Vehicle enclosure
View Patent ↗Method of controlling the climate in a recreational vehicle with an accessory door assembly such as for a golf cart, method of mounting a door assembly, and method of golfing. The door assembly includes a doorframe that can be secured to the vehicle, and a preferably rigid door that is easily mountable and demountable, and is movable between an open and closed position. The door can be secured to the vehicle in the open position so that the passengers have the option of riding in the vehicle while the door remains open. A hinge system minimizes the clearance necessary to open and close the door, and provides an optional assist feature that helps urge or bias the door to the open or closed position and maintain it there.
1. A method of mounting a door to a vehicle having a bumper and an existing roof, comprising:
affixing a door frame to said existing roof and to said bumper, said door frame defining a doorway;
mounting a door to said vehicle with a hinge assembly to provide a path of door travel from a door closed position where said door blocks said doorway to a door open position where said doorway is open, said path of travel being such that any two points on said door travel in semi circles of the same diameter, and wherein said door pivots at at least three locations offset horizontally and offset vertically from one another.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle is a golf cart.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assisting said door to said open or closed position with a gas spring.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle has an existing handle secured to said roof, and wherein said step of affixing said door frame to said existing roof comprises removing said handle and securing said door frame in its place.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said hinge assembly comprises at least three rigid members each pivotally attached to said door and said vehicle, said at least three rigid members being parallel.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the lengths of said three rigid members define the distance of travel of said door from said door open position to said door closed position.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a door mounting plate is affixed to said vehicle, said door has a bracket affixed thereto and wherein said mounting step further comprises aligning said door on said vehicle by engaging said bracket with said door mounting plate.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said bracket and plate have a trapezoidal shape.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said door is removably engaged with said door mounting plate.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said door pivots at at least three locations offset horizontally and offset vertically from one another.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said hinge assembly is hidden from exterior view when said door is in said closed position.
12. A method of mounting a door to a vehicle having a chassis and an existing roof, comprising:
affixing a door frame to said existing roof and to said chassis, said door frame defining a doorway;
mounting a door to said vehicle with a hinge assembly to provide a path of door travel from a door closed position where said door blocks said doorway to a door open position where said doorway is open, said path of travel being such that any two points on said door travel in semi circles of the same diameter; and
assisting said door to said open or closed position with a gas spring.
13. A method of mounting a door to a vehicle having a chassis and an existing roof, comprising:
affixing a door frame to said existing roof and to said chassis, said door frame defining a doorway;
mounting a door to said vehicle with a hinge assembly to provide a path of door travel from a door closed position where said door blocks said doorway to a door open position where said doorway is open, said path of travel being such that any two points on said door travel in semi circles of the same diameter;
wherein said vehicle has an existing handle secured to said roof, and wherein said step of affixing said door frame to said existing roof comprises removing said handle and securing said door frame in its place.
14. A method of mounting a door to a vehicle having a chassis and an existing roof, comprising:
affixing a door frame to said existing roof and to said chassis, said door frame defining a doorway;
mounting a door to said vehicle with a hinge assembly to provide a path of door travel from a door closed position where said door blocks said doorway to a door open position where said doorway is open, said path of travel being such that any two points on said door travel in semi circles of the same diameter;
wherein a door mounting plate is affixed to said vehicle, said door has a bracket affixed thereto and wherein said mounting step further comprises aligning said door on said vehicle by engaging said bracket with said door mounting plate.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said bracket and plate have a trapezoidal shape.