# US 10,480,233 B2 · Hidden sliding door assembly for a motor vehicle

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- Number: US 10,480,233 B2
- Document ID: US10480233B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/381,330
- Filed: 2016-12-16
- Published: 2018-06-21
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-16
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Daniel Vincent Vega
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480233B2

## CPC

- E05D 15/1081: {specially adapted for vehicles (E05D15/1068 takes precedence)}
- B60J 5/12: slidable; foldable
- E05D 15/0604: {allowing an additional movement (E05D15/10 takes precedence; raising wings before sliding E05D15/565)}
- E05D 15/0686: {Tracks (E05D15/0665 - E05D15/0682 and E05D15/0691 take precedence)}
- E05D 15/101: {specially adapted for vehicles (E05D15/1007 takes precedence)}
- E05D 2015/1086: {swingingly, e.g. on arms}
- E05Y 2201/624: Arms
- E05Y 2900/531: Doors
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A sliding door assembly includes a link arm connected to a support surface, a track guide carried on the link arm and a door body including a track that slides over the track guide. A related method of operating the sliding door assembly is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sliding door assembly, comprising:
a door body including a track;
a link arm connected to a support surface;
a track guide carried on said link arm, said track guide having a roller mechanism including a first roller engaging in said track and a second roller engaging an inner face of said door body outside of said track;
said track of said door body slides over said track guide as the door body is moved between open and closed positions; and
wherein said door body includes an arm rest and said track is provided in said arm rest.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sliding door assembly of claim 1, wherein said link arm is connected to said support surface by a hinge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The sliding door assembly of claim 2, further including a spring biasing said link arm from a closed door position toward a door sliding position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The sliding door assembly of claim 3, further including a locking mechanism wherein said locking mechanism includes an actuator handle carried on said door body for releasing a first door lock and a second door lock.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sliding door assembly of claim 1, wherein said track is provided along a bottom portion of said arm rest and opens downward.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The sliding door assembly of claim 5, wherein said support surface is defined by a structural pillar of a motor vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sliding door assembly of claim 6, further including a locking mechanism wherein said locking mechanism includes a first lock, a second lock and an actuator handle carried on said door body.