Door Hinge for Vehicle

The subject invention is directed to a door hinge assembly which is designed to be used in an automotive application, such as on a van or motor home.

There are a multiplicity of door hinge constructions utilized for connecting a pivoting door to a stationary wall structure of an automobile or a van. In a vehicle such as a van, it is advantageous to be able to move the door assembly completely out of the path of the doorway opening. For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,945 to Barenyi, issued July 20, 1965, discloses a door hinge assembly for effectively moving a door away from the doorway opening. In this assembly, the hinge is constructed so as to outwardly move the door and then effectively slide the door sideways and away from the doorway opening.

Other assemblies have used double-hinge constructions for pivoting a door 180.degree. so as to swing the door completely away from the doorway opening. The U.S. Pat. No. 2,372,431 to Kahle, issued Mar. 27, 1945, dislcoses such a hinge assembly. The Kahle patent discloses a hidden door hinge including a primary and secondary hinge pin. The door hinge often includes a U-shaped member which is in rotating relationship with the primary and secondary hinge pins, respectively. A hinge control extending throughout the full length of the door is disposed closely about the hinge member. The door wall is rotatably attached via loops which are aligned with the loop of the hinge member. The assembly includes stops for limiting further pivotal movement of the door when moved 180.degree. from its fully closed position. Double-door hinges have also been shown in other environments. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 378,861 to Atwood, issued Mar. 6, 1888; 401,086 to Turner, issued Apr. 9, 1889; and 1,689,664 to Covell, issued Oct. 30, 1928, al disclose dual-pin hinge assemblies.

In the particular environment of an automobile or van, it is preferable to have a dual-stop hinge wherein the door may be opened 90.degree. relative to the doorway opening to allow exit and entrance of passengers and, further, to open the door 180.degree. to allow for entrance and exit of cargo. No prior art patent discloses means for achieving the result of effectively opening the door to a 90.degree. stop and then selective opening of the door to a 180.degree. stop.

Additionally, automotive vehicles such as vans have outwardly curved side panels and doors in the side panels for entrance and exit of passengers and cargo. Presently, to provide an effective hinge for the door wherein the hinge is placed along the curved side panel, it is necessary that the hinge extend outwardly from the panel so as to provide sufficient clearance for the door as it opens. These hinges are aesthetically unsightly as they take away from the lines of the side panels of the vans. Further, they provide unwanted projections extending outwardly from the doors. The instant invention provides a hidden hinge disposed entirely within the door panels which also provide for sufficient clearance to allow incremental and a total 180.degree. opening of the door.

The subject invention provides a door hinge including a bracket having first and second ends. A first support means supports the first end from a door, the first support means including first connecting means for connecting the first end of the bracket for pivoting movement relative to the first support means, and second support means for supporting the second end from a stationary wall. The second support means includes second connecting means for connecting the second end of the bracket for pivoting movement relative to the second support means. The instant invention is characterized by including hinge latching means for reversibly latching one of the first and second ends of the bracket member from pivoting movement relative to the respective one of the first and second support means.

The instant invention provides a door hinge assembly of the dual-pin type which effectively locks the rotation about one of the hinges selectively to open the door 90.degree. and allowing for unlocking of the other door hinge to allow continued rotation of the door to 180.degree. relative to the door wall support.

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the instant invention connecting a door to a door wall;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the instant invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective cross-sectional view of the instant invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 8--8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view partially broken away of the subject door hinge opened 90.degree..

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the subject door hinge in the 90.degree. open position;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the second support means of the instant invention shown in the 180.degree. open position;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the locking means in the locked position in full lines and in the unlocked position in phantom;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, perspective view partially broken away and in cross section of the subject door hinge open to the 180.degree. open condition and;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the subject door hinge in the 180.degree. open position.

A vehicle comprising the instant invention is generally shown at 10 in the Figures. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle includes a side wall panel 12 and a door frame 14 supported therein. A door 16 including a conventional handle 18 is connected to the door frame 14 by means of hinges generally shown at 20. The handle 18 operates a door locking mechanism which releasably fixes the door 16 relative to the door frame 14. The hinge means 20 connects the door 16 to the door frame 14 for swinging movement of the door relative to the door frame for a 180.degree. turn. The door 16, door frame 14 and body 12 are outwardly curved.

The door hinge 20 includes a bracket member 22 having a first end portion 24 and a second end portion 26. The door hinge 20 includes first support means comprising bracket member 28 for supporting the first end 24 of the bracket 22 from the door frame 14. The first support means 28 includes first connecting means comprising pin member 30 for connecting the first end 24 of the bracket member 22 for pivoting movement relative to the first support means 28. The door hinge 20 further includes second support means comprising bracket member 32 for supporting the second end 26 of the bracket member 22 from the door 16. The second support means 32 includes second connecting means comprising a second pin 34 for connecting the second end 26 of the bracket member 22 for pivoting movement relative to the second support means 32. The invention is characterized by including hinge latching means 48 for releasably or reversibly latching one of the first and second ends 24, 26 of the bracket member 22 from pivoting movement relative to the respective one of the first and second support means 28, 32. In other words, the hinge latching means 48 may releasably latch one of the first or second ends 24, 26 of the bracket member 22 relative to the respective adjacent one of the support means 28, 32.

More specifically, the first support means 28 is mounted within the door frame 14 and the second support means 32 is mounted within the door 16. The door frame 14 includes an opening 36 within the vehicle 10 and the door 16 includes an opening 38 within the vehicle 10. The bracket member 22 is substantially C-shaped and includes a first leg 40 extending through the opening 36 in the door frame 14 and a second leg 42 extending through the opening 38 in the door 16 and an intermediate portion 44 extending between the first and second leg portions 40, 42 whereby the hinge means 20 is disposed completely within the vehicle 10. The instant invention does not protrude outside the vehicle when the door is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 1. In other words, the hinge means 20 of the instant invention is completely hidden from view from outside the vehicle 10 when the door 16 is in the closed position. Moreover, the bracket member 22 completely covers the openings 36 and 38 from view from inside the vehicle. Said another way, the first and second pivotal connecting means 30, 34 lie in a plane substantially parallel to an exterior face of the door 16 when the door 16 is in the closed position as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8.

The intermediate portion 44 of the bracket member 22 includes an outwardly curved portion 46 adjacent to the first leg 40. The curved portion 46 provides clearance of the bracket member 22 as the door 16 is moved to the open position as discussed below.

The hinge latching means includes a latch member generally indicated at 48 mounted on the second support means 32 by a pin member 50. The pin member 50 is mounted on a bracket member 52, the bracket member 52 being fixedly secured to the second support means 32. The latch member 48 has a locked condition as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 9, 12 and 13 wherein the latch member 48 engages the second leg 42 of the bracket member 22 to prevent pivoting movement of the bracket member 22 relative to the second support means 32. The latch member 48 has an unlocked condition as shown in phantom in FIGS. 9, 12 and 13 wherein the latch member 22 is disengaged from the second leg 42. As shown in FIG. 12, the latch member 48 includes a leg portion 54 having a notch 56 therein, the leg portion 54 pivoting to engage the notch 56 on the second leg 42 in the locked condition and to release the notch 56 from the second leg 40 in the unlocked condition. In the locked condition the door 16 is fixed relative to the bracket member 20. As the door 16 is released from the body portion 12, the bracket member 22 pivots about the pin 30. Upon release of the latch member 48, the door 16 is able to pivot about the pin member 34 thereby moving the door 16 relative to the bracket member 22. The curved portion 46 of the bracket member 22 allows for clearance around the door frame 14 as the door pivots around the pin member 30.

The latch member 48 is L-shaped and has the leg portion 54 at one end and a handle 58 at the other end thereof. The handle 58 extends through an opening 60 in the door 16 to allow for access to the handle 58.

The latching means further includes biasing means for biasing the latch member 48 toward the locked condition. As shown in FIG. 6, a wound spring 63 is used to bias the latch member 48 toward the locked condition.

The first and second ends 24, 26 of the bracket member 22 are substantially C-shaped and disposed about the pin members 30, 34, respectively, in sliding pivotal engagement therewith. The hinge assembly 20 includes 90.degree. pivot restraint means for restraining pivoting movement of the bracket member 22 as it is pivoted 90.degree. about the first pivot axis defined by the first pin 30 relative to the first support means 28. The 90.degree. restraint means includes a check pin 62 mounted on the first support means 28 in spaced parallel relationship to the first pin member 30. The 90.degree. pivot restraint means further includes a detent member 64 mounted on the first end 24 of the bracket member 22. The detent 64 includes a shoulder 66 which engages the check pin 62 when the bracket member 22 pivots 90.degree. about the first pin member 30 relative to the first support means 28 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The pin 62 may be a spring pin having a rubber sleeve thereover. The shoulder or cammed surface 66 of the detent 64 deforms the spring pin 62 prior to seating of the spring pin 62 in the shoulder 66. The sleeve around the pin 62 promotes free movement of the detent member 64 against the pin 62, alleviating any noise due to frictional contact between the members.

The assembly 10 further includes 90.degree. pivot stop means for stopping pivoting movement of the bracket member 22 at 90.degree. about the first pivot axis relative to the first support means 28. The 90.degree. pivot stop means includes an extended end portion 65 of the first support means 28 which abuts against the first leg 40 of the bracket member 22 when the bracket member 22 is pivoted 90.degree., as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The assembly further includes 180.degree. pivot stop means for stopping pivoting movement of the second support means 32 as it is pivoted 90.degree. about the second pivot axis defined by the second pin member 34 relative to the bracket member 22. In this manner, the 180.degree. pivot stop means provides a stop when the door 16 is effectively pivoted 180.degree. relative to its closed position, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. The 180.degree. pivot stop means includes a stop plate 68 extending from the C-shaped second end 26 of the bracket member 22 tangentially relative to the second pivot axis defined by the second pin member 34. The stop plate 68 engages the second support means 32 when the second support means 32 pivots 90.degree. relative to the bracket member 22 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. Thus, the instant invention provides a first stop means comprising the detent member 64 and pin 62 which stop the door movement as it is opened 90.degree. and a second stop member comprising the stop plate 68 which stops the door movement at 180.degree..

The assembly 10 includes 180.degree. locking means for locking pivoting movement of the second support means 32 at 90.degree. about the second pivot axis relative to the bracket member 22. The 180.degree. locking means includes an end portion of the latch member 48 which engages an outer surface of the second end 26 of the bracket member 22 when the door 16 is completely open, as shown in FIGS. 11, 13, and 14. The biasing spring 63 biases the latch member 48 downwardly into the locking position. The latch member 48 may be pivoted to raise the end portion of the latch member 48 to release the door 16 from the locked condition.

The door frame 14 defines a first housing for enclosing the first support means 28 and the first end 24 of the bracket member 22. The door 16 defines a second housing for enclosing the second support means 32 and the second end 26 of the bracket member 22. The assembly includes seal means for perfecting a seal between the door frame 14 and door 16 when the door is in the closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, 7 and 8. The meeting walls of the door frame 14 and door 16 define a pocket 70 therebetween when the door is in the closed position. The seal means is disposed within the pocket 70. The seal means comprises essentially a flexible tubular member 72 having a hollow longitudinal center portion 74. The hollow longitudinal center portion 74 collapses as the door 16 is brought into the closed position adjacent the door frame 14 thereby perfecting a seal within the pocket 70. The door frame 14 includes a flange 76 extending into the pocket 70. The seal member 72 includes a lip 78 for gripping the flange 76 for retaining the seal member 72 within the pocket 70.

A screen door 80 may be pivotally connected about the pin 30 for swinging movement when the door 16 is opened.

In operation, the door 16 is shown in the closed position in FIGS. 1 through 8. The door latch mechanism 18 prevents movement about either pivot axis defined by pins 30, 34. The latch member 48 is in the locked condition securing the second support bracket 32 to the second leg 42 of the bracket member 20 and the door 16 itself is locked to the body 12 of the vehicle 10. When the door latch mechanism 18 is unlatched, the door 16 is opened as the bracket member 22 pivots about the pin member 30. As the door 16 releases from the seal member 72, the door swings as the bracket member 22 extends through the opening 36 in the door frame 14. As the shoulder 66 of the detent member 64 engages the pin 62, the door 16 is restrained in the open position 90.degree. pivoted relative to the first support member 28. The door 16 is shown in this open position in FIGS. 9 and 10. To completely open the door 16, the latch member 48 is moved to the unlocked condition by releasing the notch 56 from engagement with the second leg 42 of the bracket member 22 thereby allowing further pivoting movement of the door 16 about the second pin 34. The door 16 is stopped by engagement of the stop plate 68 against the second support bracket 32 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. The extending intermediate portion 44 of the bracket member 22 combined with the vertical spacing of the two bracket members 22 supporting the door 16 provides clearance of the door from the door frame 14 and body 12 of the vehicle, thereby allowing the pivoting movement of the curved door so that the door 16 does not engage the door frame 14. In other words, the intermediate portion 44 of the bracket member 22 allows sufficient clearance of the door 16 from the door frame 14 so as to allow continued pivoting movement of the door 16 90.degree. relative to the bracket member 22, thereby effectively swinging the door 180.degree. relative to the door frame 14. Further, the combination of the two hinges 20 spaced vertically from each other places the pivot axis of the two pins 30, 34 within the vehicle 10. In this manner, the hinge means of the instant invention provides a hidden hinge disposed entirely within the door frame 14 and door 16 having a releasable locking mechanism for opening the door either 90.degree. or 180.degree. relative to the door frame 14 and, further, providing hinging means 20 which effectively opens a curved door 180.degree. relative to a curved door frame.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims wherein reference numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in any way limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.