US 11,668,126 B2
Indexing multi-panel door
Phillip C. Storck, III, Washington, MI (US); and Besi Rrumbullaku, Rochester, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Sep. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/470,623.
Prior Publication US 2023/0073836 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. E05D 15/06 (2006.01); E06B 3/46 (2006.01); E06B 3/92 (2006.01)
CPC E05D 15/0652 (2013.01) [E05D 15/063 (2013.01); E06B 3/4636 (2013.01); E06B 3/922 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/684 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/688 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/132 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An indexing multi-panel door, comprising;
a leading door panel slidingly supported on a first track and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a trailing door panel slidingly supported on a second track and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a motion control track mounted to one of the leading door panel and the trailing door panel; and
a follower mounted to and extending laterally from the other one of the leading door panel and the trailing door panel, the follower including a first distal end that is received within the motion control track and includes a spring biased roller ball that is spring biased laterally outward toward the motion control track, wherein the motion control track includes features adapted to frictionally engage the roller ball of the follower, wherein when the leading door panel is moved back and forth between the open position and the closed position, frictional engagement between the first distal end of the follower and features within the motion control track simultaneously:
moves the trailing door panel back and forth between the open and closed positions along with the leading door panel; and
allows slippage between the first distal end of the follower and the features within the motion control track, wherein the leading door panel and the trailing door panel move relative to one another as the leading door panel and the trailing door panel are moved back and forth between the open and closed positions.