US-12624582-B2 - Overtravel hinge

US12624582B2US 12624582 B2US12624582 B2US 12624582B2US-12624582-B2

Abstract

A vehicle includes a chassis, a door track, a door operatively connected to the door track and adapted to move between a closed position and an open position, and a hinge assembly coupled to the door. The hinge assembly is movably coupled to the door track and includes a first bracket coupled to the door, a second bracket coupled to the first bracket, and a transport assembly coupled to the second bracket and adapted to move along the door track as the door moves between the open and closed positions. The transport assembly includes a coupling member for releasably coupling the second bracket to the transport assembly. Upon movement of the second bracket from the first position to the second position, the door moves to an extended open position with respect to the door track.

Inventors

Robert E. Bettcher, III
Russell Meyer

Assignees

THE BRAUN CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240226

Claims (20)

1 . A vehicle, comprising: a chassis; a door track coupled to the chassis; a door operatively connected to the door track and adapted to move between a closed position and an open position; and a hinge assembly coupled to the door and movably coupled to the door track, the hinge assembly comprising a first bracket coupled to the door, a second bracket pivotably coupled to the first bracket at a hinge, a transport assembly coupled to the second bracket and adapted to move along the door track as the door moves between the open and closed positions and a coupling member releasably coupled between the second bracket and the transport assembly; wherein the second bracket is fixed relative to the transport assembly when the coupling member is coupled and can move independently from the transport assembly from a first position to a second position when the coupling member is decoupled; wherein, upon movement of the second bracket from the first position to the second position, the door moves to an extended open position with respect to the door track.
2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the track comprises a first end and a second end, the door being in the closed position when the hinge assembly is located at the first end and the door being in the open position when the hinge assembly is located at the second end; wherein, when the hinge assembly moves to the second end of the track, the coupling member is decoupled.
3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein, when the hinge assembly reaches the second end of the track, the transport assembly remains substantially fixed relative to the track as the second bracket moves from its first position to its second position.
4 . The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the second bracket pivots relative to the transport assembly between the first and second positions.
5 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein: when the hinge assembly is at the first end of the track, the first bracket is pivoted inwardly in close proximity to the second bracket; as the hinge assembly moves from the first end, the first bracket pivots away from the second bracket.
6 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the hinge assembly is movably disposed in at least a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration; wherein: in the first configuration, the door is in its closed position, the hinge assembly is at the first end, the first bracket is pivoted inwardly and the second bracket extends outwardly in a substantially perpendicular position relative the track; in the second configuration, the door is located between the open and closed positions, the hinge assembly is at the second end of the track, the first bracket is pivoted outwardly and arranged substantially perpendicular to the second bracket, and the second bracket extends outwardly in a substantially perpendicular position relative the track; and in the third configuration, the door is located in the open position, the hinge assembly is at the second end of the track, and the second bracket is pivoted relative to the transport assembly such that the second bracket extends angularly outwardly relative to the track.
7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is pivotally coupled to the transport assembly, the coupling member comprising a pawl configured to contact a trigger disposed along the door track to induce pivotal movement of the coupling member and release the second bracket from the coupling member.
8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the transport assembly comprises at least one rolling member, the at least one rolling member configured to roll along the track as the door moves between the open and closed positions.
9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising: a biasing member coupled between the hinge and the transport assembly, the biasing member adapted to bias the hinge assembly to a closed configuration where the coupling member is coupled.
10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the hinge assembly is movable between the closed configuration and an extended configuration wherein the coupling member is decoupled, the hinge assembly is in the closed configuration when the door is in its closed position and the hinge assembly is in the extended configuration when the door is in its open position.
11 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the coupling member comprises a latching member and a pin configured to be releasably coupled to the latching member, wherein in the first position, the pin is coupled to the latching member and wherein, in the second position, the pin is released from the latching member.
12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the latching member is coupled to the transport assembly and the pin is coupled to the second bracket.
13 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the latching member is coupled to the second bracket and the pin is coupled to the transport assembly.
14 . An overtravel hinge assembly for a vehicle door operatively coupled to a door track of a passenger vehicle, the overtravel hinge assembly comprising: a first bracket adapted to be mounted to the vehicle door; a second bracket pivotally coupled to the first bracket via a hinge; a transport assembly pivotally coupled to the second bracket; and a coupling member releasably coupled between the second bracket and the transport assembly; wherein, the transport assembly comprises a movable member adapted to contact and move along the door track as the vehicle door moves between an open and closed positions; wherein, the second bracket is fixed relative to the transport assembly when the coupling member is coupled and can move independently from the transport assembly from a first position to a second position when the coupling member is decoupled.
15 . The overtravel hinge assembly of claim 14 , wherein: in a closed configuration, the first bracket is pivoted inwardly in close proximity to the second bracket, and the second bracket extends outwardly in a substantially perpendicular position relative the transport assembly; in an open configuration, the first bracket is pivoted outwardly about the hinge and arranged substantially perpendicular to the second bracket, and the second bracket extends outwardly in a substantially perpendicular position relative the transport assembly; and in an extended configuration, the second bracket extends outwardly from the transport assembly at an angle greater than 90°.
16 . The overtravel hinge assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a biasing member coupled between the hinge and the transport assembly, the biasing member adapted to bias the hinge assembly to the closed configuration.
17 . The overtravel hinge assembly of claim 15 , wherein the coupling member is pivotally coupled to the transport assembly, the coupling member comprising a pawl configured to contact a portion of the track to induce pivotal movement of the coupling member and release the second bracket from the coupling member.
18 . The overtravel hinge assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second bracket comprises a pin configured to be releasably coupled to the coupling member; wherein, in the closed configuration, the coupling member is coupled to the pin; wherein, in the extended configuration, the coupling member is released from the pin.
19 . The overtravel hinge assembly of claim 18 , further comprising: a first biasing member coupled between the hinge and the transport assembly; and a second biasing member coupled between a base of the transport assembly and the coupling member, the second biasing member configured to bias the coupling member into contact with the pin.
20 . A hinge assembly for movably coupling a vehicle door to a vehicle between an open position and a closed position, the vehicle having a chassis and a track coupled to the chassis, the hinge assembly comprising: a first bracket adapted to be mounted to the vehicle door and a second bracket pivotably coupled to the first bracket at a hinge; and a transport assembly coupled to the second bracket and adapted to move in contact with the track; a coupling member releasably coupled between the second bracket and the transport assembly; a biasing member coupled to the transport assembly, the biasing member adapted to bias the hinge assembly to a first configuration; wherein, the hinge assembly is configured to move between at least the first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration; wherein, in the first and second configurations, the second bracket extends outwardly at a first angle relative to the transport assembly; wherein, in the third configuration, the second bracket extends outwardly at a second angle relative to the transport assembly, where the second angle is greater than the first angle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/551,418, filed Dec. 15, 2021 and entitled “OVERTRAVEL HINGE,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/127,322, filed Dec. 18, 2020 and entitled “OVERTRAVEL HINGE,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present application relates to a passenger vehicle for transporting one or more passengers, and more particularly to a modified passenger vehicle which is configured to provide access to the vehicle for a physically limited passenger. BACKGROUND Automobile manufacturers do not currently mass-produce passenger motor vehicles specifically designed to transport passengers having physical limitations, either as a driver or as a non-driving passenger. Consequently, mass-produced passenger vehicles are modified, or retrofitted, by a number of aftermarket companies dedicated to supplying vehicles to physically limited passengers. Such vehicles can be modified by removing certain parts or structures within a vehicle and replacing those parts with parts specifically designed to accommodate the physically limited passenger. For example, in one configuration, a van is retrofitted with a ramp to enable a physically limited individual using a wheelchair to enter and exit the vehicle without the assistance of another individual. Other known products for retrofitting a vehicle, such as a van, include wheel chair lifts, lift platforms, and lowered floor surfaces. In some instances, a door of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) van is enlarged or otherwise modified to permit entry and exit of the physically limited individual through what is known as the assisted entrance. Once inside the van, individual who uses the assisted entrance is located in a rear passenger compartment of the van adjacent to or behind the assisted entrance. In a retrofitted van, the sliding side door moves toward the back of the vehicle to open a passenger entrance as well as to provide access to a ramp located beneath the floor. In some vehicles, which are considered as viable candidates for retrofitting, the construction of the OEM vehicle requires modification to accommodate the addition of a ramp. Not only must a subfloor be added, but the door opening needs to be widened to provide access for a wheelchair. Consequently, there is a need for a modification to an OEM vehicle to provide access to physically limited individuals or individuals confined to a wheelchair or other mobility alternatives to wheelchairs. SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a chassis, a door track coupled to the chassis, a door operatively connected to the door track and adapted to move between a closed position and an open position, and a hinge assembly coupled to the door and movably coupled to the door track. The hinge assembly includes a first bracket coupled to the door, a second bracket coupled to the first bracket, and a transport assembly coupled to the second bracket and adapted to move along the door track as the door moves between the open and closed positions. The transport assembly includes a coupling member for releasably coupling the second bracket to the transport assembly. The track includes a trigger disposed along a path of travel taken by the hinge assembly, wherein contact between the coupling member and the trigger releases the second bracket from the transport assembly to move from a first position to a second position. Upon movement of the second bracket from the first position to the second position, the door moves to an extended open position with respect to the door track. In one example of this embodiment, the track comprises a first end and a second end, the door being in the closed position when the hinge assembly is located at the first end and the door being in the open position when the hinge assembly is located at the second end. In this example, when the hinge assembly moves to the second end of the track, the second bracket is released from the transport assembly. In a second example, when the hinge assembly reaches the second end of the track, the transport assembly remains substantially fixed relative to the track as the second bracket moves from its first position to its second position. In another example of this embodiment, the second bracket pivots relative to the transport assembly between the first and second positions. In yet another example, when the hinge assembly is at the first end of the track, the first bracket is pivoted inwardly in close proximity to the second bracket. As the hinge assembly moves from the first end, the first bracket pivots away from the second bracket. In a further example, the coupling member is pivotally coupled to the transport assembly. Here, the coupling member comprising a pawl configured to contact the trigger to induce p