Magnetic vehicle door collision avoidance and painting process retention tool

Abstract

A door retaining apparatus includes a base defining a hook configured to cooperate with a door or door frame of a vehicle; and a magnet mounted to the base, the magnet configured to cooperate with a vehicle door or a door frame, the vehicle door holding device not cooperating with the vehicle door or the door frame by way of a hook. The door holding apparatus is configured to be hooked on a door or a door frame of a vehicle to position the door holding apparatus between the door and the door frame, and the magnet is configured to be connected to the door frame or the door in a position in which the door is partially closed to hold the door relative to the door frame and prevent the door from being fully closed.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of this disclosure. To the extent described in this section, the work of the currently attributed inventors and aspects of the description that may not constitute prior art at the time of filing are neither explicitly nor implicitly considered to be prior art of this disclosure.

[0002] This disclosure relates to magnetic door anti-collision and paint process retention tools.

[0003] During the vehicle painting process, the vehicle doors are typically opened to various degrees to facilitate painting of the doors and door frames. The doors are usually not fully closed to avoid damaging the paint applied to the door frames. The painting process usually occurs before the final latches and door inspection chains are installed. The door inspection chains are devices that limit the extent to which the doors can be opened and allow the doors to be held in one or more predetermined positions along the path of door opening movement permitted by the door hinges. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Among various features, this disclosure provides a door retaining device comprising: a base defining a hook configured to cooperate with a vehicle door or door frame; and a magnet mounted to the base, the magnet being configured to cooperate with the door or door frame, wherein the door retaining device does not cooperate with the door or door frame via the hook. The door retaining device is configured to hook onto the vehicle door or door frame to position the door retaining device between the door and the door frame, and in a partially closed position, the magnet is configured to connect to the door frame or door to retain the door relative to the door frame and prevent the door from being fully closed.

[0005] In a further feature, the door retaining device is configured to hook onto a portion of the door, the portion of the door defining an opening configured to allow access to the door latch.

[0006] In a further feature, the gap defined between the base and the tab is configured to receive a portion of the defined opening of the door.

[0007] In a further feature, the tab extends beyond the distal end of the base and is configured to be positioned in the opening when the door retaining device is hooked onto the door.

[0008] In a further feature, the cover is located above the magnet.

[0009] In a further feature, the cover is made of a polymer material.

[0010] In a further feature, the cover is mounted to the base using fasteners.

[0011] In a further feature, the base defines a groove configured to cooperate with a fastener.

[0012] In a further feature, the fastener is a rivet.

[0013] In a further feature, the gap defined between the base and the tab is configured to receive a portion of the defined opening of the door, and the tab includes a raised surface at its distal end.

[0014] Among the further features, the door retaining device includes a handle.

[0015] In a further feature, the handle is configured as a flange that extends beyond the outer surface of the base.

[0016] Among various features, this disclosure also provides a door retaining device comprising: a base including an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface; a magnet disposed on the outer surface of the base; a cover above the magnet, the cover being secured to the base by fasteners mounted to the base; a tab opposing and spaced apart from the inner surface of the base to define a gap between the tab and the inner surface of the base, the tab extending outwardly beyond a distal end of the base; and a handle. The door retaining device is configured to clamp onto a vehicle door to position the door retaining device between the vehicle door and a door frame, wherein in a partially closed position, the magnet is configured to connect to the vehicle door frame to retain the door relative to the door frame and prevent the door from being fully closed.

[0017] In a further feature, the cover is removable and made of a polymer material.

[0018] In a further feature, the base defines a groove configured to cooperate with a fastener, which is configured as a rivet.

[0019] In a further feature, the flange of the handle extends outward beyond the outer surface of the base.

[0020] Among various features, this disclosure also includes a door retaining device comprising: a base including an outer surface, an inner surface opposite the outer surface, and a groove on one side of the base; a magnet disposed on the outer surface of the base; a cover above the magnet, the cover being made of a polymeric material and secured to the base; a fastener cooperating with the cover and the base at the groove of the base to mount the cover to the base; a flexible tab opposite to and spaced apart from the inner surface of the base to define a gap between the flexible tab and the inner surface of the base, the flexible tab including a raised surface at its distal end; and a handle including a flange extending outwardly from the base beyond the outer surface of the base. The door retaining device is configured to clamp onto a vehicle door to position the door retaining device between the vehicle door and the door frame. In a partially closed position, the magnet is configured to connect to the vehicle door frame to retain the door relative to the door frame and prevent the door from closing completely.

[0021] In a further feature, the flexible tab extends outward beyond the distal end of the base.

[0022] In a further feature, the fastener is configured as a rivet.

[0023] In a further feature, the polymeric material of the cover includes nylon.

[0024] The present invention may also include the following solutions.

[0025] 1. A door retaining device, comprising:

[0026] A base for a defined hook, the hook being configured to cooperate with a vehicle door or door frame;

[0027] A magnet mounted to a base, the magnet being configured to cooperate with a vehicle door or door frame, wherein the door retaining device does not cooperate with the vehicle door or door frame via a hook.

[0028] The door retaining device is configured to hook onto the vehicle door or door frame to position the door retaining device between the door and the door frame, and in the partially closed position the magnet is configured to connect to the door frame or door to retain the door relative to the door frame and prevent the door from being fully closed.

[0029] 2. The door retaining device as described in claim 1, wherein the door retaining device is configured to hook onto a portion of a defined opening in the door, the opening being configured to allow access to the door latch.

[0030] 3. The door retaining device as described in claim 2, wherein the gap defined between the base and the tab is configured to receive a portion of the defined opening of the door.

[0031] 4. The door retaining device as described in claim 3, wherein the tab extends beyond the distal end of the base, and the tab is configured to be positioned in an opening when the door retaining device is hooked onto the door.

[0032] 5. The door retaining device as described in claim 1, further comprising a cover above the magnet.

[0033] 6. The door retaining device as described in claim 5, wherein the cover is made of a polymeric material.

[0034] 7. The door retaining device as described in embodiment 5, wherein the cover is mounted to the base using fasteners.

[0035] 8. The door retaining device as described in claim 7, wherein the base defines a groove configured to cooperate with the fastener.

[0036] 9. The door retaining device as described in claim 7, wherein the fastener is a rivet.

[0037] 10. The door retaining device as described in claim 1, wherein the gap defined between the base and the tab is configured to receive a portion of a defined opening of the door, and the tab includes a raised surface at its distal end.

[0038] 11. The door retaining device as described in claim 1, further comprising a handle.

[0039] 12. The door retaining device as described in claim 11, wherein the handle is configured as a flange extending beyond the outer surface of the base.

[0040] 13. A door retaining device, comprising:

[0041] A base, the base including an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface;

[0042] A magnet, which is mounted on the outer surface of the base;

[0043] The cover above the magnet is secured to the base using fasteners that are mounted to the base;

[0044] A tab, the tab being opposite to and spaced apart from the inner surface of the base to define a gap between the tab and the inner surface of the base, the tab extending outward beyond the distal end of the base; and

[0045] handle,

[0046] The door retaining device is configured to be clamped onto the vehicle door to position the door retaining device between the vehicle door and the door frame. In the partially closed position of the door, the magnet is configured to be connected to the vehicle door frame to retain the door relative to the door frame and prevent the door from being fully closed.

[0047] 14. The door retaining device as described in claim 13, wherein the cover is removable and made of a polymeric material.

[0048] 15. The door retaining device of claim 13, wherein the base defines a recess configured to cooperate with a fastener configured as a rivet.

[0049] 16. The door retaining device as described in claim 13, wherein the flange of the handle extends outward beyond the outer surface of the base.

[0050] 17. A door retaining device, comprising:

[0051] A base, the base including an outer surface, an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, and a groove on one side of the base;

[0052] A magnet, which is mounted on the outer surface of the base;

[0053] A cover above the magnet, the cover being made of polymer material and fixed to the base;

[0054] Fasteners that cooperate with the cover and the base in a recess in the base to mount the cover to the base;

[0055] A flexible tab, the flexible tab being opposite to and spaced apart from an inner surface of a base to define a gap between the flexible tab and the inner surface of the base, the flexible tab including a raised surface at its distal end; and

[0056] The handle includes a flange that extends outwardly from the base beyond the outer surface of the base.

[0057] The door retaining device is configured to be clamped onto the vehicle door to position the door retaining device between the vehicle door and the door frame. In the partially closed position of the door, the magnet is configured to be connected to the vehicle door frame to retain the door relative to the door frame and prevent the door from being completely closed.

[0058] 18. The door retaining device as described in claim 17, wherein the flexible tab extends outward beyond the distal end of the base.

[0059] 19. The door retaining device as described in claim 17, wherein the fastener is configured as a rivet.

[0060] 20. The door retaining device as described in claim 17, wherein the polymeric material of the cover comprises nylon.

[0061] Further areas of application of this disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims, and drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0062] This disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0063] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the door retaining device according to this disclosure;

[0064] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Side view of the door retaining device;

[0065] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Exploded view of the door retaining device;

[0066] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Perspective view of the door retaining device clipped to the car door;

[0067] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Another perspective view of the door retaining device clipped to the car door;

[0068] Figure 6 This illustrates the interaction between the door retaining device and both the door and the door frame; and

[0069] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of another door retaining device according to this disclosure.

[0070] In the accompanying drawings, reference numerals may be used repeatedly to identify similar and / or identical elements. Detailed Implementation

[0071] When a vehicle is painted, the doors are opened and closed at various stages of the painting process. At certain stages, care must be taken to prevent the doors from closing completely. Otherwise, the undried paint applied to the door frame may be damaged. This disclosure provides a door retaining device configured to clamp onto the door at an opening for a door latch. The door retaining device includes a magnet configured to connect to a metal door frame at an area subsequently covered by a weatherstripping. The cooperation between the magnet and the door frame maintains the door closed, allows the door to be opened if necessary during painting, and prevents the door from closing completely, which could damage the paint on the door frame. Any damage to the door frame paint caused by the interaction between the magnet and the door frame is ultimately covered by the weatherstripping. Therefore, any paint damage is not visible at the end of production. The door retaining device of this disclosure eliminates any need for temporary door inspection chains during the painting process. The door retaining device is configured to clip onto the vehicle door and can also be configured for use with any non-vehicle application.

[0072] Figures 1 to 3 An exemplary door retaining device 10 according to the present disclosure is shown. The device 10 generally includes a base 20 having an outer surface 22, an inner surface 24, and a distal end 26. The outer surface 22 is opposite to the inner surface 24.

[0073] Mounted to the base 20 is a magnet 40. The magnet 40 can be any suitable magnet configured to cooperate with a vehicle door frame. For example, the magnet 40 can be an N42SH neodymium magnet. The magnet 40 can have any suitable shape and size. For example, the magnet 40 can be 0.5 inches × 0.5 inches × 1 foot in size. The magnet 40 is secured to the base 20 in any suitable manner. For example, the magnet 40 can be directly attached to the base 20 or held to the base by a cover 50.

[0074] The cover 50 can be made of any suitable material, such as a polymer. For example, the cover 50 can be made of nylon 6 / 6 heat-resistant plastic. The cover 50 is mounted to the base 20 using any suitable fastener 60. For example, the fastener 60 can be a rivet configured to sit within a hole 52 defined by the cover 50 and to engage with a U-shaped cutout 30 defined by the base 20. The fastener 60 can also be configured to engage with the base 20 in any other suitable manner.

[0075] During painting, the cover 50 may be covered with paint, which may be accumulated through multiple painting processes. When the paint buildup becomes too thick to continue use, the cover 50 can be removed and replaced. For example, the fastener 60 can slide out from inside the cutout 30 to allow the cover 50 to be removed and recycled. A new cover 50 can then be secured to the magnet 40 using either the used fastener 60 or a new fastener 60. Whether the fastener 60 can be reused will depend on how it is configured. If the fastener 60 is configured as a bolt, it may be reused. If the fastener 60 is configured as a rivet, it may not be reusable. Depending on the circumstances, only the magnet 40 may be reused.

[0076] The door retaining device 10 further includes a tab 70, which may be flexible. The tab 70 is opposite to and spaced apart from the inner surface 24 of the base 20. The tab 70 defines a gap 80 between the inner surface 24 of the base 20 and the tab 70. The distal end 72 of the tab 70 extends outward beyond the distal end 26 of the base 20. Located at or near the distal end 72 of the tab 70 is a raised surface 74 that facilitates the interaction between the flexible tab 70 and the door, as described herein. The gap 80 provides a hook or clip configured to cooperate with the door to attach the device 10 to the door, as described herein.

[0077] The door retaining device 10 also includes a handle 90, which in the illustrated example is generally a flange extending outward beyond the outer surface 22 of the base 20. The handle 90 is configured to be gripped by a human or robotic installer for installation in a vehicle door or any other suitable door. The handle 90 can be configured in any other suitable manner to facilitate installation of the device 10 in any suitable door.

[0078] Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 An exemplary vehicle door 110 and a door retaining device 10 clamped onto the door 110 are shown. The door 110 defines an opening 120, beyond which a door latch is ultimately installed. The device 10 can also be configured to clamp onto any other suitable portion of the door 110. In the example shown, the device 10 is positioned such that a tab 70 is located within the opening 120, while a base 20 having a magnet 40 is located outside the opening 120. A portion of the door 110 is thus positioned in a gap 80 and on the side of a raised surface 74 opposite the distal end 72 of the flexible tab 70. The raised surface 74 helps to retain the device 10 within the opening 120.

[0079] The device 10 is configured to keep the door 110 partially closed at the door frame 210 during the painting process, which typically occurs before the installation of the door latch and door inspection chain. The door inspection chain is a device that limits the extent to which the door can be opened and allows the door to be held in one or more predetermined positions along the path of door opening movement permitted by the door hinges. The device 10 is connected to the area 220 of the door frame 210 via magnet 40 (see...). Figure 6 The interaction between the door handle 90 and the door frame 210 keeps the door 110 partially closed, and the area is eventually covered by a weatherstripping after painting. The area 220 is metallic and may include a flange for mounting the weatherstripping thereto. When the door 110 is in the partially closed position, the handle 90 typically extends into the door frame 210.

[0080] The magnet 40 of the device 10 and Figure 6 The cooperation between regions 220 of the door frame 210 shown maintains the door 110 partially closed, allows the door 110 to be opened if necessary during painting, and prevents the door 110 from closing completely, which would damage the paint applied to the door frame 210. By preventing the door 110 from closing completely, the device 10 acts as a collision limiter to prevent contact with wet paint on the door frame 210 (e.g., wet paint on surface 230). Any damage to the paint on the door frame 210 caused by the interaction between the magnet 40 and the door frame 210 (particularly regions 220 and surface 230 of the door frame 210) is ultimately covered by weatherstripping. Therefore, any paint damage is not visible at the end of production. The door holding device 10 of this disclosure eliminates any need for temporary door inspection chains during the painting process. The device 10 also eliminates the need for mechanical manipulation or mechanisms as part of its function, which could be mispositioned or otherwise malfunction.

[0081] Although Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The device 10 is shown clipped onto the door 110, but the orientation can be reversed so that the device 10 is attached to the door frame 210 in any suitable manner. For example, the device 10 can be clipped onto any suitable portion of the door frame 210. With the device 10 clipped onto the door frame 210, the cooperation between the magnet 40 of the device 10 and the door 110 will keep the door 110 partially closed, allow the door 110 to be opened if necessary during painting, and prevent the door 110 from being completely closed, which would destroy the paint applied to the door 110 and / or the door frame 210.

[0082] Figure 7Another exemplary door retaining device 310 according to this disclosure is shown. The door retaining device 310 is configured to attach to a door frame 210. The device 310 includes a body 320. The device 310 is configured to attach to either a right-side or left-side vehicle door frame. To facilitate placement of the device 310, the device 310 may include right-side and left-side markings, such as “R” 322 and “L” 324, printed, engraved, or otherwise included in the body 320, to facilitate placement of the device 310 on either the right-side or left-side vehicle door frame.

[0083] A hook base 330 is spaced apart from the main body 320. The hook base 330 is connected to the main body 320 via an arm 332. The hook base 330 includes a right hook 340A and a left hook 340B. The right hook 340A is configured to hook onto any suitable part of the right side of the vehicle door frame, such as a right-side hole. The left hook 340B is configured to hook onto any suitable part of the left side of the vehicle door frame, such as a left-side hole. The main body 320 defines a right slot 350A and a left slot 350B. The right slot 350A is configured to cooperate with any suitable part of the right side of the vehicle door frame, such as receiving a weatherstripping flange on the right side of the vehicle. The left slot 350B is configured to cooperate with any suitable part of the left side of the vehicle door frame, such as receiving a weatherstripping flange on the left side of the vehicle.

[0084] The main body 320 further includes a right magnet 360A under the right cover 370A and a left magnet 360B under the left cover 370B. The right magnet 360A is configured to cooperate with the right door when the device 310 is mounted to the right side door frame of the vehicle. The left magnet 360B is configured to cooperate with the left door when the device 310 is mounted to the left side door frame of the vehicle. As the device 310 is clamped onto the right side door frame, the cooperation between the right magnet 360A and the right door maintains the right door partially closed, allows the right door to be opened if necessary during painting, and prevents the right door from being completely closed, which would damage the paint applied to the door and / or door frame. As the device is clamped onto the left side of the vehicle door frame, the cooperation between the left magnet 360B and the left door keeps the left door partially closed, allows the left door to be opened if necessary during painting, and prevents the left door from closing completely, which would damage the paint applied to the door and / or door frame.

[0085] The foregoing description is illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit this disclosure, its application, or use. The broad teachings of this disclosure can be implemented in various forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes specific examples, its true scope should not be so limited, as other modifications will become apparent upon examination of the drawings, description, and appended claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within the method may be performed in different orders (or simultaneously) without altering the principles of this disclosure. Furthermore, although each of the embodiments described above is described as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of this disclosure may be implemented in and / or combined with features of any of any of other embodiments, even if such combinations are not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and substitutions of one or more embodiments for each other remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0086] Various terms are used to describe spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.), including “connection,” “joint,” “coupled / linked,” “adjacent,” “next to,” “on top,” “above,” “below,” and “set.” Unless explicitly described as “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the foregoing disclosure, the relationship can be a direct relationship in which no other intermediate elements exist between the first and second elements, or an indirect relationship in which one or more intermediate elements exist between the first and second elements (spatially or functionally). As used herein, at least one of the phrases A, B, and C should be interpreted as indicating logic using non-exclusive OR (A OR B OR C) and should not be interpreted as indicating “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

[0087] In the accompanying drawings, the direction of the arrows, as indicated by the arrows, typically represents the flow of information of interest (e.g., data or instructions). For example, when elements A and B exchange various types of information, but the information sent from element A to element B is relevant to the illustration, the arrow may point from element A to element B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply that no other information is being sent from element B to element A. Furthermore, for information sent from element A to element B, element B may send a request for that information or an acknowledgment of receipt of that information to element A.

Claims

1. A door retaining device, comprising: A base for a defined hook, the hook being configured to cooperate with a vehicle door or door frame; A magnet mounted to a base, the magnet being configured to cooperate with a vehicle door or door frame, wherein the door retaining device does not cooperate with the vehicle door or door frame via a hook. The door retaining device is configured to hook onto the vehicle door or door frame to position the door retaining device between the door and the door frame, and in the partially closed position the magnet is configured to connect to the door frame or door to retain the door relative to the door frame and prevent the door from being fully closed.

2. The door retaining device of claim 1, wherein the door retaining device is configured to hook onto a portion of a defined opening in the door, the opening being configured to allow access to the door latch.

3. The door retaining device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gap defined between the base and the tab is configured to receive a portion of the defined opening of the door.

4. The door retaining device of claim 3, wherein the tab extends beyond the distal end of the base, and the tab is configured to be positioned in an opening when the door retaining device is hooked onto the door.

5. The door retaining device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover above the magnet.

6. The door retaining device of claim 5, wherein the cover is made of a polymeric material.

7. The door retaining device of claim 5, wherein the cover is mounted to the base with fasteners.

8. The door retaining device of claim 7, wherein the base defines a recess configured to cooperate with the fastener.

9. The door retaining device of claim 7, wherein the fastener is a rivet.

10. The door retaining device of claim 1, wherein the gap defined between the base and the tab is configured to receive a portion of a defined opening of the door, and the tab includes a raised surface at its distal end.

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