# US 9,605,466 B2 · Motorized vehicular system with automated door assembly

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- Number: US 9,605,466 B2
- Document ID: US9605466B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/645,877
- Filed: 2015-03-12
- Published: 2016-08-18
- Granted: 2017-03-28
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-17
- Assignees: Braun GmbH
- Applicants: The Braun Corporation
- Inventors: Adam Wojdyla; Michael R. Pugh; Sajed Dosenbach; Christopher Wegner; Greg Perkins
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9605466B2

## CPC

- E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
- A61G 3/065: {using an adjustable suspension lowering device for the whole vehicle}
- B60J 5/047: {characterised by the opening or closing movement}
- B60J 5/0493: {Appurtenances}
- B60J 5/06: slidable; foldable
- B60R 3/02: Retractable steps {or ladders, e.g. movable under shock (B60R3/005 takes precedence)}
- B62D 47/00: Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers (superstructures B62D31/00)
- E05B 81/04: Electrical (electrical circuits E05B81/54)
- E05B 81/70: the wing position
- E05D 3/147: {for vehicle doors}
- E05D 15/06: for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
- E05D 15/101: {specially adapted for vehicles (E05D15/1007 takes precedence)}
- E05D 15/28: supported on arms movable in horizontal plane
- E05D 15/30: with pivoted arms and sliding guides
- E05F 1/14: with double-acting springs, e.g. for closing and opening or checking and closing {no material}
- E05F 15/614: operated by meshing gear wheels, one of which being mounted at the wing pivot axis; operated by a motor acting directly on the wing pivot axis
- E05F 15/632: for horizontally-sliding wings
- A61G 3/061: {using ramps}
- E05D 3/18: with sliding pins or guides
- E05F 15/42: Detection using safety edges
- E05F 15/649: operated by swinging arms
- E05Y 2201/22: Locks
- E05Y 2201/624: Arms
- E05Y 2400/3013: during manual wing operation
- E05Y 2800/296: Slots
- 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
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- 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 motorized vehicle includes a door configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a first member defining a first axis, and a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis. A linkage assembly includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot. A cross member has a first end and a second end. The first end has a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member. The door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A motorized vehicle, comprising:
a body frame mounted on a chassis, where the chassis is adapted to support a vehicle powertrain and a plurality of wheels;
a vehicle floor coupled to the body frame and chassis;
a ramp assembly coupled to the vehicle floor, the ramp assembly being configurable in at least a stowed position and a deployed position to enable the wheelchair-occupied passenger ingress and egress to and from the interior;
a door coupled to the body frame, the door configured to move between an open position and a closed position to provide access to an interior of the vehicle;
a door assembly including:
a first member defining a first axis;
a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis;
a linkage assembly including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm being pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot; and
a cross member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member;
wherein, the door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The motorized vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a bracket defining a second slot therein, the bracket being pivotably coupled to the first member at a first location and the first arm at a second location, where the first location is spaced from the second location.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The motorized vehicle of claim 2, wherein the second slot comprises a profile having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion defined by a first radius and the second portion defined by a second radius;
wherein the first radius and second radius are different from one another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The motorized vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:
a second support member defining a third axis, the third axis being spaced from and parallel to the first and second axes; and
a connecting arm pivotally coupled to the first support member and the second support member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The motorized vehicle of claim 4, wherein the connecting arm is pivotally coupled to the first support member about the second axis and pivotally coupled to the second support member about the third axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The motorized vehicle of claim 4, further comprising:
a third arm defining a third slot and including a second pin;
wherein, the connecting arm includes a third pin;
further wherein, the third pin is slidably disposed within the third slot and the second pin is slidably coupled to the second slot.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The motorized vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of pillars forming part of the body frame, the plurality of pillars including at least a first pillar, a second pillar, and a third pillar, where the first pillar is disposed near a front end of the vehicle and the third pillar is disposed near a rear end thereof; and
at least a second door coupled to the body frame and providing access to an interior of the vehicle.

### Claim 8

A motorized vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
a powertrain and a plurality of wheels supported by the chassis;
a body frame mounted on the chassis;
a door coupled to the body frame, the door configured to move between an open position and a closed position to provide access to an interior of the vehicle;
a first member defining a first axis;
a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis;
a linkage assembly including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm being pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot;
a cross member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member; and
a drive assembly operably coupled to the first member;
wherein, the door is movable between the open and closed positions as the drive assembly operably drives the first member about the first axis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The motorized vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:
a vehicle floor coupled to the body frame and chassis; and
a ramp assembly coupled to the vehicle floor, the ramp assembly being configurable in at least a stowed position and a deployed position to enable the wheelchair-occupied passenger ingress and egress to and from the interior.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The motorized vehicle of claim 8, wherein the drive assembly comprises:
a motor;
a gear set coupled to the motor; and
a clutch assembly being disposable in an engaged position and a disengaged position,
wherein, the motor is operably coupled to the first member in the engaged position and decoupled therefrom in the disengaged position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The motorized vehicle of claim 10, wherein the drive assembly comprises:
a first sprocket coupled to the clutch assembly;
a second sprocket coupled to the first member; and
a drive chain coupled between the first sprocket and the second sprocket;
wherein the motor operably drives the first and second sprockets via the drive chain in the engaged position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The motorized vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:
a bracket including a pin, the bracket being coupled to the door;
a cinching head having an open end that defines a first angled portion and a second angled portion; and
an actuator coupled to the first member at a first end and the cinching head at a second end, where a movement of the actuator moves the cinching head in a first axial direction;
wherein, the movement of the cinching head in the first axial direction induces a movement of the bracket in a second axial direction, wherein the second axial direction is substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The motorized vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a spring mechanism coupled to the first member;
wherein, the spring mechanism is disposable on a first side of the first axis to provide a force to maintain the door in the closed position;
further wherein, the spring mechanism is disposable on a second side of the first axis to provide a force to maintain the door in the open position.

### Claim 14

A vehicular system, comprising:
a body frame defining an interior;
a door coupled to the body frame, the door configured to move between an open position and a closed position to provide access to the interior;
a door assembly including:
a first member defining a first axis;
a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis;
a linkage assembly including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm being pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot; and
a cross member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member;
a control system including a controller having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
wherein, the door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicular system of claim 14, further comprising a pivot arm sensor coupled to the first arm and configured to detect a position of the door relative to a current position of the first arm;
wherein, the pivot arm sensor is disposed in electrical communication with one of the plurality of inputs of the controller for communicating the position of the door thereto.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The vehicular system of claim 14, further comprising:
a ramp assembly coupled to the body frame, the ramp assembly being configurable in at least a stowed position and a deployed position to enable a wheelchair-occupied passenger ingress and egress to and from the interior; and
a ramp position sensor disposed in electrical communication with one of the plurality of inputs of the controller for communicating the position of the ramp assembly thereto.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The vehicular system of claim 14, further comprising:
a drive assembly operably coupled to the first member;
a cinching assembly including an actuator and a cinching head, the actuator being coupled to the first member at a first end and the cinching head at a second end;
a door actuator and a solenoid, the door actuator disposed in electrical communication with one of the plurality of outputs of the controller and the solenoid disposed in electrical communication with another of the plurality of outputs thereof; and
an actuator position sensor disposed in electrical communication with one of the plurality of inputs of the controller, the actuator position sensor coupled to the actuator to detect a position of the cinching head and communicate said detected position to the controller;
wherein, the controller is disposed in electrical communication with the drive assembly and cinching assembly to control movement of the door between the open and closed positions.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The vehicular system of claim 14, further comprising:
a kneel assembly coupled to the body frame, the kneel assembly adapted to move the body frame between a kneel configuration and a ride configuration; and
a kneel sensor disposed in electrical communication with one of the plurality of inputs of the controller, the kneel sensor detecting either the kneel configuration or ride configuration and communicating said detected configuration to the controller.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The vehicular system of claim 14, further comprising a bump strip sensor disposed in electrical communication with one of the plurality of inputs of the controller, the bump strip sensor coupled to the body frame, door, or door assembly, wherein the bump strip sensor is configured to detect an object at least partially disposed in a path travelled by the door between the open and closed positions and communicate said detection to the controller.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The vehicular system of claim 14, further comprising a signal receiver electrically coupled to one of the plurality of inputs of the controller, the signal receiver being in electrical communication with a transmitter for detecting an instruction to open or close the door, wherein the signal receiver is configured to receive the instruction and communicate the instruction to the controller.