Door checker that generates half-open force
The door check mechanism uses an elastic member or check link arm to automatically open handle-less automobile doors to a half-open state, addressing complexity and cost issues in existing designs, ensuring easy manual operation and aerodynamic efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- EDSHA JAPAN CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing door opening mechanisms for handle-less automobile doors are complex, increase air resistance, and require additional parts or structures that limit design freedom and increase cost, making it difficult to achieve a simple and efficient half-open state without a handle.
A door check mechanism using an elastic member or check link arm with an elastic body or roller that generates stress in the door-opening direction when fully closed, allowing the door to automatically open to a half-open state upon latch release, eliminating the need for actuators or complex drive mechanisms.
The mechanism provides a simple, efficient, and cost-effective way to achieve a half-open door state without additional parts, ensuring a stable gap for easy manual opening, while maintaining a simple design and reducing complexity and cost.
Smart Images
Figure 2026101469000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0004]
[0001] The present invention relates to a door check suitable for use in an automobile door. More specifically, the present invention relates to a door check having a function of creating a gap through which a finger can be placed to open the door when the door latch is released in an automobile door without a door handle that has been increasing in recent years.
Background Art
[0002] In recent years, designs without automobile door handles have emerged, aiming for a smooth and aerodynamically resistant door design. In this case, in order to perform an operation to open the door, a cue for moving the door by hanging a finger is required. Therefore, there have been some structures such as providing a recess on the body side for hanging a finger or a buried door handle that protrudes from the door surface only during operation and is usually buried in the door. However, there were many disadvantages such as a complicated structure, an increase in air resistance, and a design disadvantage.
[0003] Therefore, without using a recess or a buried handle, etc., as a structure that can perform the opening and closing operation of the door without any trouble in the simplest state, when the latch is removed for door opening from the state where the door is completely closed and the latch is engaged, the door opens to a state where it is open in a so-called half-door state with a sufficient gap for hanging a finger, and from there, the operator can apply a force in the door opening direction by putting a finger in the gap. Such a configuration has existed.
[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a pop-up mechanism for a vehicle door that improves the operability of the door by operating the door to open the door even when the user is in a difficult situation to open the door. However, this mechanism was such that "when the user was carrying luggage or other items and both hands were occupied, it was difficult for the user to operate the door" (paragraph number 0003), so "it comprises a first member that is supported by the vehicle body and configured to transmit force to the vehicle door, a second member that stores the applied external force and transmits the stored force to the first member, and a trigger member that releases the force stored by the second member, and when the trigger member releases the force stored by the second member, the first member opens the vehicle door based on the force transmitted from the second member" (paragraph number 0006), and "the second The bar 4 moves in accordance with the operation of the check link 11, rotating the second gear 41. As the second gear 41 rotates in accordance with the movement of the second lever 4, the first gear 31, which is meshed with the second gear 41, rotates, moving the first lever 3 and extending the spring 1, allowing the spring 1 to store force. Therefore, by the user opening the door further from the rotated position after the pop-up operation, the spring 1 can be biased for the next opening operation by the pop-up mechanism 100 without the user's intention (paragraph number 0025). In other words, although the door pops up due to the action of a spring, a complex structure involving two gear-driven levers and a spring was essential.
[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses an invention that solves the problem that "general-purpose outer door grips are always used to provide an engagement surface for the user's hand when the closing element is moved by hand. Providing such outer door grips located on the outer panel of the closing element is aerodynamically disadvantageous, increases the risk of injury in the event of a collision, limits the degree of design freedom, and is also associated with considerable cost" (paragraph 0004), and "provides an automobile lock assembly that can optimize and realize an engagement surface for the user's hand at minimal cost" (paragraph 0005). "The closing element 3 can be moved from the closed position shown in Figure 1a to the open position shown in Figure 1b during the motor-driven release process using a moving drive device 6. This makes it possible to obtain an engagement gap 8 between the closing element 3 and the automobile body 2" (paragraph 0024). However, this requires a drive device 6, has a complex structure, and has many parts.
[0006] Patent Document 3 discloses an assembly, shown in Figure 8, that applies a pressing force to the door check itself to bring the door to a half-open position. This assembly has a configuration in which an actuator 106 pushes out a spring 126, which in turn pushes out a lever 116 to the half-open position, thereby pushing out the link 604 of the door check to the half-open position (paragraph 0046). However, this assembly required many additional parts to bring the door to a half-open position, such as the actuator 106 for pushing out the spring 126 and the lever 116 for pushing out the link. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-086529 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-515014 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0330133 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to achieve a simpler configuration for keeping the door half-open when the door latch is released. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a simpler and more rational structure for a door check that has a function to generate a stress in the direction of release, so that when the latch is released the door can be opened by inserting a finger and moving the door in the opening direction. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] To solve the above problems, the inventors diligently conducted research, obtained the following findings, and furthered their research to complete the present invention. In a conventional door check, an elastic member is provided that is sandwiched between a check link arm and a member through which the arm passes. When the door is fully closed, the elastic member is pressed, creating a stress in the release direction. When the latch is released, the stress pushes the door in the release direction. Because it is an elastic member, the door can be closed against the elastic force in the closing direction, and the force that brings it to a partially open state is generated by the elastic force stored by pressing the elastic member when closing the door.
[0010] Alternatively, a check link arm may be used in which a check slider or roller, which presses against the check link arm of the door check with elastic force, rolls on an inclined surface formed such that stress is generated in the release direction when the door is fully closed. In this configuration as well, the force that brings the door to a partially open state is generated by the elastic force accumulated when closing the door against the pressing force of the slider or roller. The door is initially positioned slightly ajar during the check, and then manually opened further by the operator. When the latch is released, the door will stop slightly ajar, allowing the operator to insert their fingers and open it. Therefore, the structure is extremely simple, and complex drive mechanisms such as actuators are unnecessary.
[0011] The present invention includes the following embodiments. [1] A door check for a hinged opening and closing door, comprising a door-side member and a body-side member, wherein a check link arm, which is the other member, passes through a housing, which is one of the door-side member or the body-side member, and generates elastic stress in the door-opening direction when the door is fully closed, and has a structure that generates stress in the opening direction by directly applying said stress to the check link arm, and is configured to partially open the door when the latch that maintains the closed state of the door is released by said stress. [2] The open state of the door is when there is an opening of 1 cm to 10 cm at the end opposite the door hinge, as described in [1]. [3] The aforementioned stress in the release direction is 5 to 50 N at the door handle position, as described in [1] or [2], for the door check. [4] A door check according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein a check position is provided in which the door is held in the partially open state position due to the release stress. [5] The door check according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the stress generating structure is configured such that the door check force generates stress in the door opening direction when the door is fully closed, due to the mountain shape of the check link arm of the door check itself and the force of the elastic body reaction force inside the housing. [6] The door check according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the stress generating structure is an elastic body sandwiched between the check link arm and the housing. [7] The aforementioned elastic body is fixed to and integrated with the check link arm, as described in [6], a door check.
[0012] The inventor of the present invention has reached the above-described configuration, paying attention to the fact that the configuration in the prior art is too complicated. That is, by adopting the above-described configuration, an actuator or the like is not required because a driving function is not required, and the stress for pressing the door in the subsequent semi-open state can be stored in the elastic body by applying stress for simply bringing the door to a completely closed state.
[0013] Further, storing the stress in the elastic body in the door half-open direction can also be performed in a release direction pressing force generation structure by a check roller that presses a mountain-shaped slope having a concave portion at a check position provided on a check link arm of a door check.
[0014] In that case, the door check has irregularities provided on the side surface of the check link arm, and a checker action is caused by a check slider or roller that is pressed against the side surface with an elastic force. When the check slider or roller rolls along the irregularities, the checker action is caused by the check slider or roller being held in the concave portion by the pressing force. The irregularities of the check link arm are configured such that the pressing force by which the check slider or roller presses the slope of the irregularities is exerted as the stress in the door opening direction when the door is completely closed, which is the release direction stress generation structure of the mountain-shaped slope pressing aspect of the present invention.
[0015] If the irregularities of the check link arm are provided such that the position where the gap for door operation becomes a desired one is the first check position, the stress in the door release direction disappears at the first check position, and the door stops at the desired semi-open position.
Effect of the Invention
[0016] According to the present invention, despite having an extremely simple configuration, the above-described function, that is, by releasing the latch for opening the door, the stress stored when the door is closed can drive the door in the release direction.
[0017] A door driven in the opening direction can set the stop position of the door check so that the size of the gap between the door for further opening the door by hand becomes a desired value by the position holding action of the door check.
[0018] By configuring an elastic body to be fixed to the check link arm of the door checker, it is also possible to simultaneously replace the elastic body when replacing the check link arm, thus facilitating the maintenance of the function. Also, according to the structure of the present invention, by simply replacing a door check without a door partial opening function with a door check having the elastic body of the present invention, it is possible to change to a door in which a gap for automatically taking action when the door latch is disengaged is formed, and no additional parts are required. Further, due to such a simple configuration, there is an excellent effect that the necessity for space for adding functions is almost or completely eliminated.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a view showing a door check according to an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view showing a door check according to an aspect of the present invention, showing a mode in which the elastic body is different from that in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which a door is checked and stopped at a partial opening position in a partially opened state in a door check according to an aspect of the present invention. FIG. 3a corresponds to FIG. 2, and FIG. 3b corresponds to FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view showing a state of being stopped in a partially opened state in a door check according to an aspect for generating the stress of both the elastic body and the inclined surface pressing of the present invention, with the housing other than the check roller in the housing omitted. [Figure 5]Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, a door check that uses only a mountain-shaped slope and release direction stress from a check slider or roller, with Figure 5a showing the housing and check link arm that house the check slider or roller in the fully closed state, and Figure 5b showing only the check link arm.
[0020] Figure 1 shows the overall structure of one embodiment of the door check of the present invention. For clarity, this drawing does not show the doors or the car body itself; only the checks are represented. A door check is a device that has irregularities on the surface of a check link arm 2 that penetrates a housing 1 fixed to the door. A slider or roller, which is a pressing member provided inside the housing 1, slides along these irregularities, and the pressing force holds the check link arm in a preset check position.
[0021] The key feature of the present invention is a mechanism that directly applies stress to the check link arm, which in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is an elastic body 3 provided at the body-side end of the check link arm 2. In Figure 1, this elastic body 3 is, for example, a rubber block 3, and when the door is fully closed, it is sandwiched between the body-side end flange 4 of the check link arm and the housing 1, and is compressed to a state greater than its natural dimensions. Therefore, when the door is fully closed, the elastic body 3 generates stress in the direction of opening the door between the check link arm end flange 4 and the housing 1.
[0022] When the latch holding the door closed is released and the door becomes rotatable, the elastic force stored in the elastic body 3 causes the door to move in a direction that separates the housing 1 from the rod end flange 4.
[0023] To ensure the door stops at an opening angle suitable for gripping, as described above, a recess for checking may be provided on the check link arm at a position where the door opening angle is just right.
[0024] Figure 2 shows an example in which a helical spring 5 is used instead of the rubber block 3 in Figure 1 as the elastic body. Not limited to helical springs, any type of spring is acceptable. Furthermore, instead of elastic blocks such as rubber or springs, gas-filled balloons may be used, or any other material that can store elastic force through compression may be used. Figure 2 shows a configuration in which the check link arm passes through the center of the elastic body. Furthermore, multiple elastic bodies may be used in a row rather than just one, but they should be arranged so that the stress in the release direction is applied directly to the check link arm.
[0025] Figure 3 shows the door check in the partially open state, where a finger can just barely touch it, as described above. Note that Figure 3(b) corresponds to Figure 1, and Figure 3(a) corresponds to Figure 2. In Figure 3, in the partially open state, the elastic body is in its natural state with no pressure whatsoever, and is not compressed.
[0026] In another embodiment, in a partially open state, the check position can be set at a point where sufficient checking force is generated to hold the door in place, but the elastic body is still compressed enough to retain some pressure in the door-opening direction. This setting has the advantage of allowing for comfortable further opening by hand. The partially open state of the door can be configured to open to any desired extent, but preferably, the opening can be set to 1 cm to 10 cm at the end opposite the door hinge.
[0027] Figure 4 shows a mechanism that generates stress in the door opening direction when the door is fully closed. This mechanism is configured such that a check roller 6, located inside the housing, presses against a mountain-shaped uneven surface 7 by elastic force. The check link arm is configured such that the pressing force of the check roller 6 is converted into a force that moves the arm in the door opening direction. In Figure 4, the roller 6 generates the pressing force, but it is not limited to a roller; any check slider configuration that moves on a surface can be used as long as it is a mechanism that applies a pressing force to the check link arm.
[0028] In Figure 4, the housing 1 of the door check, which is the component through which the check link arm 2 passes and which houses the check slider or roller 6, is omitted, and only the check slider or roller 6 and the check link arm 2 are shown. Figure 4 shows the roller position when the mechanism is partially open and stopped. In the fully closed state, the check roller 6 is located on the left-hand slope 7, and the force pressing the roller against the arm generates stress in the direction that pushes the check link arm out, i.e., in the release direction.
[0029] In the example shown in Figure 4, a block-shaped elastic body 3 is also provided, and in addition to the release force from the inclined surface 7 and the check slider or roller, a release force from the elastic body is also applied. In Figure 4, the slope 7 is relatively small, but it should be large enough to generate a stress in the direction of door opening when the door is fully closed. In the fully closed state of the door, the stress in the release direction arises solely from the elastic body; that is, in the fully closed state, the check slider or roller may be positioned on a flat surface after passing the inclined plane 7. It is possible to use only slopes and sliders or rollers, or only elastic materials, or any combination depending on the situation. The stress in the opening direction can be adjusted to any magnitude, but preferably it can be 5 to 50 N at the door handle position, and more preferably 10 to 20 N.
[0030] Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a door check configuration that does not have an elastic body and uses only a mountain-shaped slope and release stress from a check slider or roller. Figure 5a shows the housing containing the check slider or roller and the check link arm in the fully closed state. Figure 5b shows only the check link arm. In Figure 5a, the door is in a fully closed position, and the check slider or roller 6 is positioned on the inclined surface 7 of the check link arm such that the pressing force of the check slider or roller 6 generates a force in the release direction of the check link arm 2. When the door's closing latch is released, the door opens due to the force exerted by the check slider or roller 6 pressing against the inclined surface 7, which moves the check link arm 2 in the release direction. The check slider or roller 6 then settles into a stable position that gives the check link arm 2 a partially open state, similar to the state shown in Figure 4, and the door is held in a partially open state.
[0031] The check link arm 2 shown in Figure 4 has an elastic body 3 positioned between the door-side member and the body-side member, while Figures 5a and 5b show a check link arm 2 without such an elastic body.
[0032] In this invention, whether the stress is generated in the release direction in a fully closed state by an elastic body sandwiched between the check link arm 2 and the housing 1, or whether the stress is generated in the release direction in a fully closed state by the force exerted by the check slider or roller 6 pressing against an inclined surface provided on the check link arm 2, or whether the invention has both an elastic body and an inclined surface for generating stress in the release direction, it can be easily installed in the location where a conventional check link arm was installed. Furthermore, it enables an automatic release operation to a partially open state, which is not possible with conventional check link arms, and maintains a stable position in the partially open state, without any design changes to other parts, or with only minor changes.
[0033] The ability to automatically move to a partially open position through such a simple structure is a remarkable effect that could not have been predicted with conventional methods that require special additional structures to achieve partial opening. [Explanation of symbols]
[0034] 1 Housing 2 Check link arm 3. Elastic body 4. Body-side end flange 5. spiral spring 6. Check slider or roller 7. Slope
Claims
1. A door check for a hinged opening and closing door, comprising a door-side member and a body-side member, wherein a check link arm, which is the other member, passes through a housing, which is one of the door-side member or the body-side member, and generates elastic stress in the door-opening direction when the door is fully closed, and has a structure that generates stress in the opening direction by directly applying said stress to the check link arm, and is configured to partially open the door when the latch that maintains the closed state of the door is released by said stress.
2. The door check according to claim 1, wherein the open state of the door portion results in an opening of 1 cm to 10 cm at the end opposite the door hinge.
3. The door check according to claim 1, wherein the stress in the release direction is 5 to 50 N at the door handle position.
4. The door check according to claim 1, wherein a check position is provided in which the door is held in the partially open state position due to the release stress.
5. The door check according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stress generating structure is configured such that the door check force generates stress in the door opening direction when the door is fully closed, due to the mountain shape of the check link arm of the door check itself and the force of the elastic body reaction force inside the housing.
6. The door check according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stress generating structure is an elastic body sandwiched between the check link arm and the housing.
7. The door check according to claim 6, wherein the elastic body is fixed to and integrated with the check link arm.