Sliding door structure of vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a sliding door structure of a vehicle, the sliding door structure including: a door configured to open and close an opening of a vehicle body; a door arm connecting the door to the vehicle body; a slider connected to one end of the door arm and sliding along a linear rail mounted on the vehicle body; the hook-shaped piece is arranged on the sliding piece and rotates through the movement of the sliding piece so as to rotate the door arm; a rotation pin provided on the linear rail and rotating the hook by being coupled to or disconnected from the hook when the slider moves; a release button provided on the slider and rotating in contact with the pivot pin when the slider moves; and a gear lock in contact with the release button and rotated by rotation of the release button to fix or release rotation of the door arm.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0107543 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on August 17, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a sliding door structure of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a sliding door structure of a vehicle in which an opening of a vehicle body is opened and closed by sliding a door back and forth in a length direction of the vehicle. Background Art

[0004] The vehicle may have a cabin of a predetermined size in which a driver or a passenger accompanying the driver may ride, and a cabin opening / closing door may be installed on the vehicle body to open and close the cabin.

[0005] In the case of a passenger car, the compartment opening / closing door may include a front door installed at the front of the vehicle in the length direction and a rear door installed at the rear of the vehicle in the length direction. Here, the front door and the rear door may generally be installed on the vehicle body so as to be rotatable by a hinge.

[0006] In the case of a van with multiple people riding together, the compartment opening / closing door can open and close the compartment while sliding back and forth in the length direction of the vehicle.

[0007] The sliding cabin opening / closing door of a van can open the cabin by moving rearward along the length direction of the vehicle, and close the cabin by moving forward along the length direction of the vehicle. Therefore, compared with, for example, a hinged cabin opening / closing door of a passenger car, the space required for opening and closing the door is smaller, and even if the space required for opening and closing the door is smaller, the opening formed in the vehicle body can be fully opened.

[0008] However, conventional sliding door opening / closing doors may have a fixed sliding door arm structure, and the door arm may intrude too much into the side beam portion of the vehicle when opening / closing the door, so the floor height of the vehicle needs to be increased to ensure this space. In some examples, sliding doors may have limitations in maximizing the door opening amount due to their characteristics, and the door protrusion amount is too much. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present disclosure attempts to provide a sliding door structure for a vehicle adopting a sliding door structure, which allows linear movement and rotational movement by connecting a rotatable door with a sliding member that slides along a linear track of the vehicle, thereby expanding the opening width and minimizing the intrusion of a door arm into the space of a side beam portion of the vehicle.

[0010] According to an embodiment, a sliding door structure of a vehicle is provided, which includes: a door that opens and closes a door opening formed in a vehicle body; a door arm, one end of which is connected to the inner side of the door, and the other end of the door arm is connected to the vehicle body at the opening to rotate and slide; a sliding member, which is connected to the other end of the door arm and slides along a linear track mounted on the vehicle body; a hook member, which is provided on the sliding member and rotates by movement of the sliding member to rotate the door arm; a rotating pin, which is provided on the linear track and rotates the hook member by coupling or disconnecting with the hook member when the sliding member moves; a release button, which is provided on the sliding member and rotates in contact with the rotating pin when the sliding member moves; and a gear lock, which contacts the release button and rotates by rotation of the release button to fix or release the rotation of the door arm.

[0011] The hook member may be disposed on the slider and rotated about a hook pin passing through the slider.

[0012] The hook member may have a hook opening having one open end and extending in a length direction, and the rotating pin may be inserted into or released from the hook opening.

[0013] The hook gear may be rotatably coupled to the hook pin, and the hook gear may rotate together with the hook member.

[0014] The arm gear may be disposed on the slider and engaged with the hook gear to rotate in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the hook gear.

[0015] The arm gear may be disposed on the slide and rotate about an arm gear pin passing through the slide.

[0016] A toothed piece meshing with the hook gear may be partially formed on the outer peripheral portion of the arm gear, a step may be formed on the outer peripheral portion of the arm gear where the toothed piece is not formed, and the gear lock may be coupled to or decoupled from the outer peripheral portion where the step is formed.

[0017] The gear lock can be arranged on the sliding member and rotate around the gear lock pin mounted on the sliding member.

[0018] The gear lock spring may be disposed on the outer periphery of the gear lock pin and provide elastic force for the gear lock.

[0019] The release button may be disposed on the slide member and rotate about a release button pin mounted on the slide member.

[0020] The release button spring may be disposed on an outer circumference of the release button pin and provide elastic force for the release button.

[0021] When the door switches from a closed state to an open state, the sliding member can move along the length direction of the vehicle body, the rotating pin can be inserted into the hook opening of the hook member to rotate the hook member, the hook gear can rotate together with the hook member, the arm gear can engage and rotate with the hook gear to rotate the door arm, and the arm gear can engage and connect with the gear lock to fix the rotating arm gear and the door arm.

[0022] When the sliding member is further moved in the length direction of the vehicle body, the hook opening of the hook member may be separated from the rotating pin, and the door may slide while the door arm is fixed.

[0023] A stopper may be installed at an end of the linear rail, and when the stopper contacts the slide, the stopper limits movement of the slide.

[0024] When the door switches from an open state to a closed state, as the sliding member moves along the length direction of the vehicle body, the rotating pin can rotate the release button, the release button can rotate the gear lock to release the connection between the gear lock and the arm gear, the rotating pin can be inserted into the hook opening of the hook member to rotate the hook member, the hook gear can rotate together with the hook member, and the arm gear can rotate in engagement with the hook gear to rotate the door arm.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sliding door structure is adopted, which can be fixed or released by connecting a rotatable door arm to a sliding member that slides along a linear track of a vehicle, and the door arm is rotated as a hook member of the sliding member and a rotating pin of the linear track are connected or disconnected to each other, thereby eliminating the amount of door arm intrusion into the interior of the vehicle body, thereby achieving a flat structure of the vehicle body, thereby reducing the height (or step height) of the vehicle body.

[0026] In some examples, the sliding door structure can achieve linear and rotational movement of the door, thereby maximizing the door opening width and increasing the freedom of layout and interior design. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a view showing an example in which a door of a sliding door structure of a vehicle is closed.

[0028] Figure 2 is a view showing an example state in which a door of a sliding door structure is being opened.

[0029] Figure 3 is a view showing an example state in which the door of the sliding door structure is fully opened.

[0030] 4A to 4D are views each showing an example operation of components based on movement of a slider when a door of a sliding door structure is opened.

[0031] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5Dare views each showing in detail an example of a rotational relationship between a hook gear and an arm gear when a door of a sliding door structure is opened.

[0032] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D are views each showing in detail an example of a rotational relationship between a hook gear and an arm gear when a door of a sliding door structure is closed.

[0033] Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing example components of a sliding door structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs can easily implement the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments provided herein.

[0035] In some examples, components having the same configuration will be representatively described using the same reference numerals in one embodiment, while only components different from those of one embodiment will be described in other embodiments.

[0036] Hereinafter, a sliding door structure of a vehicle is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] Figure 1 is a view showing a state in which a door of a sliding door structure of a vehicle has not yet been opened; Figure 2 is a view showing a state in which a door of a sliding door structure of a vehicle is being opened; and Figure 3 It is a view showing a state in which a door of a sliding door structure of a vehicle is fully opened.

[0038] In some embodiments, the sliding door structure 100 of a vehicle can be applied to the lower side of a door 30 installed at the rear of the vehicle in the length direction, and applied to a structure for opening and closing the door 30 by moving in the inward and outward directions of the vehicle or sliding back and forth in the length direction of the vehicle. In some examples, the sliding door structure of a vehicle can be applied not only to the lower side of a door 30 installed at the rear of the vehicle, but also to the lower side of a door 30 installed at the front of the vehicle.

[0039] In some embodiments, reference Figures 1 to 3 , the sliding door structure of the vehicle may include a door 30 , a door arm 12 and a slider 8 .

[0040] For example, the door 30 may open and close a door 30 opening formed in a vehicle body 40 of the vehicle, and the door arm 12 may be rotatably connected to the door 30 and the vehicle body 40. One end of the door arm 12 may be connected to the inner side of the door 30 and extend toward the side beam of the vehicle body 40. In some examples, the other end of the door arm 12 may be connected to the vehicle body 40 at the opening to rotate and slide. The other end of the door arm 12 may be connected to the lower side of the vehicle body 40 forming the opening through a slide 8.

[0041] The slider 8 may be connected to the other end of the door arm 12 and slide along the linear rail 22 mounted on the vehicle body 40. As the slider 8 slides along the linear rail 22, the door arm 12 connected to the slider 8 may rotate, and as the door arm 12 rotates, the door 30 connected to one end of the door arm 12 may slide while rotating toward the outside of the vehicle body 40.

[0042] In some examples, a stopper 21 may be provided at the end of the linear rail 22 to limit the movement of the slide 8. The stopper 21 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber to mitigate the impact generated when the stopper contacts the slide 8.

[0043] In some examples, a rotating pin 20 may be provided on the linear rail 22, and when the slider 8 moves, the rotating pin 20 rotates the door arm 12 by contacting the slider 8. A hook 1 may be provided on the slider 8 so that the door arm 12 rotates, and the hook 1 may rotate to rotate the door arm 12 by contacting the rotating pin 20 as the slider 8 moves.

[0044] In some examples, a gear lock 4 and a release button 6 may be provided on the slider 8 to fix or release the rotation of the door arm 12 based on the movement of the slider 8. The operations of the rotation pin 20, the hook 1, the gear lock 4 and the release button 6 are described later.

[0045] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the state of the door 30 can be changed from the state in which the door is not yet opened to the state in which the door is opening. Then, the slide member 8 can move toward the rear of the vehicle along the linear track 22, so that the hook member 1 provided on the slide member 8 can contact the rotating pin 20 provided on the linear track 22, thereby rotating the hook member 1.

[0046] As the hook 1 rotates, the door arm 12 can rotate, and the door 30 connected to one end of the door arm 12 can slide while rotating toward the outside of the vehicle. When rotating at a predetermined angle, the door arm 12 can stop rotating, and the slider 8 can slide along the linear track 22 until the slider 8 contacts the stopper 21, thereby fully opening the door 30.

[0047] 4A to 4Dare views each showing the operation of each component based on the movement of a slider when a door of a sliding door structure of a vehicle is opened.

[0048] Reference 4A to 4D The sliding door structure of the vehicle may include: a hook member 1, which is arranged on the sliding member 8 and rotates by the movement of the sliding member 8 to rotate the door arm 12; a rotating pin 20, which is arranged on the linear track 22, and when the sliding member 8 moves, the rotating pin 20 rotates the hook member 1 by connecting or disconnecting with the hook member 1; a release button 6, which is arranged on the sliding member 8, and when the sliding member 8 moves, the release button 6 contacts the rotating pin 20 and rotates; and a gear lock 4, which contacts the release button 6 and rotates by the rotation of the release button 6 to fix or release the rotation of the door arm 12.

[0049] like Figure 4A As shown, a roller 9 may be provided on the slider 8, and the slider 8 moves along the linear track 22 through the roller 9. The hook 1 may be rotatably provided on one side of the slider 8, and as the slider 8 moves, the hook 1 may contact the rotating pin 20. The hook 1 may be provided on the slider 8 to rotate around the hook pin 14 passing through the slider 8, and the hook 1 may have a hook opening 26, which has one open end and extends in the length direction. The rotating pin 20 may be inserted into or released from the hook opening 26. The rotating pin 20 may be fixed to the linear track 22. Therefore, as the slider 8 moves, the rotating pin 20 may be inserted into the hook opening 26 to rotate the hook 1.

[0050] like Figure 4B As shown, when the rotation pin 20 is inserted into the hook opening 26 and the slider 8 moves further, the hook 1 can start to rotate. The hook gear 2 can be coupled to the hook pin 14 so that the hook gear can rotate around the same axis as the rotation axis of the hook 1, and the hook gear 2 can rotate together with the hook 1.

[0051] In some examples, the arm gear 3 may be disposed on the slide 8 , the arm gear 3 may engage with the hook gear 2 to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the hook gear 2 , and the arm gear 3 may rotate around an arm gear pin 15 passing through the slide 8 .

[0052] A toothed part meshing with the hook gear 2 may be partially formed on the peripheral portion of the arm gear 3, and a step may be formed on the peripheral portion of the arm gear 3 where the toothed part is not formed. The gear lock 4 may be coupled or disconnected from the peripheral portion where the step is formed. The gear lock 4 may rotate around a gear lock pin 27 mounted on the slide 8, and a gear lock spring 5 may be provided on the periphery of the gear lock pin 27 and provide a force for the gear lock 4 to continuously contact the side surface of the arm gear 3.

[0053] In some examples, the release button 6 may contact the gear lock 4, and when the rotation pin 20 contacts the release button 6 to rotate the release button 6, the gear lock 4 may be rotated by the rotation of the release button 6. The release button 6 may rotate around a release button pin 28 mounted on the slider 8, and a release button spring 7 may be provided on the outer circumference of the release button pin 28 and provide elastic force for the release button 6 to return to its original position after rotation.

[0054] As the arm gear 3 rotates, the door arm 12 may begin to rotate toward the outside of the vehicle body 40 , and the door 30 may begin to protrude outward from the vehicle body 40 .

[0055] like Figure 4C and Figure 4D As shown, as the slide 8 moves further and the hook 1 and the hook gear 2 rotate, the arm gear 3 can mesh with the toothed part of the hook gear 2 to rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the hook gear 2. When the rotation pin 20 contacts the release button 6, the gear lock 4 can be rotated by the release button 6, and the gear lock 4 can be coupled with the outer peripheral portion of the rotating arm gear 3 forming its step. When the gear lock 4 is coupled with the step of the arm gear 3, the rotation of the arm gear 3, the hook gear 2 and the hook 1 can be stopped, and the rotation pin 20 is released from the hook opening 26. In some examples, the door 30 can be stopped in a state of protruding outward from the vehicle body 40, and in this state, the door 30 can slide along the length direction of the vehicle body 40.

[0056] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are views each showing in detail a rotational relationship between a hook gear and an arm gear when a door of a sliding door structure of a vehicle is opened; and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the component parts of the sliding door structure of the vehicle.

[0057] Reference FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D and Figure 7 When the slide 8 moves along the linear track 22, the rotating pin 20 can begin to be inserted into the hook opening 26 (see Figure 5A ). When the slide member 8 moves further, the rotation pin 20 can be inserted deeper into the hook opening 26 to rotate the hook gear 2. As the hook gear 2 rotates, the arm gear 3 meshed with the hook gear 2 can rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the hook gear (see Figure 5B ). In this case, the door arm 12 connected to the arm gear 3 may be rotated toward the outside of the vehicle body 40, and the door 30 may begin to protrude outward from the vehicle body 40.

[0058] When the slide 8 moves further, the rotation pin 20 may contact the release button 6, and the release button 6 may be rotated to rotate the gear lock 4. The gear lock 4 may be inserted into the outer peripheral portion of the arm gear 3 where the toothed member is not formed to stop the rotation of the gear lock 4 and also stop the rotation of the hook gear 2 (see Figure 5C In this case, the amount by which the door 30 protrudes outward from the vehicle body 40 may be maximized.

[0059] When the slider 8 moves further, the contact between the rotating pin 20 and the release button 6 may be released, and the release button 6 may return to its original position by the elastic force of the release button spring 7 provided on the outer periphery of the release button pin 28. In some examples, the rotating pin 20 may be separated from the hook opening 26, and the door 30 may slide in a state of protruding outward from the vehicle body 40, thereby opening the door 30.

[0060] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D are views each showing in detail a rotational relationship between a hook gear and an arm gear when a door of a sliding door structure of a vehicle is closed.

[0061] Reference FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D and Figure 7 The slide member 8 can slide by starting to move along the linear track 22 in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the slide member 8 when the door 30 is opened (see Fig. 6A ), and this sliding movement can make the rotating pin 20 contact with the release button 6 (see Figure 6B ). The release button 6 can be rotated by contact between the release button 6 and the rotating pin 20, and the rotating pin 20 can start to be inserted into the hook opening 26 (see Figure 6B ).

[0062] As the slide 8 moves further, the rotating pin 20 can further rotate the release button 6, and the gear lock 4 can be rotated by the rotation of the release button 6, thereby releasing the connection between the gear lock 4 and the arm gear 3. As the rotating pin 20 is inserted deeper into the hook opening 26, the hook 1 and the hook gear 2 can be rotated, and the rotation of the hook gear 2 can rotate the arm gear 3 meshed with the hook gear 2 (see Figure 6C ). As the arm gear 3 rotates, the door arm 12 connected to the arm gear 3 may rotate to get closer to the vehicle body 40, and the door 30 may move toward the vehicle body 40 and begin to close.

[0063] When the slide member 8 moves further, the release button 6 can return to its original position by the elastic force of the release button spring 7, and the hook gear 2 and the arm gear 3 can be further rotated to rotate the door arm 12 connected to the arm gear 3 to be as close to the vehicle body 40 as possible, so that the door 30 can be completely closed (see Fig.6D ).

[0064] As described above, a sliding door structure is adopted, which can be fixed or released by connecting a rotatable door arm to a sliding member that slides along a linear track of the vehicle, and rotating the door arm as the hook member of the sliding member and the rotating pin of the linear track are connected or disconnected with each other, thereby eliminating the amount of door arm intrusion into the interior of the vehicle body, thereby achieving a flat structure of the vehicle body, thereby reducing the height (or step height) of the vehicle body.

[0065] In some examples, the sliding door structure can achieve linear and rotational movement of the door, thereby maximizing the door opening width and increasing the freedom of layout and interior design.

[0066] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and all equivalent modifications that can be easily modified by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs are intended to fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A sliding door structure for a vehicle, comprising: a door, opening and closing an opening of the vehicle body, said door moving laterally relative to said vehicle body; a door arm that rotates relative to the door and the vehicle body, the door arm having (i) a first end connected to the inner side of the door and (ii) a second end connected to the vehicle body; a sliding member connected to the second end of the door arm and moving along a linear track provided at the vehicle body; a hook-shaped member disposed at the sliding member and rotated by the movement of the sliding member, thereby rotating the door arm; a rotation pin disposed at the linear rail and coupled with or decoupled from the hook member based on the movement of the slider, thereby rotating the hook member; a release button disposed at the sliding member and contacting the rotation pin based on the movement of the sliding member and rotating relative to the sliding member; as well as A gear lock contacts the release button and is rotated by the rotation of the release button, thereby restricting or releasing the rotation of the door arm.

2. The sliding door structure according to claim 1, further comprising: A hook pin, passing through the slide, Wherein, the hook-shaped member rotates around the hook pin.

3. The sliding door structure according to claim 2, wherein: The hook member defines a hook opening extending in a length direction from an open end of the hook member, and The rotating pin is inserted into or released from the hook opening.

4. The sliding door structure according to claim 3, further comprising: A hook gear is rotatably coupled to the hook pin, the hook gear rotating together with the hook member.

5. The sliding door structure according to claim 4, further comprising: An arm gear is disposed at the sliding member and meshes with the hook gear, and the arm gear rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the hook gear.

6. The sliding door structure according to claim 5, further comprising: The arm gear pin passes through the slide, Wherein, the arm gear rotates around the arm gear pin.

7. The sliding door structure according to claim 5, wherein: The arm gear comprises: a toothed member defined at a first portion of an outer peripheral portion of the arm gear and meshing with the hook gear; and a step member defined at a second portion of the outer peripheral portion of the arm gear that does not define the tooth member, and The gear lock is coupled to or decoupled from a second portion of the outer peripheral portion of the arm gear.

8. The sliding door structure according to claim 1, further comprising: A gear lock pin is arranged at the sliding member, Wherein, the gear lock is arranged on the sliding member and rotates around the gear lock pin.

9. The sliding door structure according to claim 8, further comprising: The gear lock spring is arranged at the outer periphery of the gear lock pin and provides elastic force for the gear lock.

10. The sliding door structure according to claim 1, further comprising: A release button pin is provided at the slide member, Wherein, the release button rotates around the release button pin.

11. The sliding door structure according to claim 10, further comprising: A release button spring is arranged at the outer periphery of the release button pin and provides elastic force for the release button.

12. The sliding door structure according to claim 10, wherein: The sliding member moves along the length direction of the vehicle body, thereby switching the door from a closed state to an open state, The hook member defines a hook opening and a hook gear, The rotating pin is inserted into the hook opening based on the sliding member moving in the length direction of the vehicle body to open the door, thereby rotating the hook member. The hook gear rotates together with the hook-shaped member, The sliding door structure further comprises: an arm gear meshing with the hook gear and rotating with the hook gear, thereby rotating the door arm, and The arm gear is engaged and coupled with the gear lock, thereby restricting the rotation of the arm gear and the door arm.

13. The sliding door structure according to claim 12, wherein: The rotating pin is separated from the hook opening based on the further movement of the sliding member in the length direction of the vehicle body, and The door slides relative to the vehicle body while the door arm is fixed.

14. The sliding door structure according to claim 1, further comprising: A stopper is provided at an end of the linear rail and restricts movement of the slide member based on contact between the stopper and the slide member.

15. The sliding door structure according to claim 10, wherein: The sliding member moves along the length direction of the vehicle body, thereby switching the door from an open state to a closed state. The rotating pin rotates the release button based on the sliding member moving along the length direction of the vehicle body to close the door, The release button rotates the release button based on the rotation pin to rotate the gear lock, thereby releasing the connection between the gear lock and the arm gear. The hook member defines a hook opening and a hook gear, The rotating pin is inserted into the hook opening based on the release button rotating the gear lock, thereby rotating the hook member, and The arm gear meshes with the hook gear based on the rotation of the hook member and rotates along with the hook gear, thereby rotating the door arm.

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