Multi-piece door with hidden hinge
AssigneeThe Budd Company
InventorsJames P. Lagrou, Douglas A. Rozier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is provided a door closure apparatus for covering a single opening in a vehicle body. The apparatus including a first door, a second door and a third door, each door being pivotally supported by hinges which are concealed from view when the first, second, and third doors are in a closed position.
Claims12
A vehicle closure apparatus for covering an opening in a vehicle body, said apparatus comprising:
- a first vertical door member pivotable about a first vertical pivot axis passing through a first hinge attached to said first vertical door member;
- a second vertical door member pivotable about a second vertical pivot axis passing through a second hinge attached to said second vertical door member;
- and
- a horizontal door member pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis passing through a third hinge attached to said horizontal door members wherein said hinges are concealed from view when said door members are in a closed position, and wherein said first and second hinges allow said vertical door members to open more than 180.degree..
A hinge incorporated within a closure apparatus for a vehicle having an opening therein, said hinge being concealed when said apparatus is in a closed position, said hinge comprising:
- a hinge base attached to a structure of the vehicle, said hinge base having a base attachment segment and a base arm segment, said base arm segment having a base pivot aperture therein;
- a hinge crank attached to a door member of the vehicle, said hinge crank having a crank attachment segment and a crank arm segment, said crank arm segment having a crank pivot aperture therein;
- a hinge pin pivotally connecting said hinge base and said hinge crank;
- and
- a door check device;
- wherein said hinge pin provides a pivot axis about which said hinge base and said hinge crank pivot relative to one another more than 180.degree., said door check device providing a resistance to said hinge base and said hinge crank pivoting about said axis and retaining said hinge base and said hinge crank in a selected position until a force greater than a predetermined threshold is applied thereto.
A vehicle closure apparatus for covering an opening of a vehicle body comprising:
- a first vertical door member pivotably attached to a first vertical hinge on the vehicle body;
- and
- a second vertical door member pivotably attached to a second vertical hinge on the vehicle body;
- wherein said hinges are located within the normal exterior of the vehicle body to conceal said hinges from outside view when said door members are in a closed position;
- and wherein said hinges are located at a predetermined distance from the vehicle body to allow uninhabited access to the full width of the opening of the vehicle body when said door members are in an open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.