US2992451A

US2992451A - Door holding devices

Info

Publication number: US2992451A
Application number: US743587A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rudolph I Schonitzer; Vito Angelo R De
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-06-23
Filing date: 1958-06-23
Publication date: 1961-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1978-07-18

Description

July 18, 1961 R. 1. SCHONITZER ETAL DOOR HOLDING DEVICES Filed June 23, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS R0000 ZSc/v'o/v/rZEIP A/vaao R. de V/ro Arman/5Y5 July 18, 1961 R. l. SCHONITZER ETAL 2,992,451

DOOR HOLDING DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1958 IIL 3 INVENTORS zfllaomfl [SC/IONITZER Awe-40 A. de V/ro ly 1961 R. I. SCHONITZER ETAL 2,992,451

DOOR HOLDING DEVICES Filed June 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS RwoL/w litwamrza'k Arvaeao R. de M ra y 1961 R. l. SCHONITZER ETAL 2,992,451

DOOR HOLDING DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 23, 1958 INVENTORS P000424 1- .Sc/m/Wrze-R BY a A/vasLo 1?. de V/ro I ,4 Arro 2,992,451 DOOR HOLDING DEVICES Rudolph I. 'Schonitzer, Shaker Heights, and Angelo R. De Vito, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Lisle W. Menzirner, trustee, Rockford, Ill.

Filed June 23, 1958, Ser. No. 743,587 8 Claims. (Cl. 16141) This invention relates to holding devices for automobile doors and the like which have a tendency to swing, usually a normal tendency to fall shut. Door holding devices of the kind provided by this invention are often referred to as infinite-position holding devices because they act to hold the door in any open position to which it is moved and left standing, but still permit the door to be readily moved to any other desired position.

This application is related, as to subject matter and through common ownership, to co-pending application Serial No. 726,235 filed April 3, 1958.

The tendency for an automobile door to swing is frequently the result of, or influenced by, an inclined hinge axis incident to body design requirements or other factors, and may also be produced by various other causes such as by the transverse curvature or crown of a pavement or road, by the slope of a hill, or by a gust of wind. Such a tendency, when in the closing direction, causes the door to strike the legs of a person entering or leaving the automobile. This tendency of an automobile door to swing is prevented or minimized by the holding means of the present invention which is effective to hold the door in any open position in which it is left standing, without preventing a relatively free manual movement of the door to any other desired position.

As one of its objects, this invention accordingly provides a novel infinite-position door holding means or device comprising a ramp means having a curved-surface thrust portion and a follower means relatively slidable on the ramp means, the resistance to sliding between the follower means and the ramp means or the thrust portion of the latter being effective to produce a substantially balanced condition of the door for holding the same in any open position to which it is moved.

Another object is to provide a novel door holding device of the character just mentioned and wherein the thrust portion of the ramp means extends in an arcuate and eccentric relation around the hinge axis and the follower means is shiftable generally radially of the hinge axis for maintaining the sliding engagement with the thrust portion and is held against the latter by spring means.

Still another object is to provide a novel door holding device of the character above referred to and which is of a simple, rugged and compact construction adapted to be readily embodied in the hinge means of the door.

Additionally, this invention provides a novel door holding device of the co-operating ramp and follower type and adapted for incorporation in a hinge means employing a hinge bracket made of stamped metal and having spaced walls or flanges, and wherein the ramp means comprises a pair of ramps on the spaced walls or flanges and preferably formed by edge portions thereof, the follower means being in sliding engagement with both ramps preferably by extending in a spanning relation across such edge portions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein,

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation of an automobile body having door holding means or device of the present invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a partial transverse horizontal section taken States Patent 2,992,451 Patented July 18, 1961 on section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the door holding device on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a partial transverse horizontal section similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the door in its full-open position;

FIG. 4 is a partial transverse vertical section taken on section line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on section line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and showing check means engageable by the hinge arm when the door is in the full-open position;

FIG. 6 is a transverse horizontal section similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing a first modified form of door holding device;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the door holding device of FIG. 6 in detached relation and representing the condition of the holding device when the door is in the full-open position;

FIG. 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on section line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the holding means of FIG. 6 as indicated by section line 9-9 thereof;

FIG. 10 is another fragmentary vertical section taken on section line 1010 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a second modified form of door holding device in a detached relation and in a condition corresponding with the closed position of the door;

FIG. 12 is a plan view similar to that of FIG. 11 but showing the condition of the holding device when the door is in its full-open position;

FIG. 13 is a vertical section through the door holding device of FIG. 11, the view being taken as indicated by section line 13-13 thereof;

FIG. 14 is a vertical section taken on section line 1414 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding with a portion of FIG. 11 but showing a somewhat diiferent follower means.

Proceeding now with a more detailed description of the door holding means or device of this invention and the application thereof to an automobile or the like, FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings show such a door holding device 10 associated with door and door support structures 11 and 12 of an automobile body 13. The door 11 is swingable on an upright hinge axis provided by the hinge pins 14 of a pair of vertically spaced hinges 15 and 16 and comprises a hollow door structure having spaced outer and

inner side walls

17 and 18 and a hinge anchorage means 19 located in the chamber or space 20 between such walls. The door 11 also includes an upright edge wall 21 which faces toward the support structure 12 when the door is in its closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The door support structure 12 is here shown as being an upright doorframe portion of the automobile body 13 comprising spaced outer and

inner side walls

23 and 24 and having a chamber or recess 25 therein between the planes of such outer and inner walls. An upright anchorage wall 26 for attachment of the hinges 15 and 16 extends between the

side walls

23 and 24 and faces realwardly of the vehicle and toward the door opening. The support structure 12 may also include an upright edge wall 27 spaced rearwardly from the upright anchorage wall 26 and with respect to which the upright edge wall 21 of the door 11 occupies an opposed position when the door is fully closed. The upright edge wall 27 can be omitted from the support structure 12 but, when used, is provided with suitable clearance openings therein for the hinges 15 and 16.

The design of the automobile body 13 is here shown as being a conventional one in which the hinge pins of the hinges 15 and :16 provide a substantially vertical hinge axis 30 for the door 11 and which axis in inclined from the vertical. The direction and extent of. the inclination of the hinge axis 30 are such that the door 11 has a normal tendency to swing, usually a normal tendency to fall shut, when it has been manually swung to an open position and released by the operator.

The door holding device develops or produces a holding action or force which counteracts the normal tendency of the door 11 to swing or fall shut and, as explained in greater detail hereinafter, provides a substantially balanced condition for the door such that the door will be held in any open position to which it has been moved and left standing, but will nevertheless be readily movable to any other of its positions to which the operator may wish to move it.

The holding device 10 comprises co-operating ramp means and follower means here shown in the form of co-operating ramp and

follower members

32 and 33 which are associated with the door support structure 12 and the door structure 11 and produce for the latter the holding action referred to just above. In the door holding device 10, the ramp member 32 is associated with the door support structure 12 and the follower member 33 is associated with the door 11. The holding device 10 is also shown herein as being associated with the hinge means of the door 11, in this case the upper hinge 15 thereof. In the holding device 10, as disclosed herein, the ramp member 32 is associated with and carried by the portion of the hinge 15 which is attached to the door support structure 12 and the follower member 33 is associated and carried by the portion of this hinge which is attached to the door 11.

The hinge 15 comprises a hinge bracket 35 mounted on the door support structure 12 and a hinge arm 36 attached to the door 11 and pivotally connected with the hinge bracket by the hinge pin 14. The hinge bracket 35 is usually a die-formed metal member, preferably a stamped sheet metal member, and comprises upper and

lower flanges

37 and 38 and an upright attaching wall or web 39 connecting such flanges and providing for attachment of the hinge bracket to the anchorage wall 26 by suitably located screws 40. The hinge bracket 35 also comprises formed

knee portions

41 and 42 on the

flanges

37 and 38 and which provide mounting portions for the hinge pin 14.

The hinge arm 36 is usually a die-formed metal member and has the form of a bell-crank lever carrying an eye portion 43 at the front end thereof which is received between the

knee portions

41 and 42 of the hinge bracket and is pivoted on the hinge pin 14. The other end of the hinge arm 36 projects from the recess 25 of the door support structure 12 and has the door 11 mounted thereon as by means of the attaching screws 44 which connect the anchorage means 19 of the door with the hinge arm.

The ramp member 32 is here shown as being a curved or crescent-shaped member or sector portion carried by the flange 37 of the hinge bracket and comprising legs or flanges 46' and 47 in a substantially right-angle relation to each other, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The leg 46 forms an attaching leg by which the ramp member 32 is secured to the flange 37 as by the use of suitable attaching screws '43. The leg 47 is of a concavely curved shape and extends arcuately and eccentrically around the hinge axis 30 with its concavely curved side presented toward the latter.

The follower member 33 is here shown in the form of a plunger member which is slidable on the ramp member 32 during swinging movements of the door 11 and is shiftable substantially radially of the hinge axis 30 for maintaining its sliding engagement with the ramp member during the opening and closing swinging movements of the door. Guide means is provided on the hinge arm 36 for supporting the follower member 33 and 4 guides the same during the radial shifting thereof. Such supporting and guiding means for the follower member 33 is here shown as comprising a guide tube 50 having the following member 33 slidable therein and an attaching bracket 51 which is secured to the hinge arm 36 by suitable screws 52. Y

The attaching bracket 51 comprises in intermediate portion 51 through which the screws 52 extend for clamping such intermediate portion against the hinge arm 36, and a pair of end flanges or

arms

53 and 54 for supporting the guide tube 50. The arm 53 is provided with an opening in which one end of the guide tube 50 is received, as shown in FIG. 4, and the arm as forms a recessed cover means in which the other end of the guide tube is engaged. The arm 54 is provided with a guide opening 55 centrally of the cover means.

The follower member 33 comprises a metal plunger head 57 which is slidable in the guide tube 5t? and projects therefrom for co-operation with the ramp member 32, and a stem 58 connected with the head and slidably movable in the guide opening 55. A compression spring 59, usually a preloaded spring, is disposed in the guide tube 50 in surrounding relation to the stem 58 of the follower member. One end of the spring 59 is seated against the cover means of the arm 54, and the other end thereof is seated against the head 57 of the follower member such that the spring is continuously effective on the follower member 33 for holding the same in sliding engagement with the ramp member 32. The follower member is held against rotation about the axis of the stem 51 by providing the latter with a flat surface 60 on one side thereof which cooperates with a similar flat portion provided on the arm 54 at one side of the guide opening 55.

The sliding engagement of the ramp member 33 with the follower member 32 can be a sliding engagement directly with the arcuately and eccentrically extending curved leg 47 as a thrust element or surface, but preferably, the thrust element or surface of the ramp member 32 is provided by a nonmetallic member or strip 61 mounted on the leg 47 and having substantially the same concavely curved shape and eccentric location relative to the hinge axis 30. The thrust element 61 is made of a suitable plastic material such as nylon, and may be in the form of a substantially uniform thickness layer of such plastic material which is secured to the ramp member 32 by any suitable attaching means. In this case the attaching means is shown as comprising rivets 62 although cement can be used or a combination of such attaching mediums. The plastic material of the thrust element 61 is yieldable or resiliently flexible rather than hard or brittle, and the sliding engagement of the follower member 33 thereon will accordingly have a desired uniform friction coefficient and will provide for a smooth and quiet functioning of the door holding device 10 with minimum abrasion or wear on the ramp member.

The end or contact portion of the follower member 33 which engages the thrust element 61 is a transversely curved or convex contact portion 63 having substantially the same curvature as the thrust element so that a substantial area Will be provided for the sliding engagement of the follower member with the thrust element. Because of the flexible and resilient character of the thrust element 61, this member will be indented somewhatrby the follower member 33 particularly when the latter is in a rest position. This indentation by the follower member is temporary only inasmuch as the resilient character of the plastic causes the thrust element 61 to restore itself to a smooth and regular contour promptly after the follower member has moved to a different location therealong. The temporary indentation thereof causes the plastic thrust element 61 to provide a factor of additional resistance to movement of the follower member away from such a rest position, and this added resistance factor contributes to the effectiveness of the holding device in developing or producing its holding action for holding the door 11 in a desired open position to which it is moved and left standing.

From the construction and arrangement of the door holding device as thus far described, it will be seen that during the opening and closing swinging movements of the door 11 the guide tube 50 and its attaching bracket 51 sweep along the ramp member 32 and cause the abovementioned sliding of the follower member 33 on the arcuate and eccentric thrust element 61. To accommodate this sweeping movement of the attaching bracket 51, the flange 37 of the hinge bracket is provided with

arcuate clearance slots

65 and 66 through which the

arms

53 and 54 extend as shown in FIG. 4.

The location of the ramp member 32 on the hinge bracket 35 is in the orientation shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 from which it will be seen that the end 32 of the ramp member which lies at a shorter radial distance from the hinge axis 30 is located nearest the center-line of the vehicle and points in a generally longitudinal and forward direction on the latter. It will also be observed that the end 32 which is spaced at a relatively greater radial distance from the hinge axis 30 extends generally transversely of the vehicle and points in an outward direction away from the center-line of the vehicle.

Because of this orientation of the ramp member 32 and its eccentric arcuate relation to the hinge axis 30, it will also be seen that the end 32 can be conveniently referred to as the downhill end and the end 32' can be referred to as the uphill end. Additionally, it will be seen that by reason of this orientation and arrangement, the sliding travel of the follower member 33 on the thrust element 61 will be a travel in an uphill direction along the thrust element during swinging of the door 11 toward its closed position shown in FIG. 2 and the sliding travel of the follower member along the thrust element during the opening movement of the door will be a downhill travel.

It will accordingly be understood that the door holding action or force developed between the ramp member 32 and the follower member 33 will comprise several factors including the sliding friction between the ramp member and the thrust element 61, the effect of the temporary indentation of the thrust element by the follower member, the thrust and loading flexure of the spring 59, and the uphill inclination or eccentric characteristic of the thrust element. Thus, when the door 11 is swung to an open position and the operators hand is removed therefrom, any swinging tendency of the door such as a normal tendency to fall shut by reason of the above-mentioned inclination of the hinge axis, will be resisted by the friction between the follower member and thrust element, by the uphill character of the sliding travel of the follower member on the ramp member, and by the resistance of the spring 59 to increased loading flexure thereof.

The dimensional values for the associated components are such that the holding action, developed by the device 10 for the door 11 by the various factors just referred to above, will provide a substantially balanced condition for the door which will cause the door to remain in any open position to which it is moved and left standing but will still permit the door to be freely movable to any other desired position. It will likewise be seen that during the opening movement of the door 11, the expansive action of the spring 59 and the downhill sliding travel of the follower member 33 on the ramp member 32 under the unloading flexure of the spring, will assist the opening movement of the door.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the holding device It includes check means for limiting the movement of the door 11 in the opening direction when the door approaches or reaches its full-open position. This check means comprises a stop in the form of a pin or rivet 67 extending through the

flanges

37 and 38 of the hinge 6 bracket 35 and engageably by the hinge arm 36 as shown in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 6 to 10 inclusive of the drawings show a door holding device 70 which is similar in character to the door holding device 10 but differs therefrom in that the ramp member 72 is carried by the hinge arm 73 and the follower member 74 slidable in a guide sleeve 75 which is mounted on the hinge bracket 76. The ramp member 72 is of the same general shape as the ramp member 32 and carries a plastic thrust element 77 similar to the abovedescribed thrust element 61. The ramp member 72 is mounted on the hinge arm 73 by suitable angle-shaped attaching brackets 78 and suitable attaching screws and rivets 79 and 80. The holding device 70 is shown in FIG. 6 as being associated with door and

door support structures

82 and 83.

During the swinging of the door 82 relative to the door support structure 83, the ramp member 72 sweeps past the follower member 74 with a relative sliding engagement of the thrust element 77 against the latter. This sweeping movement of the ramp member 72 is accommodated by an arcuate clearance slot 84 provided in the upper flange 85 of the hinge bracket and through which the ramp member extends as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

The guide sleeve 75 [for the follower member 74 is here shown as having a half-round cylinder portion 87 in which the head '74 of the follower member is slidable and as also having attaching flanges 38 which are welded to the flange 85 for mounting the guide sleeve on the hinge bracket. A bent lug 89 provided on the flange 85' forms a cover element for one end of the guide sleeve 75 and is provided with a central guide opening 90 for the stem 91 of the follower member. The head 74 of the follower member projects from the guide sleeve 75 and has a concavely curved contact portion 92 which conforms to the curavture of, and is maintained in sliding engagement with, the thrust element 77 by a compression spring 93.

The spring 93 is preferably a preloaded spring and is disposed around the stem 91 of the follower member. The spring 93 has one end thereof in engagement with the head 74 and its other end seated against the coverfor-ming lug 89. The head '74 is provided on one side thereof with a flat surface 94 which is slidable on the flange 85 of the hinge bracket for preventing rotation of the follower member about the axis of its stem 91.

The location and arrangement of the ramp member 72 relative to the axis 95 of the hinge pin 96- is such that during the closing movement of the door 82 the relative sliding travel between the ramp member "72 and the follower member 74 will be a sliding travel in an uphill direction tending to produce'a loading flexure of the spring 93 and will cause the development of a holding force which will counterbalance the weight of the door 82 and the tendency of the latter to fall shut due to either a permanent or temporary inclination of the hinge axis 95. The opening movement of the door 82 will be assisted by the expansive action of the spring 93 and the relative sliding between the ramp member 72 and the follower member 74 during such opening movement will be a relative downhill travel. The holding action developed by the device 70 will cause the door 82 to be held in any open position to which it is moved and left standing, in substantially the same manner as the holding action de veloped by the holding device 10.

The door holding device 70 includes a check means for limiting the opening movement of the door and which compirses a stop member 98 provided on the hinge bracket 76 and engageable by a portion of the hinge arm 73, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, when the door 82 reaches its full-open posit-ion. The stop member 98 is here shown as being a strap secured to a pair of bent lugs 99 provided on the upper and lower flanges of the hinge bracket 76.

FIGS. 11 to 14 inclusive of the drawings show a second modified door holding device 102 for use between door and doorframe structures in the same relation and manner as the door holding devices and 70 and which likewise provides for a substantially balanced condition of the door for holding the door in any open position to which it is moved and left standing, but which will still permit a relatively free movement of the door to any other desired position. The door holding device 102 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 as representing an installed position of this device for a left front vehicle door, FIG. 11 representing the door-closed condition of the device and FIG. 12 the door-open condition of the device.

The holding device 102 comprises a pair of

ramp members

103 and 104 provided with

thrust elements

105 and 106, and a follower member 107 co-operating with the ramp members and slidably engaging the

thrust elements

105 and 106 thereof. The

ramp members

103 and 104 are located on a hinge bracket 109 which is adapted to be mounted on a door support structure or portion of a vehicle body, and the follower member 107 is located on a hinge arm 110 which is adapted to be connected with and support a door or the like associated with the door support structure.

The hinge bracket 109' is here shown as being a stamped metal member having spaced walls or

flanges

111 and 112 and an attaching wall or web 113 connecting the flanges and adapting the bracket for attachment to the door support structure by suitable screws. The hinge bracket 109 also comprises a hinge pin 114- extending between and mounted in formed

knee portions

111 and 112 of the

flanges

111 and 112.

The hinge arm 110 is in the form of a bell-crank lever and comprises a stamped metal member having spaced

flanges

115 and 116 extending longitudinally of the lever and a longitudinal web 117 extending between and connecting the flanges. The space between the

flanges

115 and 116 forms a longitudinal channel recess 118 Whose bottom wall is formed by the longitudinal web 117. The hinge arm 110 is provided at one end thereof with a straight portion 119 as an attaching portion for mounting the door thereon, and is provided at its other end with an eye portion 120 which is disposed between the

knee portions

111 and 112 of the hinge bracket and is pivoted on the hinge pin 114.

The

ramp members

103 and 104 are carried by the flanges .111 and 112 of the hinge bracket and are formed by convex

curved edge portions

122 and 123 of these flanges and which edge portions extend in an arcuate and eccentric relation around the axis 124 of the hinge pin 114. The

ramp members

103 and 104 are provided on the hinge bracket 109 so as to have a location or orientation with respect to the vehicle body, such that the ends 103* and 10 1 which are at relatively greater radial distance from the hinge axis 124, lie nearest the center-line of the vehicle and point in a generally forward longitudinal direction thereof. The ends 103 and 10 i of the

ramp members

103 and 104, which are at a relatively closer radial distance to the hinge axis 124 but more remote from the center-line of the vehicle, point in a direction generally'transversely of the vehicle and away from the longitudinal center-line thereof.

The follower member 107 is here shown as being a metal bar extending in spanning relation between and across the

ramp members

103 and 104. The follower member 107 is movable in guide slots 12d and 127 provided in the

flanges

115 and 116 of the hinge 110 and is shiftable in a direction generally radially of the hinge axis 124 for maintaining a sliding co-operaton between the follower member and the ramp members during the opening and closing swinging movements of the door. The follower member is provided at an intermediate point thereof with a groove 128 extending therearound and the hinge pin 114 is provided at an intermediate point thereof with a similar groove 129. The portions of the follower member 107 which are in sliding 8 contact with the

ramp members

103 and 104 are shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 as being convex contact portions.

The door holding device 102 also comprises a spring 131 which is effective on the follower member 107 for maintaining the latter in sliding co-operation with the ramp members .103 and 104 during the swinging movements of the door. The spring 131 is here shown as being a tension spring having

hook portions

131 and 131 at opposite ends thereof and engaged in the

grooves

128 and 120 of the follower member and binge pin. The spring 131 is in a loaded condition and continuously applies a pulling force to the follower member 107 for maintaining the abovementioned sliding co-operation with the

ramp members

103 and 104. The engagement of the hook end 131 of the spring in the groove 128 of the follower member 107 retains the latter in the

guide slots

126 and 127 in a substantially centered relation crosswise of and between the ramp members.

The sliding co-operation of the follower member 107 with the

ramp members

103 and 104 can be a. direct engagement with the arcutate edges 122 and 123 thereof as thrust elements, but preferably, is a sliding engagement with the plastic thrust elements and 106 provided on the ramp members. The

plastic thrust elements

105 and 106 can be made of any suitable plastic material, such as nylon, and are here shown as being channel-shaped Striplike members having longitudinal grooves in which the arcuate edges 122 and .123 of the

flanges

111 and 112 are engaged for mounting the thrust elements on the latter.

In addition to the engagement of the

arcuate edges

122 and 123 in the grooves of the

thrust elements

105 and 106, the thrust elements can be retained on the

flanges

111 and 112 by the use of suitable cement therebetween or any other appropriate fastening medium.

The

thrust elements

105 and 106 extend along the

ramp members

103 and 104 and conform to the arcuate and eccentric curvature of the

edges

122 and 123 thereof. Shifting of the thrust elements relative to and along the

ramp members

103 and 104 is prevented by the fastening means and by co-operation of the ends of the thrust elements with retaining

lugs

132 and 133 provided on the

flanges

111 and 112 of the hinge bracket.

With respect to the spacing of the

flanges

111 and 112 along the hinge axis 124, it will be observed from the drawings (see FIGS; 11 to 14) that these flanges are relatively widely spaced and that the distance therebetween is greater than the mini-mum radial distance of the friction surfaces of the

thrust elements

104 and 105 from the hinge axis 124. This relationship provides good stability in the door holding device 102 because tendency of the follower member 107 to become tilted or cocked will be eliminated.

From the construction and arrangement of the door holding device 102 and the orientation of the

ramp members

103 and 104, as above described, it will be understood that during closing swinging movement of the door the follower member 107 will be moved from its dooropen position shown in FIG. 12 with an uphill sliding movement along the ramp members to its door-closed position shown in FIG. 11. During this uphill sliding movement of the follower member on the ramp memhere, the tension spring 131 will be subjected to further loading and the resistance of the ramp members to such uphill sliding movement will resist the tendecy of the door to fall shut by reason of an existing permanent or temporary inclination of the hinge axis, or due to the weight of the door or other forces acting thereon, and will produce a substantially balanced condition of the door such that the door will be held in any open position to which it is moved and left standing. It will also be seen that during the opening swinging movement of the door, the sliding movement of the follower member on the

ramp members

103 and 104 will be a downhill sliding travel and the opening movement of the door will be also assisted by the pulling action of the spring 131.

The resistance to relative sliding of the follower member 107 on the

thrust elements

105 and 106 of the ramp members is produced by the same factors as have been mentioned above in connection with the door holding de* vice 10 and which include the holding factor resulting from a temporary indentation of the follower member 107 into the thrust elements particularly when the door is in a rest position.

The door holding device 102 is preferably provided with detent means for developing a secondary holding action for releasably holding the door in an assured rest position. The detent means is here shown as comprising detent elements on the ramp members and having the form of notches or recesses 136 in the

thrust elements

105 and 106 and engageable by the follower member 107. The recesses 136 are preferably located on the ramp members at or adjacent the downhill ends thereof. When the door is swung in the opening direction and app-roaches or arrives at the desired rest position, in this case its full-open position, the follower member 107 engages in the detent recesses 13 6 for releasably holding the door in such desired rest position.

Instead of employing a follower member of a substantially cylindrical shape the door holding device 102 can, if desired, be provided with a metal follower member 107a having end portions of a noncircular shape such as the end portions 138 of quadrangular shape shown in FIG. 14. When the follower member is provided with such end portions of quadrangular shape, a relatively larger area of sliding engagement is obtained between the follower member and the

thrust elements

105 and 106 of the

ramp members

103 and 104.

From the accompanying drawings and the foregoing detailed description it will now be readily understood that this invention provides door holding devices in which relative sliding engagement between co-operating ramp means and follower means associated with swingably connected door and doorframe structures will provide a substantially balanced condition for an otherwise unbalanced door and will cause the door to be held in any open position to which it is moved and left standing, but the door will still be easily and freely movable to any other desired position. It will now also be understood that the door holding devices of this invention are smooth and quiet in operation and produce an effective holding action which will prevent the annoying occurrence of an automobile door or the like falling shut against the legs of a person entering or leaving the vehicle, or the annoying occurrence of the door being swung in either an opening or closing direction by the action of a gust of wind or by reason of an inclined position of the vehicle, when the operator wishes the open door to remain in a rest position.

Although the door holding devices of this invention have been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. In an automobile or the like having a body including door support structure and an associated door structure; hinge means connecting said structures for swinging of the door structure and providing a hinge axis inclined from the vertical so that the door structure has a normal tendency to fall shut; holding means for the door structure comprising holding members associated with the respective structures and having a slidable relative traversing engagement with each other throughout the swinging movement of said door structure; one of said members comprising sector-shaped ramp means having a curved thrust portion facing in a substantially radial direction relative to said axis and extending at least partway therearound, and the other of said members comprising follower means made of metal and shiftable in a direction extending generally radially of said axis for maintaining the slidable engagement with said thrust portion; and spring means effective on said follower means for pressing the same against said thrust portion with a force acting in a direction transverse to said axis; said follower means having rest positions adjacent the opposite ends of said thrust portion corresponding with the fullopen and door-closed positions of said door structure, and said thrust portion having a continuous curvature extending therealong between said rest position; successive points along said continuous curvature from the fullopen rest position to the door-closed rest position being at progressively increasing radial distances from said axis so that the sliding of said follower means on said thrust portion is an uphill travel during the entire closing movement of said door structure for resisting said tendency to fall shut; said thrust portion comprising plastic material along the length thereof slidably traversed by the metal follower means; the resistance to the relative sliding of said follower means on said thrust portion providing a substantially balanced condition for said door structure and being effective to normally hold said door structure in any open position to which it is moved and left standing.

2. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim 1 wherein the portion of said follower means engaging said thrust portion is of convex shape; and wherein the plastic material of said thrust portion is flexible for limited indentation of said follower means thereinto.

3. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim 1 wherein said thrust portion has a detent element thereon at the full-open rest position of said follower means and engageable by the latter for releasably holding said door structure in an assured rest condition at said full-open position.

4. In an automobile or the like having a body including door support structure and an associated door structure; hinge means including a hinge pin providing a hinge axis inclined from the vertical so that said door structure has a normal tendency to fall shut and comprising a hinge bracket connected with said support structure and a hinge arm connected with said door structure; said bracket having spaced walls lying in planes extending transverse to said axis; holding means for said door structure comprising ramps on said walls, and metal follower means carried by said arm and slidable on said ramps throughout the swinging movement of said door )Structure and having rest positions adjacent the opposite .ends of said ramps corresponding with the full-open and door-closed positions of said door structure; said ramps each having a curved thrust portion facing in a substantially radial direct-ion with respect to said axis and extending at least part-way therearound; and spring means effective on said follower means for pressing the same against the thrust portions of said ramps; the thrust portion of each ramp having a continuous curvature extending therealong between said rest positions with successivepoints along said curvature being at progressively increasing radial distances from said axis so that the sliding of said follower means on said thrust portions is an uphill travel during the entire closing movement of said door structure for resisting said tendency to fall shut; the thrust portion of each ramp comprising plastic material along the length thereof slidably traversed by the metal follower means; the resistance to the relative sliding of said follower means on said thrust portions providing a substantially balanced condition for said door structure and being effective to normally hold said door structure in any open position to which it is moved and left standmg.

i 5. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim 4 wherein said follower means is elongated in the direction of said hinge axis and extends in spanning relation across said thrust portions; the

11 portions of said follower means engaging said thrust portions being convex contact portions and the plastic material of said thrust portions being flexible for limited indentation of said contact portions thereinto.

6. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim 4 wherein said ramps comprise edge portions of said walls and said thrust portions comprise channel-shaped plastic members having channel recesses and being mounted on said ramps with said edge portions engaged in said channel recesses.

7. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim 4 wherein said arm projects from between said spaced walls and includes spaced flanges; and wherein said spring means lies between said spaced flanges and is engaged with said hinge pin and follower means; the distance between said spaced walls 12 being greater than the minimum radius of curvature of said thrust portions.

8. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim 4 wherein said arm comprises spaced flanges having guide slots therein and said follower means comprises bar means extending in spanning relation across said thrust portions; said bar means having portions of noncircular cross-section disposed in said slots and also having flat portions slidable on said thrust portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,095,866 Hallenbeck Oct. 12, 1937 2,294,459 Joachim Sept. 1, 1942 2,342,531 Dean Feb. 22, 1944 2,736,055 Bell Feb. 28, 1956