Cam-assisted lid hinge

• US 20030140454A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wild Manufacturing Group Limited
• Original Assignee: ITW Limited (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheal, Jonathan Paul Anthony, Proffitt, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/289
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/145 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1276 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1292 with a gas spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/422 for opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/424 for the final opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/426 for the initial opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/488 Traction springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids

Abstract

Disclosed is a hinge for a vehicle lid, the hinge comprising a main biasing means operable to urge the hinge into an open position, and a mechanism for assisting the initial opening of the hinge from a closed position, the mechanism comprising a rotary cam engagable with another portion of the hinge to provide said assistance, and further biasing means which acts on the cam to rotate it relative to said other portion of the hinge. Also disclosed is a lifting aid comprising a main biasing means for attachment between a lid and a body, which lid is pivotally moveable towards and away from the body, the main biasing means being operable to urge the lid from a closed position relative to the body to an open position, the lifting aid further comprising cam means attachable to the body for relative rotation thereto and further biasing means for attachment between the body and the cam means and operable to rotate the cam means relative to the body and lid, the cam means being operable to assist the initial opening of the lid.

Claims

1. A hinge for a vehicle lid, the hinge comprising a main biasing means operable to urge the hinge into an open position, and a mechanism for assisting the initial opening of the hinge from a closed position, the mechanism comprising a rotary cam engageable with another portion of the hinge to provide said assistance, and further biasing means which acts on the cam to rotate it relative to said other portion of the hinge, wherein a location of a region of attachment of the further biasing means to the cam, and a location of a region of engagement of the cam with the other portion of the hinge, relative to a centre of rotation of the cam, is such that a force applied by the cam to the other portion of the hinge is greater than a force applied to the cam by the further biasing means.

2. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the cam is pivotally attached to the hinge.

3. A hinge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hinge is a four-link hinge.

4. A hinge according to claim 3, comprising a body link for attaching to a vehicle body, a lid link for attaching to a vehicle lid, short and long links joining the body and lid links, and wherein the main biasing means comprises a gas strut attached between the body and lid links.

5. A hinge according to claim 4, wherein the cam is pivotally attached to the long link and engagable with the lid link.

6. A hinge according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the lid link includes a cam follower for engagement with the cam.

7. A hinge according to claim 6, wherein the cam engages with the cam follower when the hinge is in the closed position and during the initial opening of the hinge from the closed position.

8. A hinge according to claim 7, wherein the further biasing means comprises a mechanical spring.

9. A hinge according to claim 8, wherein the further biasing means comprises a helical tension spring.

10. A hinge according to any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the further biasing means is attached between the cam and the long link.

11. A hinge according to claim 10, wherein the further biasing means is so attached to the long link and cam as to be disposed generally along the long link when the hinge is in the closed position.

12. A hinge according to any of claims 4 to 11, wherein the lid link is adapted for attachment to a boot lid of a car, and the body link is adapted for attachment to the body of a car.

13. A vehicle having a body and lid attached to the body by a hinge in accordance with any preceding claim.

14. A lifting aid comprising a main biasing means for attachment between a lid and a body, which lid is pivotally moveable towards and away from the body, the main biasing means being operable to urge the lid from a closed position relative to the body to an open position, the lifting aid further comprising cam means attachable to the body for rotation relative thereto and further biasing means for attachment between the body and the cam means and operable to rotate the cam means relative to the body and lid, the cam means being operable to assist the initial opening of the lid, wherein a location of a region of attachment of the further biasing means to the cam means and a location of a region of engagement of the cam means with the lid, relative to a centre of rotation of the cam, is such that a force applied by the cam means to the lid is greater than a force applied to the cam means by the further biasing means.

15. A lifting aid or hinge substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.