Back to results
US 12,629,996 B2Granted
Vehicle door assembly
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorDavid Kovie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A door assembly for a vehicle includes a rear door panel and a forward door panel. The rear door panel is configured to be hingedly connected to a vehicle body structure. The forward door panel is hingedly connected to the rear door panel. The forward door panel is configured to be lockingly connected to the vehicle body structure.
Claims14
A door assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a rear door panel configured to be hingedly connected to a vehicle body structure;
- a forward door panel hingedly connected to the rear door panel, the forward door panel being configured to be lockingly connected to the vehicle body structure;
- a locking member configured to lockingly connect the forward door panel to the rear door panel to substantially prevent movement of the forward door panel relative to the rear door panel, and
- a lock release member configured to be activated to unlock the forward door panel from the rear door panel, the lock release member being connected proximate a door handle on the forward door panel,
- the rear door panel being configured to move with the forward door panel upon movement of the forward door panel when the forward door panel is locked to the rear door panel,
- the forward door panel being configured to be movable relative to the rear door panel when the forward door panel is unlocked from the rear door panel, and
- the forward door panel being configured to pivot about a pivot axis such that an inner surface of the forward door panel faces an inner surface of the rear door panel.
4 more elements
A vehicle door assembly comprising:
- a vehicle body structure defining a door opening;
- a door assembly connected to the vehicle body structure and movable between a closed position in which the door opening is concealed by the door assembly and an open position in which the door opening is accessible, the door assembly including
- a rear door panel hingedly connected to the vehicle body structure at a rear end of the door opening;
- and
- a forward door panel hingedly connected to the rear door panel, the forward door panel being lockingly connected to the vehicle body structure at a forward end of the door opening;
- a locking member configured to lock the forward door panel to the rear door panel to substantially prevent movement of the forward door panel relative to the rear door panel;
- and
- a biasing member configured to bias the locking member to a locked position in which the forward door panel is substantially prevented from moving relative to the rear door panel.
5 more elements
A door assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a rear door panel configured to be hingedly connected to a vehicle body structure;
- a forward door panel hingedly connected to the rear door panel, the forward door panel being configured to be lockingly connected to the vehicle body structure;
- and
- a locking member configured to lockingly connect the forward door panel to the rear door panel to substantially prevent movement of the forward door panel relative to the rear door panel;
- the rear door panel being configured to move with the forward door panel upon movement of the forward door panel when the forward door panel is locked to the rear door panel,
- the forward door panel being configured to be movable relative to the rear door panel when the forward door panel is unlocked from the rear door panel, and
- the forward door panel being configured to pivot about a pivot axis such that an inner surface of the forward door panel faces an inner surface of the rear door panel, the forward door panel being configured to pivot approximately 180 degrees relative to the rear door panel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.