Articulated door hinge for an automotive vehicle

An articulated door hinge attaching a vehicle door having an outer surface with a leading edge and an inner surface to a vehicle pillar having an outer surface and an inner surface, the door hinge comprising:

• an upper and a lower pillar half linkage each having a base rigidly attached to the pillar inner surface and a bearing surface projecting from the base supporting a pair of horizontally spaced rotary center shafts;
• an upper and a lower door half linkage each having a base rigidly attached to the door inner surface and a bearing surface projecting from the base supporting a pair of horizontally spaced rotary center shafts;
• an upper and a lower forward link each connecting corresponding upper and lower longitudinally forward most rotary center shafts of the door half linkage to the pillar half linkage;
• an upper and a lower rearward link each connecting corresponding upper and lower longitudinally rearward most rotary center shafts of the door half linkage to the pillar half linkage thereby creating an articulated door hinge;
• the articulated door hinge operable between a door closed position where the door outer surface leading edge is a predetermined distance from the pillar outer surface and a door open position where the door outer surface leading edge is moved laterally inward and longitudinally rearward of the pillar outer surface;
• wherein the door outer surface leading edge moves continuously laterally inward and rearward of the pillar outer surface during the entire range of motion as the door moves from the door closed position to the door open position.

An articulated door hinge attaching a vehicle door having an outer surface with a leading edge and an inner surface to a vehicle pillar having an outer surface and an inner surface, the door hinge comprising:

• an upper and a lower pillar half linkage each having a base rigidly attached to the pillar inner surface and a bearing surface projecting from the base supporting a pair of horizontally spaced rotary center shafts;
• an upper and a lower door half linkage each having a base rigidly attached to the door inner surface and a bearing surface projecting from the base supporting a pair of horizontally spaced rotary center shafts;
• an upper and a lower forward link each connecting corresponding upper and lower longitudinally forward most rotary center shafts of the door half linkage to the pillar half linkage;
• an upper and a lower rearward link each connecting corresponding upper and lower longitudinally rearward most rotary center shafts of the door half linkage to the pillar half linkage thereby creating upper and lower hinge mechanisms;
• a torsional support shaft connecting upper and lower hinge mechanisms thereby creating a unitary articulated door binge;
• the articulated door hinge operable between a door closed position where the door outer surface leading edge is a predetermined distance from the pillar outer surface and a door open position where the door outer surface leading edge is moved laterally inward and longitudinally rearward of the pillar outer surface;
• wherein the door outer surface leading edge moves continuously laterally inward and rearward of the pillar outer surface during the entire range of motion as the door moves from the door closed position to the door open position.