Concealed door hinge with shifting pivot point
AssigneeB/E Aerospace, Inc.
InventorRobert J. Lawrence
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hinge assembly for a swinging door includes a shifting pivot point movable between a first concealed positioned and a second extended position to provide clearance for protruding trim pieces and the like upon opening the swinging door. A double action spring mechanism energizes to drive the shifting pivot point between the first and second positions. An assembly including a link arm and a bell crank is driven by the double action spring mechanism to shift the shifting pivot point and locking mechanisms are provided to lock each of the link arm and the bell crank in their respective extended positions. A compartment assembly includes a swinging door, a fixed structure to which the swinging door is movably coupled, at least one hinge assembly according to the present disclosure.
Claims15
A door hinge assembly, comprising:
- a double action spring mechanism for attachment to a swinging door;
- a sliding carriage coupled to a spring plate of the double action spring mechanism, the sliding carriage slidable along a rail;
- a link arm having a first end pivotally attached to the sliding carriage, and a second end forming a shifting pivot point of the swinging door;
- a bell crank having a first end for pivotal attachment to a fixed structure supporting the swinging door, and a second end pivotally attached to the shifting pivot point of the link arm;
- and
- an actuator mechanism operable for:
- translating the spring plate in a first direction to energize the double action spring mechanism to translate the sliding carriage in the first direction causing the shifting pivot point to shift from a first position to a second position;
- and
- translating the spring plate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to energize the double action spring mechanism to translate the sliding carriage in the second direction causing the shifting pivot point to shift from the second position to the first position.
A compartment door assembly, comprising:
- a swinging door;
- a fixed structure proximate the swinging door;
- and
- at least one door hinge assembly configured to movably couple the swinging door to the fixed structure, the at least one door hinge assembly comprising:
- a double action spring mechanism attached to the swinging door;
- a sliding carriage coupled to a spring plate of the double action spring mechanism, the sliding carriage slidable along a rail;
- a link arm having a first end pivotally attached to the sliding carriage, and a second end forming a shifting pivot point of the swinging door;
- a bell crank having a first end pivotally attached to the fixed structure, and a second end pivotally attached to the shifting pivot point of the link arm;
- and
- an actuator mechanism operable for:
- translating the spring plate in a first direction to energize the double action spring mechanism to translate the sliding carriage in the first direction causing the shifting pivot point to shift from a first position to a second position;
- and
- translating the spring plate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to energize the double action spring mechanism to translate the sliding carriage in the second direction causing the shifting pivot point to shift from the second position to the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.