# US 2017/0284142 A1 · Automatically closing vehicle door

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2017/0284142 A1
- Document ID: US20170284142A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/083,591
- Filed: 2016-03-29
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-29
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: John W. Jaranson; Raj Nair; Randal Henry Visintainer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284142A1

## CPC

- E05F 3/222: {electrically operated (E05F3/223 takes precedence)}
- E05B 47/0004: {said core being linearly movable}
- E05C 17/003: {Power-actuated devices for limiting the opening of vehicle doors}
- E05C 17/12: consisting of a single rod
- E05C 17/203: {concealed, e.g. for vehicles}
- E05F 1/10: for swinging wings {, e.g. counterbalance}
- E05F 1/1008: {with a coil spring parallel with the pivot axis (E05F1/1207 takes precedence)}
- E05F 1/1016: {with a canted-coil torsion spring}
- E05F 1/14: with double-acting springs, e.g. for closing and opening or checking and closing {no material}
- E05F 3/221: {Mechanical power-locks, e.g. for holding the wing open or for free-moving zones}
- E05F 15/60: using electrical actuators
- E05F 15/70: with automatic actuation
- E05B 2047/0048: {Circuits, feeding, monitoring}
- E05B 2047/0068: {Door closed}
- E05Y 2900/531: Doors
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05C: BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS (latching means for sideboard or tailgate structures for vehicles B62D, {B62D33/02}; fastening devices for constructional or engineering elements E04, F16B; locks, fastening devices structurally or operatively combined or having significant cooperation with locks E05B; means for operating or controlling wing fasteners in conjunction with mechanisms for moving the wing E05F)
- 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 door assembly for a vehicle includes a door and a check strap pivotally coupled to the door. An engagement member is releasably engageable with the check strap. A spring is positioned to bias the check strap toward the engagement member. When the engagement member is engaged with the check strap, the check strap maintains the door in an open position. When the engagement member is disengaged with the check strap, the door is swung to the closed position under the bias of the spring.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle door assembly comprising:
a door;
a check strap pivotally coupled to the door and including a ramp;
a ratchet including a toothed rack fixed to the check strap and a pawl releasably engageable with the toothed rack; and
a spring-loaded pusher abutting the ramp;
wherein the pawl includes a post and a spring biasing the post into engagement with the toothed rack.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the check strap includes a first end pivotally coupled to the door, the ramp tapering in a direction away from the first end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a release device engageable with the pawl.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a solenoid engageable with the pawl.

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a processor programmed to retract the pawl relative to the toothed rack.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the ratchet and the spring-loaded pusher is supported by the door.

### Claim 8

A vehicle door assembly comprising:
a door;
a check strap including a first end pivotally coupled to the door and including a ramp tapering in a direction away from the first end;
an engagement member releasably engageable with the check strap, the engagement member being moveable between an engaged position engaged with the check strap and a disengaged position disengaged with the check strap;
a pusher abutting the ramp; and
a spring biasing the pusher toward the ramp, the spring being positioned to bias the check strap toward the engagement member in the engaged position.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a base retractably supporting the pusher.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein at least one of the engagement member and the pusher is supported by the door.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a toothed rack fixed to the check strap, wherein the engagement member is a pawl releasably engaging the toothed rack.

### Claim 13

A vehicle door assembly comprising:
a door;
a check strap pivotally coupled to the door;
an engagement member releasably engageable with the check strap, the engagement member being moveable between an engaged position engaged with the check strap and a disengaged position disengaged with the check strap;
a spring positioned to bias the check strap toward the engagement member in the engaged position:,
a toothed rack fixed to the check strap, wherein the engagement member is a pawl releasably engaging the toothed rack; and
another spring biasing the pawl toward the toothed rack.

### Claim 14

(canceled)

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein the check strap includes a first end pivotally coupled to the door and a ramp tapering away from the first end, and further comprising a pusher abutting the ramp.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein the spring biases the pusher toward the ramp.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a hinge supported on the door and biasing the door about the hinge.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The vehicle door assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein at least one of the engagement member and the spring is supported by the door.

### Claim 19

(canceled)

### Claim 20

(canceled)