Automotive door hinge with door close assist

A hinge adapted to rotationally connect a vehicle door and a vehicle body, comprising:

• a first bracket mountable to one of the door and the body, the first bracket comprising a first housing;
• a second bracket mountable to the other of the door and the body;
• a cam element non-rotationally mounted to the second bracket comprising a cam surface adapted to engage a cam follower, the cam element having at least one shaft configured to rotationally couple the first bracket to the second bracket;
• the cam follower non-rotationally housed within the first housing and adapted to translate longitudinally within the first housing when engaged with the cam surface;
• and
• an energy storage means adapted to store energy when the cam follower longitudinally translates in a first direction and to release energy when the cam follower longitudinally translates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein:
• relative rotation of the first bracket in relation to the second bracket within a predetermined angular range between the first bracket and the second bracket_causes longitudinal translation of the cam follower;
• rotation of the first bracket, in a first rotational direction, past a predetermined position beyond the predetermined angular range in relation to the second bracket as the door is opened results in abutment of a first level surface of the cam follower and a second level surface of the cam element whereby longitudinal translation of the cam follower in the first direction ceases;
• and
• rotation of the first bracket, in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, past the predetermined position in relation to the second bracket as the door is closed results in the cam follower engaging the cam surface and translating longitudinally in the second direction whereby the energy stored by the energy storage means is released to assist in closing the door.