US2219819A - Door opening device - Google Patents
Door opening device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2219819A US2219819A US317295A US31729540A US2219819A US 2219819 A US2219819 A US 2219819A US 317295 A US317295 A US 317295A US 31729540 A US31729540 A US 31729540A US 2219819 A US2219819 A US 2219819A
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- door
- spring
- hinge edge
- arm
- door opening
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 7
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- RZVAJINKPMORJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Acetaminophen Chemical compound CC(=O)NC1=CC=C(O)C=C1 RZVAJINKPMORJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 208000037974 severe injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000009528 severe injury Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05F1/00—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
- E05F1/08—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass spring-actuated, e.g. for horizontally sliding wings
- E05F1/10—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass spring-actuated, e.g. for horizontally sliding wings for swinging wings, e.g. counterbalance
- E05F1/12—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs
- E05F1/1207—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs with a coil spring parallel with the pivot axis
- E05F1/1215—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs with a coil spring parallel with the pivot axis with a canted-coil torsion spring
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
- E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
- E05Y2900/50—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles
- E05Y2900/53—Type of wing
- E05Y2900/531—Doors
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S16/00—Miscellaneous hardware, e.g. bushing, carpet fastener, caster, door closer, panel hanger, attachable or adjunct handle, hinge, window sash balance
- Y10S16/07—Door opening apparatus
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S16/00—Miscellaneous hardware, e.g. bushing, carpet fastener, caster, door closer, panel hanger, attachable or adjunct handle, hinge, window sash balance
- Y10S16/36—Spring
Definitions
- Patented oet. 29, 1940 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFElcE 7 Claims.
- This invention rela-tes to means for automatically effecting the movement of a hinged door
- the present invention relates to means for automa-tically opening, and yieldingly resisting the closing of, a door which is so hinged on its supporting structure that the hinge edge wall of said door and the hinge edge wall of the supporting structure therefor are in oppositely positioned or generally abutting relationship when said door is in its closed position, such as the door of an automobile or the like, for example.
- the means here involved (which, for convenience, is hereinafter referred to simply as door opening means) includes a torsion spring located between the hinge edge wall of the door to be opened and the hinge edge wall of the supporting structure for said door, said spring having cooperative engagement with said two hinge edge walls (or with said door and its supporting structure in the region of their hinge edge walls) for the performance of its door opening function and its function of yieldingly resisting the closing of the door from the position to which itis automatically opened.
- door opening have its torsion spring maintained between and in cooperating engagement With the hinge edge r walls of the door to be opened and the structure on which said door is hinged solely by the use of simple and inexpensive sockets or the like with which said hinge edge walls are provided.
- the initial assembly of said spring with such hinge edge walls can be easily and conveniently effected, such assembly thereafter is securely maintained, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.
- door opening means here illustrated are their structural simplicity; their strong and rugged character, which enables them to-have an exceedingly long life without requiring attention from time to time; and the emcicncy with which they perform their door opening function and their function-ofyleldingly resisting door closing movement.
- Fig. 1 is an outside elevation of a portion of a left front automobile door and an adjacent portion of the automobile body on which said door 5 Y is hinged, a part of the Iouter side wall of said door being broken away to expose the door opening means located between and in cooperative engagement with the oppositely positioned hinge edge walls of said door and body portions, the door being in its closed position;
- Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through said door and body portions, the view being on the line 2 2, Figs.
- Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through said body portion, on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, a. part of the hinge edgewall of said body portion being ⁇ 2o broken, away to expose said door opening means;
- Fig. 4 is an outside elevation of said door and body portions, as viewed from the line 4 4.
- Fig. 2 a part of the outer side wall 'of said doorbeing broken away to expose said door opening means;
- Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing another form of door opening means embodying the present invention, the view being on the line 5 5, Figs.
- Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view substantially between the hinge edge walls of the door and body portions of Fig. 5, the view being on the line 6 6, Fig. 5;
- Fig. 7 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the door and body portions of Fig. 5, the View being on the line 1 1, Fig. 5;
- Fig. v8 is a view corresponding to Figs. 2 and 5 and showing still another form of door opening means embodying the .present invention, the view being on the line 8 8, Figs. 9 and 10, the fully open position to which the door of Fig.
- Fig. 8 is here automatically movable being indicated in dot-dash lines;
- Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6, as taken on the line 9 8, Fig. 8; and
- Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7, as taken on the line ill-I0, Fig. 8.
- door Opening means embodying the present invention is applicable for use with any hinged door having its hinge edge wall oppositely positioned or in generally abutting relationship with respect to the hinge edge Wall of its supporting structure (the structure on which said door is hinged), said door opening means is particularly useful,.as heretofore pointed out, with the door of an' automobile or the like, and for purposes of'illustration and not of limitation, the use of three such door opening means with present-day automobile doors is here shown and described.
- the reference numeral I designates a portion of a left front automobile door, said door having its transversei'ront edge Wall 2 suitably hinged. as is usual,v on the transverse rear edge wall 3 of that portion of the automobile body here shown and designated generally by lthe reference numeral 4, a pair of exposed hinges 5 being used for that purpose.
- the door and body edge walls 2 and 3 which edge walls are hereinafter termed hinge edge walls
- hinge edge walls are in oppositely positioned or generally abutting relationship, by which is meant that such hinge edge walls are oppositely positioned or disposed and either in actual contact or, as here shown, relatively close to each other.
- door opening means embodying the present invention is particularly useful in conjunction with a door Whose latch means has pushbuttons or the like for effecting release actuation thereof, as said door opening means automatically effects the opening of such door upon the unlatching thereof.
- each of the door opening means here illustrated automatically effects, upon the unlatching of the door with which it is used, the opening of said door to any desired position, either a partially open position of said door or the fully open position thereof, the use for such door of the present-day handles for door opening purposes is wholly unnecessary.
- simple push-buttons or the like desirable from many standpoints, may be used with the latch means of a door with which is used a door opening means embodying the present invention.
- the latch means, therefore, of the automobile door I may be, and preferably is, of the type in .65 which push-buttons or the like are utilized for effecting the release actuation of said latch means.
- said latch means may be of the form disclosed in my copending application for Door opening device, filed August 21, 1939,
- each of the door opening means here illustrated is of simple and inexpensive character and capable of being located between the general planes of the inner and outer side walls of an automobile door and the general planes 'of the inner and outer side walls of that portion of the automobile body on which said door is hinged, there being (see Figs. 2, 5 and 8) more or less alignment of the outer side wall of such a door and the outer side wall of such a body portion and more or less alignment of the inner side wall of such a door and the inner side wall of such a body portion, when said door ls in its closed position.
- each of the door opening means here illustrated not only is eminently satisfactory from structural and functional standpoints but also, is commercially practical for a present-day automobile door, as such means is concealed from view when said door is in its closed position and its location, and the extent of its exposure. even when said door is in its fully open position, are such as to cause said means to be entirely unobjectionable.
- each of the three door opening means here illustrated includes a helical'torslon spring located between and in cooperative engagement with the hinge edge wall of the door to be automatically opened and the hinge edge wallof the structure on which said door is hinged, said hinge edge walls being oppositely positioned or in generally abutting relationship when said door is closed, as heretofore pointed out.
- the helical torsion spring 6 is a part of a self-contained spring unit which is screwed or otherwise suitably secured either to the hinge edge Wall 2 of the automobile door I or, as here shown, to the hinge edge Wall 3 of the automobile body portion 4.
- said spring unit here comprises a suitable bracket, such as the generally C-shaped sheet metal bracket 1, and a pintle bolt 8 which is carried by and suitably secured to said bracket.
- the upper and lower ⁇ free end portions of the bracket 'I are provided with rearwardly projecting perforated flanges 9 and Ill through which the pintle bolt 8 extends, the head of said bolt resting upon the upper bracket flange 9 and a clamping nut II, threaded on the lower end portion of said bolt, engaging from below the lower bracket flange I0.
- said bolt is firmly secured to the bracket 1, in a manner which makes easy and convenient the assembly of such parts.
- the coils of the helical torsion spring 6 surround the pintle bolt 8 between the bracket anges 9 and I0 by which said bolt is carried, and said spring may be so Wound, as will be readily understood.
- either its upper end portion or its lower end portion may constitute the door opening arm of .said spring.
- the winding of the spring 6 is such that its upper end portion I2 constitutes the door opening arm of said spring, said arm having anormal tendency to swing in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, and thus in the direction of opening movement of the door I.
- any suitable means may be utilized,
- FIG. 2 its engagement withthe upright intermediate -portion of the bracket 1, as shown in Fig.I 3, results in an eiective anchoring thereof, as will be readily 5 understood.
- the bracket of the spring unit of the' door opening means ct' Figs. l to 4 inclusive is here suitably secured to the hinge edge wall 3 of the automobile body portion 4, said unit being outside said body portion and hence between the hinge edge wall thereof and the hinge edge wall 2 of the automobile door I when said door is in its closed position.
- said spring unit between said door and body hinge edge walls 2 and 3 (which edge walls are relatively close to each other when the door I is in its closed posi- I tion, as heretofore pointed out .1nd as clearly indicated in Figs.
- Suitable depressions are here formed in such hinge edge walls, the resulting recess I5 in the door hinge edge wall 2 and the resulting recess I8 in the body hinge edge wall 3 together providing, as clearly shown .in Figs. 2 and 4, ample space for said spring 25 unit when the door I is in its closed position.
- door opening means embodying the present invention may effect the automatic movement of the doors with which they are used to their fully open positions, as will hereinafter appear
- the position to which the automobile door I is here automatically movable by the door*- opening means of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is a predetermined partially pen position of said door, namely, the position indicated in dot-dash lines, Fig. 2.
- the upper spring arm I2 of the door opening means of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive has coopera- 40 tive engagement with the hinge edge wall 2 of said door, and specifically, with that portion Il of such hinge edge wall which lies between its recess or cavity I5 and the inner side wall I8 of said door.
- the hinge edge wall of 45 an automobile door is usually of relatively light gauge metal
- the, aforesaid portion I'I of the door hinge edge wall 2 which is engaged by .the spring arm I2 may be suitably reinforced, if desired, such as by the rigid backing plate I9 here shown for 50 that purpose.
- the spring arm I2 may slidably engage the portion I1 of the door hinge edge wall 2 for door opening purposes, said spring arm is here provided with a roller 20 or the like for desirable rolling engagement with such por- 55 tion of said hinge edge wall, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
- the 'spring arm U I2 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction by the hinge edge wall of said door to what is here termed the operative position of said arm, which is the position of said arm when said door is closed.
- the operative position of said arm which is the position of said arm when said door is closed.
- said door If said door is not manually closed or manually moved to a further open position, such as to its fully open position, and if said door has a normal tendency to close, like most present-day automobile doors, the door I willremain in the predetermined partially open position to which it is automatically movable, as the torsion spring 6, through its arm I2, yieldingly resists the closing of said door from such partially open position.
- any de sired resistance to door closing movement may be obtained by a door opening means embodying the lpresent invention, as will be readily understood.
- the portion I1 of said door hinge edge wall (along which moves the roller 20 of the spring arm i2 during the movement of the door I between its closed position and the predetermined open position to which'it is automatically movable) can be easily given sufficient width (or transverse extent) to enable the complete opening of said door to be automatically eilected.
- yAs to the depending abutment 22. its location will be such that it is not engaged by the spring arm I2, during door opening or clockwise movement thereof, until such arm has automatically effected the movement of said door to its fully open position, as will be readily understood.
- such means includes a helical torsion spring having two reversely wound sets of coils 25 and 28, the middle portion of said spring (by which the inner ends of said two sets of coils are connected in spaced relation) being an arm 21 in 'the form of an extended loop.
- said .spring may be so wound that its middle arm 21 engages the hinge edge wall 2a of the left front automobile door la for door opening purposes, the winding of said spring, as here shown, is such that its free end portions 28 and 28 (at the upper and lower ends of its two sets of coils) are here utilized as the door opening arms of said spring.
- said spring is located between the door and body hinge edge walls 2a and 3a, and to provide therebetween suftlcient space for said spring, when the door la. is in its closed position, a pair of recesses 38 and 8
- the transversely disposed end spring arms 28 and 29 and the correspondingly disposed middle spring arm 21 extend inwardly from the spring coils 25 and 28, and in order to provide end thrust bearing support for the inner ends of said arms, the inner longitudinal edge portions of the hinge edge wall recesses 30 and 3
- the free inner ends of said arms are here shown as being of generally convex form, and the shoulders 32 and 88 of the hinge edge wall recesses 30 and 8
- torsion spring may be readily assembled with the hinge edge walls of the door la and the automobile body portion 4a (by merely slipping such spring between said hinge edge walls from the inner ends thereof when said door is in at least a partially open condition), there is no likelihood of accidental disassembly thereof, as the free inner ends of the three arms of said spring are securely held in engagement with their sockets by the normal tendency of the end arms and the middle arm to spring apart or diverge.
- the forwardly projecting flange 84 at the front end of the automobile door la effectively provides a closure for the space between the door and body hinge edge walls 2a and 3a when said door is in its closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.
- the door opening means of Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive and the door opening means oi' Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive ⁇ here respectively effect the automatic movement of the doors ia and Ib to theirfully open positions
- either or both of said 10 door opening means may effect, if desired, the movement of the door with which it is used to a partially open position only, further opening movement of said door-being manually effected.
- a torsion spring located between the hinge edge walls of said structures, said spring having an 40 arm for cooperative engagement with one o! said structures 'in the region of its hinge edge wall.
- said spring arm being movable in a plane substantially normal to the hinge axis of the door structure to an operative position during the closing of the door structure, with the consequent loading of said spring to the desired degree, and said spring arm being e'ective when in such voperative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to
- the spring arm means which has cooperative engagement with said door structure being movable to an operative position during the closing of said door structure, with the consequent loading of said spring to. the desired degree, and said last mentioned spring arm means being eilective when in such operative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to an open position.
- a t'or- 2 sion spring located between the hinge edge walls of said structures and provided with a pair of arm means having a normal tendency to diverge, the hinge edge wall of each of said structures being provided with socket-like means for the piv- 30 otal reception of an arm means of said spring, the spring arm means which is pivotally associated with the hinge edge wall of said door structure being movable to an operative position during the closing or said door structure, with the conse- 2 quent loading of said spring to the desired degree, and said last mentioned spring arm means being effective when in such operative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to an open position.
- a torsion spring located between the hinge edge walls of said structures and provided with a pair of arm means having free end portions of generally convex form, said spring arm means having a normal 50 tendency to diverge, each of said structures being provided in the-region of its hinge edge wall with socket-like means for the pivotal reception of the free end portion of an arm means of said spring, the spring arm means'which is pivotally associated with said door structure being movable to an operative position during the closing of said door structure, with the consequent loading of said spring to the desired degree, and said last mentioned spring arm lmeans being effective 60 when in such operative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to an open position.
- torsion spring means located between the hinge edge 7" Walls of said structures and having coil means and two arm means extending therefrom with ya normal tendency to diverge, the free end portions of said two arm means having cooperative engagement with said structures in the region of 75 7.
- torsion spring means located between the hinge edge Walls of said structures and having two sets of coils and two arm means with a normal tendency to diverge, one of said arm means having arms which extend from the outer ends of said coils and the other of said arm means having an arm which extends from the inner ends of said coils, the free end portions of said arms having cooperative engagement with said structures in the region of the hinge edge walls thereof, said spring means being in a loaded condition when said door structure is closed and hence being capable of automatically effecting the kmovement of said door structure, when closed and unlatched. to an open position, the coils of said spring means having swinging movement with the arm means thereof during opening and closing movements of said door structure.
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Description
Oct. 29, 1940.
R. l.' SCHONITZER DOOR OPENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1940Y 2 Sheets-Sheet l @AI l Tf-f" m5355612. /uooL PH f. cffo/v/rzff? wwe' Oct. 29, 1940. R. l'. sCHoNlTzER 2,219,819
DOOR OPENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 2 sheetssneer 2 1 N VEN TOR. Panam/1 Z v SCHON/72E@ We" M my A ORN E YS Fic-1.9
Patented oet. 29, 1940 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFElcE 7 Claims.
This invention rela-tes to means for automatically effecting the movement of a hinged door,
when closed and unlatched, to an open position,.
and for yieldingly resisting the closing of said doorfrom the o'pen position (either a partially open position of said door or the fully open position thereof) to which it is automatically movable. More particularly, the present invention relates to means for automa-tically opening, and yieldingly resisting the closing of, a door which is so hinged on its supporting structure that the hinge edge wall of said door and the hinge edge wall of the supporting structure therefor are in oppositely positioned or generally abutting relationship when said door is in its closed position, such as the door of an automobile or the like, for example. e
Briefly stated, the means here involved (which, for convenience, is hereinafter referred to simply as door opening means) includes a torsion spring located between the hinge edge wall of the door to be opened and the hinge edge wall of the supporting structure for said door, said spring having cooperative engagement with said two hinge edge walls (or with said door and its supporting structure in the region of their hinge edge walls) for the performance of its door opening function and its function of yieldingly resisting the closing of the door from the position to which itis automatically opened.
Ifv desired and as here shown, door opening have its torsion spring maintained between and in cooperating engagement With the hinge edge r walls of the door to be opened and the structure on which said door is hinged solely by the use of simple and inexpensive sockets or the like with which said hinge edge walls are provided. A1- though the initial assembly of said spring with such hinge edge walls can be easily and conveniently effected, such assembly thereafter is securely maintained, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.
Other features of the door opening means here illustrated are their structural simplicity; their strong and rugged character, which enables them to-have an exceedingly long life without requiring attention from time to time; and the emcicncy with which they perform their door opening function and their function-ofyleldingly resisting door closing movement.
Further features of the present invention are in part obvious and in part will appear from the following description of three door opening means embodying such invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an outside elevation of a portion of a left front automobile door and an adjacent portion of the automobile body on which said door 5 Y is hinged, a part of the Iouter side wall of said door being broken away to expose the door opening means located between and in cooperative engagement with the oppositely positioned hinge edge walls of said door and body portions, the door being in its closed position; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through said door and body portions, the view being on the line 2 2, Figs. 1 and 3, and the predetermined position (a partially open position, as here shown) to which said door 'is automatically movable being indicated in dot-dash lines; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through said body portion, on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, a. part of the hinge edgewall of said body portion being `2o broken, away to expose said door opening means; Fig. 4 is an outside elevation of said door and body portions, as viewed from the line 4 4. Fig. 2, a part of the outer side wall 'of said doorbeing broken away to expose said door opening means; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing another form of door opening means embodying the present invention, the view being on the line 5 5, Figs. 6 and 7, the fully open position to which the door of Fig. 5 is here automatically movable being indicated in dot-dash lines; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view substantially between the hinge edge walls of the door and body portions of Fig. 5, the view being on the line 6 6, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the door and body portions of Fig. 5, the View being on the line 1 1, Fig. 5; Fig. v8 is a view corresponding to Figs. 2 and 5 and showing still another form of door opening means embodying the .present invention, the view being on the line 8 8, Figs. 9 and 10, the fully open position to which the door of Fig. 8 is here automatically movable being indicated in dot-dash lines; Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6, as taken on the line 9 8, Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7, as taken on the line ill-I0, Fig. 8. Before the present invention is -described in detail, it is' to be understood that such invention is not limited to the details of construction or the specific arrangement o! parts herein illustrated or described, as the invention obviously may take other forms. It also is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein 55 employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
Although door Opening means embodying the present invention is applicable for use with any hinged door having its hinge edge wall oppositely positioned or in generally abutting relationship with respect to the hinge edge Wall of its supporting structure (the structure on which said door is hinged), said door opening means is particularly useful,.as heretofore pointed out, with the door of an' automobile or the like, and for purposes of'illustration and not of limitation, the use of three such door opening means with present-day automobile doors is here shown and described.
Referring i'lrstto Figs. 1 lto 4 inclusive, the reference numeral I designates a portion of a left front automobile door, said door having its transversei'ront edge Wall 2 suitably hinged. as is usual,v on the transverse rear edge wall 3 of that portion of the automobile body here shown and designated generally by lthe reference numeral 4, a pair of exposed hinges 5 being used for that purpose. As best shown in Fig 2, when the door I is in its closed position, the door and body edge walls 2 and 3 (which edge walls are hereinafter termed hinge edge walls) are in oppositely positioned or generally abutting relationship, by which is meant that such hinge edge walls are oppositely positioned or disposed and either in actual contact or, as here shown, relatively close to each other.
Although any suitable means may be utilized for releasably retaining the door I in its closed position and for actuating said retaining means to release said door for opening movement, (said retaining means being hereinafter referred to broadly as "latch means), door opening means embodying the present invention is particularly useful in conjunction with a door Whose latch means has pushbuttons or the like for effecting release actuation thereof, as said door opening means automatically effects the opening of such door upon the unlatching thereof. Projecting door handles, by the use of which present-day automobile doors areA unlatched and manually opened, not only are dangerous (in that many severe injuries have been caused by them) but also, said projecting handles seriously interfere with the streamlining effects now desired for automobile bodies. Inasmuch as each of the door opening means here illustrated automatically effects, upon the unlatching of the door with which it is used, the opening of said door to any desired position, either a partially open position of said door or the fully open position thereof, the use for such door of the present-day handles for door opening purposes is wholly unnecessary. As a result, simple push-buttons or the like, desirable from many standpoints, may be used with the latch means of a door with which is used a door opening means embodying the present invention.
The latch means, therefore, of the automobile door I may be, and preferably is, of the type in .65 which push-buttons or the like are utilized for effecting the release actuation of said latch means. For example, said latch means may be of the form disclosed in my copending application for Door opening device, filed August 21, 1939,
Serial No. 291,240, or in other words, latch means embodying the invention of my prior' Patent No. 2,094,413 for Door control mechanism, to which patent reference may be had, if desired. However, inasmuch as the latch means of the door. I
forms no part of the present invention, no ,latch means for such door is here shown or described.
As will hereinafter more fully appear, each of the door opening means here illustrated is of simple and inexpensive character and capable of being located between the general planes of the inner and outer side walls of an automobile door and the general planes 'of the inner and outer side walls of that portion of the automobile body on which said door is hinged, there being (see Figs. 2, 5 and 8) more or less alignment of the outer side wall of such a door and the outer side wall of such a body portion and more or less alignment of the inner side wall of such a door and the inner side wall of such a body portion, when said door ls in its closed position. As a result, each of the door opening means here illustrated not only is eminently satisfactory from structural and functional standpoints but also, is commercially practical for a present-day automobile door, as such means is concealed from view when said door is in its closed position and its location, and the extent of its exposure. even when said door is in its fully open position, are such as to cause said means to be entirely unobjectionable.
Although door opening means embodying the present invention may take various forms, each of the three door opening means here illustrated includes a helical'torslon spring located between and in cooperative engagement with the hinge edge wall of the door to be automatically opened and the hinge edge wallof the structure on which said door is hinged, said hinge edge walls being oppositely positioned or in generally abutting relationship when said door is closed, as heretofore pointed out.
In the door opening means of Figs. l to 4 inclusive, the helical torsion spring 6 is a part of a self-contained spring unit which is screwed or otherwise suitably secured either to the hinge edge Wall 2 of the automobile door I or, as here shown, to the hinge edge Wall 3 of the automobile body portion 4. In addition to the torsion spring 8, said spring unit here comprises a suitable bracket, such as the generally C-shaped sheet metal bracket 1, and a pintle bolt 8 which is carried by and suitably secured to said bracket.
As here shown, the upper and lower` free end portions of the bracket 'I are provided with rearwardly projecting perforated flanges 9 and Ill through which the pintle bolt 8 extends, the head of said bolt resting upon the upper bracket flange 9 and a clamping nut II, threaded on the lower end portion of said bolt, engaging from below the lower bracket flange I0. As a result, said bolt is firmly secured to the bracket 1, in a manner which makes easy and convenient the assembly of such parts. The coils of the helical torsion spring 6 surround the pintle bolt 8 between the bracket anges 9 and I0 by which said bolt is carried, and said spring may be so Wound, as will be readily understood. that either its upper end portion or its lower end portion (or an intermediate portion thereof, if desired) may constitute the door opening arm of .said spring. As here shown, the winding of the spring 6 is such that its upper end portion I2 constitutes the door opening arm of said spring, said arm having anormal tendency to swing in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, and thus in the direction of opening movement of the door I. For the anchoring of the lower end portion or arm I3 of the spring 6, any suitable means may be utilized,
and inasmuch as the lower end portion or arm ora counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2,its engagement withthe upright intermediate -portion of the bracket 1, as shown in Fig.I 3, results in an eiective anchoring thereof, as will be readily 5 understood.
As heretofore mentioned, the bracket of the spring unit of the' door opening means ct' Figs. l to 4 inclusive is here suitably secured to the hinge edge wall 3 of the automobile body portion 4, said unit being outside said body portion and hence between the hinge edge wall thereof and the hinge edge wall 2 of the automobile door I when said door is in its closed position. In order to provide sufficient space for said spring unit between said door and body hinge edge walls 2 and 3 (which edge walls are relatively close to each other when the door I is in its closed posi- I tion, as heretofore pointed out .1nd as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 4), suitable depressions are here formed in such hinge edge walls, the resulting recess I5 in the door hinge edge wall 2 and the resulting recess I8 in the body hinge edge wall 3 together providing, as clearly shown .in Figs. 2 and 4, ample space for said spring 25 unit when the door I is in its closed position. Although door opening means embodying the present invention may effect the automatic movement of the doors with which they are used to their fully open positions, as will hereinafter appear, the position to which the automobile door I is here automatically movable by the door*- opening means of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is a predetermined partially pen position of said door, namely, the position indicated in dot-dash lines, Fig. 2.
For effecting the automatic movement of the door I to such predetermined partially open position, the upper spring arm I2 of the door opening means of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive has coopera- 40 tive engagement with the hinge edge wall 2 of said door, and specifically, with that portion Il of such hinge edge wall which lies between its recess or cavity I5 and the inner side wall I8 of said door. Inasmuch as the hinge edge wall of 45 an automobile door is usually of relatively light gauge metal, the, aforesaid portion I'I of the door hinge edge wall 2 which is engaged by .the spring arm I2 may be suitably reinforced, if desired, such as by the rigid backing plate I9 here shown for 50 that purpose. Although the spring arm I2 may slidably engage the portion I1 of the door hinge edge wall 2 for door opening purposes, said spring arm is here provided with a roller 20 or the like for desirable rolling engagement with such por- 55 tion of said hinge edge wall, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
During the manual closing of the door I from the predetermined partially open position to which it is automatically movable, the 'spring arm U I2 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction by the hinge edge wall of said door to what is here termed the operative position of said arm, which is the position of said arm when said door is closed. Such counter-clockwise movement of said 65 arm to its operative position effects, of course, the "loading" of the torsion spring 6 to the desired extent for door opening purposes, and as a result, when the door I is in its closed position, said spring is in condition to automatically eflect. 70 through the engagement of its arm I2 with the portion I'I of the hinge edge wall 2 of said door, the movement of said door to its predetermined partially open position, all as willbe readily understood.A 75 The predetermined partially 'open position to the spring arm I2 during clockwise movement' thereof when said door reaches the desired predetermined partially open position. Therefore, by merely varying the location of such abutment, the open position to. which the door I is automatically movable may be easily predetermined, as desired.
If said door is not manually closed or manually moved to a further open position, such as to its fully open position, and if said door has a normal tendency to close, like most present-day automobile doors, the door I willremain in the predetermined partially open position to which it is automatically movable, as the torsion spring 6, through its arm I2, yieldingly resists the closing of said door from such partially open position. Inasmuch as the door closing resistance of said spring depends .upon its windingv resistance when said door is in the open position to which it ls automatically movable, and inasmuch as the resistance of said spring to winding or loading thereof may be readily predetermined, any de sired resistance to door closing movement may be obtained by a door opening means embodying the lpresent invention, as will be readily understood.
If it is desired that the door I be automatically movable to its fully open position, itis merely necessary to widen (or increase. the transverse extent of) the door hinge edge wall portion I'I on which the spring arm I2 is effective for door opening purposes, and to change the location of the depending abutment 22 for said spring arm. By merely making deeper the recess I6 in the body hinge edge wall t. suiicient space for the self-contained spring unit of the door opening means of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive can be provided without the use of the recess I in the door hinge edge wall 2, and as a result, the portion I1 of said door hinge edge wall (along which moves the roller 20 of the spring arm i2 during the movement of the door I between its closed position and the predetermined open position to which'it is automatically movable) can be easily given sufficient width (or transverse extent) to enable the complete opening of said door to be automatically eilected. yAs to the depending abutment 22. its location will be such that it is not engaged by the spring arm I2, during door opening or clockwise movement thereof, until such arm has automatically effected the movement of said door to its fully open position, as will be readily understood.
If the door opening means of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive automatically effeots the movement of the door I to its fully open position, said door will be releasably held or retained by such means in said fully open position whenever it is moved thereto (due to the door closing resistance of the spring arm I2), and as a result, the use of separate holding means for such purpose is wholly unnecessary, all as will be readily understood.
Referring now to the door opening means illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, it will be noted that such means includes a helical torsion spring having two reversely wound sets of coils 25 and 28, the middle portion of said spring (by which the inner ends of said two sets of coils are connected in spaced relation) being an arm 21 in 'the form of an extended loop. Although said .spring may be so wound that its middle arm 21 engages the hinge edge wall 2a of the left front automobile door la for door opening purposes, the winding of said spring, as here shown, is such that its free end portions 28 and 28 (at the upper and lower ends of its two sets of coils) are here utilized as the door opening arms of said spring. The. end spring arms 28 and 28, which have a normal tendency to swing in a door opening or clockwise direction, Fig. htherefore engage the door hinge edge wall 2a, and the middle spring arm 21, which has a normal tendency to swing in the opposite direction, engages the hinge edge wall 8a of the automobile body portion 4a.
As clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7, said spring is located between the door and body hinge edge walls 2a and 3a, and to provide therebetween suftlcient space for said spring, when the door la. is in its closed position, a pair of recesses 38 and 8| are here formed in such hinge edge walls by suitably depressing portions thereof, the recesses here formed by such depressions being almost the full width of such hinge edge walls, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
In this particular embodiment of the invention, the transversely disposed end spring arms 28 and 29 and the correspondingly disposed middle spring arm 21 extend inwardly from the spring coils 25 and 28, and in order to provide end thrust bearing support for the inner ends of said arms, the inner longitudinal edge portions of the hinge edge wall recesses 30 and 3| are here provided with suitable shoulders 82 and 38.
To enable said spring, through its end arms 28 and 29 and its middle arm 21, to more effectively perform its door opening function, the free inner ends of said arms are here shown as being of generally convex form, and the shoulders 32 and 88 of the hinge edge wall recesses 30 and 8| are here shown as being of generally concave form to provide what may be termed hinge or pivotal sockets for such inner ends of said arms.
When the door la is in its closed position, the end spring arms 28 and 28 are in what may be considered their operative positions, said arms then being in generally parallel relation with the middle spring -arm 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and the torsion spring of which said arms are parts then being in the desired loaded condition for door opening purposes. Upon the unlatching of said door, relative diverging movement of saidend spring arms and said middle spring arm immediately occurs, and as a consequence, said door is automatically swung to an open position. Although such` open position of said door may be a partial open position thereof, as will hereinafter appear, the open position to which said door is here automatically movable is its fully open position, (the dot-dash line position of said door in Fig. 5) such position of said door being determined, of course, by the door" check (not shown) with which said door, like most present-day automobile doors, is provided. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the fully open position of the door la is such that when said door is in that position, the spring arms 28 and 29 are not in straight line relationship with respect to the middle spring arm 21, the spring coils 25 v7g; and 28, by which the outer ends of the three spring arms are connected, remaining on the outer side of the inner ends of said arms, as shown.
As a result, although the door la is releasably held or retained in its fully open position by said end spring arms 28 and 28 and said middle spring arm 21, whenever said door is moved to such position, the manual closing of said door, whenever desired,.may be readily effected. During such manual closing of said door, the end spring arms and the middle spring arm are returned to their generally parallel relationship, as shown in full lines, Fig. 5, andthe torsion spring of this door opening means is again put in properly loaded condition for door opening movement, as will be readily understood.
Although such torsion spring may be readily assembled with the hinge edge walls of the door la and the automobile body portion 4a (by merely slipping such spring between said hinge edge walls from the inner ends thereof when said door is in at least a partially open condition), there is no likelihood of accidental disassembly thereof, as the free inner ends of the three arms of said spring are securely held in engagement with their sockets by the normal tendency of the end arms and the middle arm to spring apart or diverge. It also is to be noted that the forwardly projecting flange 84 at the front end of the automobile door la effectively provides a closure for the space between the door and body hinge edge walls 2a and 3a when said door is in its closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.
Referring now to that embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, it will be noted that the door opening means constituting such embodiment is quite similar to the door opening means illustrated in Figs. 5 to 1 inclusive and just described. In order to avoid needless repetition, therefore, only the manner in which the door opening means of Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive differs from the door opening means of Figs. 5 to '1 inclusive will be referred to.
In the door opening means of Figs. 8 to 1 0 inclusive, the end spring arms 28a and 29a and the middle spring arm 21a extend outwardly from the spring coils 25a and 28a, and as a result, the hinge or pivotal sockets for the free outer ends of said arms are at the outer longitudinal edge portions of the hinge edge wall recesses a and 3Ia of theautomobile body portion 4b and the left front automobile door Ib. Upon the unlatching of said door, diverging movement of the end spring arms and the middle spring arm immediately occurs, and as a result, said door is automatically moved to an open position, its fullyopen position, as here shown. When said door is in its fully open position (its dot-dash line position Fig. 8), the three spring arms, and
the two sets of spring coils by which the innerends of said arms are connected, occupy the dotted-line position, Fig. 8, said coils remaining, as shown, on the inner side of the outer ends of said spring arms. Therefore, although the spring of this door opening means may be readilyv ner as the door opening means oi' Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, 'no further specific reference tothe door opening means of Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive is believed to be necessary.
5 Although the door opening means of Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive and the door opening means oi' Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive` here respectively effect the automatic movement of the doors ia and Ib to theirfully open positions, either or both of said 10 door opening means may effect, if desired, the movement of the door with which it is used to a partially open position only, further opening movement of said door-being manually effected. Forthe accomplishment oi that result, it is i merely necessary to have the tension of the torin assembly with the hinge edge walls of said door and the body portion on which said door is hinged, all as will be readily understood.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates.
What I claim is:
l. In combination with a door structure and a supporting structure therefor wherein said door structure is so hinged on said supporting structure that the hinge edge walls of said structures are in oppositely positioned relationship when the door structure is in its closed position, a torsion spring located between the hinge edge walls of said structures, said spring having an 40 arm for cooperative engagement with one o! said structures 'in the region of its hinge edge wall. said spring arm being movable in a plane substantially normal to the hinge axis of the door structure to an operative position during the closing of the door structure, with the consequent loading of said spring to the desired degree, and said spring arm being e'ective when in such voperative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to
5o an open position.
2. Incombination with a door structure and a supporting structure therefor wherein said door structure is so hinged on said supporting structure that the hinge edge walls of said structures are Ain oppositely positioned relationship when the door structure is in its closed position, a torsion spring located-between the hinge edge walls of said structures, said spring having arm means for cooperative engagement with each of said structures in the region of its hinge edge wall, said two spring arm means having a normal tendency to diverge, the assembly of said spring with said structures being maintained solely by the engagement oi its two arm means therewith,
55 the spring arm means which has cooperative engagement with said door structure being movable to an operative position during the closing of said door structure, with the consequent loading of said spring to. the desired degree, and said last mentioned spring arm means being eilective when in such operative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to an open position.
3. In combination with a door structure and a supporting structure therefor wherein said door f said structures and provided with a pair of arm means having a normal tendency to diverge, each of said structures being provided in the region oi its hinge edge wall with socket-like means for the pivotal reception of an arm means of said spring, 10 the spring arm means which is pivotally associated with said door structure being movable to an operative position during the closing oi said door structure, with the consequent loading of said spring to the desired degree. and said last l5 mentioned spring arm means being effective when in such operative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to an open position. 4. In combination with a door structure and a 20 supporting structure therefor wherein said door structure is so hinged on said supporting structure that the hinge edge walls of said 'structures are in oppositely positioned relationship when the door structure is in its closed position, a t'or- 2: sion spring located between the hinge edge walls of said structures and provided with a pair of arm means having a normal tendency to diverge, the hinge edge wall of each of said structures being provided with socket-like means for the piv- 30 otal reception of an arm means of said spring, the spring arm means which is pivotally associated with the hinge edge wall of said door structure being movable to an operative position during the closing or said door structure, with the conse- 2 quent loading of said spring to the desired degree, and said last mentioned spring arm means being effective when in such operative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to an open position. 40
5. In combination with a door structure and a supporting structure therefor wherein said door structure is so hinged on said supporting structure that the hinge edge walls of said structures are in oppositely positioned relationship when the i?. door structure is in its closed position, a torsion spring located between the hinge edge walls of said structures and provided with a pair of arm means having free end portions of generally convex form, said spring arm means having a normal 50 tendency to diverge, each of said structures being provided in the-region of its hinge edge wall with socket-like means for the pivotal reception of the free end portion of an arm means of said spring, the spring arm means'which is pivotally associated with said door structure being movable to an operative position during the closing of said door structure, with the consequent loading of said spring to the desired degree, and said last mentioned spring arm lmeans being effective 60 when in such operative position to automatically swing said closed door structure, if unlatched, to an open position. 6. In combination with a door structure and a supporting structure therefor wherein said door 65 structure is so hinged on said supporting structure that the hinge edge walls of said structures are in oppositely positioned relationship when the door structure is in its closed position, torsion spring means located between the hinge edge 7" Walls of said structures and having coil means and two arm means extending therefrom with ya normal tendency to diverge, the free end portions of said two arm means having cooperative engagement with said structures in the region of 75 7. In combination with a door structure and a supporting structure therefor wherein said door structure is so hinged on said supporting structure that the hinge edge walls of said structures are in oppositely positioned relationship when the door structure is in its closed position, torsion spring means located between the hinge edge Walls of said structures and having two sets of coils and two arm means with a normal tendency to diverge, one of said arm means having arms which extend from the outer ends of said coils and the other of said arm means having an arm which extends from the inner ends of said coils, the free end portions of said arms having cooperative engagement with said structures in the region of the hinge edge walls thereof, said spring means being in a loaded condition when said door structure is closed and hence being capable of automatically effecting the kmovement of said door structure, when closed and unlatched. to an open position, the coils of said spring means having swinging movement with the arm means thereof during opening and closing movements of said door structure. r
RUDOLPH I. SCHONITZER.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US317295A US2219819A (en) | 1940-02-05 | 1940-02-05 | Door opening device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US317295A US2219819A (en) | 1940-02-05 | 1940-02-05 | Door opening device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US2219819A true US2219819A (en) | 1940-10-29 |
Family
ID=23233020
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US317295A Expired - Lifetime US2219819A (en) | 1940-02-05 | 1940-02-05 | Door opening device |
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Country | Link |
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US (1) | US2219819A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2436838A (en) * | 1944-05-10 | 1948-03-02 | Eastman Kodak Co | Stabilization of tetraalkyl lead and compositions containing the same |
-
1940
- 1940-02-05 US US317295A patent/US2219819A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2436838A (en) * | 1944-05-10 | 1948-03-02 | Eastman Kodak Co | Stabilization of tetraalkyl lead and compositions containing the same |
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