Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8007026 | Lockout feature for full open hinge A hinge mechanism having a vehicle bracket that includes a pawl engagement member extending therefrom. A horizontally-rotating swing arm is rotatably coupled with the vehicle bracket. The hinge mechanism includes a pawl with an engagement portion and an abutment por... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7980621 | Vehicle rear door articulating mechanism A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism including one or more articulating hinge assemblies having one or more hinge arms pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof via a C-pillar hinge mount and pivotally mounted to a vehicle rear doo... | 07/19/2011 |
| RE42492 | Two way hinge for motor vehicle doors This invention describes a novel two way hinge for motor vehicle doors that hinges open at a 20 degree angle, then rotates upward 45 degrees. The motor vehicle door is maintained in the open position by a shock absorber/piston arrangement that is common in the autom... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7918492 | Vehicle door belt and cam articulating mechanism A vehicle door articulating mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle structure at one end thereof, a vehicle door pivotally mounted via first and second hinge mounts to the hinge arm at an opposite end of t... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7905537 | Harness installation structure of link-type movable body A harness installation structure, includes a link arm that pivotally supports a movable body to a fixed body; a wire harness that is installed to extend from the fixed body to the movable body along the link arm. The wire harness has an upwardly-extending portion wh... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7896425 | Simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door II A simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door is provided. The system includes a simultaneous movement system comprising first and second primary hinge arms, first and second secondary hinge arms, primary and secondary rails and guide track. The second primary h... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7832790 | Vehicle door structure A vehicle door structure includes a vehicle structure formed with an opening, an interior panel and an exterior door. The interior panel is supported to the vehicle structure for pivotal movement by a first hinge arrangement about a first pivot axis. The exterior do... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7798557 | Vehicle unguided four-bar rear door articulating and sliding mechanism A vehicle rear door articulating and sliding mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof, and a vehicle rear door pivotally and slidably mounted to the hinge arm at an opposite end ... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7770960 | Biaxial door hinge Various embodiments of this invention disclose a biaxial rear door hinge of a vehicle that allows the vehicle door to open outward and then upward. This biaxial hinge system allows the rear door in a sedan to mimic the look of a vertically pivoting front door. ... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7770959 | Door actuation systems using active materials A door system includes a structural member and a door being selectively movable with respect to the structural member. An actuator includes an active material that is configured to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The actuator is co... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7644976 | Door opening and closing apparatus for vehicle A door opening and closing apparatus for a vehicle includes a first hinge base adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body, a second hinge base adapted to be mounted to a vehicle door, a four-link hinge including a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm for connecting t... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7438346 | Method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle door Vehicle including a door frame alongside a position in a passenger compartment of the vehicle normally occupied by a driver, a driver door having a first, closed position arranged in the door frame and a second, fully open position outside of the door frame, and an ... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7429072 | Vehicle enclosure Accessory door assembly for the normally open sides of a recreational vehicle such as a golf cart. The door assembly includes a doorframe that can be secured to the vehicle, and a preferably rigid door that is easily mountable and demountable, and is movable between... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7422267 | Vehicle enclosure Method of controlling the climate in a recreational vehicle with an accessory door assembly such as for a golf cart, method of mounting a door assembly, and method of golfing. The door assembly includes a doorframe that can be secured to the vehicle, and a preferabl... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7401841 | Device for displacing a rear hatch of a motor vehicle rear of a motor vehicle and method for closing a rear hatch of a motor vehicle Back of a motor vehicle with a rear hatch, a rear hatch opening and a device for moving the rear hatch of a motor vehicle between a closed position and an intermediate position. The device has positioning means by which the rear hatch can be moved solely by linear t... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7396068 | Method and apparatus for attaching a door to a passenger vehicle An apparatus for attaching a door to a passenger vehicle body having a lift arm and a hinge assembly. The lift arm rotatably connects the door to the vehicle body. The lift arm imparts upward rotational movement to the door relative to the vehicle body as upward pre... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7393044 | Vehicle door opening and closing structure A slider is provided on a rear door so as to be able to freely reciprocated, and the slider is connected to a vehicle body through a control arm and a driven arm. A linear cam groove and a curved cam groove continuous to the linear cam groove are formed in a guide p... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7383614 | Door checker for automobile A door checker includes: a check lever 6 formed, at the proximal end thereof, with a boss 10 connected to a bracket 7 via a shaft 8; a case 1 having through holes 4, 5 through which the check lever 6 passes; and shoes... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7364219 | Swing and slide door A door (6), for example in a vehicle, is mounted at one edge (8) for acurate movement about the axis of a shaft (16), and at the other edge (10) for displacement substantially in the plane of the door opening along rails (26, 28). ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7360823 | Operator cab for construction machine An operator cab 53, which is mounted rotatable on the vehicle body 51 of a hydraulic mini-shovel 50, comprises a cab box 1, a door 2, upper and lower link members 3 and 4, and a slide rail 5. The cab box 1 | 04/22/2008 |
| 7360824 | Operator cab for construction machine An operator cab 53, which is mounted rotatable on the vehicle body 51 of a hydraulic mini-shovel 50, comprises a cab box 1, a door 2, upper and lower link members 3 and 4, a slide member 6, a closed door stoppe... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7347483 | Door lift conversion kit for existing vehicles A retrofit vehicle door lift conversion kit adapted for lifting a vehicle door vertically that fits as a conversion kit replacing factory door hinges on a variety of different types of existing vehicles. A door attaching arm is mounted to a fixed chassis plate by a ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7328932 | Automotive door hinge A vehicle door and hinging is described that allow for the door of a vehicle to be translated forward and rotated upward upon being opened in order to improve occupant ingress and egress. In addition, the doors and hinges of embodiments of the present invention allo... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7320495 | Motor vehicle The invention discloses a vehicle with a front door and a rear door without a B column between the two doors, with the front door latch being designed as a power latch with a door-closing assistance and the rear door latch containing a power latch holder with an adj... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7281753 | Vehicle enclosure Door assembly includes a doorframe that can be secured to the vehicle, and a preferably rigid door that is movable between an open and closed position. The door can be secured to the vehicle in the open position so that the passengers have the option of riding in th... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7249645 | Industrial truck with a lateral frame opening and a door with a double hinge An industrial truck has a vehicle frame (1) with a frame portion (2) having a lateral frame opening (2b) for receiving a battery block. A door (3) covers the frame opening (2b) and may be pivoted outwardly about a sub... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7219948 | Vehicle enclosure Accessory door assembly for the normally open sides of a recreational vehicle such as a golf cart. The door assembly includes a doorframe that can be secured to the vehicle, and a preferably rigid door that is easily mountable and demountable, and is movable between... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7210200 | Multi-axis door hinge A multi-axis automobile door hinge, comprising a first leaf, a second leaf, and a third leaf. The first leaf and the second leaf are pivotally coupled defining a swing-out hinge adapted so as to enable rotation in a substantially horizontal plane about a substantial... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7168753 | Door for a vehicle A door for a vehicle includes a door component, a first connection that connects the door component to the vehicle and allows the door component to move along a first path, and a second connection that connects the door component to the vehicle and allows the door c... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7150492 | Double-pivot hinge for motor vehicle door A double pivot notch-brake hinge for securing a door to a motor vehicle body, including a first leaf or connector securable to a door pillar of the vehicle body, a second leaf or connector securable to the door, and a U-shaped link pivotally connecting the first and... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7143548 | Drive for opening and closing a vehicle flap A flap drive for a flap includes two identical lever joint arrangements which are arranged in pairs at a distance from one another. The flap can be moved out of its closing position into its opening position and back by the flap drive. In this case, the lever joint ... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7140075 | Vertical door conversion kit with lag mechanism and motion range limiter A door hinge mechanism allowing two dimensional motion of the door as it opens, combined with at least one mechanism allowing control of the range of horizontal motion of the door during normal operations. Horizontal lag adjustment and range limitation of the mechan... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7137662 | Operator cab for construction machine An operator cab 53, which is mounted rotatable on the vehicle body 51 of a hydraulic mini-shovel 50, comprises a cab box 1, a door 2, upper and lower link members 3 and 4, a slide member 6, a closed door lock | 11/21/2006 |
| 7134709 | Automated car door opening system An automated car door opening system proposes a very simple yet reliable system that can easily be retrofitted on most cars. It uses the combination of a large electrically actuated inner shaft cooperating with a piston. The piston opens the car door slightly in a m... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7118153 | Frame structure for vehicle tailgate A tailgate assembly adapted to be mounted along an open edge of a vehicle's load-carrying bed includes a stamped sheet metal frame having a reinforced cross-sectional shape with an inner side facing an associated vehicle's load-carrying bed and an outer side opposit... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7104588 | Mechanism for moving a door A mechanism for moving a door relative to an access opening in a door frame includes three links pivotally connected between the door and the door frame permitting outward and lateral movement of the door. A structural member or pillar releasably secured to the door... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7100245 | Hinge for a motor-vehicle door The invention proposes a hinge to be exchanged for the hinges on a motor-vehicle door. The hinge contains a hinge section that is attached to the bodywork and a hinge section that is attached to the door. A linking device having a pair of linkages is situated betwee... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7097229 | Vehicle closure system A vehicle includes a body and a door closure system. The closure system includes a first door pivotably connected with respect to the vehicle body for selective movement between open and closed positions. A second door is movably connected with respect to the vehicl... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7073846 | Bonnet lift with actuator fitted with a hook latching system The technical field of the invention is that of devices used in the field of motor vehicle safety to protect a pedestrian in the event of a head-on impact between the said pedestrian and a motor vehicle. More precisely, the invention relates to a safety devic... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7059655 | Vertical door conversion kit The invention provides a method of opening a vehicle door in a doorway of a vehicle body, the method comprising: rotating such vehicle door in a horizontal plane of motion until such vehicle door substantially clears such vehicle body; and then rotating such vehicle... | 06/13/2006 |
