Hinge system

Details Hinge system Hinge system

2000-01-25

2001-03-06

Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Door or window with specified vehicle feature

C296S146120, C296S155000, C049S248000, C016S082000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06196618

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a vehicle door system and more particularly, to a hinge mechanism that improves vehicle accessibility in general but especially in the case of vehicles with multiple rows of passenger seats and in the case of vehicles with a rear storage area in the passenger compartment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle accessibility has been an ever present design challenge since modes of human transportation began using enclosed bodies. Countless closure mechanisms have been invented to solve the persistent problem. The factors influencing the solution that is available for a given vehicle include: exterior styling, interior usage, opening size, location of the opening on the vehicle body, and many others. In the case of side door openings on a typical multi-passenger vehicle, the generally used solution is to employ a single closure per opening that is separated from any adjacent closures by pillars. Each such closure has two single pivoting hinges placed at the front or rear end of the door to swingingly connect the door to the body, with both hinges supporting the weight of the door. A commonly used rule of thumb is to place the hinges with at least fifteen inches of separation between them to control gaps. Generally, a single latch is used at the opposite end of the door from the hinges to releasably hold the door in a closed position on the body.
Apart from the generally employed closure scheme, other means that have been developed include the double pivot door hinge of U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,065 and the double latching mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,690. Both of these options have been used in the context of a double door closure scheme without a central opening pillar. That type of a system has been recognized as advantageous from an accessibility convenience standpoint. In spite of those references, the generally pursued option for closures on vehicles with multiple rows of seats has been to provide single doored openings with standard type hinges and to provide a means of manipulating the seats to aid in access. A reference showing that type of solution is U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,255.
Summarizing, the state of the art presently teaches that most vehicles include side doors that pivotably open on twin hinges that are connected to the vehicle body. Further, when multiple side doors are employed, all doors usually open in the same general direction. A well known exception is van type vehicles that commonly include sliding rear side doors to improve accessibility to multiple rows of rear seats. That system is much like the one used in the '690 Patent referenced above, (with a center pillar). Therefore, in the design process, if one where to stray from the common swinging door scheme, the prior art provides strong motivation for employing sliding rear doors. Venturing beyond that option remains unpredictable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Aspects of the present invention reside in a hinge system comprising a hinge assembly with a support link having a first end pivotably connected to a first strap and having a second end pivotably connected to a second strap. In the case of the preferred exemplary embodiment, described here as an aid in readily conveying the nature of the invention, the first strap has a first substantially planar mounting segment and the second strap has a second substantially planar mounting segment, with the first and second mounting segments continuously remaining substantially parallel to one another during operation of the hinge system. An arm assembly is preferably included that has first and second brackets connected by first and second arms, each arm including equivalent offsets that are placed at different distances from the first bracket so that a segment of the first arm nests under the second bracket when in a closed position. Other preferred features of the present invention include a bumper mounted on the support link and a box section structure of various components.
The numbered claims found at the conclusion of this specification particularly and distinctly define the subject matter of the invention per se.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1253641 (1918-01-01), Steele
patent: 2993730 (1961-07-01), Weiertz
patent: 3004303 (1961-10-01), Wilmer
patent: 3051280 (1962-08-01), Bergman et al.
patent: 3074755 (1963-01-01), Peras
patent: 3466698 (1969-09-01), Nystrom
patent: 4019775 (1977-04-01), Grossbach et al.
patent: 4025104 (1977-05-01), Grossbach et al.
patent: 4110934 (1978-09-01), Zens
patent: 4135760 (1979-01-01), Grossbach
patent: 4157846 (1979-06-01), Whitcroft
patent: 4505500 (1985-03-01), Utsumi et al.
patent: 4561690 (1985-12-01), Shinjo et al.
patent: 4797971 (1989-01-01), Eger et al.
patent: 4932714 (1990-06-01), Chance
patent: 5244247 (1993-09-01), Kuwabara
patent: 5398988 (1995-03-01), DeRees et al.
patent: 5491875 (1996-02-01), Siladke et al.
patent: 5632065 (1997-05-01), Siladke et al.
patent: 5871255 (1999-02-01), Harland et al.
patent: 6030025 (2000-02-01), Kanerva
patent: 6052870 (2000-04-01), Hagenlocher et al.
patent: 000180922 (1986-05-01), None
patent: 2542796 (1984-09-01), None
patent: 002700505 (1994-07-01), None
patent: 000902405 (1962-08-01), None
U.S. Ser. No. 09/490,530 entitled “Articulating Closure” filed Jan. 25, 2000.
“From 4-door to more-door”, Automotive News, p. 1, Mar. 27, 2000.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Hinge system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Hinge system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hinge system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2492320