Braking system for vehicle doors

1 . A braking system for a vehicle door, comprising:

a first lever having a first end, a second end, and a central pivot point between the first end and the second end;

wherein the second end of the first lever includes a first brake pad configured to engage with a retainer arm associated with the vehicle door;

a second lever having a first end, a second end, and a central pivot point;

wherein the second end of the second lever includes a second brake pad configured to engage with the retainer arm;

a linkage between the first lever and the second lever such that movement of the first lever also moves the second lever; and

an actuation device configured to move the first end of the first lever in a first direction to thereby move the first brake pad and the second brake pad into engagement with the retainer arm.

2 . The braking system of claim 1 , further including at least one spring arranged to bias the first brake pad and the second brake pad out of engagement with the retainer arm.

3 . The braking system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one spring includes a first spring attached to a mounting bracket and the first lever and configured to bias the second end of the first lever in a direction away from the retainer arm.

4 . The braking system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one spring further includes a second spring attached to the mounting bracket and the second lever and configured to bias the second end of the second lever in a direction away from the retainer arm.

5 . The braking system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation device is a solenoid.

6 . The braking system of claim 5 , further including a solenoid actuation rod pivotally attached to the first end of the first lever.

7 . A vehicle including a braking system for a door of the vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body; and

at least one door opening associated with the vehicle door; and

a door braking system including:

a retainer arm connecting the vehicle door with the vehicle body;

a first lever including a first brake pad configured to engage with the retainer arm;

a second lever including a second brake pad configured to engage with the retainer arm;

a linkage between the first lever and the second lever such that movement of the first lever also moves the second lever; and

an actuation device configured to actuate the first lever to thereby move the first brake pad and the second brake pad into engagement with the retainer arm.

8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , further including at least one spring arranged to bias the first brake pad and the second brake pad out of engagement with the retainer arm.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the at least one spring includes a first spring attached to a mounting bracket and the first lever and configured to bias the second end of the first lever in a direction away from the retainer arm.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the at least one spring further includes a second spring attached to the mounting bracket and the second lever and configured to bias the second end of the second lever in a direction away from the retainer arm.

11 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the actuation device is a solenoid.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , further including a solenoid actuation rod pivotally attached to an end of the first lever opposite the first brake pad.

13 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the door braking system is installed inside a cavity within the vehicle door.

14 . A braking system for a door of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first lever including a first brake pad configured to engage with a retainer arm associated with the vehicle door;

a second lever including a second brake pad configured to engage with the retainer arm;

a linkage between the first lever and the second lever such that movement of the first lever also moves the second lever;

an actuation device configured to actuate the first lever to thereby move the first brake pad and the second brake pad into engagement with the retainer arm; and

a controller including a device processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon and executable by the processor to perform the following steps:

receiving data, via a door accelerometer, regarding movement of the vehicle door;

determining, based on the received data whether the acceleration or velocity of the vehicle door exceeds a predetermined value; and

activating the actuation device in order to apply the braking system to the retainer arm to thereby control movement of the vehicle door.

15 . The braking system of claim 14 , wherein the data received regarding movement of the vehicle door includes door acceleration data.

16 . The braking system of claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to activate the braking system when the acceleration of the door exceeds the predetermined value of approximately 4 m/s 2 .

17 . The braking system of claim 14 , wherein the data received regarding movement of the vehicle door includes door velocity data.

18 . The braking system of claim 14 , further including at least one spring arranged to bias the first brake pad and the second brake pad out of engagement with the retainer arm.