Hinge assembly and method for manufacturing same

A hinge member for use with another hinge member to define a hinge assembly for pivotally connecting a vehicle closure member to a vehicle body, the another hinge member including a mounting structure configured to mount the another hinge member to one of the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body, the another hinge member also including a wall portion extending from the mounting structure to define a rotatable member receiving space;

• the hinge member comprising:
• a mounting structure configured to mount the hinge member to the other of the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body;
• and
• a rotatable member extending from the mounting structure to define a pivot axis, the rotatable member being configured to be rotatably received in the shaft receiving space for enabling both the hinge members to pivot relative to one another about the pivot axis;
• the rotatable member and the mounting structure being integrally formed together from a single piece of metal.

A hinge system for pivotally connecting a vehicle closure member to a vehicle body, the system comprising:

• a pair of hinge assemblies for installation in spaced apart relation between the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body, each hinge assembly comprising:
• a first hinge member including a first mounting structure configured to mount the first hinge member to one of the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body, the first hinge member also including a rotatable member extending from said first mounting structure and defining a pivot axis, the rotatable member and the first mounting structure being integrally formed together from a single piece of metal;
• and
• a second hinge member including a second mounting structure configured to mount the second hinge member to the other of the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body, the second hinge member also including a wall portion extending from said second mounting structure to define a rotatable member receiving space, the rotatable member receiving space being configured to rotatably receive the rotatable member for enabling the first and second hinge members to pivot relative to one another about the pivot axis, the wall portion and the second mounting structure being integrally formed together from a single piece of metal;
• the rotatable member of at least one of the hinge assemblies being oblong in cross-section and the wall portion of the at least one of the hinge assemblies defining an opening facing radially with respect to the pivot axis,
• the opening being configured to enable the oblong rotatable member when oriented with its major axis substantially aligned with the opening to be moved through the opening so as to allow the first and second hinge members thereof to be disengaged for enabling removal of the vehicle closure member from the vehicle body.

A combination comprising:

• a vehicle body;
• a vehicle closure member;
• and
• a hinge system comprising:
• a pair of hinge assemblies for installation in spaced apart relation between the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body, each hinge assembly comprising:
• a first hinge member including a first mounting structure mounted to one of the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body, the first hinge member also including a rotatable member extending from the first mounting structure and defining a pivot axis, the rotatable member and the first mounting structure being integrally formed together from a single piece of metal;
• and
• a second hinge member including a second mounting structure mounted to the other of the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body, the second hinge member also including a wall portion extending from the second mounting structure to define a rotatable member receiving space, the rotatable member receiving space rotatably receiving the rotatable member therein for enabling the first and second hinge members to pivot relative to one another about the pivot axis, the wall portion and the second mounting structure being integrally formed together from a single piece of metal;
• the rotatable member of at least one of the hinge assemblies being oblong in cross-section and the wall portion of the at least one of the hinge assemblies defining an opening facing radially with respect to the pivot axis,
• the opening being configured to enable the oblong rotatable member, when oriented with its major axis substantially aligned with the opening, to be moved through the opening so as to allow the first and second hinge members thereof to be disengaged for enabling removal of the vehicle closure member from the vehicle body.

A method of forming a hinge member for use with another hinge member to define a hinge assembly for pivotally connecting a vehicle closure member to a vehicle body, the another hinge member including a mounting structure configured to mount the another hinge member to one of the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body, the another hinge member also including a wall portion extending from the mounting structure to define a rotatable member receiving space;

• the method comprising:
• providing a one-piece metal blank;
• forming a rotatable member protruding from the one-piece metal blank outwardly therefrom, the rotatable member being configured to be rotatably received within the rotatable member receiving space of the another hinge member for enabling both hinge members to pivot relative to one another about the pivot axis;
• forming a mounting structure from the one-piece metal blank integral with the rotatable member, the mounting structure being configured to mount the hinge member to the other of the vehicle closure member and the vehicle body.