# US 5,346,272 A · Door hinge with infinitely adjustable detent

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- Number: US 5,346,272 A
- Document ID: US5346272A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/073,212
- Filed: 1993-06-07
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-06-07
- Assignees: General Motors Corporation
- Inventors: William L. Priest; Gary D. Bree; David E. Compeau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346272A

## CPC

- E05C 17/20: sliding through a guide (E05C17/18 takes precedence)
- E05F 5/00: Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers (construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04)
- E05B 47/00: Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means (electric permutation locks E05B49/00)
- E05Y 2201/46: Magnets
- E05Y 2400/35: related to specific positions
- E05Y 2400/86: by hand
- E05Y 2900/531: Doors
- E05C: BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS (latching means for sideboard or tailgate structures for vehicles B62D, {B62D33/02}; fastening devices for constructional or engineering elements E04, F16B; locks, fastening devices structurally or operatively combined or having significant cooperation with locks E05B; means for operating or controlling wing fasteners in conjunction with mechanisms for moving the wing E05F)
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A method and apparatus of selectively applying a holding force to a vehicle door hinge, comprises the steps of (i) determining when a vehicle door is open and, when the vehicle door is open, thereafter (ii) sensing door movement to determine if the door has remained substantially stationary in an open position for a predetermined time period, (iii) if the door has remained stationary in an open position for a predetermined time period, activating a braking mechanism to provide a holding force for the door, (iv) if the braking mechanism is activated, determining if the door has moved a predetermined distance since activating the braking mechanism, (v) if the door has moved a predetermined distance since activating the braking mechanism, deactivating the braking mechanism, (vi) sensing whether the door is closed, and (vii) if the door is closed, deactivating the braking mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a hinge mounted to the vehicle body;
a vehicle door hung on the hinge and pivotable with respect to the vehicle body, allowing the door to open and closed;
means for mechanically coupling the vehicle door hinge to an electric braking mechanism
first sensing means for determining whether the vehicle door has been in a stationary position for a predetermined amount of time;
means for activating the electric braking mechanism when the first sensing means determines that the vehicle door has been in the stationary position for the predetermined amount of time, thereby providing a holding force to the vehicle door in the stationary position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein also comprising:
second sensing means for sensing whether the vehicle door is open and for sensing whether the vehicle door is closed; and
means responsive to the second sensing means for deactivating the electric braking mechanism when the vehicle door is closed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationary position may be any one of a set of all possible door open positions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein there are an infinite number of door open positions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for mechanically coupling the vehicle door hinge to an electric braking mechanism includes a sector gear and at least one idle gear.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein the second sensing means includes a door-ajar switch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the first sensing means includes an optical sensor mounted to the electric braking mechanism.

### Claim 8

A method of selectively applying a holding force to a vehicle door hinge, comprising the steps of:
(i) determining if a vehicle door is open and, if the vehicle door is open, thereafter;
(ii) sensing movement of the vehicle door to determine if the vehicle door has remained substantially stationary in an open position for a predetermined time period;
(iii) if the vehicle door has remained stationary in the open position for the predetermined time period, activating an electromagnetic braking mechanism to provide a holding force for the door;
(iv) if the electromagnetic braking mechanism is activated, determining if the vehicle door has moved a predetermined distance since activating the braking mechanism;
(v) if the electromagnetic braking mechanism is activated and if the vehicle door has moved the predetermined distance since activating the electromagnetic braking mechanism, deactivating the electromagnetic braking mechanism;
(vi) sensing whether the vehicle door is closed; and
(vii) if the vehicle door is closed, deactivating the electromagnetic braking mechanism.

### Claim 9

A method of selectively applying a holding force to a vehicle door hinge, comprising the steps of:
(i) sensing movement of a vehicle door to determine if the vehicle door has remained substantially stationary in an open position for a predetermined time period;
(ii) if the door has remained stationary in the open position for the predetermined time period, activating an electromagnetic braking mechanism to provide a holding force for the vehicle door;
(iii) if the electromagnetic braking mechanism is activated, determining if the vehicle door has moved a predetermined distance since activating the braking mechanism;
(iv) if the electromagnetic braking mechanism is activated and if the vehicle door has moved a predetermined distance since activating the electromagnetic braking mechanism, deactivating the electromagnetic braking mechanism.