US4966403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for suspension of a door on a vehicle body
Assignee: Saab AB
•
Filing: 1989-04-07
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Granted: 1990-10-30
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Expires: 2009-04-07
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement for suspension of a door, preferably a luggage compartment door, on a vehicle body. Between the vehicle body and the door there are arranged separate first and second spring elements. The attachment points of the second spring element, during the first part of the pivoting movement of the door from a closed to an open position, exerts a torque in a direction counter to the pivoting movement and, during the continued pivoting movement of the door, exerts a torque in the direction of the pivoting movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Orvar Nordstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:36
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05F; E05F1/00; E05F1/08; E05F1/10; E05F1/12; E05F1/1292; E05F1/1246; E05F1/1269; E05F1/1276; E05Y; E05Y2201/00; E05Y2201/20; E05Y2201/21; E05Y2201/252; E05Y2201/254; E05Y2201/256; E05Y2201/262; E05Y2201/264; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A suspension system, comprising: (A) a body; (B) a door which is connected to the body at a pivot axis, the door having a closed position, an intermediate position and an open position, the door being pivotable about the pivot axis in an opening angular direction from the closed position to the intermediate position and then to the open position, the door being pivotable about the pivot axis in a closing angular direction, the closing angular direction being opposite to the opening angular direction; (C) a tension spring with a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the body, the second end being connected to the door, the tension spring pulling the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the closed position, the tension spring pulling the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the intermediate position; and (D) a pneumatic compression spring with a first end and a second end, the first end of the pneumatic compression spring being connected to the body, the second end of the pneumatic compression spring being connected to the door, the pneumatic compression spring pushing the door in the closing angular direction when the door is in the closed position, the second end of the pneumatic compression spring being located directly between the pivot axis and the first end of the pneumatic compression spring when the door is in the intermediate position, the pneumatic compression spring pushing the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the open position, the pneumatic compression spring including an end position damper for reducing the speed at which the door approaches the open position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A suspension system, comprising: (A) a body; (B) a door which is connected to the body at a pivot axis, the door having a closed position, an intermediate position and an open position, the door being pivotable about the pivot axis in an opening angular direction from the closed position to the intermediate position and then to the open position, the door being pivotable about the pivot axis in a closing angular direction, the closing angular direction being opposite to the opening angular direction; (C) a tension spring with a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the body, the second end being connected to the door, the tension spring pulling the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the closed position, the tension spring pulling the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the intermediate position; and (D) a pneumatic compression spring with a first end and a second end, the first end of the pneumatic compression spring being connected to the body, the second end of the pneumatic compression spring being connected to the door, the pneumatic compression spring pushing the door in the closing angular direction when the door is in the closed position, the second end of the pneumatic compression spring being located directly between the pivot axis and the first end of the pneumatic compression spring when the door is in the intermediate position, the pneumatic compression spring pushing the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the open position, the pneumatic compression spring including an end position damper for reducing the speed at which the door approaches the open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the tension spring is essentially horizontal, the compression spring being essentially vertical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The suspension system of claim 2, wherein the door includes a hinge element, the hinge element being connected to the body at the pivot axis, the hinge element including a bracket which is spaced apart form the pivot axis, the second end of the tension spring and the second end of the compression spring being connected to the bracket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The suspension system of claim 3, wherein the hinge element is bent downward from the pivot axis in an arch, the bracket being located near the bottom of the arch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The suspension system of claim 3, wherein the tension spring is a helical spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suspension system of claim 5, wherein the compression spring exerts a force of about 80-100 newtons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The suspension system of claim 3, wherein the ends of the compression spring are pivotably connected to the bracket and to the body by ball joints.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
293 words
A vehicle, comprising: (A) a vehicle body with a luggage compartment; (B) a door for closing the luggage compartment, the door being connected to the body at a pivot axis, the door having a closed position, an intermediate position and an open position, the door being pivotable about the pivot axis in an opening angular direction from the closed position to the intermediate position and then to the open position, the door being pivotable about the pivot axis in a closing angular direction, the closing angular direction being opposite to the opening angular direction; (C) a tension spring with a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the body, the second end being connected to the door, the tension spring pulling the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the closed position, the tension spring pulling the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the intermediate position; and (D) a pneumatic compression spring with a first end and a second end, the first end of the pneumatic compression spring being connected to the body, the second end of the pneumatic compression spring being connected to the door, the pneumatic compression spring pushing the door in the closing angular direction when the door is in the closed position, the second end of the pneumatic compression spring being located directly between the pivot axis and the first end of the pneumatic compression spring when the door is in the intermediate position, the pneumatic compression spring pushing the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the open position, the pneumatic compression spring including an end position damper for reducing the speed at which the door approaches the open position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
293 words
A vehicle, comprising: (A) a vehicle body with a luggage compartment; (B) a door for closing the luggage compartment, the door being connected to the body at a pivot axis, the door having a closed position, an intermediate position and an open position, the door being pivotable about the pivot axis in an opening angular direction from the closed position to the intermediate position and then to the open position, the door being pivotable about the pivot axis in a closing angular direction, the closing angular direction being opposite to the opening angular direction; (C) a tension spring with a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the body, the second end being connected to the door, the tension spring pulling the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the closed position, the tension spring pulling the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the intermediate position; and (D) a pneumatic compression spring with a first end and a second end, the first end of the pneumatic compression spring being connected to the body, the second end of the pneumatic compression spring being connected to the door, the pneumatic compression spring pushing the door in the closing angular direction when the door is in the closed position, the second end of the pneumatic compression spring being located directly between the pivot axis and the first end of the pneumatic compression spring when the door is in the intermediate position, the pneumatic compression spring pushing the door in the opening angular direction when the door is in the open position, the pneumatic compression spring including an end position damper for reducing the speed at which the door approaches the open position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the tension spring is essentially horizontal, the compression spring being essentially vertical.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-29 | 1994-04-30 | 1994-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-29 | 1998-04-30 | 1998-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-29 | 2002-04-30 | 2002-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |