Vehicle door actuator assembly
AssigneeZoox, Inc.
InventorsBrandon Loeb, Johannes Edren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle door actuator assembly includes a base plate having a first portion and a second portion, a first gear disposed proximate the first portion of the base plate, a second gear disposed proximate the second portion of the base plate, a third gear connected to the base plate, and a linkage engaging the first, second, and third gears. The base plate of the vehicle door actuator assembly is rotatable between a first position and a second position. As the base plate rotates between the first and second positions, the vehicle door actuator assembly maintains an outer surface of the vehicle door substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle at all points along a travel path of the vehicle door.
Claims16
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body defining an interior space;
- a vehicle door with a door frame;
- a mount connected to the vehicle body;
- an arm coupled to the door frame at a first pivot point and coupled to the mount at a second pivot point, wherein the arm is a goose neck arm which comprises:
- a curved portion having a first end and a second end;
- a first elongated straight portion extending from the first end of the curved portion in a first direction;
- and
- a second elongated straight portion extending from the second end of the curved portion in the first direction;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the arm to cause the arm to pivot about the second pivot point;
- wherein the actuator is configured to move the vehicle door between an open position providing access to the interior space and a closed position substantially prohibiting access to the interior space;
- and
- wherein the vehicle door is configured to move along a travel path extending from the open position to the closed position while maintaining an outer surface of the vehicle door substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
A system comprising:
- a vehicle body defining an interior space;
- a vehicle door with a door frame;
- a mount configured to connect the system to the vehicle body;
- an arm coupling the vehicle door to the door frame at a first pivot point and coupled to the mount at a second pivot point, wherein the arm is a goose neck arm which comprises:
- a curved portion having a first end and a second end;
- a first elongated straight portion extending from the first end of the curved portion in a first direction;
- and
- a second elongated straight portion extending from the second end of the curved portion in the first direction;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the arm to cause the arm to pivot about the second pivot point;
- wherein, when coupled, the vehicle door is configured to move between an open position providing access to the interior space of the vehicle body and a closed position substantially prohibiting access to the interior space;
- and
- wherein, when moving between the open position and the closed position, the vehicle door is configured to move along a travel path extending from the open position to the closed position while maintaining an outer surface of the vehicle door substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.