GB2037875A

GB2037875A - Stop Device for a Pivotal Door, in Particular for an Automobile Vehicle Door

Info

Publication number: GB2037875A
Application number: GB7936240A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Paumellerie Electrique SA
Current assignee: Paumellerie Electrique SA
Priority date: 1978-10-19
Filing date: 1979-10-18
Publication date: 1980-07-16
Also published as: FR2439285A1; DE2942136A1; GB2037875B; DE2942136C2; IT7969012A0; FR2439285B1; JPS5555785A; IT1119225B

Abstract

Pivotally mounted on a door (3) at (7) is an arm (4) which has a stop recess (9) in which there maybe retained a fixed roller (12) which is mounted in a bracket member (14) fixed to the fixed post (1) of the door. The arm (4) is applied against the roller (12) under the effect of a movable roller (13) which is mounted on a rocker (22). The latter is pivotally mounted at (21) on the bracket member (14) and is biased into contact with the arm (4) by a torsion spring, (31) which has two windings which are disposed symmetrically on each side of branches (18) of the bracket member (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stop Device for A Pivotal Door, In Particular for An Automobile Vehicle Door The present invention relates to a stop device for a pivotal door, lid or the like, comprising an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted, by means of a pin which is parallel to the pivot axis of the door, on one of the parts of the vehicle consisting of the door and the fixed post on which the door is mounted, this arm having the shape of a flat strip having two opposed edges against which edges there are applied two rollers which are mounted between parallel branches of a bracket member which is adapted to be fixed to the other part, one of said rollers being fixed and the other movable and mounted on a member forming a rocker which is pivotally mounted on the bracket member between the branches and is subjected to an elastically yieldable torque which creates a pressure of contact between each of the two rollers and the arm, the arm being provided with a stop recess for retaining the fixed roller in the open position of the door.

The object of the invention is to so improve this device, which is disclosed in British patent 1,505,703 as to provide a more rational construction implying an improved utilization of the material and improved working conditions which prolong the life of the device.

This object according to the invention is achieved by an arrangement wherein the branches of the bracket member are part of a Usectioned centre portion on each side of which centre portion are symmetrically formed two large wing portions which are perpendicular to the branches, and in the region of which extend extensions of the mounting pin of the rocker, each of which extensions supports a helical winding forming a torsion spring the respective ends of which bear against an abutment of the corresponding wing portion and against the rocker, the transverse portion of the U, which is located adjacent the edge of the wing portions, being roughly perpendicular to the wing portions so that the pivotal arm which is engaged between the rollers can move while remaining spaced from the transverse portion of the U.

Apart from the fact that the large wing portions enable the bracket member to be fixed in a reliable manner on the corresponding part, for example on the fixed post of the body of a vehicle, which imparts thereto considerable rigidity and renders it insensitive to possible deformations of the sheet metal, the presence in the U-shaped centre portion of merely the rollers permits reducing to the maximum extent the dimensions of this portion, and in particular of the rocker, which in the known arrangement supports the torsion spring, while improving its rigidity and at the same time ensuring under good conditions the elastic torsional biasing of the rocker which, in acting laterally and symmetrically by means of two windings forming a spring whose fatigue is minimum, is particularly effective. The forces are well centered and perfectly balanced.

Another advantage is that the pivotal arm can undergo its movements exclusively through the openings formed between the branches of the centre portion of the bracket member while remaining at a distance from the transverse portion of the U, whereas in the known arrangement this transverse portion has an aperture in which the arm is engaged.

The windings preferably constitute a single spring which has a centre stirrup portion which bears against the rocker and interconnects the adjacent ends of the windings.

It is advantageous to arrange that the fixed roller be mounted in a narrow part of the Ushaped centre portion immediately adjacent to the transverse portion of the U and that the rocker be pivotally mounted in a wider part. This arrangement permits the use of a fixed roller and a movable roller which are identical and interchangeable.

The invention will be explained in the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a door stop device comprising an arm in the form of a pivotally mounted strip whose plane is perpendicular to the pivot axis of the door, assumed to be open, and a rocker which is biased by a torsion spring and is carried by a bracket member fixed to the body; Figs. 2 and 3 are corresponding views of respectively the closed position and intermediate position of the door; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are respectively an end view, plan view and a side view of the bracket member; Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 of a modification in which the stop position is defined by an elastic abutment; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 10 of a modification in which the door stop device is incorporated in the hinge;; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another modification in which the arm in the form of a strip is pulled out of the fixed post when the door is opened, and Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 in which the stop position is defined by an elastic abutment.

In all these Figures, the invention is shown in its application to a vehicle door, but it will be clear that the stop device may be employed for other pivotal closing means of the vehicle, such as the bonnet of the engine, the lid of the luggage boot, a rear transverse door or the like, or even, in other types of the device, for example for lids of household apparatus, luggage cases, boxes or the like. The expression door is here employed in a very broad sense for designating the various pivotal closing means.

Fig. 1 represents a body post 1 on which the left front door 3 is pivotally mounted by means of hinges the pin 2 of which extends through hinge members 5 only one of which is shown and which are respectively fixed to the post 1 and to the door 3. The latter is retained in the open position by a stop device which comprises an arm 4 in the form of a flat strip one of the ends of which is provided with an aperture 6 through which is engaged a pivot pin 7 which is parallel to the pin 2 and rigid with a bracket 8 fixed to the door 3. In the vicinity of this end, the arm 4 has on its front edge 4a a stop recess 9 in which is engageable, in the position corresponding to the end of the opening, a roller 12 carried by a bracket member 14 which is fixed by boits 1 6 to one of the sheet metal parts 1 a constituting the post 1 through, which post the arm 4 extends.The front edge 4a of the arm 4 is urged against the roller 12, which is fixed, by an opposing roller 13 which is also carried by the bracket member 14 and elastically urged against the rear edge 4b of the arm 4.

The bracket member 14 is in the general shape of a plate defined by two large planar wing portions 1 7 the shape of which is substantially that of a quadrilateral and which are applied against the sheet 1 a and are provided at 1 7a with apertures for the passage of fixing bolts 1 6. The two wing portions 1 7 extend symmetrically on each side of a centre U-shaped portion 1 5 obtained by a folding operation and having two branches 18 which are perpendicular to the wing portions and serve to mount two pins 19, 21, on one of which the fixed roller 12 is rotatably mounted whereas the other pin constitutes a pivot for mounting a pivotal member or rocker 22 which also has a U-shape and two branches 23 through which extend the pin 21 and a pin 24 on which the roller 13 is freely rotatable.

The transverse portion 26 of the U-shaped centre portion 1 5 is roughly perpendicular to the wing portions 1 7 and is located adjacent to an edge of the latter, so that the arm 4 is movable between the branches 1 8 without any interference with the transverse portion 26 from which it is permanently spaced. The part 1 8a of the branches 18, which is adjacent to the transverse portion 26 and serves to mount the fixed roller 12, is nearer to the plane of symmetry X-X than the part 1 8b which adjoins it and serves to mount the rocker 22. It is thus possible to employ rollers 12 and 13 which have identical dimensions.

The pin 21 for mounting the rocker 22 extends beyond the part 1 8b of the branches of the U 1 5 and constitutes two extensions 27 which extend in the region of the respective wing portions 1 7 and around each of which is engaged a helical winding 28 which has a free end anchored against a flange 29 at a right angle to the corresponding wing portion 1 7 and which is part of a torsion spring 31 whose centre portion forms a stirrup 32 which interconnects the adjacent ends of the two windings and bears against the branches 23 of the rocker 22.

Under the action of the torque thus created, the two rollers 12 and 13 are applied under pressure against the edges 4a, 4b of the arm 4. In the closed position shown in Fig. 2, the two rollers bear against a rectilinear part of the edges 4a, 4b and the torque required to be exerted to open the door is very low. Toward the end of the opening travel, the rollers 12, 1 3 must respectively pass over the boss 10 having an angular profile formed on the edge 4a, and the region 11 having a convex curvature of the edge 4b, before the roller 12 finally drops into the stop recess 9 which retains the roller in a positive manner by means of its end side 9a.In this fully open position, in order to close the door, a relatively considerable torque must be exerted in opposition to the retaining action of the adjacent ramp 1 Oa of the boss 1 0.

In Fig. 7, the region 11 is extended so as to form also a boss 34 having an angular profile defined by a concave part 36 which is connected to the concave part 11 and by a rectilinear ramp 37. The angular boss 34 adjacent to the convex part 11 has such position that the movement for opening the door normally ends at the moment when the rear roller 1 3 abuts against the concave part 36 of the boss 34, the door being then retained by the front roller 12 which is engaged in the stop recess 9 but does not contact the end side 9a of the recess 9.This concerns an elastic retaining effect in that it may be overcome by overcoming the action of the spring 31 when, in starting at the position reached in Fig. 7, a sufficient torque is exerted on the door, sathat the boss 34 is passed over and a final positive retaining position is reached by abutment of the front roller 1 2 with the end side 9a of the stop recess 9.

The elastic retaining action has the advantage of resulting in a smooth motion of the door and reducing the fatigue of the component parts of the mechanism and neighbouring sheet metal.

In Fig. 7, the edge 4b also has an auxiliary stop recess 35 corresponding to the partial opening position or parking position of the door.

In all these foregoing embodiments, the door stop is independent of the hinge members 5 of each hinge which are interconnected by a pin 2, the bracket member 14 and the bracket 8 being directly fixed to the fixed post 1 and to the door 3 respectively. It is of course possible to integrate the door stop in one of the hinges or even to provide a door stop in each hinge. In this case, the bracket member 14 and the bracket 8 are fixed to corresponding hinge members, as shown in Fig. 8.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the pin pivotally mounting the arm 4 on the bracket 8 is disposed in such manner relative to the pivot pin 2 of the door 3 that, during the opening movement, the pin 7 moves toward the fixed post 1 and enters the latter. The reverse arrangement is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 which correspond to the case where the arm is drawn out of the fixed post during the opening movement.

The arm 40 then has on its front edge 40a a stop recess 49 in the vicinity of its free end, that is to say at the end opposed to the pivot pin 7. This stop recess 49 is defined by aboss-41 having an angular profile, on one hand, and by the edge 49a of the forwardly curved end portion 42 on the arm 40 on the other hand. The rear edge 40b of the arm 40 is substantially rectilinear but terminates in a curved part 43 in the region of the end portion 42. An intermediate or parking stop recess 45 is also provided.

The bracket member 40 is mounted inside the post 1 and, when the door is closed, the whole of the arm 40 is inserted in this post, its rectilinear part being in contact with the rollers 12 and 13, as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 9. When the door is opened, the arm 40 slides between the rollers 12 and 13 which must pass beyond the angular boss 41 before the roller 12 drops into the recess 49 which retains it by means of its end side 49a in the same way as the recess 9.

It will be understood that that the arm 40 may also have an elastic retaining action. The latter is preferably (Fig.. 10) formed by a boss 44 having an angular profile defined by a concave part 46 connected to the convex curved part 43 and to the rectilinear edge 40b.

Claims

1. A stop device for a pivotal door comprising an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted by means of a pin parallel to the pivot pin of the door on one of two parts consisting of the door and the fixed post on which the door is mounted, said arm having the shape of a flat strip having opposed edges against which are applied two rollers which are mounted between parallel branches of a bracket member which is adapted to be fixed to the other part, one of the rollers being fixed and the other being movable and mounted on an element forming a rocker which is pivotally mounted between the branches on the bracket member and is subjected to an elastic torque which creates a pressure of contact between each of the two rollers and the arm, the latter being provided with a stop recess for retaining the fixed roller in the open position of the door, wherein the branches of the bracket member are part of a Usection centre portion on each side of which are symmetrically formed two large wing portions which are perpendicular to the branches and in the region of which wing portions extend extensions of a pin for mounting the rocker, each of said extensions supporting a helical winding forming a torsion spring whose respective ends bear against an abutment of the corresponding wing portion and against the rocker, the transverse portion of the U, which is located adjacent an edge of the wing portions, being roughly perpendicular to the wing portions so that the pivotal arm engaged between the rollers can move while remaining spaced away from the transverse portion of the U.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two helical windings are part of a single torsion spring which comprises a centre stirrup portion which bears against the branches of the rocker and interconnects the adjacent ends of the windings.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the abutment for the end of the corresponding winding which is opposed to the centre portion of the bracket member is constituted by a flange which is at a right angle to the adjacent wing portion.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the U-sectioned centre portion of the bracket member comprises a narrow part adjacent to the transverse portion between the branches of which narrow part the fixed roller is mounted and a wider part between the branches of which wider part the rocker is pivotally mounted.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the stop recess which receives the fixed roller and is formed on one of the edges of the arm comprises a ramp which defines an angular boss and an end side constituting a positive abutment for the fixed roller.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the other edge of the arm has a region having a convex curvature in the region of the boss.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, comprising, connected to the region of convex curvature of the edge, a concave side of an angular boss which forms an elastic abutment for the movable roller when, with the door in the open position, the fixed roller is engaged in the stop recess without being in contact with said end side.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 7, for an arrangement in which the arm is inserted in the corresponding part of the vehicle, preferably the fixed post, during the door opening movement, wherein the stop recess is disposed in the vicinity of the end of the arm which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on the other part of the vehicle, preferably the door.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 7, for an arrangement in which the arm is drawn out of the corresponding part of the vehicle, preferably the fixed post, during the door opening movement, wherein the stop recess is disposed in the vicinity of the end of the arm opposed to the end adapted to be pivotally mounted on the other part of the vehicle, preferably the door.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 9, comprising an intermediate stop recess corresponding to a partly-open or parking position of the door.

11. A stop device for a pivotal door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 4-6 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A stop device for a pivotal door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A stop device for a pivotal door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A stop device for a pivotal door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A stop device for a pivotal door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.