IP Library Granted Patent US 7,503,618
Granted Patent B2
US 7,503,618 · App. 11/486,063 · Granted Mar 17, 2009

Slidable door

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,503,618
App. No.
11/486,063
Granted
Mar 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wheeled automotive vehicle including a body structure, including a driver compartment and including an opening into the compartment. A door is cooperatively dimensioned and configured to close the opening, the opening being formed by portions of the body structure at the front and rear side of the opening. A hinge is pivotably holding the door, in a first position, at one of the front and rear side of the opening. A guide system is provided along a lower portion of the door on the same side of the opening as the hinge. During opening, the door is maneuverable upwardly along the guide system until it reaches the first position. From the first position, the door is pivotally movable around an axis, propagating in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and in a direction away from the opening.

Claims (24)

1. A wheeled automotive vehicle comprising:

a body structure, including a driver compartment and including an opening into the compartment;

a door cooperatively dimensioned and configured to close the opening, the opening being formed by portions of the body structure at a front and a rear side of the opening;

a hinge pivotably holding said door in a first position, at one of the front and rear side of the opening; and

a guide system, provided along a lower portion of the door in its closed condition and on the same side of the opening as the hinge, and arranged to allow the entire door to slide upwardly along said guide system from a closed position to the first position, and wherein

said hinge is arranged to allow the door to pivot, from the first position in a direction away from the opening around an axis extending in a transverse direction of a longitudinal direction of said vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the guide system is provided at a lower A-pillar of said vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said hinge, in the first position, being formed by a pivoting device positioned by a lower front portion of said door.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said door includes at least one biasing device, operatively connected to said guide system.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said door includes a set of biasing devices operatively connected to said hinge.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a roof portion is arranged fixed to said door thereby enabling said roof portion to follow the motion of said door during opening and closing movement.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein said roof portion is arranged fixed to one of said doors on respective left and right side of said vehicle.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said guide system includes a guide and a pair of guide rollers adapted to follow said guide.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the door is configured to be rotatable around the axis to pivot in a direction toward a front of the automotive vehicle.

10. A method for opening a door of a wheeled automotive vehicle including

a body structure, including a driver compartment and including an opening into the compartment, a door cooperatively dimensioned and configured to close the opening, the opening being formed by portions of the body structure at a front and a rear side of the opening, and

a hinge pivotably holding the door, in a first position, at one of the front and rear side of the opening, the method comprising:

sliding the entire door upwardly along a guide system provided along a lower portion of the door as seen in its closed condition on the same side of the opening as the hinge from a closed position to a first position; and

from the first position pivoting the entire door in a direction away from the opening, around an axis extending in a transverse direction of a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein said hinge, in the first position, being formed by a pivoting device positioned by a lower front portion of said door.

12. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein said door includes at least one biasing device, operatively connected to said guide system.

13. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein said door includes a set of biasing devices operatively connected to said hinge.

14. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein said guide system includes a guide and a pair of guide rollers adapted to follow said guide.

15. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein pivoting includes rotating the door around the axis in a direction toward a front of the automotive vehicle.

Assignments (11)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0041 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0901 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0587 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0093 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0142 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0563 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0540 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0448 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2007
From: GEYRHOFER, MATTIAS; VERHEE, PATRICK; DANIEL, ALEX
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 018839/0229 →