Hinge structure for automobile hoods

• US 4,223,420 A
• Filed: 10/05/1978
• Issued: 09/23/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawamura, Yasunori, Ogasawara, Shinzi, Sakamoto, Mitsuhiro, Yukimoto, Kazuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, C. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Moshe I.
• Application Number:
  US05/948,916
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 16/128.1, 16/140, 16/180, 16/163, 16/DIG. 33, 16/188, 16/137, 16/139, 180/69 R, 180/69 C
• US Class Current: 16/288
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/06 Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/145 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1276 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/06 Buffers or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stopsE05F5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/218 Holders
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/748 end
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/50 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/33 Rubber sleeve bearings and hinges

Abstract

A hinge structure for automobile hoods, including a first bracket fixedly connected to the automobile hood, a second bracket fixedly connected to an automobile body, a link mechanism rotatably supporting both brackets by a link mechanism, an urging mechanism for urging the first bracket into the raising direction thereof, the hinge structure characterized in that a link connecting member having an elastic portion is fixed to the autobomile body at the rotating position of the link mechanism upon fully opening the automobile hood and the link mechanism is connected to the link connecting member by bending the elastic member.

Claims

1. A hinge structure for a hood and body of an automobile, which comprises:

a first bracket fixedly connected to said automobile'"'"'s hood;

a second bracket fixedly connected to said automobile'"'"'s body;

a link mechanism rotatably supporting said first and second brackets by means of first and second link members, said first link member having an axis of rotation;

means connected to said first bracket for urging said first bracket in a direction so as to raise said first bracket and said hood;

a link connecting member mounted on said second bracket member and an elastic member fixed to said automobile body adjacent said axis of rotation of said first link member wherein one end of said first link member is fixedly inserted into said link connecting member upon fully opening said automobile hood and is positively connected by the frictional resistance between the biasing force of said link connecting member and said elastic member.

2. A hinge structure for said autombile'"'"'s hood as set forth in claim 1, wherein said link connecting member comprises a plate spring.

3. A hinge structure for said automobile'"'"'s hood as set forth in claim 1, wherein said link connecting member is made of plastics.

4. A hinge structure for said automobile'"'"'s hood as set forth in claim 1, wherein said link connecting member comprises a plate spring formed from said second bracket.

5. A hinge structure for said automobile'"'"'s hood as set forth in claim 1, wherein said link connecting member forms a concave portion and said first link member includes a convex portion insertable into said concave portion of said link connecting member.

6. A hinge structure for said automobile'"'"'s hood as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elastic member is mounted on one end of said first link member.

7. A hinge structure for said automobile'"'"'s hood as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises:

first pivot means interconnecting said first bracket with said first link member; and

second pivot means interconnecting said first link member with said second bracket.

8. A hinge structure for said automobile'"'"'s hood as set forth in claim 7, which further comprises:

pivot means interconnecting said second link member with said first bracket and interconnecting said second link member with said second bracket.