Vehicle having multi-mode door
A vehicle may have a rolling chassis with a plurality of tires, and a frame supported by the rolling chassis. The frame may include a floor, a roof, two A-posts, and two C-posts. The A- and C-posts may be connected to each other via the floor and the roof. The floor, roof, A-posts, and C-posts may together form a multi-row enclosure. Open spaces between the A- and C-posts may be unobstructed by additional posts. The vehicle may also include a door disposed within each of the open spaces between the A- and C-posts. The door may include a doorframe, a first hinge configured to pivotally connect the doorframe to the roof, a front-seat door panel, a second hinge configured to pivotally connect the front-seat door panel to the doorframe, a rear-seat door panel, and a third hinge configured to pivotally connect the rear-seat door panel to the doorframe.
1. A door for a vehicle, including:
a doorframe;
a first hinge configured to pivotally connect the doorframe to the vehicle;
a first door panel;
a second hinge configured to pivotally connect the first door panel to the doorframe;
a second door panel; and
a third hinge configured to pivotally connect the second door panel to the doorframe.
2. The door of claim 1 , wherein:
the first hinge pivots about a first axis; and at least one of the second and third hinges pivots about another axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
3. The door of claim 2 , wherein:
the first axis is horizontally oriented; and the another axis is vertically oriented.
4. The door of claim 1 , wherein the doorframe includes a B-post disposed between the first and second door panels.
5. The door of claim 1 , wherein:
the doorframe includes a protrusion at a pivot side; and
the door further includes at least one hinge mounted to the protrusion.
6. The door of claim 1 , wherein the doorframe spans ends of a plurality of rows of the vehicle.
7. The door of claim 1 , wherein the doorframe, the first door panel, and the second door panel move together during a first mode of operation.
8. The door of claim 7 , wherein the first door panel and the second door panel move independently during a second mode of operation.
9. The door of claim 8 , wherein the doorframe remains stationary during the second mode of operation.
10. The door of claim 1 , further including:
a first latch configured to secure the doorframe to the vehicle;
a second latch configured to secure the first door panel to the doorframe; and
a third latch configured to secure the second door panel to the doorframe.
11. The door of claim 1 , wherein the doorframe and the second door panel are both recessed to provide clearance around a wheel well of the vehicle.
12. A vehicle, including:
a rolling chassis having a plurality of tires;
a frame supported by the rolling chassis and including:
a floor;
a roof;
two A-posts positioned apart from each other at a leading end of the vehicle relative to a normal forward travel direction; and
two C-posts positioned apart from each other at a trailing end of the vehicle opposite the two A-posts,
wherein:
the A-posts and the C-posts are connected via the floor and the roof; and
open spaces between the A-posts and the C-posts are unobstructed by additional posts; and
a door disposed within each of the open spaces between the A-posts and the C-posts, the door including:
a doorframe;
a first hinge configured to pivotally connect the doorframe to the roof;
a first door panel;
a second hinge configured to pivotally connect the first door panel to the doorframe;
a second door panel; and
a third hinge configured to pivotally connect the second door panel to the doorframe.