Extended range sliding door hinge

Abstract

An extended range sliding door hinge may include a track bracket assembly and an intermediate bracket. The track bracket assembly is sized to be operatively received by a vehicle door track assembly. A first end of the intermediate bracket is movably mounted to the track bracket assembly so that the intermediate bracket may be moved with respect to the track bracket assembly between a retracted position and an extended position. A second end of the intermediate bracket is sized to operatively engage a vehicle sliding door. The extended range sliding door hinge allows the vehicle sliding door to be moved between a standard position when the intermediate bracket is in the retracted position and an extended position when the intermediate bracket is in the extended position.

1 . An extended range sliding door hinge, comprising:
 a track bracket assembly sized to be operatively received by a vehicle door track assembly; and   an intermediate bracket having a first end and a second end, the first end of said intermediate bracket being slidably mounted to said track bracket assembly so that said intermediate bracket slides with respect to said track bracket assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, the second end of said intermediate bracket being sized to operatively engage a vehicle sliding door, said extended range sliding door hinge allowing the vehicle sliding door to be moved between a standard position when said intermediate bracket is in the retracted position and an extended position when said intermediate bracket is in the extended position, wherein the vehicle sliding door includes a vehicle door bracket mounted thereto and wherein said intermediate bracket is sized to engage the vehicle door bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The extended range sliding door hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of said intermediate bracket comprises a pair of holes provided in spaced-apart relation along a hinge axis, said pair of holes being sized to be pivotally mounted to the vehicle door bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The extended range sliding door hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of guide rods mounted in generally parallel, spaced-apart relation to said track bracket assembly; and   a rod follower mounted to said intermediate bracket, said rod follower further comprising a pair of holes formed therein sized to be slidably received by said pair of guide rods, said rod follower sliding along said pair of guide rods to allow said intermediate bracket to move between the retracted and extended positions.   
     
     
         4 . The extended range sliding door hinge of  claim 3 , further comprising travel stops mounted to respective ends of said pair of guide rods, said travel stops preventing said rod follower from moving beyond the retracted and extended positions. 
     
     
         5 . The extended range sliding door hinge of  claim 3 , further comprising first and second guide wheels mounted for rotation to said track bracket assembly, said first and second guide wheels being rotatable about respective first and second axes located in generally parallel, spaced-apart relation, said first and second guide wheels being sized to engage the vehicle door track assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The extended range sliding door hinge of  claim 5 , further comprising a third guide wheel mounted for rotation to said track bracket assembly, said third guide wheel being rotatable about a third axis, the third axis being generally perpendicular to the first and second axes, said third guide wheel being sized to engage the vehicle door track assembly.