US 11,807,080 B2
Modular individually operable vehicle door
Gianfranco Gabbianelli, Birmingham, MI (US); Lawrence Michael Plourde, Jr., Macomb, MI (US); Mari Chellman, Berkley, MI (US); and Azhagu Subramanian, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC., Aurora (CA)
Appl. No. 17/295,709
Filed by MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC., Aurora (CA); Gianfranco Gabbianelli, Birmingham, MI (US); Lawrence Michael Plourde, Jr., Macomb, MI (US); Mari Chellman, Berkley, MI (US); and Azhagu Subramanian, Troy, MI (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 21, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/062580
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 20, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/106940, PCT Pub. Date May 28, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/770,203, filed on Nov. 21, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0402860 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. E06B 7/16 (2006.01); B60J 10/80 (2016.01); B60J 10/40 (2016.01); B60J 5/04 (2006.01); E05D 7/00 (2006.01); E05F 15/00 (2015.01)
CPC B60J 10/80 (2016.02) [B60J 5/0479 (2013.01); B60J 10/40 (2016.02); E05D 7/00 (2013.01); E05F 15/00 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/43 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/624 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/531 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for opening and closing a door relative to a vehicle body, the system comprising:
first and second vehicle doors, each of the first and second vehicle doors including:
a hinge module configured for being mounted to a vehicle body;
a door module configured for being mounted to the hinge module and further configured for closing a door opening defined by the vehicle body, wherein the door module includes an embedded pillar structure disposed at a front or rear edge thereof;
wherein the hinge module includes a hinge bracket configured to be mounted to the vehicle body and arms pivotally attached thereto;
wherein the hinge module further includes a brace pivotally attached to the arms, wherein the brace is moveable between a closed position and an open position in response to movement of the arms relative to the hinge bracket;
wherein the door module is attached to the brace via a plurality of corresponding attachment points between the brace and the door module;
wherein the door module includes a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism configured for latching with the vehicle body;
wherein the first vehicle door mates with the second vehicle door and defines an interface therebetween, wherein the embedded pillars of the first and second doors are disposed adjacent each other at the interface, wherein each of the first and second vehicle doors are individually operable relative to each other such that the first door may be opened and closed while the second door remains latched with the vehicle body, and the second door may be opened and closed while the first door remains latched with the vehicle body.