Asymmetrical hinge based counterbalance mechanism

A method for coupling a closure panel to a body of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• provide a pair of hinges, each connected to both the closure panel by a respective panel side bracket and to the body by a respective body side bracket;
• provide a pair of torsion elements extending between the pair of hinges;
• configure a first mechanical coupling of a first hinge of the pair of hinges to be driven directly by a second torsion element of the pair of torsion elements;
• and
• configure a second mechanical coupling of a second hinge of the pair of hinges to be driven indirectly by a first torsion element of the pair of torsion elements;
• wherein the pair of torsion elements are positioned relative to one another in a non-overlapping manner.

A hinge based counterbalance mechanism (16) for operating a hinge (12) of a closure panel (14) of a vehicle (10) to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel between a closed position and an open position, the hinge based counterbalance mechanism including:

• a pair of hinges (12′, 12″) such that each hinge of the pair of hinges having a body side portion (12b) for connecting to a body (11) of the vehicle and a panel side portion (12a) for connecting to the closure panel, the body side portion and the panel side portion coupled to one another by a respective mechanical coupling (55′, 55″);
• a pair of torsion elements (15a, 15b) each having a free end coupled to a respective gear (50′,50″) and a fixed end coupled to either of the body side portion or the body, the fixed end inhibited from rotating relative to the free end and the free end able to rotate about a torsion axis of the torsion element;
• wherein the pair of torsion elements are positioned relative to one another in a parallel manner;
• wherein the pair of hinges are not mirror images of one another when viewed from a position between the hinges when the pair of torsion elements (15a, 15b) are coupled to the pair of hinges.