Door hinge

• US 6,052,870 A
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Koster, Karl, Mertin, Ralf, Bogner, Dirk, Hagenlocher, Jorg, Schwed, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gurley, Donald M.
• Application Number:
  US09/207,858
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 16/222, 16/319, 16/343, 16/347, 16/366, 16/371, 296/146.11, 296/146.12, 180/69.21, 180/282
• US Class Current: 16/347
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/00 Additional features or accessories of hinges edge protecting devices E06B3/88
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1007 with positive locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1071 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2011/009 Impact absorbing hinges for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/147 for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A door hinge, preferably for a door on a motor vehicle, having a carrying arm, which is articulated on a door bracket and a pillar bracket at the ends in each case, and having a control lever which is articulated on both sides and is intended for controlling a predetermined movement sequence during the opening and closing operations of the door, comprises an element articulated on a part of the door hinge, which element locks the door hinge, preferably automatically, when said door hinge is subjected to pronounced acceleration, especially in case of an accident with high frontal impacts.

Claims

1. A door hinge, comprising

a carrying arm which is articulated on

a door bracket and

a pillar bracket

at the ends in each case, and

having a control lever which is pivotally connected on both sides between the door and pillar brackets and is intended for controlling a predetermined movement sequence during the opening and closing operations of the door, wherein pivotally connected on part of the door hinge is a blocking lever which locks the door hinge by engaging the control lever, preferably automatically by way of its mass inertia, when a certain deceleration of the hinge parts is exceeded.

2. Door hinge according to claim 1, wherein the blocking lever is in the form of a hook, which is pivotally connected on one side.

3. Door hinge according to claim 2, wherein in the non-locked state, the blocking lever (24) is moved by a spring element (28) into a predetermined rest position.

4. Door hinge according to claim 2, wherein the mass moment of inertia of the blocking lever about a pivot point of the blocking lever is of such a magnitude that the locking action only takes place when a certain deceleration of the hinge parts is exceeded.

5. Door hinge according to claim 2, wherein fastened on the blocking lever (24) is an additional mass element (27), which displaces a centre of gravity (S) of the blocking lever (24).

6. Door hinge according to claim 2, wherein a locking nose (29) or a bolt, in which the blowing lever (24) engages, is arranged on the control lever (9).

7. Door hinge according to claim 2, wherein the blokking lever (24) is designed for a certain breaking force.

8. Door hinge according to claim 1, wherein the control lever (9) is of multi-part design.

9. Door hinge according to claim 1, wherein from a pillar-side articulation (7) to the door bracket (5), the carrying arm (4) is directed obliquely inwards.

10. Door hinge according to claim 9, wherein axes of bearings of the carrying arm are inclined by an angle δ

with respect to the direction of the z-axis.

11. Door hinge according to claim 10, wherein a flange of the carrying arm has grooves in which a roller engages, said roller being spring-loaded.

12. Door hinge according to claim 11, wherein the roller is mounted in a lever which is pivotally connected on the pillar bracket.

13. Door hinge according to claim 9, wherein a flange (17, 18) of the carrying arm (4) has grooves (21) in which a roller (31) engages, said roller being spring-loaded.

14. Door hinge according to claim 13, wherein the roller is mounted in a lever which is pivotally connected on a pillar bracket.