TEHCNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a sliding door locking mechanism with an additional damping mechanism configured to provide resistance against the opening of the sliding door in case the vehicle is positioned only at an inclined position.

PRIOR ART

Sliding doors are used in various vehicles like passenger vehicles and big vehicles like minibus, autobus. Sliding doors provide various advantages for users. The most important advantage of sliding doors is that they are more usable when compared with classical doors and they need less force and they can be used for long time. Particularly in commercial vehicles, in some cases, the vehicle door shall stay open with full capacity. This process step cannot be provided in classical doors and because of their various advantages like this, sliding doors are preferred in automotive sector. The realization of these actions is directly related to the locking mechanism used in sliding doors.

In the locking mechanisms used in the known state of the art, when the vehicle stops at inclined position, the locking mechanisms may not be sufficient for keeping the door in completely open position and the sliding door may easily pass to the closed position. This may lead to a danger for the passenger who gets on or who gets off the vehicle.

WO201 5193509 A1 discloses a device for controlling movement of sliding doors. The device comprising damping means actuable by movement of said first member in a first direction to impart a damped resistive force to the first member in opposition to its movement in said first direction, said device further comprising gearing means for converting the rate of the movement of the first member in said first direction into two or more different rates of actuation of the damping means over at least part of the travel of the first member. This device providing damping effect, but this effect is always on resistive force is applied even if the vehicle isn’t in inclined position and this force is disadvantage for closing door when the vehicle in flat position. W02020050789A2 discloses locking mechanism with an additional damping mechanism which provides opening/closing of the sliding door by exerting less force and which provides protection of fixation resistance in open position even if it is positioned in the inclined position. The locking mechanism comprises a lock and a control arm that are provided rotatably and contacts to each other and a movable body, which moves inside locking mechanism and a ball can freely move if no force is applied on it. In this application, the lock arm is rotated by movement of the movable body rotates and the control arm is rotated by lock arm that frees or presses the ball. If the vehicle in inclined position, the ball moves and activates additional damping, if not, the ball stays still and doesn’t activate additional damping. A locking mechanism disclosed selectively activate additional damper as desired however, to accomplish that too complicated mechanism is used and this mechanism causes endurance and assembling problems. Besides that activation time of this structure for arms is slower than expected.

As a result all of the problems mentioned above, have made it necessary to provide an improvements in the related field.

OBJECTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, aims to eliminate the problems mentioned above and to provide a technical improvements to the related field.

The main aim of the invention is to provide more simple structure with faster activation time in sliding door locking mechanism which selectively activate additional damping mechanism.

Another aim of invention is providing more modular structure for sliding door locking mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention method above and which can be construed from the detailed description below is, A sliding door locking mechanism for providing the additional resist force against closing of sliding door when the vehicle in inclined position and providing less resistance force against closing of sliding door than force in inclined position, when the vehicle in a flat position. Accordingly a body and a movable body configured to move in the body in opening and closing direction of the sliding door; a driving surface, a locking slot formed on the moveable body and a housing channel formed on the body; a damper associated with the movable body; a main spring positioned in the body such that one end is connected to the movable body; a detent rotatably connected to the movable body and positioned to contact a pin provided on the sliding door; a locking housing positioned in the housing channel and is movable in opening and closing direction of the sliding door and having a ball channel and a gravity ball; a locking mean rotatably connected to the locking housing and having a locking arm and a control arm which extends to the ball channel and both of them is integrated with the locking mean; a first retaining surface provided on the control arm and the second retaining surface provided on the ball channel; an housing spring connected to the locking housing; an arm spring configured to rotate the locking mean to be positioned such that the control arm blocks movement of the gravity ball between the locking housing and the control arm when the gravity ball is on the first retaining surface and prevent movement of the gravity ball to the first retaining surface when the gravity ball is on the second retaining surface; the driving surface is configured to contact the locking mean when the sliding door is opening such that rotate the control arm to a position that frees the gravity ball, the locking slot is formed in a position which allows the locking arm entering in it while the gravity ball is on the second retaining surface and the sliding doors are closing, and to lock the movable body and the locking housing to each other such that the movable body and the locking housing move together, the housing spring is positioned to provide additional damping by pushing back the locking housing in the housing channel such that compressed by the locking housing when the locking housing and the movable body move together in opening direction of the sliding door, the control arm and the ball channel are configured to enable free movement of the ball when the driving surface contacts the locking mean.

Thus, activation of the selective activation mechanism is provided by only one locking mean so simpler structure and smaller mechanism is obtained.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a damper housing formed on the movable body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the damper or a damper shaft is connected to the body and the other one is connected to the movable body. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the damper and the body is configured to create gap between themselves when the movable body contacts a cover end on closing direction side.

Thus, even if damper is broken and the damper shaft can’t move, the movable body still can move in the body to provide additional damping effect.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing spring is torsional spring.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the housing spring is compression spring.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the housing spring is stretch spring.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control arm configured to press the gravity ball to prevent movement of the gravity ball to the first retaining surface when the gravity ball is on the second retaining surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, control arm and the ball channel are configured to enable free movement of the ball when the driving surface contacts the locking mean and vehicle is in inclined position more than 5 degrees.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an engagement surface formed on the locking slot to push locking arm to move with the movable body , while the sliding door is closing.

Thus, if the gravity ball is positioned in first retaining surface when the sliding door is opening, activation of locking between the movable body and the locking housing is prevented.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, movable body, the locking slot and the locking housing is positioned to activate locking between movable body and the locking housing, while the sliding door is closing even if the sliding door isn’t fully opened before the closing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, movable body, the locking slot and the locking housing is configured to activate locking between the movable body and the locking housing by movement of the movable body less than 10 millimeters in the opening direction when the movable body contacts a cover end on closing direction (CD) side. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the locking mechanism.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the locking mechanism without one of cover.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the locking mechanism without one of cover, when the door is opening.

Figure 3.A is an isometric view of the Fig. 3, when the door is fully opened and in rest position and the car is in slope position.

Figure 3.B is an isometric view of the Fig. 3, when the door is closing and the car is in slope position.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the movable body.

Figure 4. A is an isometric view of the locking mean and the locking housing.

The drawings do not necessarily need to be scaled, and details that are not necessary to understand the present invention may be omitted. Furthermore, elements that are at least substantially identical or at least have substantially identical functions are indicated with the same number.

REFERENCE NUMBERS OF THE FIGURES

1. Locking mechanism

10. Movable body

11. Driving surface

12. Locking slot

121. Top-level surface 1221. Level surface

122. Engagement surface

123. Locking surface

13. Damper housing

14. Spring connection

15. Housing channel 20. Detent 21. Primary detent arm

22. Secondary detent arm

23. Detent pin

30. Locking mean

31. Control arm

311. First retaining surface

32. Locking arm

321. Top surface

322. Mid surface

33. Housing connection

34. Arm spring

35. Connection pin

40. Locking housing

41. Locking housing body

42. Ball channel

421. Second retaining surface

43. Housing spring

44. Spring pin 50. Stopper 60. Main spring

61. Spring holder 70. Connection mean 80. Pin

B. Body

C. Cover

CE. Cover end

D. Damper

DS. Damper shaft GB. Gravity ball CD. Closing direction OD. Opening direction

G. Gap

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description a sliding door locking mechanism (1 ) with additional damping subject to the invention have been illustrated with non-limiting examples in order to further describe the subject matter of the invention.

The invention is related to a sliding door locking mechanism with an additional damping mechanism configured to provide resistance against the opening of the sliding door in case the vehicle is positioned only at an inclined position.

In Fig. 1 , a body (B) of the locking mechanism (1 ) is shown. The body (B) comprises two covers (C) that connected to each other. The body (B) is configured to connect to vehicle having a sliding door and may have connection means (70) to provide such a connection.

The body (B) has opening and detent (20) extend through the opening outside of the body (B).

Referring to the Fig. 2 and 3, the detent (20) is positioned on the body such that contact a pin (80) provided on the sliding door. The pin (80) always moves in the same direction with sliding door. The detent (20) comprises primary and secondary detent arms (21 , 22) which one of them contacts the pin (80) while the sliding door is opening and the other one contacts the pin (80) while the sliding door is closing for moving the movable body (10) in movement direction of the sliding door. In fully opened position of the sliding door, both primary and secondary detent arms (21 , 22) contacts the pin (80).

The detent (20) is connected to movable body (10) in a rotational manner by a detent pin (23). This rotational movement isn’t entirely free, in some point, the primary or the secondary detent arms (21 , 22) contacts the movable body (10) and stop rotating.

The movable body (10) is extends longitudinally in the body (B). The movable body (10) is configured move inner volume of the body (B) between cover ends (CE) in opening and closing direction (OD, CD) of sliding door. The movable body (10) is connected to a main spring (60) via spring connection (14) provided end of movable body (10) which other end is connected to stationary point like a spring holder (61 ) provided on the body (61 ). A damper (D) is positioned in body (B) that provide damping effect against movement of the movable body (10). In Fig. 2 and 3, damper shaft (DS) of damper (D) is connected to the movable body (10) and damper (D) is freely positioned on the damper housing (13) however it is also possible to connect damper shaft (DS) to fix point and connect the damper (D) to the movable body (10). Alternatively, an extension provided on the movable body (10) may formed to push the damper (D) or damper shaft (DS).

A locking housing (40) is positioned inside the body (B), preferably inside a housing channel (15) which is formed in way to enable movement of the locking housing (40) in opening and closing direction (OD, CD) of the sliding door.

In Fig. 3-3. B, the movable body (10) and the locking housing (40) are shown in cut view to provide more clear view.

Referring to Fig. 3, the locking housing (40) comprises a locking housing body (41 ) having a ball channel (42) provided longitudinally extends. A housing spring (43) is positioned between the housing channel (15) and the locking housing (40) such that push the locking housing (40) in the opening direction when it is compressed.

A gravity ball (GB) is positioned in the ball channel (42). The gravity ball (GB) configured to move freely in the ball channel (42) if it doesn’t contact to any obstacle. The ball channel (42) comprises a second retain surface (421 ), preferably provided in curved shape.

The housing spring (43) is may be a torsion spring that connected to a spring pin (44) provided on the locking housing (40). Alternatively, a compression or stretch spring may be selected as the housing spring (43) however a torsion spring occupies much more less space than compression spring so it makes possible more smaller structure.

A locking mean (30) is positioned inside the locking housing (40). The locking mean (40) comprises two arm which one is a control arm (31 ) extends thorough to the ball channel and the other one is a locking arm (32). A locking mean (30) is rotatably mounted on the locking housing (40) by a connection pin (35) provided between the control and locking arm (31 , 32). The connection pin (35) is positioned in a connection housing (33) provided on the locking mean (30).

A locking arm (31 ) comprises first retain surface (311 ), preferably provided in curved shape. An arm spring (34), preferably torsion spring positioned on the locking mean (30) in a manner of rotating control and locking arm (31 , 32).

A drive surface (11 ) and a locking slot (12) are formed on the movable body (10). A drive surface is formed on position which enable contact between the control arm (32) and itself in some point when the movable body (10) moves in closing direction (CD). The locking slot is formed such that enable the locking arm (32) enter it when the control arm (31 ) doesn’t contact the gravity ball (GB) or the driving surface (11 ) and the movable body (10) moves in closing direction (CD)

In Fig. 3, the locking mechanism (1) in a rest position and the sliding door moves with the pin (80) in closing direction. In this position, the gravity ball (GB) is positioned on the first retain surface (311 ) and pressed between control arm (31 ) and the locking housing (40) by control arm (31) so that movement of the gravity ball (GB) and the control arm (31 ) are blocked. The pin (60) contact the primary detent arm (21) and make the detent (20) rotates in axis of detent pin (23) and moves the movable body (10) in opening direction (OD) of the sliding door.

In Fig 3. A, the locking mechanism (1 ) is shown when the pin (80) fully rotates the detent (20) such that primary detent arm (20) contact stopper (50) and the pin (80) locked between primary and secondary detent arm (21 , 22). In this position the movable body (10) also moves with the detent (20) to the cover end (CE). When the movable body (10) moves, the drive surface (11 ) provided on the movable body (10) contacts the control arm (31 ) and rotates it such that move away from the gravity ball (GB). When the pressure provided by the control arm (31 ) is over on the gravity ball (GB), it freely moves between the control arm (31 ) and the ball channel (42), specifically between first retain surface (311) and the second retain surface (421 ). Flereby the gravity ball (GB) moves into the ball channel (42), if the vehicle is in inclined position. Preferably, the control arm (31 ) and the ball channel (42) are configured to let the gravity ball (GB) moves when inclination is bigger than 5 degrees, preferably 6 degree, in this position.

Referring to Fig. 3.B, the pin (80) pushes the secondary detent arm (22) and rotates back the detent (20) in axis of detent pin (23) and moves the movable body (10) in the opening direction (OD), while the slide door is opening. While the movable body (10) is moving, the locking slot (12) provided on the movable body (10) comes to a position which enables the locking arm (32) enters to the locking slot (12). In this position, if the gravity ball (GB) moved on the second retain surface (421) because of inclined position of the vehicle, the locking mean (30) freely rotates such that let the locking arm (32) enters into the locking slot (12) and locks the locking housing (40) and the movable body (10) to each other.

When the locking housing (40) and the movable body (10) are locked each other by the locking arm (32) and the locking slot (12), the locking housing (40) and the movable body (10) move together in the closing direction (CD) of the sliding door. When the locking housing (40) moves in the housing channel (15), the housing spring (43) provided between the housing channel (15) and the locking housing (40) is compressed so additional damping effect is achieved.

The damper (D) and the body (B) is configured to create gap (G) between themselves when the movable body (10) contacts a cover end (CE) on closing direction (CD) side. Such an arrangement provide safety against situations which the damper (D) is broken. If there is no such a gap (G), when the damper (D) is broken and the damper shaft (DS) can’t move, the damper (D) contacts the cover end (CE) before the movable body (10) and the locking housing (40) locks to each other.

In the position shown Fig 3. A, if the vehicle is in flat position or very low degree inclined position, the gravity ball (GB) doesn’t move to the second retain surface (421 ) and stays in the first retain surface (311 ) and this positioning of the gravity ball (GB) prevents rotation of the locking mean (30) which moves the locking arm (32) into the locking slot (12) when the movable body (10) arrives to the position shown in Fig. 3.B. When the locking arm (32) doesn’t move into the locking slot (12), locking housing (40) and the movable body (10) can’t be locked to each other, so the locking housing (40) doesn’t move in the housing channel (15) and the housing spring (43) doesn’t compress such that provide additional damping.

When the additional damping effect is achieved like shown in Fig. 3.B by compression applied on the housing spring (43) and the sliding door is closed, the locking mechanism (1 ) stays in position shown in Fig. 3.B. In this position, the gravity ball (GB) is in the ball channel (42), specifically on the second retain surface (421 ).

While the sliding door is opening again after the closing action with additional damping which is caused by positioning the gravity ball (GB) in the second retaining surface (421 ), the pin (80) contacts the detent (20) in position shown in Fig. 3.B and moves the movable body (10) to a position shown in Fig. 3. A. In this position, the drive surface (11 ) contacts the locking arm (32) to rotate it to leave the locking slot (12) and let the gravity ball (GB) free in the ball channel (42). After that the movable body (10) moves to the position shown Fig. 3. If the vehicle is still in inclined position, the gravity ball (GB) stays on the second retaining surface (421 ) and the movable body (10) and the lock housing (40) lock to each other during next closing movement of the sliding door. If the vehicle is in flat position, the gravity ball (GB) moves on the second retaining surface (421 ) to first retaining surface (311 ) and the movable body (10) and the lock housing (40) don’t lock to each other during next closing movement of the sliding door.

While the sliding door is opening again after the closing action without additional damping which is caused by positioning the gravity ball (GB) in the first retaining surface (311 ), the pin (80) contacts the detent (20) to move it to position shown in Fig. 3 and moves the movable body (10) to a position shown in Fig. 3.A. In this position, the drive surface (11 ) contacts the locking arm (32) to rotate it to let the gravity ball (GB) free in the ball channel (42). After that the movable body (10) moves to the position shown Fig. 3. If the vehicle is still in flat position, the gravity ball (GB) stays on the first retaining surface (311 ) and the movable body (10) and the lock housing (40) don’t lock to each other during next closing movement of the sliding door. If the vehicle is in inclined position, the gravity ball (GB) moves on the first retaining surface (311 ) to second retaining surface (421 ) and the movable body (10) and the lock housing (40) lock to each other during next closing movement of the sliding door.

Referring to Fig. 4 and 4. A, the locking slot (12) and a locking arm (32) are provided with levels which contact each other in specific situations. A top-level surface (121 ) and is provided on the locking slot (12) such that contacts top surface (321 ) provided on the locking arm (32) when the locking mechanism (1 ) is in position shown in Fig 3. Both top- level surface (121 ) and top surface (321 ) are preferably provided in curved geometry.

Also another level surface (1221 ) is provided under the top-level surface (121) such that contacts mid surface (322) provided on the locking arm (32) when the locking mechanism (1) is in position shown in Fig 3. Both level surface (1221 ) and mid surface (322) are preferably provided in curved geometry.

An engagement surface (122) is provided under the level surface (1211 ). The engagement surface (122) contacts to end of the locking arm (32) to push the locking mean (30) and the locking housing (40) during the closing action with additional damping effect. An locking surface (123) is provided under the level surface (1211). The locking surface (122) contacts to mid surface (322) of the locking arm (32) when the movable body (10) and the locking housing (40) locks to each other.

Referring to Fig. 3 and 3.B, in preferred embodiment of the invention, movable body (10), the locking slot (12) and the locking housing (40) is configured to activate locking between the movable body (10) and the locking housing (40) by movement of the movable body (10) less than 10 millimeters, preferably is 7 millimeters, in the opening direction (OD) when the movable body (10) contacts a cover end (CE) on a side of closing direction (CD). To be more clear, the mentioned movement is the movement required to make the drive surface (11) contacts the locking mean (30), especially the locking arm (32) when the movable body (10) is in a position contacted a cover end (CE) on the side of closing direction (CD).

The protection scope of the invention has been mentioned in the claims that are attached and the invention cannot be limited to the embodiments described in this detailed description. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can provide similar embodiments within the scope of the above mentioned descriptions without deviating from the main theme of the invention.