US 5,074,010 AGranted

Vehicle door check mechanism

AssigneeThunderline Corporation

InventorsRobert J. Gignac, Paul J. Dunbar

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Abstract

A door check mechanism for regulating pivotal movement of a vehicle door between a closed position and one or more open positions, which mechanism is sometimes incorporated in a hinge, includes an elongated track member having a track surface with at least one detent receptacle in that track surface; a detent roller engages the track surface in rolling pressure contact at least part of the time whenever the door moves between its open and closed positions. Either the roller or the track has a resilient elastomer core, preferably an elastomer material (e.g., a silicone polymer) that retains its elastic properties over a temperature range that extends much higher than any temperature usually endurable by humans; the core is covered by a hard, relatively non-elastic but flexible sheath. The engaging portions of the roller and track surfaces are preferably dissimilar materials, usually a metal and a resin.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A door check mechanism for regulating movement of a vehicle door, pivotally mounted on a first support element comprising part of a vehicle frame, between a closed position and an open position that is displaced from the closed position by a predetermined angle, the vehicle door including a second support element, the door check mechanism comprising:

a track member, including an elongated track surface having a roller detent receptacle therein;
a detent roller member;
mounting means for mounting the track member on one of the support elements and for mounting the detent roller member on the other of the support elements with the detent roller member aligned with the track surface;
the detent roller member having a resilient, locally distortable construction including a hard, substantially non-elastic internal bushing encompassed by a resilient elastomer core supporting a hard external sheath, the external sheath affording the surface of the detent roller member which engages the track member, the elastomer core being maintained in compression between the internal bushing and the external sheath;
the elastomer core of the detent roller member being formed of an elastomer material that retains its resiliency and elasticity even though subjected to elevated temperatures of the order of 400.degree. F.;
the track surface and the external surface of the detent roller that engages the track surface being formed of dissimilar materials;
the mounting means and the resilient distortable construction of the detent roller member conjointly maintaining the detent roller member in pressure rolling engagement with the track surface during at least a portion of the movement of the door between its closed and open positions;
and
the alignment of the detent roller member and the track surface causing the detent roller member to engage in the detent receptacle when the door is pivoted to its open position so that the detent roller member and the track member releasably maintain the door in its open position.

6 more elements

a track member, including an elongated track surface having a roller detent receptacle therein;
a detent roller member;
mounting means for mounting the track member on one of the support elements and for mounting the detent roller member on the other of the support elements with the detent roller member aligned with the track surface;
the track member having a resilient, locally distortable construction including a resilient elastomer core supporting a hard external sheath, the external sheath affording a track surface on the track member which engages the detent roller member;
the track surface and the external surface of the detent roller that engages the track surface being formed of dissimilar materials;
the mounting means and the resilient distortable construction of said track member conjointly maintaining the detent roller member in pressure rolling engagement with the track surface during at least a portion of the movement of the door between its closed and open positions;
and
the alignment of the detent roller member and the track surface causing the detent roller member to engage in the detent receptacle when the door is pivoted to its open position so that the detent roller member and the track member releasably maintain the door in its open position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.