US 11,993,968 B2
Automotive vehicle sliding side door with dual guide rail
Chass Bakker, Clarkston, MI (US); and Brian Gase, Ypsilanti, MI (US)
Assigned to Rivian IP Holdings, LLC, Plymouth, MI (US)
Filed by Rivian IP Holdings, LLC, Plymouth, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/810,693.
Prior Publication US 2021/0277695 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. E05D 15/10 (2006.01); B60J 5/06 (2006.01); E05D 15/30 (2006.01); E05F 15/646 (2015.01)
CPC E05D 15/101 (2013.01) [B60J 5/06 (2013.01); E05D 15/30 (2013.01); E05F 15/646 (2015.01); E05Y 2900/531 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automotive vehicle, comprising:
a body;
a sliding door;
a front rail connected to the body;
a rear rail connected to the body rearward of the front rail;
a door rail connected to the sliding door;
a front arm assembly connected to the sliding door and movably connected to the front rail; and
a rear arm assembly movably connected to the rear rail and movably connected to the door rail, the rear arm assembly comprising a rear-rail-roller carrier bracket, a door-rail-roller carrier bracket, and a rear arm rotatably connected to the door-rail-roller carrier bracket and rotatably connected to the rear-rail-roller carrier bracket, wherein the rear-rail-roller carrier bracket defines a first U-shaped profile in cross section and includes at least one rear-rail roller rotatably connected to the rear-rail-roller carrier bracket and positioned within the first U-shaped profile, and wherein the door-rail-roller carrier bracket defines a second U-shaped profile in cross section and includes at least one door-rail roller rotatably connected to the door-rail-roller carrier bracket and positioned within the second U-shaped profile,
the sliding door being movably connected to the body, and
a lateral distance travelled by the sliding door along the body from a fully open position to a closed position being greater than a length of the rear rail,
the sliding door being configured to open so as, in the fully open position, to fully expose a door opening in the body for the sliding door with the sliding door being positioned rearward of a rear edge of the door opening, and the sliding door, in the fully open position, extending beyond a rear end of a rear end side panel of the body.