Pillar Mounted Vehicle Hinge

• US 20090106936A1
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dan Greenbank
• Original Assignee: Dan Greenbank
• Inventors: Greenbank, Dan
• Application Number:
  US12/262,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106936A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/223
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0054 Covers, e.g. for protection
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/0207 for attachment to vehicles E05D5/043, E05D5/062 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/04 Hinges adjustable relative to the wing or the frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/626 Plates or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

Various embodiments of this invention disclose a vehicle door hinge that combines: aerodynamic features; a pleasing aesthetic shape; a hinge axis between the door and the A-pillar of the vehicle; an inexpensive price; off-the-shelf availability; and an ability to open a door simultaneously outward and upward.

Claims

1. A vehicle door hinge, comprising:

an A-pillar hinge housing;

a hinge pin;

a hinge top leaf; and

a door reinforcement plate;

wherein said A-pillar hinge housing is attached to an A-pillar of a vehicle;

wherein said door reinforcement plate is attached to a vehicle door;

wherein said hinge top leaf comprises a top leaf body and one or more top leaf hinge knuckles;

wherein said A-pillar hinge housing comprises an A-pillar hinge body and one or more A-pillar hinge housing knuckles;

wherein said hinge pin connects said one or more A-pillar hinge housing knuckles and said one or more top leaf hinge knuckles at a hinge pivot axis;

wherein said A-pillar hinge housing is attached to said mounting base plate; and

wherein said hinge top leaf is attached to said door reinforcement plate.

2. The vehicle door hinge of claim 1, further comprises:

a mounting base plate;

wherein said mounting base plate is attached to said A-pillar of said vehicle and said A-pillar hinge housing; and

wherein said mounting base plate is between said A-pillar of said vehicle and said A-pillar hinge housing.

3. The vehicle door hinge of claim 2, wherein said hinge pivot axis is positioned just above a top side of a vehicle door and so that when said vehicle door is opened a door skin clears a fender skin without touching or scraping;

and

wherein said mounting base plate is attached at a forward base of said A-pillar of said vehicle; and

wherein said reinforcement plate is attached to a reinforcement structure of said vehicle door.

4. The vehicle door hinge of claim 3, further comprising:

a lift support;

a chassis angle mount; and

a door angle mount;

wherein said chassis angle mount is mounted to a chassis of said vehicle;

wherein said door angle mount is mounted to said vehicle door;

wherein said lift support comprises a chassis end and a door end;

wherein said lift support chassis end connects to said chassis angle mount and said lift support door end connects to said door angle mount; and

wherein said lift support provides support in lifting said vehicle door when opening or closing said vehicle door.

5. The vehicle door hinge of claim 4, wherein said door reinforcement structure is a side impact beam of said vehicle door.

6. The vehicle door hinge of claim 5, wherein said A-pillar of said vehicle is a roll over reinforcement structure of said vehicle.

7. The vehicle door hinge of claim 6, further comprising:

an one or more aerodynamic structures that assist in blending the shape of the hinge top leaf into the shape of said A-pillar of said vehicle;

wherein said hinge top leaf has an aerodynamic shape that reduces wind resistance and noise.

8. The vehicle door hinge of claim 7, further comprising:

an one or more washers;

wherein said one or more washers are placed between said one or more A-pillar hinge housing knuckles and said one or more top leaf hinge knuckles such that a precise paint gap is maintained.

9. The vehicle door hinge of claim 8, wherein said one or more A-pillar hinge housing knuckles have threaded end caps that secure said hinge pin.

10. The vehicle door hinge of claim 9, wherein said mounting base plate has an one or more chamfered surfaces that facilitate attachment to said A-pillar of said vehicle.

11. The vehicle door hinge of claim 10, wherein said mounting base plate further comprises threaded holes that facilitate attachment to said A-pillar hinge housing.

12. A vehicle door hinge, comprising:

a mounting base plate;

an A-pillar hinge housing;

a hinge pin;

a hinge top leaf; and

a door reinforcement plate;

wherein said mounting base plate is attached to a base of an A-pillar of a vehicle;

wherein said door reinforcement plate is attached to a vehicle door reinforcement structure;

wherein said hinge top leaf comprises a top leaf body and one or more top leaf hinge knuckles;

wherein said A-pillar hinge housing comprises an A-pillar hinge body and one or more A-pillar hinge housing knuckles;

wherein said hinge pin connects said one or more A-pillar hinge housing knuckles and said one or more top leaf hinge knuckles at a hinge pivot axis;

wherein said A-pillar hinge housing is attached to said mounting base plate;

wherein said hinge top leaf is attached to said door reinforcement plate;

wherein said door reinforcement structure is a side impact beam of said vehicle door; and

wherein said A-pillar of said vehicle is a roll over reinforcement structure of said vehicle.

13. The vehicle door hinge of claim 12, further comprising:

a lift support;

a chassis angle mount; and

a door angle mount;

wherein said chassis angle mount is mounted to a chassis of said vehicle;

wherein said door angle mount is mounted to said vehicle door;

wherein said lift support comprises a chassis end and a door end;

wherein said lift support chassis end connects to said chassis angle mount and said lift support door end connects to said door angle mount; and

wherein said lift support provides support in lifting said vehicle door when opening or closing said vehicle door.

14. The vehicle door hinge of claim 13, wherein said hinge pivot axis is positioned just above a vehicle door so that when said vehicle door is opened a door skin clears a fender skin.

15. The vehicle door hinge of claim 14, further comprising:

an one or more washers;

wherein said one or more washers are placed between said one or more A-pillar hinge housing knuckles and said one or more top leaf hinge knuckles such that a precise paint gap is maintained.

16. The vehicle door hinge of claim 15, further comprising:

an one or more aerodynamic structures that assist in blending the shape of the hinge top leaf into the shape of said A-pillar of said vehicle;

wherein said hinge top leaf has an aerodynamic shape that reduces wind resistance and noise.

17. The vehicle door hinge of claim 16, wherein said one or more A-pillar hinge housing knuckles have threaded end caps that secure said hinge pin.

18. The vehicle door hinge of claim 17, wherein said mounting base plate has an one or more chamfered surfaces that facilitate attachment to said A-pillar of said vehicle.

19. The vehicle door hinge of claim 18, wherein said mounting base plate further comprises threaded holes that facilitate attachment to said A-pillar hinge housing.