# US 7,610,657 B2 · Hinge

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- Number: US 7,610,657 B2
- Document ID: US7610657B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/564,383
- Filed: 2006-11-29
- Published: 2007-12-06
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-01
- Assignees: Ventra Group Inc.
- Inventors: Wayne Doswell; Bradley F. Patzer; David W. Shaw; Joaquin Hung
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610657B2

## CPC

- E05D 11/1071: {specially adapted for vehicles}
- E05Y 2900/531: Doors
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

The present invention provides a hinge for connecting a panel to a body for movement between open and closed positions. The hinge comprises a first bracket constructed to be mounted to one of the body and the panel in an installed position of the hinge, and a second bracket constructed to be mounted to the other of the body and the panel in the installed position of the hinge. At least one hinge pin pivotally connects the first and second brackets. An engaging member is provided on the first bracket, and a check arm is movably connected to the second bracket. The check arm has an engaging surface with at least one detent. The engaging surface is engaged with the engaging member. A spring seat is pivotally mounted to the hinge pin, and a spring has one end engaging the spring seat and the other end engaging the check arm so as to bias the check arm into engagement with the engaging member. As the first and second brackets pivot relative to one another the engaging member and check arm move relative to one another with the spring biasing the check arm into engagement with the engaging member, and the spring seat pivots about the at least one hinge pin to accommodate a change in orientation between the check arm and the second bracket.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hinge for connecting a panel to a body for movement between open and closed positions, the hinge comprising:
a first bracket constructed to be mounted to one of the body and the panel in an installed position of the hinge;
a second bracket constructed to be mounted to the other of the body and the panel in the installed position of the hinge;
at least one hinge pin pivotally connecting the first and second brackets;
an engaging member provided on the first bracket;
a check arm movably connected to the second bracket, the check arm having an engaging surface with at least one detent and engaged with the engaging member;
a spring seat pivotally mounted to the hinge pin; and
a spring having one end engaging the spring seat and the other end engaging the check arm so as to bias the check arm into engagement with the engaging member;
wherein as the first and second brackets pivot relative to another the engaging member and check arm move relative to one another with the spring biasing the check arm into engagement with the engaging member, and wherein the spring seat pivots about the at least one hinge pin to accommodate a change in orientation between the check arm and the second bracket.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the check arm is pivotally connected to the second bracket about a check arm axis parallel to the at least one hinge pin.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hinge according to claim 2, wherein the engaging member comprises a roller rotatably mounted to a shaft about a roller axis parallel to the at least one hinge pin and the check arm axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The hinge according to claim 2, wherein the engaging member is a fixed shaft mounted to the first bracket extending in a direction parallel to the at least one hinge pin and the check arm axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first bracket, the second bracket, or both, is stamped from sheet metal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The hinge according to claim 3, wherein the roller comprises a groove to assist in maintaining the check arm in engagement with the roller and restricts relative movement of the check arm in the axial direction on the roller.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the check arm comprises a projection extending into an interior of the spring and a region on opposing sides of the projection engaging a terminal volute of the spring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the spring seat comprises a projection extending into an interior of the spring, a bearing surface extending around the projection engaging a terminal volute of the spring, and a bore receiving the hinge pin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The hinge according to claim 8, wherein the projection is of a frustoconical configuration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the spring seat is molded from a low friction material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The hinge according to claim 10, wherein the low friction material is nylon.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first bracket comprises at least one stop for limiting the movement of the second bracket in an opening direction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first bracket comprises a base having a narrow end and a wide end, and a pair of spaced apart walls extending generally perpendicularly from the base at the narrow end, each wall having a hole aligned to receive the hinge pin, the walls being higher at the narrow end and transitioning downward to a lip at the wide end.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The hinge according to claim 13, wherein the second bracket comprises a base and a pair of spaced apart flanges extending generally perpendicular to the base, each flange having a hole aligned to receive the hinge pin.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The hinge according to claim 14, wherein the second bracket further comprises a strap to provide additional structural rigidity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The hinge according to claim 14, wherein the flanges of the second bracket nest within the walls of the first bracket, the respective walls of the first bracket and flanges of the second bracket being aligned to receive the hinge pin.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The hinge according to claim 14, wherein the base of the first bracket, the base of the second bracket, or both, comprises at least one hole for receiving mounting fasteners.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge pin comprises at least two hinge pins pivotally connecting the first and second brackets.

### Claim 19

A combination comprising:
a vehicle comprising a body and a panel; and
a hinge for connecting the panel to the body for movement between open and closed positions, the hinge comprising:
a first bracket mounted to one of the body and the panel;
a second bracket mounted to the other of the body and the panel;
at least one hinge pin pivotally connecting the first and second brackets;
an engaging member provided on the first bracket;
a check arm movably connected to the second bracket, the check arm having an engaging surface with at least one detent and engaged with the engaging member;
a spring seat pivotally mounted to the hinge pin; and
a spring having one end engaging the spring seat and the other end engaging the check arm so as to bias the check arm into engagement with the engaging member;
wherein as the first and second brackets pivot relative to another the engaging member and check arm move relative to one another with the spring biasing the check arm into engagement with the engaging member, and wherein the spring seat pivots about the at least one hinge pin to accommodate a change in orientation between the check arm and the second bracket.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The combination according to claim 19, wherein the check arm is pivotally connected to the second bracket about a check arm axis parallel to the at least one hinge pin.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The combination according to claim 20, wherein the engaging member comprises a roller rotatably mounted to a shaft about a roller axis parallel to the at least one hinge pin and the check arm axis.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The combination according to claim 20, wherein the engaging member is a fixed shaft mounted to the first bracket extending in a direction parallel to the at least one hinge pin and the check arm axis.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The combination according to claim 19, wherein the first bracket, the second bracket, or both, is stamped from sheet metal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The combination according to claim 21, wherein the roller comprises a groove to assist in maintaining the check arm in engagement with the roller and restricts relative movement of the check arm in the axial direction on the roller.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The combination according to claim 19, wherein the check arm comprises a projection extending into an interior of the spring and a region on opposing sides of the projection engaging a terminal volute of the spring.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The combination according to claim 19, wherein the spring seat comprises a projection extending into an interior of the spring, a bearing surface extending around the projection engaging a terminal volute of the spring, and a bore receiving the hinge pin.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The hinge according to claim 26, wherein the projection is of a frustoconical configuration.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The combination according to claim 19, wherein the spring seat is molded from a low friction material.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The combination according to claim 28, wherein the low friction material is nylon.

### Claim 30 (depends on 19)

The combination according to claim 19, wherein the first bracket comprises at least one stop for limiting the movement of the second bracket in an opening direction.

### Claim 31 (depends on 19)

The combination according to claim 19, wherein the first bracket comprises a base having a narrow end and a wide end, and a pair of spaced apart walls extending generally perpendicularly from the base at the narrow end, each wall having a hole aligned to receive the hinge pin, the walls being higher at the narrow end and transitioning downward to a lip at the wide end.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The combination according to claim 31, wherein the second bracket comprises a base and a pair of spaced apart flanges extending generally perpendicular to the base, each flange having a hole aligned to receive the hinge pin.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The combination according to claim 32, wherein the second bracket further comprises a strap to provide additional structural rigidity.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The combination according to claim 32, wherein the flanges of the second bracket nest within the walls of the first bracket, the respective walls of the first bracket and flanges of the second bracket being aligned to receive the hinge pin.

### Claim 35 (depends on 32)

The combination according to claim 32, wherein the base of the first bracket, the base of the second bracket, or both, comprises at least one hole for receiving mounting fasteners.

### Claim 36 (depends on 19)

The combination according to claim 19, wherein the hinge pin comprises at least two hinge pins pivotally connecting the first and second brackets.