Dual acting cargo van door and ramp system

Abstract

A cargo van door system comprises a cargo van with a cargo compartment, first pivoting means to permit one or more doors releasably to pivot laterally and perpendicularly in relation to one of three outward facing side walls of the cargo compartment to act as a door, second pivoting means to permit the door releasably to pivot perpendicularly in relation to a floor of the cargo compartment to act as a ramp, and means to coordinate engagement and disengagement of the first pivoting means and the second pivoting means. When the first pivoting means is engaged to permit the door to swing laterally and perpendicularly in relation to one of the outward facing side walls to continue to function as a door, the second pivoting means is disengaged, and when the second pivoting means is engaged to permit the door to swing perpendicularly in relation to the floor to act as a ramp, the first pivoting means is disengaged.

Claims

1. A cargo van door and ramp system comprising: a frame adapted to be mounted in an opening in at least one of three outward facing side walls of a cargo van cargo compartment; the frame comprising at least a horizontal base and two upright side arms extending from distal ends of the base; two door-ramp components mounted side by side to the frame, the door-ramp components adapted to function as either doors or ramps; the door-ramp components releasably attached to each other at an inner edge of each door-ramp component; the horizontal base and two upright side arms comprising two L-brackets releasably connected to each other adjacent a floor of the cargo van cargo compartment and centrally of the opening which, when connected, permit the door-ramp components either to rotate horizontally to act as a door or to permit the door-ramp components to open and close together as a ramp, and when disconnected, to permit either door-ramp component to rotate vertically to act individually as a ramp; the door-ramp components and the frame are releasably latched to at least one of the three outward facing side walls of the opening adjacent an outer edge of each door-ramp component and held in place in a closed position by latches, at least one of said latches engages each door-ramp component adjacent the outer edge of the respective door-ramp component and at least one other of said latches engages each door-ramp component adjacent a bottom edge of the respective door-ramp component; each door-ramp component hinged adjacent one of the upright side arms to the at least one of the three outward facing side walls of the opening by first hinges and adapted to swing open and closed horizontally to act as a door when the respective at least one other of said latches is released; each door-ramp component hinged adjacent the horizontal base by second hinges and adapted to swing open and closed vertically to act as a ramp when the respective at least one of said latches is released; and means to engage and disengage the first hinges and the second hinges.

2. The cargo van door and ramp system of claim 1, wherein the cargo van cargo compartment further comprises a roof and a floor.

3. The cargo van door and ramp system of claim 2, wherein at least one releasable hinge is mounted between the bottom edge of each door-ramp component and adjacent the floor of the cargo compartment.

4. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein when each door-ramp component acts as a ramp, the motion of the ramp is controlled by one of a coil spring, a strut assist mechanism and an electric motor.

5. The cargo van door and ramp system of claim 4, wherein a cable is connected between the outer edge of at least one door-ramp component and one of the coil spring, the strut mechanism and the electric motor.

6. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein multiple releasable hinges are mounted between the at least one of the three outward facing side walls of the opening and each of the door-ramp components.

7. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the at least one of said latches is adapted to release both the two upright side arms of the frame and each door-ramp component from the opening to rotate to act as a ramp.

8. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the at least one other of said latches is adapted to release both the horizontal base of the frame and each door-ramp component from the opening to rotate to act as a door.

9. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one releasable hinge is mounted between an outer edge of each door-ramp component and adjacent one of the outward facing side walls of the cargo compartment.

10. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein each door-ramp component further comprises a ramp flap hinged to an upper edge of the door-ramp component which rests against an interior facing side of the door-ramp component when the door-ramp component is oriented vertically, and which rotates outwardly to provide an extension to the door-ramp component when acting as a ramp.

11. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the frame is mounted in at least one of the three outward facing side walls at a rear of the cargo compartment.

12. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the frame is mounted in at least one of the three outward facing side walls at a lateral side of the cargo compartment.

13. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the opening is at least partially defined by rear vehicle body pillars of the cargo van.

14. The cargo van door and ramp system of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the first hinges are combined with first hinge latch components and the second hinges are combined with second hinge latch components.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective, representational view of a cargo van with a dual acting door and ramp system.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of a cargo van with a dual acting door and ramp system.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear of a cargo van showing two doors deployed as a ramp.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective, representational view of a cargo van with multiple dual acting door and ramp systems.

(5) FIG. 5 is an elevational, side view of a frame and door for a dual acting door and ramp system.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective, representational view of a frame and doors for a dual acting door and ramp system with the doors closed.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective, representational view of a frame and doors for a dual acting door and ramp system with the doors opened to act as doors.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective, representational view of a frame and doors for a dual acting door and ramp system with one door closed and one door opened to act as a ramp.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective, representational view of a frame and doors for a dual acting door and ramp system mounted in an opening of a schematic cargo compartment with one door opened to act as a door and one door opened to act as a ramp.

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective, representational, partial view of a frame and doors for a dual acting door and ramp system with one door closed and one door opened to act as a ramp.

(11) The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIG. 1 is representational, in part, since it illustrates a cargo van with one door deployed as a ramp but the other door in both the closed position and opened as a door. When mounted on a cargo van, however, each door will generally only be closed, opened as a door or opened as a ramp at any one time. FIG. 2 illustrates one door closed and the other door both open as a door, in the left side of the figure, and deployed as a ramp in the right side of the figure. FIG. 3 is a representation of a user pushing a trolley up both doors deployed as ramps. FIG. 4 is again representational since it illustrates doors mounted both at a side of a cargo van and at the back of the cargo van both opened to act as doors and deployed together to act as a ramp. FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a representational door mounted in a frame, as further described below. FIGS. 6 to 8 and 10 are again representational since they illustrate notional doors mounted in a frame. They are not intended to represent doors as they would actually appear in a cargo van. Similarly, FIG. 9 illustrates a representational frame with doors mounted in a structure to represent a cargo compartment. This is not intended to represent a dual acting door and ramp system as it would actually appear in a cargo van but is provided for simplicity of description.

(13) A cargo van 1 comprises a cargo compartment 3 which has a roof 5, a floor 7, outward facing side walls 9, 11 and 13, and an opening 15 in one of the outward facing side walls. At least one door 17, which may also function as a ramp, is mounted in the opening 15. The door 17 has an exterior facing side 19, an interior facing side 21, a first lateral side 23, a second lateral side 25, an upward facing side 27, and a downward facing side 29. The positions are defined directionally when the door 17 is closed.

(14) The door 17 may be mounted directly to the cargo compartment 3 or, alternatively, may be mounted to a frame 51 which is in turn mounted to the cargo compartment 3, as further explained below. In either case, first pivoting means 31 permit the at least one door 17 releasably to pivot laterally and perpendicularly in relation to one of the outward facing side walls 9, 11, 13 to act as a door. In addition, second pivoting means 33 permit the at least one door 17 releasably to pivot perpendicularly in relation to the floor 5 to act as a ramp.

(15) The at least one door may comprise a single door or two doors mounted side by side. The door or doors may be mounted in any of the outward facing side walls 9, 11, 13.

(16) In a first embodiment, at least one first releasable hinge 32 is mounted between the first lateral side 23 of the at least one door 17 and adjacent one of the outward facing side walls 9, 11, 13 of the cargo compartment 3. This first releasable hinge 32 is adapted to permit the door 17 to swing open horizontally sideways. In addition, at least one second releasable hinge 34 is mounted between the downward facing side 29 of the at least one door 17 and adjacent the floor 7 of the cargo compartment 3. The second releasable hinge 34 is adapted to permit the door 17 to swing up and down vertically in order to act as a ramp. When the first releasable hinge 32 is engaged to permit the at least one door 17 to swing laterally and perpendicularly in relation to one of the outward facing side walls 9, 11, 13 of the cargo compartment 3 to continue to function as a door, the second releasable hinge 34 is disengaged. Conversely, when the second releasable hinge 34 is engaged to permit the at least one door 17 to swing perpendicularly in relation to the floor 7 of the cargo compartment 3 to act as a ramp, the first releasable hinge 32 is disengaged. Means to coordinate engagement and disengagement of the first and second releasable hinges are provided. Suitable latches 39 may be used to release the first releasable hinge 32 and the second releasable hinge 34. Generally, when a latch 39 releases the first releasable hinge 32, the second releasable hinge 34 will remain engaged, and when a latch 39 releases the second releasable hinge 34, the first releasable hinge 32 will remain engaged. The latches 39 may be controlled automatically or manually.

(17) When the door 17 is opened and closed vertically to act as a ramp, control means 37 to control its motion may be provided. For example, a cable 71 may extend from one of the outward facing walls 9, 11, 13 of the cargo compartment 3 adjacent the opening 15 to a lateral side 23 of the door to provide support or to roll and unroll under control of an active motive control, such as an electric motor 77. Alternatively, a passive motion controller, including an energy storage means such as a coil spring 73, gas strut assist mechanism 75, etc., may be employed to lower the door 17 open under control to act as a ramp and to reduce the physical effort required to return the door 17 to a closed position. A gas strut used for a similar purpose is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,047 entitled Lift Assist Mechanism for Vehicle Tailgates. The structure is somewhat simpler in the door/ramp environment described herein since the gas strut may act on a simple lever arm to generate a closing moment and may remain fixed rather than being permitted to translate as in the tailgate environment.

(18) Depending upon the requirements, the door 17 may be mounted at the rear of the cargo compartment in outward facing wall 9, or on either or both of outward facing side walls 11, 13. Increasing the number of door openings 3 will increase the manufacturing costs of the vehicle, but will provide greater flexibility for loading and unloading cargo.

(19) For operation as a ramp, the door 17 is preferably provided with a ramp flap 43. The ramp flap 43 may be hinged to the upward facing side 27 of the at least one door 17 and rest against the interior facing side 21 of the at least one door when the door 17 is oriented vertically. As the door 17 rotates vertically to act as a ramp, the ramp flap 43 rotates outwardly to provide an extension to the ramp distal from the cargo compartment 3. Suitable supports 44 may be mounted to the exterior of the door or doors 17 adjacent their upward facing sides 27 to reduce wear on the doors 17 when they are lowered to act as ramps. Such supports 44 may prevent direct contact of the door 17 with the ground or other surface to protect the paint finish and general integrity of the door 17. The ramp flap 43 may be made of a material resistant to wear, such as a durable plastic, although metal may be used. In any event, since the ramp flap 43 is preferably stowed on the interior of the door 17 when not in use, wear of the ramp flap 43 will not generally be apparent except when the ramp flap 43 is deployed.

(20) When two doors 17 are mounted side by side, they may be opened together or individually when acting both as doors and as ramps. The doors 17 may be conventionally latched together with latch mechanism 38 at a center-line of the opening 15. Accordingly, one door 17 may remain closed as the other is opened horizontally, or both doors 17 may swing open to increase access to the cargo compartment 3. Similarly, one door 17 may remain closed as the other is lowered to act as a ramp, or both doors 17 may be lowered to act as ramps, again to increase access to the cargo compartment. The releasable hinges, along with latches holding the hinges in place or releasing them, serve to permit this multiplicity of door orientations.

(21) In a second embodiment, the door or doors 17 are not connected directly to the cargo compartment. Instead, the door or doors 17 are mounted in a frame 51 which, in turn, is pivotably mounted to the cargo compartment 3. This construction is shown schematically in FIGS. 5 to 10. For convenience, a two door construction is described. The frame 51 comprises two parts, namely mirror-image L-brackets 53, 55 with vertical arms 57, 59 and horizontal bases 61, 63. The bases 61, 63 of these L-brackets 53, 55 are releasably connected to each other at a position central of the opening. The releasable connection allows the L-brackets 53, 55 to rotate together or separately in relation to the floor 7 of the cargo compartment 3; this allows the doors 17 to be deployed as a ramp either together or separately. When only one door 17 is deployed as a ramp, the L-bracket 53, 55 of that door 17 rotates in relation to the floor 7 while the other L-bracket 53, 55 and its door 17 remain stationary and closed.

(22) When functioning as a door or doors, the doors 17 may remain fixed within the frame 51 and the frame 51 may rotate in relation to the cargo compartment 3. Alternatively, the doors 17 may each be hinged to one of vertical arms 57, 59 of the frame 51, the doors 17 may rotate horizontally in relation to the frame 51, and the frame 51 may be releasably mounted to the cargo compartment 3. A latch 39 may be triggered to release the frame 51 to permit it to rotate vertically when the door 17 is to act as a ramp.

(23) It should be understood that although particular component arrangements are disclosed in the illustrated embodiments, other arrangements will benefit herefrom. Although particular step sequences may be shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present invention.

(24) Although the different examples have specific components shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this invention are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples.

(25) Although example embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of the claims. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.