Direct acting clock spring counterbalanced hinge assembly
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsGary W. Krajenke, Alvin N. Standard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A counterbalanced hinge assembly for rotatably supporting a decklid of a vehicle includes a hinge box and a support member rotatably attached to the hinge box. A linkage system interconnects the hinge box and the support member, and includes a wind-up link rotatably attached to the hinge box for rotation about a spring axis, and a driven link interconnecting the wind-up link and the support member. A planar coil spring is coiled about the spring axis and is coupled to both the hinge box and the wind-up link. The planar coil spring applies a torque to the wind-up link to rotate the wind-up link about the spring axis to assist movement of the support member from the closed position into the open position.
Claims20
A counterbalanced hinge assembly comprising:
- a hinge box;
- a support member rotatably attached to the hinge box for rotation about a rotation axis between a closed position and an open position;
- a linkage system interconnecting the hinge box and the support member;
- wherein the linkage system includes a wind-up link rotatably attached to the hinge box for rotation about a spring axis and extending radially away from the spring axis to a distal pivot axis laterally spaced from the spring axis, and a driven link having a first end rotatably attached to the wind-up link at the distal pivot point and a second end rotatably attached to the support member;
- and
- a planar coil spring coiled about the spring axis and coupled to both the hinge box and the wind-up link, wherein the planar coil spring applies a torque to the wind-up link to rotate the wind-up link about the spring axis to assist movement of the support member from the closed position into the open position.
A vehicle comprising:
- a body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining an opening;
- a decklid coupled to the body and configured for sealing the opening;
- a counterbalanced hinge assembly rotatably attaching the decklid to the body for rotation about a rotation axis between a closed position and an open position, the decklid hinge assembly including:
- a hinge box;
- a support member rotatably attached to the hinge box and supporting the decklid for rotation with the decklid about a rotation axis between a closed position and an open position;
- a linkage system interconnecting the hinge box and the support member;
- wherein the linkage system includes a wind-up link rotatably attached to the hinge box for rotation about a spring axis and extending radially away from the spring axis to a distal pivot axis laterally spaced from the spring axis, and a driven link having a first end rotatably attached to the wind-up link at the distal pivot point and a second end rotatably attached to the support member;
- and
- at least one clock spring coiled about the spring axis and coupled to both the hinge box and the wind-up link, wherein the at least one clock spring applies a torque to the wind-up link to rotate the wind-up link about the spring axis to assist movement of the support member from the closed position into the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.