Justin K Johnson

US Patent:

7611190, Nov 3, 2009

Filed:

Feb 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/391427

Inventors:

Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott - Dearborn MI, US
Jason Falenski - Berkley MI, US
Justin Thales Johnson - Idaho Falls ID, US
Dave Michael Lechkun - Shelby Township MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60J 5/06

US Classification:

296155, 29614612, 49248

Abstract:

A vehicle door articulating and sliding mechanism is provided that includes a swing arm pivotally mounted via a first bracket to a vehicle structure at one end and a sliding assembly comprising a rotating second bracket mounted at an opposite end of the swing arm. The sliding assembly is slidably engaged to a vehicle door. The mechanism also includes a first flexible link at least partially encircling a first sprocket connected to the vehicle structure and a second sprocket fixed to the vehicle door. The mechanism further includes a second flexible link fixed to the vehicle door at one end and fixed to the vehicle structure at the opposite end. The second flexible link at least partially encircles a cam, wherein the first flexible link and cam provide a catch that engages the cam to accelerate movement of the door during opening.

US Patent:

7918492, Apr 5, 2011

Filed:

Jan 5, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/348566

Inventors:

Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott - Dearborn MI, US
Justin Thales Johnson - Idaho Falls ID, US
Jason Falenski - Berkley MI, US
Rajinder P. Singh - Plymouth MI, US
Dave Michael Lechkun - Shelby Township MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60J 5/04

US Classification:

29614612

Abstract:

A vehicle door articulating mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle structure at one end thereof, a vehicle door pivotally mounted via first and second hinge mounts to the hinge arm at an opposite end of the hinge arm, a first cam mounted to the first hinge mount at one end of the hinge arm, a second cam mounted to the second hinge mount at an opposite end of the hinge arm, and a belt encircling both first and second cams. The hinge arm is disposed at first and second angular positions when the vehicle door is respectively disposed in closed and opened positions. The vehicle door articulating mechanism allows the door to articulate away independent of an adjacent vehicle door during initial and continued opening of vehicle door.