Hinge

A hinge mechanism for hingedly interconnecting two components together, comprising:

• a first hinge member including means for attachment to a first one of said two components;
• a second hinge member including means for attachment to a second one of said two components;
• pivot pin means, defining a hinge axis, for interconnecting said first and second hinge members together such that said first hinge member is hingedly movable with respect to said second hinge member about said hinge axis;
• roller means mounted upon a roller axle disposed within said second hinge member such that said roller axle is disposed parallel to said hinge axis, said second hinge member having slot means defined therein for permitting said roller axle to be movable with respect to said second hinge member;
• support surface means defined upon said first hinge member for rollably supporting said roller means of said second hinge member so as to provide controlled hinged movement of said first hinge member relative to said second hinge member;
• and
• means, directly interconnecting and mounted upon said roller axle and said pivot pin means, for directly biasing said roller axle with respect to said pivot pin means and for biasing said roller means into surface contact with said support surface means of said first hinge member so as to insure said controlled hinged movement of said first hinge member relative to said second hinge member, said pivot pin means having means provided thereon for accommodating and securing said biasing means upon said pivot pin means.

A hinge mechanism for hingedly interconnecting two components together, comprising:

• a first hinge member including means for attachment to a first one of said two components;
• a second hinge member including means for attachment to a second one of said two components;
• pivot pin means, defining a hinge axis, for interconnecting said first and second hinge members together such that said first hinge member is hingedly movable with respect to said second hinge member about said hinge axis;
• roller means mounted upon a roller axle disposed within said second hinge member such that said roller axle is disposed parallel to said hinge axis, said second hinge member having slot means defined therein for permitting said roller axle to be movable with respect to said second hinge member;
• support surface means defined upon said first hinge member for rollably supporting said roller means of said second hinge member so as to provide controlled hinged movement of said first hinge member relative to said second hinge member;
• means, directly interconnecting and mounted upon said roller axle and said pivot pin means, for directly biasing said roller axle toward said pivot pin means and for biasing said roller means into surface contact with said support surface means of said first hinge member so as to insure said controlled hinged movement of said first hinge member relative to said second hinge member, said pivot pin means having means provided thereon for accommodating and securing said biasing means upon said pivot pin means;
• and
• a polymer sleeve disposed about said roller means so as to substantially eliminate any noise generated as a result of said roller means rollably engaging said support surface means of said first hinge member as said first hinge member is hingedly moved with respect to said second hinge member.

A vehicle door hinge mechanism for hingedly interconnecting a vehicle door to a vehicle body, comprising:

• a first hinge member including means for attachment to said vehicle door;
• a second hinge member including means for attachment to said vehicle body;
• pivot pin means, defining a hinge axis, for interconnecting said first and second hinge members together such that said first hinge member and said vehicle door are hingedly movable with respect to said second hinge member and said vehicle body about said hinge axis;
• roller means mounted upon a roller axle disposed within said second hinge member such that said roller axle is disposed parallel to said hinge axis, said second hinge member having slot means defined therein for permitting said roller axle to be movable with respect to said second hinge member;
• cam support surface means defined upon said first hinge member for rollably supporting said roller means of said second hinge member and comprising three cam recesses for releasably housing said roller means at three predetermined positions such that said first hinge member and said vehicle door are releasably retained at open, intermediate, and closed positions, respectively, with respect to said second hinge member and said vehicle body when said first hinge member and said vehicle door are hingedly moved with respect to said second hinge member and said vehicle body;
• and
• means, directly interconnecting and mounted upon said roller axle and said pivot pin means, for directly biasing said roller axle toward said pivot pin means and for biasing said roller means into surface contact with said cam support surface means, and within said cam recesses of said cam support surface means, so as to insure controlled hinged movement of said first hinge member and said vehicle door with respect to said second hinge member and said vehicle body, said pivot pin means having means provided thereon for accommodating and securing said biasing means upon said pivot pin means.