Dual-axis door hinge assembly for vehicles

• US 20050127712A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Castillo, Brian V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,974,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.120
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/58 with both swinging and sliding movements
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/127 for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A dual-axis door hinge assembly for a vehicle includes a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle. The dual-axis door hinge assembly also includes a door side strap adapted to be connected to a door of the vehicle. The dual-axis door hinge assembly further includes an intermediate link pivotally connected to the body side strap to form a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to the door side strap to form a second pivot axis.

Claims

1. A dual-axis door hinge assembly for a door of a vehicle comprising:

a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle;

a door side strap adapted to be connected to the door of the vehicle; and

an intermediate link pivotally connected to said body side strap to form a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to said door side strap to form a second pivot axis, wherein said intermediate link includes a base portion and an intermediate portion pivotally connected to said base portion.

2. A dual-axis door hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a first pivot pin to pivotally connect said intermediate link to said body side strap to form said first pivot axis.

3. A dual-axis door hinge assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a second pivot pin to pivotally connect said intermediate link to said door side strap to form said second pivot axis.

5. A dual-axis door hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1 includes a catch connected to said body side strap and cooperating with said intermediate portion to lock and unlock said first pivot axis.

6. A dual-axis door hinge assembly as set forth in claim 5 including a spring cooperating with said intermediate portion to urge said intermediate portion into contact with said catch.

7. A dual-axis door hinge assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring is a torsional spring.

8. A dual-axis door hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body side strap is a monolithic structure being integral, unitary, and one-piece.

9. A dual-axis door hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said door side strap is a monolithic structure being integral, unitary, and one-piece.

10. A dual-axis door hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate link is generally arcuate in shape.

4. (canceled)

11. A door assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a front side door having a rear end and a forward end for pivotal connection to a front pillar of a vehicle body to open and close a front portion of a door opening;

a rear side door having a forward end and a rear end;

at least one dual-axis door hinge assembly connected to said rear end of said rear side door and for connection to a rear pillar of the vehicle body and having a dual pivot to allow said rear side door to pivot independently of said front side door between an open position and a closed position relative to a rear portion of the door opening; and

wherein said at least one dual-axis door hinge assembly comprises a door side strap mounted to said rear side door, a body side strap mounted to the rear pillar, and an intermediate link pivotally connected to said body side strap to form a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to said door side strap to form a second pivot axis, said intermediate link includes a base portion and an intermediate portion pivotally connected to said base portion.

15. A door assembly as set forth in claim 11 includes a catch connected to said body side strap and cooperating with said intermediate portion to lock and unlock said first pivot axis.

16. A door assembly as set forth in claim 15 including a spring cooperating with said intermediate portion to urge said intermediate portion into contact with said catch.

17. A door assembly as set forth in claim 11 including a lower track for connection to the vehicle body.

18. A door assembly as set forth in claim 17 including a lower pin connected to a forward end of said rear side door and cooperating with said lower track.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

19. A door assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a front side door having a rear end and a forward end for pivotal connection to a front pillar of a vehicle body to open and close a front portion of a door opening;

a rear side door having a forward end and a rear end;

at least one dual-axis door hinge assembly connected to said rear end of said rear side door and for connection to a rear pillar of the vehicle body and having a dual pivot to allow said rear side door to pivot independently of said front side door between an open position and a closed position relative to a rear portion of said door opening; and

an upper track for connection to the vehicle body.

20. A door assembly as set forth in claim 19 including an upper pin connected to a forward end of said rear side door and cooperating with said upper track.

21. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a front end, a rear end, opposed sides, and a continuous door opening in at least one of said sides;

a front side door having a rear end and a forward end pivotally connected to said vehicle body at a front end of said door opening to open and close a front portion of said door opening;

a rear side door having a forward end and a rear end;

a dual-axis door hinge assembly connected to said rear end of said rear side door and connected to said vehicle body at a rear end of said door opening and having a dual pivot to allow said rear side door to pivot independently of said front side door between an open position and a closed position relative to a rear portion of said door opening; and

wherein said dual-axis door hinge assembly comprises a door side strap mounted to said rear side door, a body side strap mounted to said vehicle body, and an intermediate link pivotally connected to said body side strap to form a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to said door side strap to form a second pivot axis, said intermediate link includes a base portion and an intermediate portion pivotally connected to said base portion.

25. A vehicle as set forth in claim 21 includes a catch connected to said body side strap and cooperating with said intermediate portion to lock and unlock said first pivot axis.

26. A vehicle as set forth in claim 25 including a spring cooperating with said intermediate portion to urge said intermediate portion into contact with said catch.

27. A vehicle as set forth in claim 21 including a lower track connected to said vehicle body.

28. A vehicle as set forth in claim 27 including a lower pin connected to a forward end of said rear side door and cooperating with said lower track.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

29. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a front end, a rear end, opposed sides, and a continuous door opening in at least one of said sides;

a front side door having a rear end and a forward end pivotally connected to said vehicle body at a front end of said door opening to open and close a front portion of said door opening;

a rear side door having a forward end and a rear end;

a dual-axis door hinge assembly connected to said rear end of said rear side door and connected to said vehicle body at a rear end of said door opening and having a dual pivot to allow said rear side door to pivot independently of said front side door between an open position and a closed position relative to a rear portion of said door opening; and

an upper track connected to said vehicle body.

30. A vehicle as set forth in claim 29 including an upper pin connected to a forward end of said rear side door and cooperating with said upper track.