Hinge and hold-open assembly

• US 4,266,321 A
• Filed: 06/20/1979
• Issued: 05/12/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Arlauskas, Alfonsas, Pelchat, Paul F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, H. Hampton
• Application Number:
  US06/050,186
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 16/145, 16/142, 16/139, 16/146, 16/180
• US Class Current: 16/335
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1042 the maintaining means being a cam and a torsion bar, e.g. motor vehicle hinge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A hinge and hold-open assembly is disclosed having a pair of hinge straps and an integral hold-open spring and pivot pin member. The spring and pin member has a pivot pin portion pivotally connecting the hinge straps and a spring portion which is operatively engaged by a cam on one of the hinge straps so as to be normally relaxed in a closed hinge condition. Then on relative pivotal movement between the hinge straps, the spring portion is radially flexed and then relatively abruptly partially unflexed to yieldingly establish and hold an open hinge condition and with less effort required to establish the hold-open condition than is required to release same.

Claims

1. A hinge and hold-open assembly comprising a pair of hinge straps, an integral hold-open spring and pivot pin member having a pivot pin portion and a spring portion, means on said hinge straps for cooperating with said pin portion to pivotally connect said hinge straps for relative pivotal movement between a closed condition and an open condition, means on one of said hinge straps for preventing turning of said spring and pin member relative to said one hinge strap while permitting radial deflection of said spring portion relative to said pin portion, a rotary cam follower rotatably mounted on said spring portion, and cam means on the other of said hinge straps for guiding said cam follower, said cam means including a first lobe portion for establishing said spring portion in a relaxed condition when said hinge straps are in their closed condition and forcing gradual radial deflection of said spring portion in one direction during relative pivotal movement of said hinge straps to their open condition, said cam means further including a second lobe portion with a convex profile for guiding said cam follower to permit relatively abrupt but limited radial unflexure of said spring portion in the opposite direction upon the hinge straps assuming their open condition to thereby yieldingly hold the hinge straps in their open condition and whereby less effort is required to establish the hold-open condition then is required to release same.

2. A hinge and hold-open assembly comprising a pair of hinge straps, an integral hold-open spring and pivot pin member having a pivot pin portion and a spring portion, means on said hinge straps for cooperating with said pin portion to pivotally connect said hinge straps for relative pivotal movement between a closed condition and an open condition, means on one of said hinge straps for preventing turning of said spring and pin member relative to said one hinge strap while permitting radial deflection of said spring portion relative to said pin portion, a rotary cam follower rotatably mounted on said spring portion adjacent the end thereof, and cam means on the other of said hinge straps for guiding said cam follower, said cam means including a first lobe portion for establishing said spring portion in a relaxed condition when said hinge straps are in their closed condition and forcing gradual radial deflection of said spring portion at the end thereof in one direction during relative pivotal movement of said hinge straps to their open condition, said cam means further including a second lobe portion with a convex profile for guiding said cam follower to permit relatively abrupt but limited radial unflexure of said spring portion at the end thereof in the opposite direction upon the hinge straps assuming their open condition to thereby yieldingly hold the hinge straps in their open condition and whereby less effort is required to establish the hold-open condition than is required to release same.

3. A hinge and hold-open assembly comprising a pair of hinge straps, an integral hold-open spring and pivot pin member of U-shape having a relatively short straight pivot pin portion and a J-shaped spring portion with a relatively long straight section, means on said hinge straps for cooperating with said pin portion to pivotally connect said hinge straps for relative pivotal movement between a closed condition and an open condition, said long straight section extending through a slot in one of said hinge straps whereby said spring and pin member is prevented from turning relative to said one hinge strap while radial deflection of said long straight section is permitted relative to said pin portion, a rotary cam follower rotatably mounted on said long straight section adjacent the end thereof, and cam means on the other of said hinge straps for guiding said cam follower, said cam means including a first lobe portion for establishing said spring portion in a relaxed condition when said hinge straps are in their closed condition and forcing gradual radial deflection of said long straight section away from said pin portion during relative pivotal movement of said hinge straps to their open condition, said cam means further including a second lobe portion with a convex profile for guiding said cam follower to permit relatively abrupt but limited radial unflexure of said long straight section toward said pin portion upon the hinge straps assuming their open condition to thereby yieldingly hold the hinge straps in their open condition and whereby less effort is required to establish the hold-open condition than is required to release same.