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US 10,704,312 B2Granted
Door alignment systems and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsGuarav Kumar, Tesfaye Tsehayneh Ejigu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A door alignment system includes a first alignment member secured to one of a first door or a structure connected to the first door, and a second alignment member secured to the other of the first door or the structure. The first alignment member is configured to couple to the second alignment member when the first door is in a closed position relative to the structure in order to prevent the first door from binding in relation to the structure. The first alignment member is configured to be separated from the second alignment member when the first door is in an open position relative to the structure.
Claims26
A door alignment system, comprising:
- a first alignment member secured to one of a first door or a structure connected to the first door, wherein the first alignment member comprises a main body, and a coupling nub outwardly extending from a portion of the main body, wherein the coupling nub has a rounded outer surface;
- and
- a second alignment member secured to the other of the first door or the structure, wherein the first alignment member is configured to couple to the second alignment member when the first door is in a closed position relative to the structure in order to prevent the first door from binding in relation to the structure, and wherein the first alignment member is configured to be separated from the second alignment member when the first door is in an open position relative to the structure, wherein the second alignment member comprises lateral walls and a rear wall extending from a base, wherein a nub-receiving inlet is formed at a front end opposite from the rear wall, wherein the nub-receiving inlet connects to a nub channel that extends from the nub-receiving inlet to a rounded internal surface of the rear wall, wherein the nub channel is defined by the rounded internal surface of the rear wall, and internal surfaces of the lateral walls, wherein the internal surfaces of the lateral walls outwardly flare proximate to the nub-receiving inlet to form lead-in guides, wherein the lead-in guides are configured to receive the coupling nub and lead the coupling nub into a centered position within the nub channel as the coupling nub is moved into the nub-receiving inlet and the nub channel.
A vehicle comprising:
- an internal cabin;
- an enclosure within the internal cabin, wherein the enclosure comprises a housing defining an internal chamber, a door moveably secured to the housing between a closed position and an open position, and a door alignment system that prevents the door from binding in relation to the housing, wherein the internal chamber is closed when the door is in the closed position, and wherein the internal chamber is exposed when the door is in the open position, wherein the door alignment system comprises:
- a first alignment member secured to one of the door or the housing, wherein the first alignment member comprises a main body, and a coupling nub outwardly extending from a portion of the main body, wherein the coupling nub has a rounded outer surface;
- and
- a second alignment member secured to the other of the door or the housing, wherein the first alignment member is configured to couple to the second alignment member when the door is in the closed position relative to the housing in order to prevent the door from binding in relation to the housing, and wherein the first alignment member is configured to be separated from the second alignment member when the door is in the open position relative to the housing, wherein the second alignment member comprises lateral walls and a rear wall extending from a base, wherein a nub-receiving inlet is formed at a front end opposite from the rear wall, wherein the nub-receiving inlet connects to a nub channel that extends from the nub-receiving inlet to a rounded internal surface of the rear wall, wherein the nub channel is defined by the rounded internal surface of the rear wall, and internal surfaces of the lateral walls, wherein the internal surfaces of the lateral walls outwardly flare proximate to the nub-receiving inlet to form lead-in guides, wherein the lead-in guides are configured to receive the coupling nub and lead the coupling nub into a centered position within the nub channel as the coupling nub is moved into the nub-receiving inlet and the nub channel.
2 more elements
A door alignment system, comprising:
- a first alignment member secured to one of a first door or a structure connected to the first door, wherein the first alignment member is a first door tap;
- and
- a second alignment member secured to the other of the first door or the structure, wherein the second alignment member is a second door tap, wherein the first alignment member is configured to couple to the second alignment member when the first door is in a closed position relative to the structure in order to prevent the first door from binding in relation to the structure, and wherein the first alignment member is configured to be separated from the second alignment member when the first door is in an open position relative to the structure.
A vehicle comprising:
- an internal cabin;
- an enclosure within the internal cabin, wherein the enclosure comprises a housing defining an internal chamber, a door moveably secured to the housing between a closed position and an open position, and a door alignment system that prevents the door from binding in relation to the housing, wherein the internal chamber is closed when the door is in the closed position, and wherein the internal chamber is exposed when the door is in the open position, wherein the door alignment system comprises:
- a first alignment member secured to one of the door or the housing, wherein the first alignment member is mounted on a first internal surface of the door;
- and
- a second alignment member secured to the other of the door or the housing, wherein the second alignment member is mounted on a second internal surface of a lateral wall of the housing, wherein the first alignment member is configured to couple to the second alignment member when the door is in the closed position relative to the housing in order to prevent the door from binding in relation to the housing, wherein the first internal surface of the door is orthogonal to the second internal surface of the lateral wall when the door is in the closed position, and wherein the first alignment member is configured to be separated from the second alignment member when the door is in the open position relative to the housing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.