Multi-axis hinge for a stylized vehicle door
AssigneeKarma Automotive LLC
InventorsJorge Sordelli, Herbert Ruisinger, Jacques Flynn, Andre Franco Luis, Andreas Thurner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-axis hinge mechanism for a vehicle door. The multi-axis hinge mechanism moves the vehicle door laterally and vertically by means of multiple axial rotations. An actuator pivots the door hinges attaching the door to the vehicle to move the door away from the vehicle while a set of gears translates the motion of the actuator into a vertical rotation of the door.
Claims20
A multi-axis hinge mechanism for connecting a vehicle door to a vehicle frame, the multi-axis hinge mechanism comprising:
- a first arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first arm pivotally connected to the vehicle frame;
- a gearbox hub pivotally connected, by a gearbox post having a first axis, to the second end of the first arm, the gearbox hub comprising a through-hole extending through the gearbox hub along a second axis, the second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- and
- a gearbox rod extending from the vehicle door, wherein:
- at least a portion of the gearbox rod is disposed within the through-hole of the gearbox hub;
- and
- rotation by the gearbox rod about the second axis relative to the gearbox hub causes the vehicle door to translate between an open position and a closed position.
A multi-axis hinge mechanism for connecting a vehicle door to a vehicle frame, the multi-axis hinge mechanism comprising:
- a first arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first arm pivotally connected to the vehicle frame;
- a gearbox hub pivotally connected, by a gearbox post having a first axis, to the second end of the first arm, the gearbox hub comprising a gearbox hub bearing disposed within a through-hole extending through the gearbox hub along a second axis, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis;
- and
- a gearbox rod extending from the vehicle door, wherein:
- at least a portion of the gearbox rod is disposed within the gearbox hub bearing;
- and
- rotation by the gearbox rod about the second axis relative to the gearbox hub causes the vehicle door to translate between an open position and a closed position.
A method of operating a vehicle door between an open position and a closed position, the method comprising:
- pivotally connecting, to a vehicle frame, a first end of a first arm of a multi-axis hinge mechanism;
- pivotally connecting, by a gearbox post having a first axis, a gearbox hub of the multi-axis hinge mechanism to a second end of the first arm of the multi-axis hinge mechanism, wherein the gearbox hub comprises a through-hole extending through the gearbox hub along a second axis, the second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- and
- rotating a gearbox rod of the multi-axis hinge mechanism about the second axis relative to the gearbox hub to cause the vehicle door to translate between the open position and the closed position, wherein the gearbox rod extends from the vehicle door and at least a portion of the gearbox rod is disposed within the through-hole of the gearbox hub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.