Door hinge assembly

Abstract

A programmed hinge assembly including a first hinge plate, a second hinge plate, a hinge joint pivotally connecting the hinge plates, a spring arm between the hinge plates for defining at least one stop position; the spring arm including an anchored portion fixed to the first hinge plate, a control portion including at least one detent in controlling engagement with the second hinge plate, and a connecting portion, the connecting portion partially surrounding the outside of the hinge joint such that the spring arm substantially encompasses the hinge joint.

Description

This invention relates to a programmed hinge assembly adapted to connect a closure member to a closure frame whereby the closure member experiences a restraining force in one or more positions; typically, the closed position, the full-open position, and the half-open position. The programmed hinge assembly of the instant invention is particularly suited for use in vehicles, such as automobiles and trucks, a requirement of which is that the doors have multiple stop positions.

Many of the conventional vehicle door hinge assemblies employ add-on parts to provide the programmed feature. In other words, a spring device of some sort, which is not an integral part of the hinge assembly, must be separately attached to the door frame. The spring device is positioned on the door frame to coact with an element of the hinge assembly to program the movement of the door. The problem, however, is that conventional vehicle door hardware for providing programmed action of the door is not in unit form. Accordingly, an unnecessary number of operations are required on the assembly line to install all of the door hinge elements.

Presently known unitized door hinge assemblies which include means for programming the movement of the door, commonly referred to as hold-open devices, are oftentimes unsuitable for use in a vehicle door due to the limited amount of space available for installing such assemblies. Other of these assemblies are unsuitable merely from design and manufacturing considerations.

Examples of programmed hinge assemblies are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,019,068 issued Mar. 5, 1912, and 2,314,416 issued Mar. 23, 1943.

The instant invention provides an integral or utilized programmed hinge assembly which is compact and, therefore, readily suited for use in vehicle doors. More specifically, the programmed hinge assembly includes first and second hinge plates pivotally connected by a hinge joint and a spring arm between the hinge plates for defining at least one stop position. The spring arm substantially encompasses the hinge joint and includes an anchored portion fixed to the first hinged plate, a control portion including at least one detent in controlling engagement with the second hinge plate, and a connecting portion, the connecting portion partially surrounding the outside of the hinge joint.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front-elevational view of a hinge assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 2--2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 illustrating the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the half-open position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the full-open position;

FIG. 6 is a front-elevational view of the hinge assembly in the full-open position, and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various components of the instant invention.

Referring to the drawings, a programmed hinge assembly is generally shown at 10. The hinge assembly 10 includes a first hinge plate 12 and a second hinge plate 14. The second hinge plate 14 is pivotally connected to the first hinge plate 12 as hereinafter described.

As noted above, the hinge assembly 10 is particularly adapted for use in vehicle doors. Accordingly, hinge plate 12 is adapted for attachment to the inner edge 13 of a vehicle door, while the second hinge plate 14 is adapted for attachment to the pillar 15 in the vehicle door frame. As is generally the case, two or more hinge assemblies may be mounted between the door and door frame. Only one hinge assembly is shown, however, since it is typical of the others used.

For the purpose of attaching the hinge plates 12 and 14 to the door or door frame, the hinge plates 12 and 14 include suitable openings 16 and 18, respectively, for receiving fasteners, such as shown at 21. Other means for securing the hinge plates 12 and 14 to either the door 13 or the pillar 15 may be provided.

A hinge joint, generally indicated at 19, pivotally connects the two hinge plates 12 and 14. To form the hinge joint 19, the inner edge of the hinge plate 12 is rolled to form a cylindrical portion 20 which comprises the pintle of the hinge joint. A number of rectangular openings 24, in this case three, are provided adjacent the cylindrical portion 20. The second hinge plate 14 includes a number of spaced-apart tabs 22 which are guided through the rectangular openings 24 adjacent the cylindrical portion 20. The tabs 22 are subsequently bent or otherwise wrapped around the cylindrical portion 20. In this manner a pivotal connection is formed between the hinge plates 12 and 14. The pivotal connection described eliminates the necessity of a separate hinge pin for the hinge assembly.

To facilitate the pivotal movement between the hinge plates 12 and 14, an elongated split-sleeve bushing 26 is disposed about the cylindrical portion 20 before the second hinge plate 14 is secured thereto. The bushing 26 is made of nylon or other suitable material to reduce frictional resistance to movement between the two hinge plates.

As noted above, the most important characteristic of the hinge assembly is that it is programmed, that is, includes an integral hold-open device for defining one or more stop positions. The programmed feature is provided by a spring arm generally indicated at 28 which is disposed between the two hinge plates 12 and 14. The spring arm 28 defines at least one stop position, and preferably a plurality of stop positions, for the door.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the spring arm 28 is generally triangularly shaped and, in the preferred embodiment, includes a pair of identically-shaped branches 29 made of a suitable material, such as, heavy gauge spring steel wire. As shown in the drawings, the branches 29 of the spring arm 28 are generally parallel and spaced-apart. Each of the branches 29 includes an anchored portion 30 which is fixed to the first hinge plate 12 by means of a suitable bracket 32 and fastener 34 arrangement. Each branch of the spring arm 28 further includes a control portion 36 which includes at least one, and preferably three detents 38. The control portion 36 of the spring arm 28 is in controlling engagement with the second hinge plate 14 so that movement between the two hinge plates and, consequently, movement between the door and door frame is programmed or controlled.

The spring arm 28 also includes a connecting portion 40 which connects the anchored portion 30 to the control portion 36. The connecting portion 40 partially surrounds the outside of the hinge joint 19. As used herein, the outside of the hinge joint 19 means the side of the hinge joint which is generally opposite to the side occupied by the hinge plates 12 and 14 when the door is in the closed position.

Described in another way, the spring arm 28 includes a base portion 30 which is anchored to the first hinge plate 12 and extends generally parallel to the hinge plate 12 toward and beyond the hinge joint 19. An intermediate portion 40 is connected to the base portion 30 at an angle so that it extends generally away from the first hinge plate 12. Accordingly, the base portion 30 and the intermediate portion 40 form an included angle therebetween within which is disposed the hinge joint 19. The control portion 36 is connected to the intermediate portion 40 at an angle thereto so that it extends generally toward the base portion 30. Hence, the spring arm 28 is somewhat triangularly-shaped and surrounds or encompasses the hinge joint 19.

The branches 29 of the spring arm 28 may be connected together across the ends of the control portion 36 by a connecting segment 42. The connecting segment 42 aids in maintaining the spacing between the two branches 29 of the spring arm 28.

As shown in the drawings, the detents 38 comprise arcuate irregularities spaced along the length of the control portion 36. To provide smooth controlling engagement between the control portion 36 and the second hinge plate 14, the second hinge plate includes a roller member 44 which is directly engaged by the branches of the control portion 36. To insure continued engagement with the control portion 36, the roller member 44 includes a pair of spaced, circumferential grooves 46 in which the branches of the control portion 36 are seated.

The roller 44 is mounted between two spaced-apart, struck-out tab portions 48. The tab portions 48 are struck out of the hinge plate by a suitable piercing and bending operation. This construction is used for economy of manufacture as well as for providing apertures 50 in the hinge plate 14 through which the branches of the spring arm 28 extend. The roller member 44 is supported by a pin 52 which extends between the two tab portions 48 through a cylindrical passageway 54 in the roller member 44. Washers 56 may be provided between the ends of the roller member 44 and the tab portions 48.

The operation of the hinge assembly when disposed between a door 13 and a door frame 15 is best shown in FIGS. 3 through 5. Specifically, when the door 13 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, the roller member 44 seats in the outermost detent 38 of the control portion 36 of the spring arm 28. When the door is swung toward the open position about the hinge joint 19, the spring arm 28 offers some resistance to such movement. In other words, the door 13 is not freely swingable toward an open position. Exerting a nominal force on the door 13, however, forces the control portion 36 over the roller member 44 thereby causing the roller member to move out of the outermost detent 38.

A half-open position, as shown in FIG. 4, is established when the control portion 36 moves with the respect to the roller member 44 a sufficient distance to bring the second or intermediate detent 38 into engagement with the roller member 44. Movement of the door 13, either toward the full-open position or toward the closed position, is met with some resistance due to the spring action of the spring arm 28. Again, however, the application of a sufficient force enables movement between the control portion 36 and the roller member 44.

In like manner, a full-open position, as shown in FIG. 5, is established when the third or innermost detent 38 engages the roller member 44. Again, the control portion 36 of the spring arm 28 maintains the door 13 in the full-open position until a sufficient force is applied to the door 13 to move it toward the closed position.

It is noted that the roller member 44 provides a smooth, essentially frictionless movement between the control member 36 and the roller member 44 since movement of the control portion 36 relative to the roller member 44 is accompanied by rotational movement of the roller member 44. Accordingly, the spring arm 28 and roller member 44, which make up the programmed or hold-open device, operate essentially noiselessly thus avoiding squeaks and other undesirable sounds.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A programmed hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge plate, a second hinge plate, a hinge joint pivotally connecting said hinge plates, a spring arm between said hinge plates for defining at least one stop position; said spring arm including an anchored portion fixed to said first hinge plate, a control portion including at least one detent in controlling engagement with said second hinge plate, and a connecting portion, said connecting portion partially surrounding the outside of said hinge joint such that said spring arm substantially encompasses said hinge joint.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second hinge plate includes a roller member engaged by said control portion of said spring arm.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring arm extends in a generally triangular path about said hinge joint.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a bracket device for securing said anchored portion to said first hinge plate.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second hinge plate includes a pair of spaced-apart, struck-out tab portions for rotatably supporting said roller member.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second hinge plate includes apertures adjacent said tab portions through which said control portion extends.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring arm includes a pair of parallel spaced-apart, resilient members.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said roller member includes a pair of circumferential grooves for seating said resilient members.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said control portion includes three detents comprising three arcuate irregularities.

10. A programmed hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge plate, a second hinge plate, a hinge joint pivotally connecting said hinge plates, a triangularly-shaped spring arm between said hinge plates and substantially surrounding said hinge joint for defining at least one stop position, said spring arm including a base portion anchored to said first hinge plate and extending toward and beyond said hinge joint, an intermediate portion connected to said base portion at an angle and thus forming an included angle within which is disposed said hinge joint, and a control portion connected to said intermediate portion and extending generally toward said base portion including at least one detent in controlling engagement with said second hinge plate.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second hinge includes a roller member engaged by said control portion of said spring arm.