The present invention relates generally to a motor vehicle door hinge assembly having multiple hinge axes about which the door pivots.
A vehicle door that opens along two separate swing paths opens outward along a substantially vertical axis and then upward along an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. When the door is fully open, however, the door can fall back into the A-pillar, to which the hinges are secured, and the door may swing upward before there is sufficient clearance with respect to the front fender.
A need exists in the industry for a door hinge assembly that provides multiple axes about which the door pivots as it opens and closes. Movement of the door as it opens and closes should be guided on a continuous guide path, whose contour can be varied readily to produce angular configurations that avoid interference with road curbing and other obstacles. The hinge assembly preferably would locate the door cutline such that it is visually imperceptible due to its location below the vehicle.
A vehicle door hinge assembly includes a first hinge supported to pivot about a first axis, a guide surface, a door located at a side of the vehicle, a bracket to which the door is secured, supported to pivot about the first axis and a second axis and including a follower engaged with the guide surface, and a strut secured to the bracket and that extends as the bracket pivots toward an open position and retracts as the bracket pivots toward a closed position.
The invention contemplates a method for supporting a vehicle door that includes the steps of providing a first hinge that pivots about a first axis, securing the door to a bracket that is supported on the first hinge to pivot about a second axis, guiding movement of the bracket on a guide surface that is secured in position, and supporting the door in an open position by securing an expandable and retractable strut to the bracket and to a body of the vehicle.
The hinge assembly provides a strut that can be actuated using an onboard power source enabling the doors to be operated other than manually. Swing angles allow the door to close very similar to a conventional door system.
The door is guided as it opens and closes on a continuous, repeatable guide path, whose contour can be varied readily to produce new, unique angular configurations that avoid interference with road curbing.
The hinge assembly allows the cutline to be visually imperceptible due to its location below the vehicle. The design reduces the width of the occupant step out.
The scope of applicability of the preferred embodiment will become apparent from the following detailed description, claims and drawings. It should be understood, that the description and specific examples, although indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. Various changes and modifications to the described embodiments and examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
The assembly 10 includes a body-side bracket 12, which is secured by bolts 14 to the hinge pillar; a vertical hinge 16, which allows the door to swing about an axis 18; a horizontal hinge 20, which is supported to pivot about an axis 22 at upper and lower hinge pins 24, 26, allowing the door to swing about axis 18; a door bracket 28, attached by bolts 30 to the forward edge of the door and supported at the vertical hinge 16; upper and lower guide block 31, 32, secured by bolts 34 to bracket 12, the lower block 32 being formed with a guide surface 36, which guides the path of the door swing; and a strut 38, secured at one end to bracket 12 and at the opposite end to bracket 24, for holding the door open and stabilizing bracket 24 as it pivots about axis 18 while the door opens and closes. The first and second axes 18, 22 are mutually perpendicular, axis 22 being substantially vertical and axis 18 being substantially horizontal.
Door bracket 28 includes a follower 40, which is continually engaged with the arcuate, sloped surface 36. The door swings about axes 18 and 22 as door bracket 28 slides along surface 36 from its lowermost, lowest sloped portion, when the door is closed, toward its uppermost, highest sloped portion, when the door is open, as shown in
Conventionally, a gap is provided between the lower edge of the door and an upper edge formed on the rocker panel, thereby causing a visible discontinuity in the contour of the outer surface comprising the lower outer surface of the door and the outer surface of the rocker panel immediately below the door opening. This gap is called a “cutline.”
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110030171 A1 | Feb 2011 | US |