position by a release lever.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the release lever is configured to move between a lock position, in which the release lever holds the locking lever in the engaging position, and an unlock position, in which the release lever moves the locking lever to the release position.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein:
the locking lever includes a locking recess configured to receive at least a portion of the flap and a release shoulder located below the locking recess; and
the release lever has a tip configured to press the release shoulder.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the flap includes a first flap portion and a second flap portion which is orthogonal to the first flap portion; and
the first flap portion has a first free end configured to releasably engage with the locking lever.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the flap further includes a first extension portion extending from the first flap portion, a second extension portion extending from the second flap portion, a first projection protruding from an end of the first extension portion, and a second projection protruding from an end of the second extension portion.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the flap mechanism further includes a stopper having a recess in which one of the first projection and the second projection is releasably received.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the stopper is configured to be mounted on the center rail.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flap mechanism includes a flap configured to be rotatably mounted on the center rail, and a driving motor configured to rotate the flap.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flap mechanism includes a flap configured to be linearly movable on the center rail, and a driving motor configured to drive the flap.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein:
the flap includes a first flap portion and a second flap portion pivotally connected to the first flap portion, and
the first flap portion is configured to be rotatable by the driving motor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein:
the flap includes a flap portion and a guide connected to the flap portion; and
the guide is configured to be linearly movable by the driving motor.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein:
the guide has rack teeth; and
a pinion meshed with the rack teeth is connected to the driving motor.

16. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a vehicle door connected to the vehicle body;
a rail mounted on the vehicle body in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body;
a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door, wherein the roller unit is configured to move along the rail, and to allow the vehicle door to open and close in both a sliding mode and a swing mode;
a center rail extending from a rear edge of a door aperture of the vehicle body;
a center roller unit configured to be guided along the center rail; and
a flap mechanism configured to prevent the center roller unit from being separated from the center rail in the sliding mode, and configured to allow the center roller unit to be released from the center rail in the swing mode.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein the flap mechanism includes a flap rotatably mounted on the center rail, and a locking lever releasably engaged with the flap.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein:
the locking lever is configured to move between an engaging position, in which the locking lever is engaged with the flap, and a release position, in which the locking lever is released from the flap;
the locking lever is movable to the release position by a release lever; and
the release lever is configured to move between a lock position, in which the release lever holds the locking lever in the engaging position, and an unlock position, in which the release lever moves the locking lever to the release position.

19. The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein:
the flap includes:
a first flap portion;
a second flap portion orthogonal to the first flap portion;
a first extension portion extending from the first flap portion;
a second extension portion extending from the second flap portion;
a first projection protruding from an end of the first extension portion; and
a second projection protruding from an end of the second extension portion;
a stopper mounted on the center rail, the stopper having a recess in which one of the first projection and the second projection is releasably received; and

the first flap portion has a first free end releasably engaged with the locking lever.

20. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a vehicle door connected to the vehicle body;
a rail mounted on the vehicle body in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body;
a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door, wherein the roller unit is configured to move along the rail, and to allow the vehicle door to open and close in both a sliding mode and a swing mode;
a center rail extending from a rear edge of a door aperture of the vehicle body;
a center roller unit configured to be guided along the center rail; and
a flap mechanism configured to prevent the center roller unit from being separated from the center rail in the sliding mode, and configured to allow the center roller unit to be released from the center rail in the swing mode, the flap mechanism including:
a flap configured to be linearly movable on the center rail, the flap including a first flap portion and a second flap portion pivotally connected to the first flap portion; and
a driving motor configured to drive the flap, wherein the first flap portion is configured to be rotatable by the driving motor.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Choi Je Won

Classifications

• E05Y2201/22

  Locks · CPC title

• E05F15/638 Primary

  allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal · CPC title

• E05F15/619

  using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements · CPC title

• E05F15/655

  specially adapted for vehicle wings · CPC title

• E05Y2201/224

  Stops · CPC title