Hing mechanism for vehicle sliding door - incorporates carriage for rollers travelling in door guides, positioned between locking members

摘要

A sliding door for a vehicle has a handle on one edge and linkage assembly on the other edge which enables the door to be pulled inwards first, before the door is slid back, for clearance. This linkage assembly houses rollers which travel in top and bottom guide rails. The assembly has two arms with a vertical hinge (5) between them, and the outer end of one arm is attached to the edge of the door. The other end has a further vertical hinge (6). These two arms are in line at the end of each guide track (9) in the closed position. A locking mechanism is housed inside the arm (8) carrying the second hinge (6). The rollers are mounted in a carriage mounted inside the arm, and the locking mechanism has portions above and below the carriage, and which include springs.