Double-pivot resistance hinge for motor vehicle door

#The present invention relates generally to door hinges for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a double pivot door hinge for permitting a greater than ninety degree opening of a vehicle door.

#U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,665 discloses a double pivot hinge for vehicle doors. A first and second latch means are alternately movable between latched and unlatched positions to either latch the hinge arm to one hinge butt mounted to the door to permit a 90-degree movement, or to latch the hinge arm to another hinge butt mounted to the vehicle for 90 to 180 degree movement.

#U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,561,887 and 5,685,046 disclose vehicle double pivot door hinges. The door rotates about the vehicle-mounted pivot for a zero to 90 degree movement, the vehicle-mounted pivot being locked releasably in the 90 degree position, for example by a ball detent. Ball detents or cams exterior to the door-mounted pivot keep the door-mounted pivot from moving during the zero to 90-degree action. These ball detents or cams then release to permit the door-mounted pivot to rotate, so that a 90-degree to 180-degree motion can be achieved.

#The present invention itself, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and object thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, in which:

#FIG. 1 shows schematic plan view of a motor vehicle body and doors with hinges according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the double pivot notch-brake hinge according to the preferred embodiment, with two hinge assemblies;

#FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 1, for example a cargo truck, having a total of six doors 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 secured to corresponding parts of the motor vehicle body 8 by hinges 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 respectively. The two front doors 2, 3 and the two side cargo doors 4, 5 open up to 180° towards the front and the rear of the vehicle respectively. Also two rear cargo doors 6, 7 are shown opening away from each other (a so-called dutch door). For securing the doors to the vehicle body, double pivot notch-brake hinges 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 according to the present invention are used.

#FIG. 2 shows a preferred double pivot notch-brake hinge 10 for attaching a door 82 (shown schematically) to a pillar 84 (shown schematically) of the vehicle body 9. Hinge 10 includes three main components: a resistance hinge assembly 20, a connecting member 40 and a resistance-free hinge assembly 60.

#The resistance hinge assembly 20, shown as well in FIG. 3 in a bottom perspective view, includes a pillar or body connector 21, such as a leaf, having a planar base 38 attachable to the door pillar 84, for example via bolts 139 through hole 138. Assembly 20 also includes a door connector 22 having a planar base 39 with holes 129 for bolting the connector to the door 82. Planes formed by planar base 39 and planar base 38 preferably are perpendicular to each other when door 82 is in a closed position.