Back to results
US 6,003,204 AGranted
Hood hinge mechanism
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsJames Edward Roach, Ronald James Baker, Ronald Ervin Brunner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hood hinge mechanism having a pivot pin having a D-shaped cross sectional shape positioned within a recess. The hood and pin are pivotal to a position whereat the D-shaped cross section is oriented to pass through a slotted opening to the recess to thereby allow the hood to be removed or installed on the vehicle. A bracket coupled with the hood abuts a support member when the hood is pivoted to its fully open position such that the hood is held open by the weight of the hood and is generally blocked from being detached from the vehicle unless acted upon by an operator.
Claims14
A mechanism comprising:
- a vehicle having a compartment and a compartment enclosure the enclosure having three pivoted positions, a first position whereat the enclosure is positioned to cover the compartment, a second position whereat the enclosure is fully opened, and a third position whereat the enclosure is pivoted slightly toward the first position from the second position,
- a hinge mechanism coupled between the enclosure and the vehicle and being oriented to allow pivotal motion of the enclosure between the first, second and third positions and removal of the enclosure from the vehicle in the third position,
- said hinge mechanism comprising a support structure carried by the vehicle, said support structure includes a semicircular recess and an opening to the recess,
- said hinge mechanism further comprising a pin member coupled with the enclosure and pivotably received within the recess, said pin member having a semicircular cross sectional shape that includes a flatted portion, said pin member having a diameter that is larger than the opening such that the diameter of the pin member blocks the pin member from shifting out of the recess through the opening when the enclosure is in the first position, and the pin member has a dimension perpendicular to the flatted portion that is smaller than the opening such that the dimension of the pin member perpendicular to the flatted portion will fit through the opening when the enclosure is in the third position for removal of the enclosure from the vehicle,
- wherein to remove the enclosure from the vehicle the enclosure is pivoted toward the first position from the second position until the third position is reached, at which time clearance is provided for the enclosure and pin member to be lifted up and out of the recess through the opening,
- wherein an inner diameter of the recess is only slightly larger than an outer diameter of the pin member such that the pin member pivots about a central axis of the recess and with the semicircular shape of the pin member in close abutment with the inner diameter of the recess as the enclosure pivots between the first, second and third positions, and
- wherein the semicircular shape and the flatted portion of the pin member define a D-shaped cross section of the pin member.
4 more elements
A mechanism comprising:
- a vehicle having a compartment and a compartment enclosure, the enclosure having three pivoted positions, a first position whereat the enclosure is positioned to cover the compartment, a second position whereat the enclosure is fully opened, and a third position whereat the enclosure is pivoted slightly toward the first position from the second position, the enclosure and hinge mechanism being oriented to remove the enclosure from the vehicle in the third position,
- a hinge mechanism coupled between the vehicle and the enclosure,
- said hinge mechanism comprising a support structure carried by the vehicle, said support structure includes a semicircular recess and an opening to the recess,
- said hinge mechanism further comprising a pin member coupled with the enclosure and pivotably received within the recess, said pin member having a D-shaped cross section having a semicircular shape and a flatted portion, said pin member having a diameter that is larger than the opening such that the diameter of the semicircular shape of the pin member blocks the pin member from shifting out of the recess through the opening when the enclosure is in the first position, and the pin member has a dimension perpendicular to the flatted portion that is smaller than the opening such that the dimension of the pin member perpendicular to the flatted portion will fit through the opening when the enclosure is in the third position for removal of the enclosure from the vehicle,
- wherein an inner diameter of the recess is only slightly larger than an outer diameter of the pin member, such that the pin member pivots about a central axis of the recess and with the semicircular shape of the pin member in close abutment with an inner diameter of the recess as the enclosure pivots between the first, second and third positions, and
- wherein in the first position the pin member is oriented with the semi-circular shape adjacent the opening for blocking the pin member from shifting out of the recess through the opening, and in the third position the flatted portion is aligned with and adjacent the opening for allowing the pin member to pass through the opening,
- wherein to remove the enclosure from the vehicle the enclosure is pivoted toward the first position from the second position until the third position is reached, at which time clearance is provided for the enclosure and pin member to be lifted up and out of the recess through the opening.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.