Bi-fold gull wing vehicle door

Abstract

A vehicle body has front and rear door openings defined by front, middle and rear pillars and by the vehicle roof. A bi-fold door includes upper and lower door portions, each of which extends full length from the front pillar to the rear pillar. An upper hinge acts between the roof and the upper edge of the upper door portion. A door panel hinge acts between the adjacent edges of the upper and lower door portions. A track extends vertically along the middle pillar and a track follower is carried by the lower door portion at the lower edge adjacent the bottom thereof and is engaged in the track. A door beam is mounted within the lower door portion and extends the full length of the door from the front to the rear pillar. A first door latch is mounted on the front pillar and a second door latch is mounted on the rear pillar. Latch strikers are mounted respectively on the front and rear ends of the lower door portion to engage with the first and second door latches. A telescopic spring strut acts between at least one of the pillars and the upper door portion to assist in lifting the upper door portion about the upper hinge. As the upper panel pivots upwardly about the roof hinge, the upper and lower panels hinge relative one another at the door panel hinge and the bottom edge of the lower panel follows the track in the middle pillar so that the door assumes a folded-in-half position stored above the vehicle roof.