Vertical door conversion kit with lag mechanism and motion range limiter

• US 20040244144A1
• Filed: 07/10/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vertical Doors Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Decah, LLC
• Inventors: Ham, Demetrius
• Granted Patent: US 7,140,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/221
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0472 the door having a hinge axis in horizontal direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/00 Suspension arrangements for wings arrangements of wings not characterised by the construction of the supporting means E06B3/32
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/10 with non-parallel pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/127 for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/062 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A door hinge mechanism allowing two dimensional motion of the door as it opens, combined with at least one mechanism allowing control of the range of horizontal motion of the door during normal operations. Horizontal lag adjustment and range limitation of the mechanism allows a number of benefits: horizontal fit of the door to the frame may be controlled, the outward motion of the door may be curtailed at the proper angle desired by the user. The door hinge mechanism is a bidirectional hinge allowing sequential motion in two planes, and a horizontal motion stop and cooperating contact surface.

Claims

1. A vehicle door hinge for a vehicle door and frame, the hinge comprising:

a chassis mounting plate securely fastened to such vehicle frame;

a swingarm securely fastened to such vehicle door;

the swingarm further comprising a first bearing surface;

the chassis mounting plate further comprises a second bearing surface;

the first and second bearing surfaces being located so that the first surface rotates along the second bearing surface during motion of the door in a first horizontal plane;

at least one stop and cooperating contact surface;

one of the stop and cooperating contact surface being on the chassis mounting plate;

the other of the stop and cooperating contact surface being mounted on the swingarm;

the stop and cooperating contact surface being located so that when the door is in a first position, the stop and cooperating contact surface are not in contact; and

when the door is in a second position, the stop and cooperating contact surface contact each other and prevent motion in one direction in the first horizontal plane;

whereby the strong bearing surface and the horizontal bearing surface cooperate together to take the stress of the door opening and further thereby allowing motion of the door in the first horizontal plane and a second vertical plane.

2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein motion of the door in the first horizontal plane and motion of the door in the second vertical plane occurs sequentially.

3. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the bi-directional rotation mechanism further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of:

a bi-directional hinge, a spherical bearing, and combinations thereof.

4. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the stop further comprises a set screw having a head, the head of the set screw being the portion of the set screw coming into contact with the cooperating contact surface in the second position.

5. The hinge of claim 4, wherein the head of the set screw is flat.

6. The hinge of claim 4, wherein the head of the set screw is conical.

7. The hinge of claim 4, wherein the set screw is disposed upon one member selected from the group consisting of:

the swingarm, the chassis mounting plate, the bi-hinge, the pin supports, the vehicle frame, the vehicle door, and combinations thereof.

8. The hinge of claim 4, further comprising:

an internally threaded aperture;

the set screw further being externally threaded, the set screw and external threads being dimensioned and configured to physically engage the internally threaded aperture.

9. The hinge of claim 4, wherein the cooperating contact surface is perpendicular to the set screw.

10. The hinge of claim 4, wherein the cooperating contact surface is at an angle to the set screw, the angle being less than 90 degrees.

11. A vehicle door hinge for a vehicle door and frame, the hinge comprising:

a chassis mounting plate securely fastened to such vehicle frame;

a swingarm securely fastened to such vehicle door;

a bi-directional rotation mechanism allowing motion of the door in a first horizontal plane and a second vertical plane;

a sag adjuster screw guide mechanism rotationally connected in the first horizontal plane to the bi-directional rotation mechanism;

a sag adjuster screw bearing against the sag adjuster screw guide when the vehicle door is rotated through the first horizontal plane;

at least one stop and cooperating contact surface;

one of the stop and cooperating contact surface being on the chassis mounting plate;

the other of the stop and cooperating contact surface being mounted on the swingarm;

the stop and cooperating contact surface being located so that when the door is in a first position, the stop and cooperating contact surface are not in contact; and

when the door is in a second position, the stop and cooperating contact surface contact each other and prevent further motion in one direction in the first horizontal plane.

12. The hinge of claim 11, wherein the bi-directional rotation mechanism further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of:

a bi-directional hinge, a spherical bearing, and combinations thereof.

13. The hinge of claim 11, wherein the stop further comprises a set screw having a head, the head of the set screw being the portion of the set screw coming into contact with the cooperating contact surface in the second position.

14. The hinge of claim 13, wherein the set screw is disposed upon one member selected from the group consisting of:

the swingarm, the chassis mounting plate, the bi-hinge, the pin supports, the vehicle frame, the vehicle door, and combinations thereof.

15. The hinge of claim 11, further comprising:

an internally threaded aperture;

the set screw further being externally threaded, the set screw and external threads being dimensioned and configured to physically engage the internally threaded aperture.