Dual action cargo van door and ramp system

Abstract

A cargo van door system includes a cargo van with a cargo compartment, a first pivoting means for allowing one or more doors to releasably pivot laterally and vertically relative to one of three outwardly facing sidewalls of the cargo compartment to act as a door, a second pivoting means for allowing the door to pivot vertically relative to a floor of the cargo compartment to act as a ramp, and a means for coordinating engagement and disengagement of the first pivoting means and the second pivoting means, wherein the second pivoting means is disengaged when the first pivoting means is engaged to allow the door to swing laterally and vertically relative to one of the outwardly facing sidewalls to continue to function as a door, and the first pivoting means is disengaged when the second pivoting means is engaged to allow the door to swing vertically relative to the floor to act as a ramp.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention is in the field of automotive doors and ramps, particularly cargo van doors and ramps. [Background technology]

[0002] background Cargo vans with cargo compartments are useful for transporting small to medium sized loads. The loads may vary from parcels small enough to be held by hand to larger packaged items, furniture, building materials and countless other cargoes. Typically, cargo vans have a single rear door that swings sideways or two doors latched to the centerline of the vehicle that open sideways in opposite directions. Such door or doors may alternatively be located on the sides of the cargo compartment. When a person unloads cargo, he or she will move the cargo to be delivered to a position in the cargo compartment adjacent to the door or doors. The person must then jump or climb down from the floor of the cargo compartment to ground level and lift the cargo to be transported out of the cargo compartment by hand or by cart, trolley or other means of transport. This jump to ground level may be difficult for some people, although steps may be provided to assist ingress and egress into the cargo compartment. Involving two people in the unloading allows one person to remain in the cargo compartment while the other stands at ground level to receive the cargo being unloaded.

[0003] Sometimes the cargo load is too large or heavy for this simple unloading process and it is advantageous to employ some sort of ramp to facilitate removal of the cargo from the van. One or more people may walk down the ramp while holding the cargo, guide a loaded trolley or cart down the ramp, or push the cargo down the ramp to slide it to ground level. Sometimes ramps also help when the cargo is above ground level and is to be unloaded either below or above the cargo compartment floor level. Obviously, many of the same factors present during unloading also apply when loading cargo into a van. Typically the ramp is stored below the cargo compartment floor and extended to the rear of the van. The ramp may be flush with the cargo compartment floor when deployed. Other ramps will not present a continuous surface from the cargo compartment floor and will therefore be mounted to present a drop from the cargo compartment floor to the deployed ramp some distance lower.

[0004] Typically, lamps mounted below the cargo compartment floor are manually pulled out from their stowed positions, although sometimes this deployment is motor driven. The weight of such pull-out lamps may present difficulties for users who are not strong enough or otherwise struggle to deploy the lamp by hand. Also, as the lamp and its carriage become worn with use, there may be misalignment issues or increased friction and resistance to the deployment of the lamp. Again, many of the factors that apply during deployment of the lamp may also apply when the lamp is stowed after use.

[0005] Therefore, because both a side van swing door and a deployable ramp are useful in certain situations in cargo vans, it would be beneficial to provide both functions in a simple configuration, preferably with fewer separate components. It would also be beneficial to reduce the weight issues, friction and wear of components associated with conventional ramp deployments. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A new means of combining door and ramp functions in a cargo van door has been developed. The door and ramp have a single component. With releasable pivoting means generally arranged perpendicular to one another, the door may swing open sideways with a first pivoting means mounted adjacent to the side wall of the cargo compartment to allow loading or unloading of cargo without a ramp, or alternatively hang down on a second pivoting means mounted adjacent to the floor of the cargo compartment to form a ramp. Generally, both releasable pivoting means will be latched when the door and ramp are fully closed. The releasable pivoting means may have a hinge or may have hinges.

[0007] Typically, vans are provided with a pillar or pillars at the rear of the cargo compartment for structural support. These pillars may border an opening in the outward facing side wall of the cargo compartment to which the door or doors are mounted. A lateral latchable hinge may be mounted to a single support pillar, or lateral latchable hinges may be mounted to spaced support pillars. When either the door is to be opened or the ramp is to be deployed, one of the releasable hinges latches or engages, and the other releasable hinge unlatches or disengages to allow this dual door and ramp function. The movement of the ramp, which rotates vertically relative to the van on the second hinge, may be controlled by a coil spring, a strut assist mechanism, an electric motor, or other suitable control means. A cable or other suitable connection between the ramp and the control means allows the ramp to open and close smoothly and in a controlled manner. A single door and lamp unit may be employed, or two doors and lamp units mounted side-by-side. Also, multiple first and second hinges may be employed, if necessary. One or more conventional latches may be used to releasably hold a single door to the side wall of the van, or to releasably hold two side-by-side doors together when closed. In the latter case, the two doors are mounted side-by-side and latched at the centerline of the cargo compartment opening. There are three outward facing side walls. The door or doors may be mounted in the rear facing side wall of the van, in one or both of the lateral side walls, or in any combination thereof.

[0008] In a principal aspect of the present invention, a cargo van door system includes a cargo van with a cargo compartment having a roof, a floor and three outwardly facing side walls, at least one door mounted in an opening in at least one of the outwardly facing side walls, the at least one door having outward and inward facing surfaces, first and second lateral facing surfaces and upward and downward facing surfaces, all of which are directionally defined when the at least one door is closed, the cargo van door system having first pivoting means for permitting the at least one door to releasably pivot laterally and vertically relative to one of the outwardly facing side walls to act as a door, and a first pivoting means for releasably pivoting the at least one door laterally and vertically relative to one of the outwardly facing side walls to act as a door. and second pivoting means for allowing the at least one door to releasably pivot vertically relative to the floor to act as a ramp, and means for adjusting the engagement and disengagement of the first pivoting means and the second pivoting means, such that the second pivoting means is disengaged when the first pivoting means is engaged to allow the at least one door to swing laterally and vertically relative to one of the outwardly facing side walls of the cargo compartment to continue to function as a door, and the first pivoting means is disengaged when the second pivoting means is engaged to allow the at least one door to swing vertically relative to a floor of the cargo compartment to function as a ramp.

[0009] In a further aspect of the invention, when the second pivoting means engages the at least one door to act as a ramp, movement of the ramp is controlled by one of a coil spring, a strut assist mechanism, an electric motor or other suitable control means.

[0010] In a further aspect of the invention, a cable is connected between an outwardly facing lateral surface of at least one door and one of a coil spring, strut assist mechanism, electric motor or other suitable control means.

[0011] In a further aspect of the invention, the first pivoting means comprises at least one releasable hinge.

[0012] In a further aspect of the invention, two doors are mounted side-by-side in a frame that is releasably mounted to an outwardly facing side wall and rotationally mounted to a floor.

[0013] In a further aspect of the invention, the frame has two L-brackets adjacent the floor and releasably connected to each other about the opening which, when connected, allow the doors to either rotate horizontally to act as a door or open and close together to act as a ramp, and when unconnected, allow either door to rotate vertically to act as a ramp.

[0014] In a further aspect of the invention, a plurality of first releasable hinges are mounted between the frame and each door.

[0015] In a further aspect of the invention, the at least one first latch is adapted to release the at least one door to pivot open and close and act as a ramp.

[0016] In a further aspect of the invention, at least one first releasable hinge is mounted between a first lateral surface of the at least one door and an adjacent one of the outwardly facing side walls of the cargo compartment.

[0017] In a further aspect of the invention, at least one second releasable hinge is mounted between a downwardly facing surface of the at least one door and a floor of the adjacent cargo compartment.

[0018] In a further aspect of the invention, the at least one door further includes a ramp flap hinged to an upwardly facing surface of the at least one door that rests against an inwardly facing surface of the at least one door when the at least one door is oriented vertically and that rotates outwardly to provide an extension to the at least one door when the at least one door acts as a ramp.

[0019] In a further aspect of the invention, the at least one door is mounted to an outwardly facing side wall at the rear of the cargo compartment.

[0020] In a further aspect of the invention, the at least one door is mounted to an outwardly facing side wall at a side of the cargo compartment.

[0021] In a further aspect of the invention, a single door is releasably latched adjacent a side wall of the cargo compartment.

[0022] In a further aspect of the invention, two doors are positioned side-by-side and releasably latched at the centerline of the cargo compartment opening.

[0023] Further features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective representative view of a cargo van having a dual acting door and ramp system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of a cargo van having a dual action door and lamp system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear of a cargo van showing the two doors deployed as ramps. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective representative view of a cargo van having multiple dual action doors and a ramp system. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a side view of a frame and door for a dual action door and lamp system. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective representative view of a frame and door for a dual action door and lamp system, with the door in a closed position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective representative view of a frame and door for a dual action door and ramp system with the door in an open and door action position. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective representative view of the frame and doors for a dual action door and ramp system, one door closed and one door open to act as a ramp. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective representative view of a frame and doors for a dual action door and ramp system mounted in a schematic cargo compartment opening, with one door open to act as a door and one door open to act as a ramp. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective representative partial view of a frame and doors for a dual action door and ramp system, with one door closed and one door open to act as a ramp. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, claims or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or each individual feature, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described with respect to one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless such features are incompatible.

[0026] Detailed Description of the Invention FIG. 1 is partially representative since it shows the cargo van with one door deployed as a ramp but the other door both in a closed position and open as a door. However, when mounted on the cargo van, each door will generally only be closed, open as a door, or open as a ramp at any one time. FIG. 2 shows one door closed and the other door both open as a door (left side of the figure) and deployed as a ramp (right side of the figure). FIG. 3 is a view of a user pushing a trolley up over both doors deployed as ramps. FIG. 4 is again representative since it shows the doors mounted on both the side of the cargo van and the rear of the cargo van both open to act as a door and deployed together to act as a ramp. FIG. 5 is a side view of a representative door mounted to a frame as described in detail below. FIGS. 6-8 and 10 are again representative since they show notional doors mounted to a frame. They are not intended to represent the doors as they would actually appear in a cargo van. Similarly, Figure 9 shows a representative frame with doors mounted to the structure to represent a cargo compartment. This is not intended to represent the dual action door and ramp system as it would actually appear in a cargo van, but is provided for simplicity of illustration.

[0027] Cargo van 1 has a cargo compartment 3 having a roof 5, a floor 7, outwardly facing side walls 9, 11 and 13 and an opening 15 in one of the outwardly facing side walls. At least one door 17 is mounted in opening 15, which may function as a ramp. Door 17 has an outwardly facing surface 19, an inwardly facing surface 21, a first lateral facing surface 23, a second lateral facing surface 25, an upwardly facing surface 27 and a downwardly facing surface 29. A position is directionally defined when door 17 is closed.

[0028] The doors 17 may be mounted directly to the cargo compartment 3, as described further below, or alternatively may be mounted to a frame 51 which is in turn mounted to the cargo compartment 3. In either case, the first pivoting means 31 allows the at least one door 17 to releasably pivot laterally and vertically relative to one of the outwardly facing side walls 9, 11, 13 to act as a door. Additionally, the second pivoting means 33 allows the at least one door 17 to releasably pivot vertically relative to the floor 5 to act as a ramp.

[0029] The at least one door may comprise a single door or may comprise two doors mounted side by side. The door or doors may be mounted on any of the outwardly facing side walls 9, 11, 13.

[0030] In the first embodiment, at least one first releasable hinge 32 is mounted between the first lateral surface 23 of the at least one door 17 and an adjacent one of the outwardly facing side walls 9, 11, 13 of the cargo compartment 3. The first releasable hinge 32 is adapted to allow the door 17 to swing open horizontally sideways. Additionally, at least one second releasable hinge 34 is mounted between the downwardly facing surface 29 of the at least one door 17 and the floor 7 of the adjacent cargo compartment 3. The second releasable hinge 34 is adapted to allow the door 17 to swing up and down vertically to act as a ramp. The second releasable hinge 34 disengages when the first releasable hinge 32 is engaged to allow the at least one door 17 to swing laterally and vertically against one of the outwardly facing side walls 9, 11, 13 of the cargo compartment 3 to continue to function as a door. Conversely, the first releasable hinge 32 disengages when the second releasable hinge 34 engages to allow the at least one door 17 to swing vertically relative to the floor 7 of the cargo compartment 3 to act as a ramp. Means are provided for coordinating the engagement and disengagement of the first and second releasable hinges. A suitable latch 39 may be used to release the first and second releasable hinges 32, 34. Generally, when the latch 39 releases the first releasable hinge 32, the second releasable hinge 34 will remain engaged, and when the latch 39 releases the second releasable hinge 34, the first releasable hinge 32 will remain engaged. The latch 39 may be automatically or manually controlled.

[0031] A control means 37 may be provided to control the movement of the door 17 as it opens and closes vertically to act as a ramp. For example, a cable 71 may extend from one of the outwardly facing side walls 9, 11, 13 of the cargo compartment 3 adjacent the opening 15 to the lateral surface 23 of the door to provide support or to curl or unroll under active power control such as an electric motor 77. Alternatively, a passive motion controller including energy storage means such as a coil spring 73, gas strut assist mechanism 75, or the like may be employed to controllably lower the door 17 open to act as a ramp and reduce the physical effort required to return the door 17 to the closed position. U.S. Patent No. 6,773,047, entitled Lift Assist Mechanism for a Vehicle Tailgate, describes a gas strut used for a similar purpose. The construction is somewhat simpler in the door / ramp environment described herein because the gas strut may act on a simple lever arm to create the closing moment and remain fixed rather than being allowed to translate as in the tailgate environment.

[0032] Based on requirements, the doors 17 may be mounted at the rear of the cargo compartment in the outward facing wall 9 or in either or both of the outward facing side walls 11, 13. Increasing the number of door openings 3 would increase the manufacturing costs of the vehicle but would provide greater flexibility for loading or unloading cargo.

[0033] For operation as a ramp, the door 17 preferably includes a ramp flap 43. The ramp flap 43 is hinged to the upwardly facing surface 27 of at least one door 17 when the door 17 is oriented vertically, and may rest against the inwardly facing surface 21 of at least one door. As the door 17 rotates vertically to act as a ramp, the ramp flap 43 rotates outward to provide an extension to the ramp in a distal direction from the cargo compartment 3. The exterior of the door or doors 17 may be mounted with suitable supports 44 adjacent their upwardly facing surfaces 27 to reduce abrasion thereon when the door 17 is lowered to act as a ramp. Such supports 44 may prevent direct contact of the door 17 with the ground or other surfaces to protect the paint finish and general integrity of the door 17. The ramp flap 43 may be metal, but may also be an abrasion-resistant material such as a hardenable plastic. In any event, because the ramp flap 43 is preferably stored inside the door 17 when not in use, wear and tear on the ramp flap 43 will generally not be apparent except when the ramp flap 43 is deployed.

[0034] When two doors 17 are mounted side by side, they may be opened together or separately both when acting as doors and when acting as ramps. The doors 17 may be conventionally latched together using a latch mechanism 38 at the centerline of the opening 15. Thus, one door 17 may remain closed while the other is opened horizontally, and both doors 17 may swing open to increase access to the cargo compartment 3. Similarly, one door 17 may remain closed while the other is lowered to act as a ramp, and both doors 17 may be lowered to act as a ramp, again increasing access to the cargo compartment. Releasable hinges, along with latches that hold the hinges in place or release them, help to allow this versatility of door orientations.

[0035] In a second embodiment, the door or doors 17 are not directly connected to the cargo compartment. Instead, the door or doors 17 are mounted to a frame 51, which is in turn pivotally mounted to the cargo compartment 3. This configuration is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 5-10. For convenience, two door configurations are described. The frame 51 has two parts, namely mirror image L brackets 53,55 with vertical arms 57,59 and horizontal bases 61,63. The bases 61,63 of these L brackets 53,55 are releasably connected to each other at a central location in the opening. The releasable connection allows the L brackets 53,55 to rotate together or separately relative to the floor 7 of the cargo compartment 3; this allows the doors 17 to be deployed as ramps, either together or separately. When only one door 17 is deployed as a ramp, the L-brackets 53, 55 of that door 17 rotate relative to the floor 7, while the other L-brackets 53, 55 and that door 17 remain fixed and closed.

[0036] When functioning as a door or doors, the door 17 may remain fixed within the frame 51, and the frame 51 may rotate relative to the cargo compartment 3. Alternatively, the doors 17 may each be hinged to one of the vertical arms 57, 59 of the frame 51, the door 17 may rotate horizontally relative to the frame 51, and the frame 51 may be releasably mounted to the cargo compartment 3. When the door 17 acts as a ramp, the latch 39 may be triggered to release the frame 51 to allow it to rotate vertically.

[0037] Although the illustrated embodiment discloses a particular arrangement of components, it should be understood that other arrangements would also benefit from this specification. Although a particular order of steps may be shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that the steps may be performed in any order, separately, or in combination, unless indicated to the contrary, and still benefit from the invention.

[0038] Although the different examples have specific components shown in the figures, embodiments of the invention are not limited to those particular combinations. Some of the components or features from one of the examples can be used in combination with features or components from another of the examples.

[0039] Although exemplary embodiments have been disclosed, those of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would fall within the scope of the claims. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.

Claims

1. 1. A door and lamp system for a cargo van, the door and lamp system comprising: having a frame adapted to be mounted in an opening in at least one of three outwardly facing side walls of a cargo compartment of a cargo van; the frame having at least a horizontal base and two upstanding side arms extending from a distal end of the horizontal base; having two door-lamp components mounted side-by-side on the frame, the door-lamp components adapted to function as either a door or a lamp; the door-lamp components are releasably attached to one another at an inner edge of a lateral surface of each door-lamp component; said horizontal base and two upstanding side arms are adjacent to a floor of a cargo compartment of said cargo van and have two L-brackets releasably connected to each other at the center of a side wall of said opening, said two L-brackets when connected allowing said door-lamp components to either rotate horizontally to act as a door or to open and close together to act as a lamp, and when disconnected allowing either door-lamp component to rotate vertically to act individually as a lamp; the door-lamp component and the frame are releasably connected to the opening adjacent an outer edge of each door-lamp component and held in place in a closed position by releasable connections, at least one of the releasable connections being a latch that engages the frame adjacent an outer edge of the door-lamp component and at least one other of the releasable connections engaging the frame adjacent a bottom edge of the door-lamp component; each door-ramp component is hinged to one of said upstanding side arms adjacent a side wall of said opening by a first hinge and adapted to swing open and close horizontally to act as a door when said at least one more releasable connection is released; and each door-ramp component is hinged adjacent to the floor of the cargo compartment of the cargo van by a second hinge when the latch is released and adapted to swing open and close vertically to act as a ramp; A door and lamp system for a cargo van.

2. 10. The cargo van door and lamp system of claim 1, wherein the cargo compartment of said cargo van further comprises a roof and a floor.

3. A door and lamp system for a cargo van as described in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein when each door-lamp component acts as a lamp, movement of the lamp is controlled by one of a coil spring, a strut assist mechanism and an electric motor.

4. 4. The cargo van door and lamp system of claim 3, wherein a cable is connected between an outer edge of at least one door-lamp component and one of the coil spring, the strut assist mechanism and the electric motor.

5. 3. The cargo van door and lamp system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of releasable hinges are mounted between the frame and each door-ramp component.

6. A door and ramp system for a cargo van as described in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the latch is adapted to release the two upright side arms of the frame having the door-ramp component so as to rotate and act as a ramp.

7. A door and ramp system for a cargo van as described in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one of the releasable connections is adapted to release each door-ramp component to rotate and act as a door.

8. 3. The cargo van door and lamp system of claim 1, wherein at least one first releasable hinge is mounted between an outer edge of each door-ramp component and an adjacent one of said outwardly facing side walls of said cargo compartment.

9. 3. The cargo van door and ramp system of claim 2, wherein at least one second releasable hinge is mounted between the bottom edge of each door-ramp component and the floor of the adjacent cargo compartment.

10. A door and lamp system for a cargo van as described in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein each door-lamp component further has a lamp flap hinged to an upper edge of the door-lamp component, the lamp flap resting against an inward facing surface of the door-lamp component when the door-lamp component is oriented vertically, and rotating outward to provide an extension to the door-lamp component when acting as a ramp.

11. 3. The cargo van door and lamp system of claim 1, wherein the frame is mounted to an outwardly facing side wall at the rear of the cargo compartment.

12. 3. The cargo van door and lamp system of claim 1, wherein the frame is mounted to an outwardly facing side wall at a side of the cargo compartment.

13. 3. A cargo van door and lamp system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said opening is at least partially defined by a rear body pillar.

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