VEHICLE DOOR ORDER FOR AN AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING VEHICLE DOOR

Abstract

Vehicle door assembly (10) for an automatically closing vehicle door, comprising: a door (14); a safety belt (16, 116) pivotally coupled to the door (14) and comprising a ramp (22); a lock (66) comprising a rack (62) attached to the safety belt (16, 116) and a latch (64) that can be releasably engaged with the rack (62); and a spring-loaded push button (24) adjacent to the ramp (22);wherein the latch (64) comprises a rod (74) and a spring, in particular a latch spring (78), which biases the rod (74) into engagement with the rack (62), wherein the spring-loaded lever handle (24) is arranged to bias the door (14) towards a closed position, and wherein an engagement element (18) is provided which can releasably engage with the safety strap (16, 116) to act on the safety strap (16, 116) against the bias of the lever handle (24) to hold the door (14) in an open position.

Description

BACKGROUNDVehicles may be autonomously operated such that the vehicle may be driven by a driver without continuous attention, i.e., the vehicle may be self-driving without human input. For example, the vehicle may be remotely controlled by an automated data processing system. When the vehicle is autonomously operated, it may be used in a rental system and / or a ride sharing system where multiple occupants interchangeably take up the vehicle. In such situations, it is advantageous to ensure that the vehicle is in a proper state for driving before being autonomously operated.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a door in an open position. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the vehicle taken along line A of FIG. 1 and including an embodiment of a seatbelt and a spring. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 with the door in a closed position. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the vehicle taken along line A of FIG. 1, including another embodiment of the tether and the spring. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 with the door in the closed position. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B of FIG. 1 when the door is in the closed position, and including a second embodiment of a spring. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the vehicle taken along line A of FIG. 1 when the door is in the closed position, and including a second embodiment of the tether corresponding to the second embodiment of the spring shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a control system.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring to the Figures, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, a door assembly 10 for a vehicle 12 includes a door 14 and a safety strap 16, 116 pivotally coupled to the door 14. An engagement member 18 is releasably engageable with the tether 16, 116. A spring 44, 56 is positioned to bias the tether 16, 116 toward the engagement member 18.The door 14 may be movable between a closed position (shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 7 ) and a plurality of open positions (an open position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 ). As discussed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2-7, the engagement member 18 may engage the tether 16, 116 to releasably retain the door 14 in a selected open position. In other words, when the engaging member 18 is engaged with the tether 16, 116, the engaging member 18 acts against the bias of the spring 44, 56 to maintain the door 14 in the open position. When the engagement member 18 disengages the tether 16, 116, the spring 44, 56 biases the door 14 to the closed position. In other words, because the spring 44, 56 is positioned to bias the tether 16, 116 toward the engagement member 18 when the engagement member 18 releases the tether 16, 116, the spring 44, 56 biases the tether 16, 116 to pull the door 14 to the closed position. As described in greater detail below, a first embodiment of the tether 16 and spring 44, 56 is shown in FIGS. 2-5, and a second embodiment of the tether 116 and spring 44, 56 is shown in FIGS. 6-7.As also set forth in more detail below, the tether 16 includes a first end 20 pivotally coupled to the door 14 and may include a ramp 22 that narrows in a direction away from the first end 20. A trigger 24 may abut the ramp 22 to bias the door 14 toward the closed position. When the engagement member 18 is engaged with the tether 16, the engagement member 18 acts on the tether 16 against the bias of the trigger 24 to maintain the door 14 in the open position. In other words, the engagement member 18 maintains the door 14 in the open position and the bias of the trigger 24 is not sufficient to overcome the engagement member 18. When the engagement member 18 releases the tether 16, the trigger 24 biases the door 14 to the closed position to automatically move the door 14 to the closed position as described in more detail below.Referring to FIG. 1, the vehicle 12 may include a body 26 and the door 14 may be pivotally supported by the body 26. Specifically, the body 26 may include a hinge pillar 28, and the door 14 may be pivotally supported by the hinge pillar 28. The door 14 may be movable relative to the body 26 between the closed position and the open position. The vehicle 12 may include one or more hinges 30 supported by the door 14 and the body 26 and pivotally connecting the door 14 and the body 26 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. As an alternative to the hinges 30, the door 14 may be supported by the body 26 in any suitable manner and may move between the closed position and the open position in any suitable manner, e.g., pivotable or otherwise.Referring to FIGS. 2-7, the door 14 may include a door interior 32 and a door exterior 34 secured to the door interior 32. The door interior 32 and the door exterior 34 may be spaced apart to define a cavity 36 that receives the tether 16, 116. The safety strap 16, 116 may be mounted on the door interior 32 and / or on the door exterior 34 in the cavity 36. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2-5 and 7, the tether 16, 116 may be mounted to a bracket 38 of the door interior 32. The door interior 32 and / or the door exterior 34 may define an opening 40, and the tether 16, 116 may extend through the opening 40 from the cavity 36 to the body 26. The door interior 32 and the door exterior 34 may be formed of any suitable material, e.g., metal, such as steel, aluminum, etc., or polymer, such as fiber reinforced plastic, sheet molding compound (SMC), etc.The door assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a front door of a four door automobile. One or all of the door assemblies 10 of the vehicle 12 of FIG. 1 may be the type of door assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 2-7. As an alternative to the location and type of door assemblies 10 shown in FIG. 1, the door assembly 10 may be any type of door assembly on any type of vehicle.The vehicle 12 may be, for example, the autonomous vehicle. In other words, the vehicle 12 may be autonomously operated such that the vehicle 12 may be driven without continuous attention from a driver, i.e., the vehicle 12 may be self-driving without human input. In particular, the vehicle 12 may be remotely controlled by an automated data processing system. When autonomously operated, the vehicle 12 may be used in a rental system and / or a ride sharing system where multiple occupants interchangeably occupy the vehicle 12. The door assembly 10 described herein may be actuated to automatically move the door assembly 10 to the closed position before the vehicle 12 is autonomously moved with or without an occupant in the vehicle 12.Referring to FIGS. 1-5 and 7, the tether 16, 116 extends from the door 14 to the body 26. For example, the first end 20 may be adhered to the door 14 and the second end 42 may be adhered to the body 26. Alternatively, the first end 20 may be pivotally coupled to the body door 26 and the second end 42 may be pivotally coupled to the door 14. The tether 16, 116 may be extended between the first end 20 and the second end 42. The tether 16, 116 may be formed of any suitable type of material, e.g., plastic, metal, etc.As shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 7, the tether 16, 116 may be retractably received by the door 14 when the door 14 is moved to the closed position. In particular, the tether 16, 116 may retract into the cavity 36 through the opening 40 when the door 14 is moved to the closed position. The tether 16, 116 may pass from the cavity 36 between the door interior 32 and the door exterior 34 through the opening 40 when the door 14 is moved to open positions. Alternatively, the tether 16, 116 may be retractably received by the body 26.As set forth above, the tether 16, 116 includes the ramp 22 that tapers in a direction away from the first end 20. In FIGS. 2-5, the ramp 22 tapers from the first end 20 and is spaced from the second end 42. Alternatively, the ramp 22 may be disposed at a suitable location between the first end 20 and the second end 42. As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the tether 16, 116 may include two ramps 22 and two followers 24, respectively, around the ramps 22. The tether 16, 116 may include any suitable number of ramps 22, i.e., one or more.A first embodiment of the ramp 22 is shown as an example in FIGS. 2-3 and a second embodiment of the ramp 22 is shown as another example in FIGS. 4-5. The ramp 22 in FIGS. 2-3 has a constant slope that narrows in a direction away from the first end 20. As described in more detail below, in this embodiment, the spring 44 may be a linear spring, i.e., the restoring force of the spring 44 is constant regardless of the compression of the spring 44. The ramp 22 in Figs. 4-5 has a progressive slope that tapers in a curved, i.e., non-linear, direction away from the first end 20. The slope of the ramp 22 may increase in a direction away from the first end 20. In this embodiment, the spring 44 may be a progressive spring, i.e., the restoring force of the spring 44 increases as the spring 44 is compressed, such that the spring 44 becomes stiffer as the spring 44 is compressed.The tether 16, 116 may include a stop 46. The stop 46 may be disposed, for example, at the end of the ramp 22 at the first end 20. The stop 46 prevents excessive rolling of the securing strap 16, 116. In particular, the stop 46 may be positioned, i.e., sized, shaped, and located along the tether 16, 116 to engage the trigger 24 and / or the engagement member 18 to prevent the trigger 24 from moving beyond the end of the ramp 22 and / or to prevent the engagement member 18 from moving beyond the end of the tether 16, 116 when the door 14 moves to open positions. Therefore, the stop 46 defines a maximum open position of the door assembly 10 relative to the body 26.As set forth above, a first embodiment of the tether 16 and spring 44 is shown in FIGS. 2-5, and a second embodiment of the tether 116 and spring 56 is shown in FIGS. 6-7. Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the first embodiment of the safety strap 16 and spring 44 includes the trigger 24 and the ramp 22. In particular, the pusher 24 may be spring-loaded. For example, the spring 44 may bias the pusher 24 toward the ramp 22. The trigger 24 travels along the ramp 22 when the door 14 is moved between the closed position and the open positions.Still referring to FIGS. 2-5, the trigger 24 and the spring 44 may be supported by the door 14. For example, the trigger 24 and the spring 44 may be supported by the door 14 within the cavity 36 of the door 14. Alternatively, the pusher 24 and the spring 44 may be supported by the body 26.As set forth above, the pusher 24 may be spring biased, e.g., the spring 44 biases the pusher 24 toward the ramp 22. Still referring to FIGS. 2-5, a base 48 may be attached to the door 14 and the base 48 may retractably support the trigger 24. In particular, the pusher 24 may include a rod 50 and a block 52 secured to the rod 50. The rod 50 may be retractably received in the base 48. The spring 44 may be enclosed by the base 48 and the block 52 on either side such that the spring 44 is resiliently compressed when the rod 50 is retracted into the base 48, i.e., when the door 14 is moved toward the open positions.Still referring to FIGS. 2-5, the spring 44 may be a coil spring. As set forth above, the spring 44 may be a linear spring as shown in FIGS. 2-3. As another example, as shown in FIGS. 4-5, spring 44 may be a progressive spring. As an alternative to the coil spring, the spring 44 may be of any suitable type, e.g., a pneumatic spring, a hydraulic spring, a resiliently compressible polymeric material, etc.As set forth above, the pusher 24 abuts the ramp 22. The roller 54 may be rotatable relative to the block 52, e.g., with a bearing. Additionally or alternatively, the roller 54 may include a friction reducing coating to assist in movement of the pusher 24 along the ramp 22.As set forth above, the second embodiment of spring 56 and tether 116 is shown in FIGS. 6-7. Referring to FIG. 6, the spring 56 engages the door 14 and the body 26 and biases the door 14 about the hinge 30 toward the closed position. As shown in FIG. 7, the engagement member 18 may engage the tether 116 to act against the bias of the spring 56 to maintain the door 14 in the open position. When the engagement member 18 disengages from the tether 116, the spring 56 moves the door 14 about the hinge 30 to the closed position.Still referring to FIGS. 6-7, the spring 56 and the tether 116 may be spaced apart from each other, e.g., vertically spaced. As shown in FIG. 6, the hinge 30 may include hinge halves 58 mounted to the door 14 and the body 26, respectively, and a hinge pin 60 rotatably engaging the hinge halves 58. The spring 56 may be supported on the hinge 30, e.g., engaged with the hinge pin 60.Still referring to FIG. 6, the spring 56 may be a torsion spring. Alternatively, the spring 56 may be of any suitable type.Referring to FIGS. 2-5 and 7, the engagement member 18 may be supported by the door 14. For example, the engagement member 18 may be supported by a bracket 94 of the door interior 32. Alternatively, the engaging member 18 may be on the vehicle body 26.The engaging member 18 is movable between an engaged position in which it is engaged with the engaging member 18 as in Figs. 2-5 and 7 and a disengaged position in which the engagement with the engaging member 18 is disengaged (not shown). As an example, a rack 62 may be secured to the tether 16, 116 and the engagement member 18 may include a pawl 64 that may releasably engage the rack 62. The rack 62 and pawl 64 form a detent 66 that allows the door 14 to be moved forwardly toward the open positions and prevents movement of the door 14 toward the closed position. Specifically, teeth 68 of rack 62 include a raised side 70 and a flat side 72. pawl 64 rides along raised side 70 as door 14 is moved to the open positions, and pawl 64 engages flat side 72 when door 14 is biased toward the closed position. The latch 66 may be supported by the door 14, or alternatively may be supported by the body 26.The rack 62 may be a part of the tether 16, 116, or it may be an independent component separate from the tether 16, 116. The rack 62 may be integrally connected to the tether 16, 116, i.e., simultaneously formed with the remainder of the tether 16, 116 as a single continuous unit. Alternatively, the rack 62 may be formed separately from the tether 16, 116 and then connected thereto. The rack 62 may simply be a series of teeth 68 on the tether 16, 116.The pawl 64 may be spring biased toward the engaged position. In particular, the pawl 64 may include a rod 74 and a pawl spring 78 biasing the rod 74 into engagement with the rack 62. A release device 80 (described in greater detail below) may retractably receive the rod 74 and the pawl 64 may include a protrusion 76. The pawl spring 78 may be disposed between the release device 80 and the protrusion. In other words, the pawl spring 78 biases the pawl 64 toward the rack 62. As the pawl 64 travels along the rising side 70 of one of the teeth 68, the pawl spring 78 is biased. When the pawl 64 reaches the adjacent flat side 72, the pawl spring 78 relaxes and pushes the pawl 64 into engagement with the flat side 72. the pawl 64 may alternatively be a rotary pawl or other suitable device for engaging the tether 16, 116.The spring 44, 56 is positioned to bias the tether 16, 116 toward the engagement member 18 in the engaged position. In particular, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5, the spring 44 biases the trigger 24 against the ramp 22, biasing the door 14 toward the closed position. The spring 44 biases the rod 74 of the pawl 64 into engagement with the flat side 72 of the tooth 68 adjacent the rod 74. Because the flat sides 72 of the teeth 68 of the rack 62 prevent movement of the door 14 toward the closed position, the spring 44 biases the tether 16, i.e., the flat side 72 of the tooth, toward the engagement member 18 in the engaged position. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-7, the spring 44 biases the door 14 about the hinge 30 toward the closed position. Similar to the embodiment of Figs. 2-5, this biasing by spring 44 biases the post 74 of pawl 64 into engagement with the flat side 72 of the tooth adjacent post 74.A release 80 is engageable with the pawl 64. The release device 80 moves the pawl 64 to the disengaged position to allow the door 14 to move toward the closed position. For example, in the embodiments of the safety strap 16, 116 shown in FIGS. 2-5 and 7, the release device 80 pulls the rod 74 of the pawl 64 away from the teeth 68 of the rack 62 to allow the door 14 to move toward the closed position, e.g., under the force of the spring.The release device 80 may be electronically actuated. For example, the release 80 may be an electromagnet which is engageable with the pawl 64 as shown in Figs. 2-5 and 7. The electromagnet may be mounted on the door 14, e.g., on the bracket 94, and may movably support the rod 74 of the pawl 64. Specifically, the electromagnet may retract the rod 74 away from the teeth 68 to disengage the rod 74 from the teeth 68, and may release the rod 74 such that the spring 44, 56 urges the rod 74 into engagement with the teeth 68. Alternatively, the release device 80 may be mechanically actuated, e.g., operated with a lever, operated with a link, etc.Referring to FIG. 8, the vehicle 12 includes a control system 82 programmed to control the release device 80. The control system 82 may include, for example, a body control module 84 in communication with the release device 80. An input device 86 and a door contact sensor 88 may be in communication with the body control module 84.The body control module 84 may include a processor programmed to control the release device 80. For example, the processor may be programmed to retract the pawl 64 relative to the rack 62. The processor may be embedded in a microcontroller 54. The microcontroller 54 may include memory, etc. The memory of the microcontroller 54 may store processor-executable instructions and may read the instructions from the memory and execute the instructions. To control the release device 80, the processor communicates with the release element, e.g., through direct electrical cabling, where the processor sends an analog or digital signal to the release device 80, or through a conventional communication network 92 of the vehicle 12, such as CAN (control area network), Ethernet, LIN (local interconnect network), or in some other way.The input device 86 may be supported on the door 14, e.g., the door exterior 34, an interior of the door 14, etc. The input device 86 may be accessible to a user and may be activated to provide an instruction to the body control module 84 to control the release device 80. The input device 86 may be, for example, an electronic or mechanical button in communication with the body control module 84. In this case, the button may be touched by the user to release the release mechanism such that the door 14 moves to the closed position under the force of the spring. As another example, the input device 86 may be a capacitive sensor on the door exterior 34 and / or the interior of the door 14. The capacitive sensor may detect a person's touch based on capacitive differences resulting from the touch. The capacitive sensor may form a capacitive zone on the door 14 that senses a person's touch. In this case, the capacitive zone may be touched by the user to release the release mechanism such that the door 14 moves to the closed position under the force of the spring.The door contact sensor 88 may then detect that the door 14 is in one of the open positions. The body control module 84, e.g., the processor, may be programmed to move the release device 80 to release the tether 16, 116 in response to activation of the input device 86 when the door contact sensor 88 detects that the door 14 is in one of the open positions. In the event that the door contact sensor 88 detects that the door 14 is in the closed position, the body control module 84, e.g., the processor, may be programmed to, in response to activation of the input device 86, maintain the release device 80 in engagement with the tether 16, 116. In other words, the body control module 84 may be programmed to move the release device 80 to release the tether 16, 116 only when the door contact sensor 88 detects that the door 14 is in one of the open positions. For example, the body control module 84 may be programmed to retract the solenoid to pull the rod 74 out of engagement with the teeth 68 when the door contact sensor 88 detects that the door 14 is in one of the open positions and the input device 86 is activated by a user.As set forth above, the vehicle 12 may be an autonomous vehicle. In this case, the autonomous vehicle may include an autonomous mode controller 90. The autonomous mode controller 90 may transmit operating data to the vehicle 12. The autonomous mode controller 90 may operate the vehicle 12 based on, for example, data received from the nearby vehicles and / or a remote server. The remote server may be, for example, a rental vehicle system for returning vehicles to a rental vehicle parking location and / or a customer pickup location. The autonomous mode controller 90 may be programmed to prevent movement of the vehicle 12 when the door contact sensor 88 detects that the door 14 is in one of the open positions.The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings and the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

A vehicle door assembly (10) for an automatic closing vehicle door, comprising: a door (14); a tether (16, 116) pivotally coupled to the door (14) and comprising a ramp (22); a latch (66) comprising a rack (62) secured to the tether (16, 116) and a pawl (64) releasably engageable with the rack (62); and a spring biased trigger (24) adjacent the ramp (22); wherein the latch (64) comprises a rod (74) and a spring, in particular latch spring (78), which biases the rod (74) into engagement with the rack (62), wherein the spring-loaded pusher (24) is arranged to bias the door (14) towards a closed position and wherein an engagement element (18) is provided which can releasably engage the securing strap (16, 116) to act on the securing strap (16, 116) against the bias of the pusher (24) in order to hold the door (14) in an open position.The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the tether (16, 116) comprises a first end (20) pivotally coupled to the door (14), the ramp (22) tapering in a direction away from the first end (20).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 1, further comprising a release device (80) engageable with the pawl (64).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnet engageable with the pawl (64).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 1, further comprising a processor programmed to retract the pawl (64) relative to the rack (62).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the latch (66) and / or the spring-biased trigger (24) is supported by the door (14).A vehicle door assembly (10) for an automatic closing vehicle door, comprising: a door (14); a tether (16, 116) comprising a first end (20) pivotally coupled to the door and a ramp (22) tapering in a direction away from the first end (20); an engagement member (18) releasably engageable with the tether (16, 116), the engagement member (18) movable between an engaged position in which it is engaged with the tether (16, 116) and a disengaged position in which the engagement with the tether (16, 116) is disengaged; a pusher (24) adjacent the ramp (22); A spring (44, 56) biasing the trigger (24) toward the ramp (22), wherein the spring (44, 56) is positioned to bias the tether (16, 116) toward the engagement member (18) in the engaged position, wherein the spring-biased trigger (24) is arranged to bias the door (14) toward a closed position, and wherein the engagement member (18), when engaged with the tether (16, 116), acts on the tether (16, 116) against the bias of the trigger (24) to maintain the door (14) in an open position.The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 7, further comprising a base retractably supporting the trigger (24).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 7, wherein the engagement member (18) and / or the trigger (24) is supported by the door (14).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 7, further comprising a rack (62) secured to the tether (16, 116), wherein the engagement member (18) is a pawl (64) that releasably engages the rack (62).A vehicle door assembly (10) for an automatic closing vehicle door, comprising: a door (14); a tether (16, 116) pivotally coupled to the door (14); an engagement member (18) releasably engageable with the tether (16, 116), the engagement member (18) movable between an engaged position in which it is engaged with the tether (16, 116) and a disengaged position in which engagement with the tether (16, 116) is released; a spring (44, 56) positioned to bias the tether (16, 116) toward the engagement member (18) in the engaged position; a spring biased trigger (24) adjacent the ramp (22); a rack (62) secured to the tether (16, 116), wherein the engaging element (18) is a pawl (64) releasably engaging the rack (62); and another spring, particularly a pawl spring (78), biasing the pawl (64) toward the rack (62), wherein the spring biased pusher (24) is arranged to bias the door (14) toward a closed position, and wherein the engaging element (18), when engaged with the tether (16, 116), acts on the tether (16, 116) against the bias of the pusher (24) to maintain the door (14) in an open position.The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 11, wherein the tether (16, 116) includes a first end (20) pivotally coupled to the door (14) and a ramp (22) tapering away from the first end (20), and further includes the pusher (24) adjacent the ramp (22).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 12, wherein the spring (44, 56) biases the pusher (24) toward the ramp (22).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 11, further comprising a hinge (30) supported on the door (14) and biasing the door (14) about the hinge (30).The vehicle door assembly (10) of claim 11, wherein the engagement member (18) and / or the spring (44, 56) is supported by the door (14).

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