US2155167A - Door check - Google Patents

Description

April 18,1939. E. B. G. LEFEVRE DOOR CHECK Filed Sept. 15, 1937 m T. N N R Z m 1 0 a W Patented Apr. 18, 1939 DOOR CHECK Emil B. G. Lefevre, Detroit, Mich, assignor to National Stamping Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 15, 1937, Serial No. 164,019

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to motion limiting checks or stops, for controlling the swinging movement of a door relative to a door post or like members, and in particular provides improved devices of this character adapted to function both as checks or stops and as holding devices.

Objects of the present invention are to provide improved devices of the above indicated character adapted to function both as checks or stops and as holding devices; to provide such devices which may be used in either exposed or concealed relation and with doors and door posts or like members of either metallic or other constructions; to provide such devices which resiliently cushion the final movements of the associated members, and resiliently retain the members in such final position or in intermediate positions; to provide such devices which may be readily and economically manufactured and installed and which are durable and efficient in operation.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a device of the above generally indicated character embodying a check member connected between a door and a door post or like members and adapted to permit relative movement therebetween, and also embodying a cushioning member cooperating with said check member to cushion such relative movement; to provide such a device in which the cushioning member and the check member are constructed and arranged to cushion the final opening movements of the door or like member and to hold the door or like member in its fully open or other position; to' provide such a device in which the cushioning member includes means to yieldingly grip the check member, and the check member includes one or more cam enlargements which cooperate with the cushioning member to reduce the speed of movement of the door or like member; to providesuch a construction in which the cushioning member comprises a reinforced resilient member having a deflectable portion disposed in the path of the check member; and to :15 provide such a construction in which the cushioning member includes a unitary resilient member having anopening. therethrough toaccommodate the check member and having reinforced deflectable portions projecting in the opening for engagement by the checkmember.

With the above and other objects in view, which appear in the following description and in the appended claims, preferred but illustrative embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, throughout which corresponding reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in horizontal section of a door check embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken along 5 the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, with certain of the parts shown in section, taken along the line 3'3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken along the 10 line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2;' and r Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a modified construction of arm or link. 15

It will be appreciated, from a complete understanding of the invention, that it may be applied to a wide variety of uses, and may be embodied in widely differing forms. Accordingly, although the specific embodiments illustrated are particularly adapted for use as checking or holding devices for vehicle doors, it will be appreciated that the terms door and door post, as used throughout the following description, are, in a broad sense, merely illustrative of two relatively movable members with which the invention may be associated. For simplicity, also, the device is hereinafter referred to as a door check, but it will be appreciated that such term is used in a generic sense. 30

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 particularly to Fig. 1, the door check comprises generally a link 2|] and a cushioning member 22, shown as arranged in concealed relation relative to a door 24 and a door post 26. As will be appreciated, the members 24a, 24b, and 240, represent, respectively the outer face, the inner face, and the rail of the door. Similarly, the members 26a, 26b, and 260, represent, respectively, the outer face, the inner face, and the abutting edge of the door post. The door 24 is hinged to the post 26 by a conventional hinge 28, one leaf 28d of which is secured in any conventional way to the abutting edge 260 of the door post, and. the other leaf 28b of which is secured in a corresponding manner to the abutting edge 24b of the door.

The link 20 embodies the construction disclosed and claimed in Moore application, Serial No. 143,097, filed May 17, 1937. As shown, the link 20 is formed of a single strip of material, preferably metal, suitably bent or folded upon itself to define the substantially linear abutting leg sections 20a, and the pairs of symmetrically arranged cam surfaces 20?), 20c, and. 20d. Pref- 56 erably and as illustrated, the surfaces m and 28c are of rather sharply inclined character and define between them a cam enlargement which cooperates, as hereinafter described, with the cushioning. member 22 to initially retard the flnal. opening movement of the door 24. The surfaces top as appears clearly in Fig. 4, to minimize the wear thereof on the member 22, as described below. In order to reinforce it, the end of the link is provided with astiflening rib 28c. In addition the member 28 is angled in the general plane of the width dimension of the legs 20a, as clearly appears in Fig. 1. It will be appreciated that this bending, as well as the folding of the member 28 to introduce the above described formation may be effected by suitable stamping and die forming operations.

The inner ends of the legs 28a. pass through an opening 28 provided therefor in the rail 24c,

and are received betweenthe legs 30 of a bracket 82, the base 84 of which is suitably securedto the inner face of the abutting \edge'26c'of the door post 28. The edge 260 is suitably apertured as at 88 to accommodate the legs 80. A rivet 38, or other suitable element such as a screw or stud, is passed through the legs 30 and through the member 20 in order to form a pivotal connection between these elements. In order to avoid rattling, a relatively snug fit between the legs 38, the pin 88, and the member 20, is preferable.

The cushioning member 22 is illustrated as comprising a unitary block of resilient material such as rubber or the like, suitably secured as by a plurality of rivets 40 to a backing member 42. The backing member 42 in turn is suitably secured as by welding at the points 44 to the rail 24c, and supports the cushioning member 22 in such a position that when the door is in its substantially or completely open position, the cush ioning member lies in a plane substantially parallelto the plane of the surface 20b, 20c, and 20d. In this way a full or face-*o-face engagement is afforded between the cushioning member and the cooperating surfaces on the arm 20.

As most clearly appears in Fig. 3, the cushioning member 22 is provided with a central generally rectangular opening therethrough. the lateral sides of which are defined by the edges 48, and the upper and lower edges of which are extended'inwardly to define deflectable tongues 48.

Reinforcing elements 58, preferably formed of spring steel or the like, are embedded in the cushioning member 22. The outer end of each reinforcing element 50 is apertured to receive a cor- .responding rivet 48 so as to reinforce the connections between the element 22 and member 42. The inner end of 'each reinforcing strip 50 is preferably rounded to form an eye 52. ner ends of the defiectable tongues 48 are correspondingly rounded as indicated at 54. It will be noted that the marginal edges of the opening I. in the supporting member 42 are spaced outwardly from the ends of the spring-elements 52 and the rounded ends 54 of the resilient bodies.

The deflectable portion of each tongue 48 may. of course, be considered to be that portion thereof which projects inwardly from the marginal edge of the opening 56, and it will be noted that each such deflectat le portion includes a reinforced part and an ui-reinforced part.

Considering the operation as a whole of the The indevice, it will be appreciated that the parts are shown in the various figures in the closed position of-the door.

relative to the cushioning member 22, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. As the fully open position of the door is approached, the cam surfaces 20b are brought into engagement-with the rounded ends 54 of the tongues 48. Continued, such door opening movement causes the cam surfaces 28b to deflect the rounded ends 54 and ultimately to pass between them. The just mentioned deflection is, of course, resisted by the tongues 48, and tends to reduce the speed of movement of the door. The thickness of the cam enlargement defined by the surfaces 20b and 280 is preferably less than the spacing between the inner ends 52 of the reinforcing elements 58 so that substantially all of the above mentioned deflection occurs between the ends 52- and'the rounded portions 84.

As soon as the cam enlargement defined by the surfaces 28b and 200 passes beyond the tongues 48, the latter are rendered effective to restore themselves to the positions shown in Fig. 2, in

which. they lie between the surfaces 2% and, 28d..

A continued door opening movement brings the surfaces 20d into engagement with the tongues 48. The width of the surfaces 20d is preferably less than the width of the opening 58 in the supporting bracket 42, but is greater'than the spacing between the inner ends 52 of the reinforcing .elements 58. The reinforcing elements 50 are rendered effective to resist any deflection of the tongues 48 caused by the engagement thereof by the surfaces 20d. The speed of the door opening movement, of course, determines the degree to which the surfaces 20d deflect the tongues, 48. The parts are preferably so proportioned that a maximum expected rate of door opening movement will cause a. rather substantial deflection of the tongues 48, insuflicient, however, to permit the surfaces 20d to pass entirely between and through the cushioning member 22. The tongues 48, thus yield somewhat in bringing the door to rest, and thereafter restore themselves to the position as shown in Fig. 2 and also restore the door to its normal fully opened position.

A door opening movement beyond its normal fully opened position is prevented by the above described substantial resisting force of the reinforced tongues 48. A door closing movement is yieldingly resisted, but to a substantially lesser The many advantages resulting from the trans- I versely rounded surfaces of the cam faces 28b and 200 are believed to be apparent from the foregoing description of operation. It is particularly noted, however, that these transversely'rounded surfaces give the cam enlargement a bead-like form. This bead-like form is effective to cause the necessary deflection of the tongues 48 without causing any cutting or undue wear thereof, since the deflected area of the tongues increases gradually in depth, rather than abruptly.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the arm 88 which may cor:- respond, except in the respects hereinafter noticed, to the previously described arm 20, is provided with a plurality of cam enlargements 88a, 88b, 88c, and 80d spaced therealong and of progressively increasing size. This arrangement During the course of a door opening movement, the arm 28 moves to the left provides a progressive retarding force to slow the final opening movement of the door, and also provides for retaining the door in any of a plurality of partially opened positions.

Although only two specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated that various modifications in the form, number and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described for connection between a door member and a post member or the like, means connected to one of said members and having a projection thereon, and a cushioning member connected to the other of said members and having a resilient deflectable element disposed in the path of said projction, said element being deflectable by said projection in the direction of movement of said enlargement.

2. In a device of the class described for connection between a door member and a post member or the like, the combination of anarm carried by one of said members and having a cam-like lateral projection formed thereon, and acushioning member secured to the other'of said members and having a resilient deflectable tongue positioned in the path of movement of said projection, for deflection by said projection in the direction of movement of said projection.

3. In a device of the class described for connection between a door member and a post member or the like, the combination of an arm connected to one of said members having a cam enlargement formed thereon, and a resilient cushioning member connected to the other of said members having a resilient tongue deflectable in the direction of movement of said enlargement.

4. In a device of the class described for connection between a door member and a post member or the like, the combination of an arm pivotally connected to one of said members and having cam enlargements formed on the laterally opposite sides thereof, and a cushioning member connected to the other of said members, said cushioning member -having a pair of opposed defiectable resilient tongues lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said arm and disposed to be deflected by said enlargement, said enlargement being rounded in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said tongues.

5. In a device of the class described, a cushioning member adapted for connection to a door or a door post or the like,comprising a bodyhaving a resiliently deflectable tongue projecting therefrom, and a reinforcing element associated with said tongue.

6. In a device of the class described, a cushioning member comprising a body having a resiliently deflectable tongue projecting therefrom, and a reinforcing element embedded in said body and extending into said tongue.

7. In a device of the class described, a cushioning member comprising a body having a resiliently deflectable tongue projecting therefrom, and a reinforcing element embedded in said body and projecting into said tongue, a portion of said tongue extending beyond the end of said reinforcing element.

8. In a device of the class described, a resilient cushioning member comprising a body member having an opening extending therethrough, a portion of the wall of said opening being provided with a resiliently deflectable tongue projecting into said opening.

9. In a device of the class described, a resilient cushioning member comprising a body member having an opening extending therethrough,.the

. respectively opposite lateral sides of said opening silient material, a backing member for said body, said backing member having an opening therethrough, and said resilient member having an opening therethrough substantially concentric with but smaller than said backing member opening, aportion of said resilient member projecting inwardly of said opening constituting a resiliently deflectable tongue.

12. In a device of the class described, a resilient cushioning member comprising a body ofresilient material, a backing member for said body, said backing member having an opemng therethrough, and said resilient member having an opening therethrough substantially concentric with but smaller than said backing member opening, a portion of said resilient member projecting inwardly of said opening constituting a resiliently deflectable tongue, and a reinforcing element embodied in said resilient body and extending into said tongue.

13. In a device of the class described, an arm characterized as being formed of a unitary strip of metal folded into U-shape with the legs in abutting relation, with the base of the U outwardly flanged to form a limit stop surface, and with portions of each leg adjacent said base being formed to provide a cam enlargement said cam enlargement having the surface thereof arcuately shaped in a plane substantially normal to the length of said legs.

14. In a. device of the class described, an arm characterized as being formed of a unitary strip of metal folded into U-shapewith the legs in abutting relation, with the base of the U outwardly flanged to form a limit stop surface, and with portions of each leg adjacent said base being formed to provide a cam enlargement, said cam enlargement having the surface thereof arcuately shaped in a plane substantially normal to the length of said legs, and said base having a stiffening rib extending transversely thereacross.

15. In a device of the class described, for connection between a door member and a post mem ber or the like, the combination of an arm connected to one of said members and extending into the other of said members, and a resilient cushioning member connected to the other of said; members and having an opening therethrough through which said arm projects, respectively opposite sides of said opening being provided with inwardly extending resiliently deflectable tongues normally disposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of relative movement between said cushioning member and arm, and said arm having one or more cam enlargements thereon adapted to engage and deflect said tongues, each of said enlargements having a surface which is rounded in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said tongues.

characterized 'as being formed of a strip of metal having an enlargement at one end thereof, and

having a cam-like enlargement intermediate the endsthereoi, said cam-like enlargement having the surface thereof arcuately shaped in a plane substantially normal to the length 01 said arm.

17. In a device of the'class described for connection between a door member and a post member or the like, the combination of an arm connected to one of said members and having a laterally extending cam enlargement formed on one side thereof, and a cushioning member connected to the other of said members, said cushioning member having a resiliently deflectable tongue lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement oi. the arm relative to the cushioning member and disposed to be deflected by said enlargement in the direction of said movement, said enlargement being rounded in a plane substantially parallel to the planeoi said tongue.

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