Vehicle door opening and closing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11945288-B2
Application number	US-202117306029-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2021
Priority date	Sep 21, 2020
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus includes a vehicle door, a rail configured to be mounted on a vehicle body, a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door, and configured to allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode in which the vehicle door is configured to slide along the rail and in a swing mode in which the vehicle door is configured to swing in a predetermined position of the rail, and a hold lock releasably holding the vehicle door in an open position or releasably holding the vehicle door in a closed position when the vehicle door is opened or closed in the sliding mode, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus, comprising:
a vehicle door;
a rail configured to be mounted on a vehicle body;
a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door, and configured to allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode in which the vehicle door is configured to slide along the rail and in a swing mode in which the vehicle door is configured to swing in a predetermined position of the rail; and
a hold lock releasably holding the vehicle door in an open position or releasably holding the vehicle door in a closed position when the vehicle door is opened or closed in the sliding mode, respectively;
wherein the hold lock comprises a first catch configured to releasably engage with a first striker configured to be mounted on the vehicle body and positioned to correspond to the closed position, and a second catch configured to releasably engage with a second striker configured to be mounted on the vehicle body and positioned to correspond to the open position;
wherein the first catch and the second catch partially overlap each other;
wherein the first catch and the second catch form a unitary one-piece structure; and
wherein the first catch and the second catch are configured to pivot through a first hinge shaft.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first catch includes a first main slot configured to receive the first striker; and
the second catch includes a second main slot configured to receive the second striker.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first catch is configured to move between a first engaging position and a first release position;
the first catch is engaged with the first striker in the first engaging position;
the first striker is released from the first catch in the first release position;
the second catch is configured to move between a second engaging position and a second release position;
the second catch is engaged with the second striker in the second engaging position; and
the second catch is released from the second striker in the second release position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first catch and the second catch are configured to be biased to the first release position and the second release position by a first biasing element.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first catch and the second catch are connected by a connection portion; and
the first catch is spaced apart from the second catch.

6. A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus, comprising:
a vehicle door;
a rail configured to be mounted on a vehicle body;
a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door, and configured to allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode in which the vehicle door is configured to slide along the rail and in a swing mode in which the vehicle door is configured to swing in a predetermined position of the rail; and
a hold lock releasably holding the vehicle door in an open position or releasably holding the vehicle door in a closed position when the vehicle door is opened or closed in the sliding mode, respectively, wherein the hold lock comprises:
a first catch configured to releasably engage with a first striker configured to be mounted on the vehicle body and positioned to correspond to the closed position;
a second catch configured to releasably engage with a second striker configured to be mounted on the vehicle body and positioned to correspond to the open position;
a first pawl operatively connected to the first catch; and
a second pawl operatively connected to the second catch.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first pawl and the second pawl are configured to pivot through a second hinge shaft.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
the first catch and the second catch form a unitary one-piece structure;
the first pawl is aligned with the second catch;
the second pawl is aligned with the first catch;
the first catch has a first locking shoulder configured to releasably engage with the second pawl; and
the second catch has a second locking shoulder configured to releasably engage with the first pawl.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein:
the first pawl is configured to move between a first pawl locking position and a first pawl release position;
the first pawl is locked to the second locking shoulder in the first pawl locking position;
the first pawl is released from the second locking shoulder in the first pawl release position;
the second pawl is configured to move between a second pawl locking position and a second pawl release position;
the second pawl is locked to the first locking shoulder in the second pawl locking position; and
the second pawl is released from the first locking shoulder in the second pawl release position.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first pawl and the second pawl are configured to be biased to the first pawl locking position and the second pawl locking position by a second biasing element.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
the hold lock further comprises a first release lever operatively connected to the first pawl, and a second release lever operatively connected to the second pawl; and
the first pawl, the second pawl, the first release lever, and the second release lever are configured to pivot through a second hinge shaft.

12. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
the hold lock further comprises a first release lever configured to pivot with the first pawl, and a second release lever configured to pivot with the second pawl;
the first release lever and the second release lever are connected to a cable;
when the cable is pulled, the first release lever is configured to allow the first catch to release the first striker; and
when the cable is pulled, the second release lever is configured to allow the second catch to release the second striker.

13. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
the hold lock further comprises a first pull lever operatively connected to the first pawl, and a second pull lever operatively connected to the second pawl;
the first pull lever and the second pull lever are connected to a cable;
when the cable is pulled, the first pull lever is configured to allow the first catch to release the first striker; and
when the cable is pulled, the second pull lever is configured to allow the second catch to release the second striker.

14. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a vehicle door coupled 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, and configured to allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode in which the vehicle door is configured to slide along the rail and in a swing mode in which the vehicle door is configured to swing in a predetermined position of the rail; and
a hold lock releasably holding the vehicle door in an open position or releasably holding the vehicle door in a closed position when the vehicle door is opened or closed in the sliding mode, respectively;
wherein the hold lock comprises a first catch configured to releasably engage with a first striker mounted on the vehicle body and positioned to correspond to the closed position, and a second catch configured to releasably engage with a second striker mounted on the vehicle body and positioned to correspond to the open position;
wherein the first catch and the second catch partially overlap each other;
wherein the first catch and the second catch form a unitary one-piece structure;

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Choi Je Won

Classifications

• B60J5/047 Primary

  characterised by the opening or closing movement · CPC title

• B60J5/06

  slidable; foldable · CPC title

• E05B83/40

  for sliding doors · CPC title

• E05B85/245

  with a pair of bifurcated bolts · CPC title

• E05B85/26

  Cooperation between bolts and detents · CPC title