Tailgate hinge mechanism

Mechanism for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart body side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis between open, closed and removal positions comprising, in combination:

• hinge brackets adapted to be secured to opposite ends of the closure member with each of said hinge brackets having a bushing thereon whose axis is coincident with the axis of pivotal movement of said closure member;
• a vehicle body hinge pin for mounting on each of the spaced apart body side panels coincident with the axis of pivotal movement of the closure member, and configured to rotatably support said bushing thereon, and in turn said closure member on which the hinge brackets are mounted;
• at least one of said bushings having a laterally opening slot therein positioned circumaxially to permit the bushing to be received laterally downwardly over said vehicle body hinge pin when the closure member is in the removal position;
• a torque rod having one end connected in driving engagement to said hinge bracket and the opposite end adapted for connecting the torque rod in driving engagement with said vehicle body hinge pin within the bushing and independently of the rotatable support of the bushing on the hinge pin;
• and
• said torque rod being twisted in tension when the closure member is pivoted to either the closed or open positions from the removal position, thereby providing a counterbalancing effort to assist with pivotal movement of the closure member, and yet permit facile removal of the closure member from the vehicle body when the closure member is in the removal position.

A torque rod assembly for use with a tailgate adapted for pivotal mounting on vehicle body hinge pins comprising, in combination:

• a tailgate hinge bracket for mounting on an end of said tailgate;
• one of said bushing on the tailgate bracket having a bore therethrough for disposition on the pivotal axis of said tailgate on which the bracket is mounted, and a side opening slot communicating with the bore to allow the bushing to be received laterally over said vehicle body hinge pin to rotatably support the hinge bracket, and in turn said tailgate on which the bracket is mounted, on such vehicle body hinge pin;
• a torque rod of generally U-shaped configuration anchored at one end to the hinge bracket and having the opposite end disposed in said bushing for driving engagement with said vehicle body hinge pin upon which the bushing is pivotally received;
• and
• said pivotal support of the bushing on the hinge pin being independent of said torque rod.