US2268942A - Door check - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1942.v R. c. JACOBS 2,268,942

DOOR CHECK Filed April 29, 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l Gttornegs R. C. JACOBS Jan. 6, 1942.

DOOR CHECK Filed April 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnneutor Patented Jan. 6, 1 942 UNITED STATES OFFICE 2,268,942 I noon CHECK Re; '0. Jacobs, Detroit, Mich. v

Application April 29, 1937, Serial No. 139,829

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to door checks of a type particularly adapted for use in conjunction with automobile doors;

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a door check having cushioning means for checking swinging movement of a door and yieldable means for holdingthe door in an open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door check embodying means for eliminating undesirable noises which usually result from friction between the relatively movable parts.

With the above ends in view, and others which will become apparent from the detailed description, the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are sections illustrating different stages of operation ofthe doorcheck;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the. line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a section illustrating a modified securing means for the rubber springs;

Fig. 6 is a section illustrating a construction embodying metal springs, instead of the rubber springs; 7

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section illustrating the use of roller bearings, instead of ball bearings, with rubber springs, and

Fig. 9 is a section, similar to Fig. 8, illustrating roller bearings in conjunction with the metal springs.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designate corresponding parts.

The numeral I designates the door case in an automobile wall 2, and 3 the door structure which is hingedly connected thereto. The hinges do not appear on the drawings. Secured to the door case I is a lug 4 and the check, generally designated 5, is secured thereto by a pivot pin 6.

As may be seen more readily in Fig. 3, the door check 5 comprises two spaced apart arms I united at their outer, swinging ends by an integral loop formation 8. Spaced slightly from the loop formation 8 are opposed abutments 9. The two arms I are bowed, and although the check is formed of comparatively heavy gauge spring steel, the arms I, abutments 9 and the loop formation 8 are resiliently compressible.

Secured to the vertical edge wall ID of the door 3, adjacent the opening H through which the door check 5 BlithdS, is afspring housing l2 havingan integral wall 13 spaced from the wall ID. Two rubber springs Mare retained in the housing l2 by an end plate I 5. Associated with each spring M is a small plate I6 having a socket l1 receiving a ball bearing 3. The wall I3 and the end plate [Shave openings through which the door check 5 extends and the metal adjacent the edges of these openings is peened as at [9 to act as retainers for the plates l6.

In operation, as the door 3 is moved from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2, the door check 5 is drawn between the ball bearings IS. The bearings 18 are free to rotate in their respective sockets and therefore have rolling contact with the arms I. This rolling contact eliminates undesirable noises. The ball earings l8 are normally spaced apart a distance less than the widest spacing of the arms 1 so that the arms 1 Or the ball bearings I8 must yield in order to permit the check to be drawn therebetween. By making both the arms 1 and the ball bearings resiliently yieldable the metal of the check 1 is less likely to suffer damage from fatigue. As the door reaches its open position, the ball bearings snap past the abutments 9 and the loop formation strikes the end plate [5 and checks the outward swinging movement of the door. The loop formation 8, being formed of spring metal, acts to cushion the door checking function, and the abutments 9 engage the ball bearings 3 to yieldably hold the door open.

During closing of the door, the bowed formation of the arms 1 results in a cam-like action in conjunction with the ball bearings I8 which tends to impel the door toward its closed position during the later stages of its closing movement.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the housing I2a has a dished formation for receiving the rubber springs [4a and a retainer plate |3a is secured to the housing end .wall I50. by pins 20. The pins 20 extend through the rubber springs Ma and also function to hold the springs properly spaced apart during assembly of the check 5a between the ball bearings I8a supported thereby through means of metallic socket members Ila.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the Mc'mounted therein. Metal plates I are resiliently supported by the rubber springs and rotatably support roller bearings I80. Fig. 9 shows similar rollers |8d resiliently supported by coiled springs Md.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described it will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:

1. In a door check, a lengthwise movable element having a pair of spring arms bowed outwardly away from each other and united at one end thereof, an attachment portion on the opposite end of said movable element spaced from said united end, bearings engaging opposite sides of said movable element, and resilient means yieldingly urging said bearings into yielding engagement with said spring arms, said movable element having projections with opposed cam surfaces spaced apart from said united end and adapted to act respectively in conjunction with said bearings in impelling lengthwise movement of said movable element in opposite directions.

2. In a door check, a lengthwise movable element having a pair of spring arms bowed outwardly away from each other and united at one end thereof in a spring loop having its junctions with said spring arms and the portions adjacent thereto spaced apart from each other transversely of said movable element, an attachment portion on the opposite end of said movable element spaced from said united end, bearings engaging opposite sides of said movable element, and resilient means yieldingly urging said bearings into yielding engagement with said spring arms, said movable element having projections with opposed cam surfaces spaced apart from said united end and adapted to act respectively in conjunction with said bearings in impelling lengthwise movement of said movable element in opposite directions.

3. In a door check, a lengthwise movable element, said element being formed of spring metal and comprising a pair of arms, said arms being united by an integral loop formation and having an abutment thereon spaced from the loop formation, bearing members disposed on opposite sides of said element and adapted to engage the arms thereof, and springs supporting said bearing members spaced apart less than the thickness of said abutment, said arms being oppositely bowed whereby the surfaces thereof are resiliently compressible and act in conjunction with said bearing members in impelling lengthwise movement of said element.

REX C. JACOBS

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