5

ABSTRACT

10 ‘’DOOR CHECKER ASSEMBLY’’

The present invention relates to a door checker assembly (11) for the door comprising
two-piece split type arm package (12) having an upper arm (12A) and a lower arm (12B)
connected with bracket (3) and pin (4), step element (14A), plurality of springs (16A,
15 16B), stopper (20) with stopper pad (21) and a modified inner panel reinforcement (17)
for a vehicle door for engaging the door checker assembly.

13
 FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“DOOR CHECKER ASSEMBLY”

We, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
Republic of Korea, of 12, Heolleung-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06797, Republic of Korea; and KIA
MOTORS CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Republic of
Korea, of 12, Heolleung-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06797, Republic of Korea,

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed:
 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a limiter, controller, sway checker assembly for the
door of the vehicle. The present invention provides a two-piece split type arm door
5 checker assembly, equipped with springs and a separate step element operable by a
reinforcement located at the door’s inner panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle doors are usually installed with a door hinge and door checker, for
10 facilitating the opening and closing of the doors and also, as means for supporting the
doors in an open state. When the door is released from a locking device; the door
keeps dangling even on receiving the minimal force and it is difficult to manage the
door in an open position on an incline.
Accordingly, a stop function, for temporarily holding the door at a required
15 position, i.e. a door checker is installed in the door. The door is connected to the
vehicle with a hinge for its functioning. The door checker is positioned at the center
of the door hinge, and holds the door in an open position at a required angle.
US6813811B2 provides a door checker for an automobile wherein a case is
secured to a door, and a check plate is mounted to extend through the case and
20 supported on a body. A pair of detent members and resilient members for urging the
detent members against opposite sides of the check plate is accommodated in the
case. The check plate is provided with notches in which the detent members are
brought into engagement to retain the door at a predetermined medium opening
degree, and with a full-opening stopper adapted to receive an outer side of the case to
25 define an opening limit for the door.
US20070245519A1 discloses a complex type door checker enclosing an arm
having a curved portion formed on its one surface and having its one end connected
to a vehicle via a hinge, a friction checker friction-contacting with one surface of the
arm, a rolling checker rolling-contacting with another surface of the arm, and a case

2
 including the friction checker and the rolling checker in its inside and installed on one
side of a door.
Conventional slider type assemblies comprise multiple parts and are
significantly time consuming to design and assemble, particularly, the door checker
5 structure and mechanism comprising a case and its related features. The door checker
casing is a major drawback in the existing technology as it increases the complexity
of the structure, thereby further increasing the weight of the checker. In addition, such
slider type assemblies require frequent greasing to avoid noise during the opening or
closing of the vehicle door and are susceptible to dust accumulation as well.
10 The present disclosure has been made in an effort to solve the above-
described problems associated with the prior art by providing a lighter, economical
door checker assembly with no or minimal operating noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

15 In an embodiment, the present invention provides a door checker assembly
(11) for the door comprising two-piece split type arm package (12) having an upper
arm (12A) and a lower arm (12B) connected with bracket (3) and pin (4), step
element (14A), plurality of springs(16A,16B), stopper (20) with stopper pad (21).
In another embodiment, the upper arm (12A) comprises: a step hole (15) for
20 encasing step element (14A) provided with plurality of step structures (22 and 23)
and slots (14B), (14C) for free movement of plurality of springs (16A), (16B)
engaged on the lower arm (12B).
In an embodiment, the lower arm (12B) comprises of plurality of spring
supports (13A), 13(B) for engaging springs (16A), (16B) sandwiched between the
25 upper and lower arm.
In yet another embodiment, the stopper (20) with stopper pad (21) is
integrated in the arm package (12).

3
 In an embodiment, the step element comprises at least two step structures (22,
23) having: peak compression point (46), step point (45), post step point (44) and the
intermediate point (43).
In an embodiment, the step structure (22, 23) holds the door at the desired
5 position.
In yet another embodiment, the assembly is encased on the modified inner
panel attached on vehicle’s door.
In an embodiment, springs are at maximum compression when the door
hemming (18) is at the peak compression point of the step structure (23 and 22).
10 In another embodiment, the springs are at minimum compression at step point
(45).
In an embodiment, the door stays in the desired open position without
swaying or swinging.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a modified inner
15 panel reinforcement (17) for a vehicle door for engaging the door checker assembly
as claimed in claims 1 to 5, comprises hemming (18).
In still another embodiment, the door checker assembly is free of any casing
and requires minimum assembly time and efforts.
In an embodiment, the peak compression (46) being the highest point on the
20 step structure (22, 23) represents a position just before the step point wherein the
compression of the spring is maximum.
In another embodiment, the step point (45) on the step structure (22, 23) is the
position wherein the springs are at minimum compression and its height is equal to
the gap (19A) between hemming (18) and the upper arm (12A).
25 In an embodiment, the height of the post step point (44) is higher than step
point (45) and lower than peak compression point (46).
In an embodiment, the intermediate point (43) represents the distance between
the two step structures on a step element having height slightly more than the step
point (45).

4
 In an embodiment, the arm step structure (22, 23) helps in the movement of
the door checker and holding it on the desired position along with the hemming.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will
be fully described by the following description, appended claims, and accompanying
5 drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1(a) illustrates the conventional slider type assembly;
Figure 1(b) illustrates the door checker assembly according to an embodiment of the
10 present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates the exploded view of a conventional slider type assembly;
Figure 3(a) illustrates the exploded view of the door checker assembly according to
an embodiment and assembling of the present invention;
Figure 3(b) illustrates the front view of the door checker assembly reinforced in the
15 modified inner panel of the present invention;
Figure 3(c) illustrates another top view of the door checker assembly;
Figure 4(a) illustrates the conventional inner panel on the door;
Figures 4(b) and 4(c) illustrate the modified inner panel on the door to accommodate
the door checker assembly;
20 Figure 5(a) illustrates the sectional view of the door checker assembly along the arm;
Figure 5(b) illustrates another sectional view of the step structure according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5(c) illustrates sectional view of step structure according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
25 Figure 6 illustrates the checker gap ratio according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
Figures 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c) illustrate the assembly of door checker into modified inner
panel according to the present invention;
Figure 8 illustrates the door checker rotation condition;

5
 Figure 9 illustrates the various position of the door on the door checker assembly;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
5 drawings.
Figures 1(a) and 2 illustrate a conventional complex type door checker assembly
comprising an arm (7) having a curved portion formed on one end and connected to
door via a bracket (3) and pin (4) at the other end. It further comprises a roller
assembly (2), in contact with the surface of the arm, and a case (6) having spring
10 (1) and the roller assembly (2) mounted on the base plate (5). The roller assembly
comprises a carrier (2A), a slider (2B), and a roller (2C). During operation, the tightly
enclosed case of the door checker let the spring to compress and moves the roller on
the arm (7) for door operation.

15 As illustrated in Figures 1(a), 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c), the door checker assembly
according to the present invention comprises two-piece split type arm package (12)
having an upper arm (12A) and a lower arm (12B) connected with bracket (3) and pin
(4), a stopper (20) with stopper pad (21). The upper arm (12A) comprises a step hole
(15) for encasing step element (14A) provided with plurality of step structures (22
20 and 23) and slots (14B), (14C) for free movement of plurality of springs (16A), (16B)
engaged on the lower arm (12B).
The stopper (20) with stopper pad (21) is integrated in the arm package (12)
of the door checker assembly.
The lower arm (12B) comprises of plurality of spring supports (13A), 13(B)
25 for engaging plurality of springs (16A), (16B).
The springs (16A), (16B) sandwiched between the upper and lower arm and
the step element (14A) provides free movement of the spring during door operation.
According to the conventional door checker assemblies a casing to hold the
system is essential. To eliminate the casing (6) and to reduce the complexity of the

6
 door checker assembly as illustrated in Fig 4(a) the inventors of the present invention
have also modified the inner panel of the door.
The inner panel reinforcement (17) is provided with hemming (18) for the
reinforcement of the checker as represented in Fig. 4(b), this replaces the
5 conventional casing of the door checker assembly.
The hemming (18) provides a working hole (19) and acts as a path guide for
the checker arm. The hemming (18) assists the door to stay on the step structure
provided on the step element of the arm package and holds the door in the desired
position.
10 A constant gap (19A) is maintained between the upper side of the hemming
(18) and the upper arm (19B) to allow the operation of the step element during the
movement of the door (as illustrated Fig. 4(c)). At least a gap of 2mm is maintained
between the upper arm (12A) and hemming (18). The lower arm (19C) is in contact
with the lower portion of the hemming and the rest of the two sides are in contact
15 with the checker arm.
The step element comprises at least two step structures (22, 23) having: peak
compression point (46), step point (45), post step point (44) and the intermediate
point (43).
The peak compression (46) being the highest point on the step structure (22,
20 23) represents a position just before the step point wherein the compression of the
spring is maximum.
The step point (45) on the step structure (22, 23) is the position wherein the
springs are at minimum compression and its height is equal to the gap (19A) between
hemming (18) and the upper arm (12A).
25 The height of the post step point (44) is higher than step point (45) and lower
than peak compression point (46).
The intermediate point (43) represents the distance between the two step
structures on a step element having height slightly more than the step point (45).

7
 This arm step structure (22, 23) helps in the movement of the door checker
and holding it on the desired position along with the hemming. (Figure 5(c))
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the springs
are compressed when the hemming (18) is on the peak compression point of the step
5 structure (23 and 22). On receipt of the external force to move the door the
compressed springs (16A and 16B) act as counter force on the step element (14C) and
the hemming moves towards the step point which keeps the door in stable position.
The compression of the spring (16B) at this point is minimal. If further opening of
the door is desired, an additional force is application which moves the hemming (18)
10 out of the step point into the post step points. That relocates the door to another step
structure via intermediate point and the same process is repeated for the second step
structure. The regular expansion and compression of the spring regulates the position
of the door in reaction to the external force applied by the user.
The door is kept half open at first step structure and stays at that position until
15 further external force is applied. In full open position the door moves at the second
step structure which assists the door to stay in the said position until further external
force is applied. To move the door in opposite direction to close the door or to reduce
opening the same process is repeated.
As illustrated in Figure 6, a gap ratio between the various elements is
20 maintained in the door checker assembly. Arm step structures (22) and (23) on the
upper arm (12A) are maintained at a pre-defined varying length i.e., one end is higher
than the other to give a step like structure. For example, if the length of one end (36),
i.e. height of the peak compression point of step structure is 5 to 6mm, the other end
(35) i.e. height of post step point is maintained at a lower length of 3.5 to 4.5mm.
25 Further the height of step point (34A) from the upper arm is 2mm to 3 mm same as
that of gap (19A). The springs (16B and 16A) are compressible (34) up to 3.5 to 4.5
mm.
The gap between two arm step structures is same as the gap maintained
between any of the two step point.

8
 The door checker assembly is encased in the modified inner panel
reinforcement (17). Figures 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c) illustrate the modified inner panel
reinforcement of the checker assembly into the inner panel of the door according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The door checker assembly is attached to the
5 door panel so that the bracket (3) and pin (4) connected to the arm package (11) are
on one side of the panel while the step element (14), springs (16A and 16B),
stopper(20) with the stopper pad (21) are on another side of the inner modified panel
reinforcement (17) providing the movement of the door.
As illustrated in Figure 8, the door checker assembly moves in conjugation
10 with the door. The position (32) represents the door and the checker assembly in the
closed position. As the door opens, it moves to position (31) and the hemming comes
in contact with the arm step structure (23) holding the door at that position (31).
Further opening of the door moves the hemming and brings it in contact with the arm
step structure (22). Thereby, the door stays in the maximum open position (30)
15 without swinging in and out.
Fig 9 illustrates the motion of the door on the door checker according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Various contact positions (59) of the door
hemming on step element (14) of the checker assembly while in motion. The door in
the closed position is held at the peak compression point (46) compressing the spring
20 to its maximum. As the door opens it moves to the step position (45) reducing in the
compression of the spring. The post step position (52) maintains the position of the
door in the step position until further force is applied to open or close the door. Since,
the door is in midway the hemming rests at the Intermediate position (53) placed
between the two arm step structure (22) and (23). To open the door at its maximum
25 position (55) again the four step motion (46, 45, 44, 43) is repeated at the second arm
step structure (22). The position in which the door is fully open the hemming
reinforcement (18) is also in full open condition (55) and in contact with the stopper
(20) to hold the door at this position rigidly. The process is repeated in opposite
direction to close the door or to reduce opening.

9
 5 We claim:

1. A door checker assembly (11) for the door comprising two-piece split type

arm package (12) having an upper arm (12A) and a lower arm (12B)

connected with bracket (3) and pin (4), step element (14A), plurality of

10 springs(16A,16B), stopper (20) with stopper pad (21) characterized in that, the

upper arm (12A) comprises: a step hole (15) for encasing step element (14A)

provided with plurality of step structures (22 and 23) and slots (14B), (14C)

for free movement of plurality of springs (16A), (16B) engaged on the lower

arm (12B), and, the lower arm (12B) comprises of plurality of spring supports

15 (13A), 13(B) for engaging springs (16A), (16B) sandwiched between the upper

and lower arm.

2. The door checker assembly (11) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the

stopper (20) with stopper pad (21) is integrated in the arm package (12).

20
3. The door checker assembly (11) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step

element comprises at least two step structures (22, 23) having: peak compression

point (46), step point (45), post step point (44) and the intermediate point (43).

25 4. The door checker assembly (11) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step structure

(22, 23) holds the door at the desired position.

5. The door checker assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly is

encased on the modified inner panel reinforcement (17) attached on vehicle’s door.

30

11
 5 6. The door checker assembly (11) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the springs are at

maximum compression when the door hemming (18) is at the peak compression

point of the step structure (23 and 22).

7. The door checker assembly (11) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the springs are at

10 Minimum compression at step point (45).

8. The door checker assembly (11) as claimed in any of the preceding claims

wherein the door stays in the desired open position without swaying or swinging.

15 9. A modified inner panel reinforcement (17) having hemmings (18) on its edges for

engaging the door checker assembly as claimed in claims 1 to 3.

Dated this the 02nd day of January 2019.

20 [SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)

12
 5

ABSTRACT

10 ‘’DOOR CHECKER ASSEMBLY’’

The present invention relates to a door checker assembly (11) for the door comprising
two-piece split type arm package (12) having an upper arm (12A) and a lower arm (12B)
connected with bracket (3) and pin (4), step element (14A), plurality of springs (16A,
15 16B), stopper (20) with stopper pad (21) and a modified inner panel reinforcement (17)
for a vehicle door for engaging the door checker assembly.

13
Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; and No. of Sheet(s): 08
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION Sheet No. 1
Application No.: 201911000122

[SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)
Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; and No. of Sheet(s): 08
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION Sheet No. 2
Application No.: 201911000122

[SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)
Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; and No. of Sheet(s): 08
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION Sheet No. 3
Application No.: 201911000122

[SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)
Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; and No. of Sheet(s): 08
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION Sheet No. 4
Application No.: 201911000122

[SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)
Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; and No. of Sheet(s): 08
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION Sheet No. 5
Application No.: 201911000122

[SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)
Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; and No. of Sheet(s): 08
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION Sheet No. 6
Application No.: 201911000122

[SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)
Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; and No. of Sheet(s): 08
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION Sheet No. 7
Application No.: 201911000122

[SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)
Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; and No. of Sheet(s): 08
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION Sheet No. 8
Application No.: 201911000122

[SANUJ DAS]
[IN/PA-4127]
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicant(s)