CONTROL OF AN ACCESS OPENING IN A BODY OF A VEHICLE

• Main Authors: CHARNESKY SCOTT P, SPENCE GRAHAM J, NETHERLAND, III JAMES S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.02.2013
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS ORWINDOWS; CHECKS FOR WINGS; DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HANDCUFFS; KEYS; LOCKS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORVEHICLES; SAFES; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILARDEVICES FOR VEHICLES; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THEFUNCTIONING OF THE WING

A system for controlling an access opening in a vehicle body includes first and second doors arranged to selectively open and close first and second portions of the opening. The system also includes a device operatively connected to the first door and configured to be selectively retracted before at least one of the first and second doors is opened. The device is also configured to be protracted when the first and second doors are closed to thereby seal the first and second portions of the access opening. The system additionally includes a controller configured to selectively retract and protract the device. Furthermore, the system includes a sensor arranged on the vehicle and configured to detect an impact exceeding a threshold intensity on the body and communicate a signal indicative of the impact to the controller. The controller retracts the device upon receipt of the signal from the sensor