Hinge with integral detent and stop
First Claim
1. A hinge assembly comprising:
- a first hinge member and a second hinge member joined to rotate about an axis from a fully closed position to a fully open position;
spring means attached to said first hinge member for resiliently biasing the hinge assembly, said spring means being a leaf spring having a first substantially flat surface portion and a second arcuate surface portion, the arcuate surface portion having a depression across the surface thereof and an end portion wider than the remainder of the spring;
a roller restrained against the second hinge member and cooperating with the spring means to provide a detent means for halting rotation of the first hinge member with respect to the second hinge member at an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position; and
the spring means cooperating with the second hinge member to stop rotation of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member at the fully open position.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a vehicle door hinge which has an integral detent and stop. A spring having a flat surface portion and an arcuate surface portion is attached to a first hinge member with the arcuate portion of the spring curved about the axis of the hinge. A roller restrained on a second hinge member is in compressive contact with the arcuate portion of the spring. A depression across the arcuate portion of the spring, works in conjunction with the roller as a detent to produce an intermediate stop position. The arcuate portion of the spring has an end portion, wider than the remainder of the spring, which contacts the second hinge member to provide a stop which prevents further opening rotation of the hinge.
22 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A hinge assembly comprising:
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a first hinge member and a second hinge member joined to rotate about an axis from a fully closed position to a fully open position; spring means attached to said first hinge member for resiliently biasing the hinge assembly, said spring means being a leaf spring having a first substantially flat surface portion and a second arcuate surface portion, the arcuate surface portion having a depression across the surface thereof and an end portion wider than the remainder of the spring; a roller restrained against the second hinge member and cooperating with the spring means to provide a detent means for halting rotation of the first hinge member with respect to the second hinge member at an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position; and the spring means cooperating with the second hinge member to stop rotation of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member at the fully open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle door hinge assembly comprising:
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a first hinge member adapted to be mounted to a first surface; a second hinge member adapted to be mounted to a second surface; a pivot pin interlocking the first hinge member and the second hinge member; a spring having a first substantially flat surface portion and a second arcuate surface portion, the arcuate surface portion having a depression across the surface thereof and an end portion wider than the remainder of the spring; a means to affix the spring to the first hinge member; a roller restrained on the second hinge member and resting in contacting compressive relationship with the spring to roll about the arcuate surface portion of the spring during rotational movement of the first hinge member and the second hinge member about the pivot pin; the roller entering the depression in the arcuate surface portion of the spring to restrain the hinge in an intermediate open position; and said end portion of the spring contacting the second hinge member to stop the rotational travel of the hinge. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle door hinge assembly with an integral detent and stop comprising:
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a first hinge member adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body; a second hinge member adapted to be mounted on a vehicle door; a pivot means to interlock the first hinge member to the second hinge member to allow rotation therebetween; a spring; a roller for cooperating with the spring; a means to entrap the spring against the first hinge member; the spring having a substantially flat surface portion to rest against the surface of the first hinge member, with a slot centrally located therein to induce most of the deflection of the spring in the flat surface portion, and an arcuate surface portion adapted to fit about the pivot means between the first hinge member and the second hinge member, the arcuate surface portion having a depression across the surface thereof and an end portion being wider than the remainder of the arcuate surface portion; a means to restrain the roller against the second hinge member such that the roller is in rolling contact with the arcuate surface portion of the spring; and the roller cooperating with the spring such that partial rotation of the second hinge member about the first hinge member causes the roller to roll along the arcuate surface portion of the spring and engage the depression to form a detent to stop the unrestrained rotation of said second hinge member, but allowing continuing rotation of said second hinge member when a force is applied to the vehicle door until said end portion of the arcuate surface portion of the spring contacts the second hinge member stopping rotation of the hinge. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification