Dual-Mode Sliding and Pivoting Vehicle Door Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular door assemblies are mutually exclusive, allowing either sliding or pivoting movements but not both, which limits convenience in accessing vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A dual entry system for vehicular door assemblies that includes an outer frame portion and an inner door portion, where either can be slidably or pivotally mounted, allowing independent operation for both sliding and pivoting movements, with adjustable frame members to fit various vehicle sizes without structural modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicular door assembly is designed to allow only sliding movement or only pivoting movement, then the door assembly structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the versatility and convenience of accessing the vehicle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is divided into two independent functional components: an outer frame portion and an inner door portion. The outer frame portion can slide along tracks while the inner door portion can pivot on hinges, allowing each component to perform its designated movement independently. This segmentation enables the door system to achieve both sliding and pivoting capabilities without requiring a completely complex integrated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated system. The outer frame portion with sliding capability and the inner door portion with pivoting capability work together to provide both sliding door access and swing door access, making the door assembly universal in its operational modes and adaptable to different access needs.
2Ease of operation
If a dual movement door assembly is designed, then the convenience of accessing the vehicle is improved, but the door assembly cannot be installed in traditional vehicle locations without modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly maintains compatibility with traditional sliding door vehicle locations by using a universal mounting interface. The outer frame portion can be mounted to the vehicle body in conventional sliding door locations, while the inner door portion provides the additional pivoting function, allowing installation without vehicle structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly incorporates adjustable frame members that can be positioned at different locations along the tracks and hinges. This dynamic adjustability allows the same door assembly to be installed in various vehicle sizes and configurations without requiring custom modifications for each application.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable frame members are added to fit various vehicle sizes, then the adaptability to different vehicles is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame members are designed with adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow them to be moved along the door assembly structure to different locations. This dynamic adjustability provides adaptability to various vehicle sizes and door opening dimensions while maintaining a standardized manufacturing process for the frame members themselves, as the same components can be used across different applications with different positioning configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular door assembly that can be opened by both sliding and pivoting movements includes an outer frame portion and an inner door portion. One of the outer frame portion and the inner door portion is slidably mounted on the vehicle, and the other of the outer frame portion and the inner door portion is pivotally mounted on the vehicle. In a first embodiment, the outer frame portion is slidably mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the inner door portion is pivotally mounted on the outer frame portion. In a second embodiment, the outer frame portion is pivotally mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the inner door portion is slidably mounted on the outer frame portion.