TEMPORARY HOLDING DEVICE AND VEHICLE HINGE

Abstract

A temporary retaining device for use in a vehicle hinge to temporarily lock a vehicle door in an open position relative to a door frame includes a flat portion in which an opening is arranged. A fold protrudes from an edge of the flat portion. A load arm extends from the flat portion. The load arm comprises a projection formed as a retaining lug on an end facing away from the flat portion.

Claims

1. A temporary retaining device for use in a vehicle hinge to temporarily lock a vehicle door in an open position relative to a door frame, the temporary retaining device comprising: a flat portion in which an opening is arranged; a fold protruding from an edge of the flat portion; and a load arm extending from the flat portion, wherein the load arm comprises a projection formed as a retaining lug on an end facing away from the flat portion.

2. The temporary retaining device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining lug comprises a flat counter-surface and a guide bevel.

3. The temporary retaining device according to claim 1, wherein the load arm is elastically bendable in a radial direction.

4. The temporary retaining device according to claim 1, wherein a free end of the load arm comprises an arcuate portion.

5. The temporary retaining device according to claim 1, wherein the fold is configured as a step or a wave.

6. The temporary retaining device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one bead is arranged in the flat portion.

7. The temporary retaining device according to claim 1, wherein the temporary retaining device is formed in one piece from a single piece of material.

8. The temporary retaining device according to claim 1, wherein the load arm comprises a contact surface which is provided adjacently to the retaining lug for interaction with a stop part.

9. The temporary retaining device according to claim 1, wherein the load arm is bent by approximately a right angle with respect to the flat portion, and wherein a projection of the load arm on a plane of the flat portion defines an acute angle with respect to the flat portion.

10. A vehicle hinge comprising a first hinge part having a fastening surface for connecting to one of a door and a door frame, wherein the first hinge part comprises at least one cantilever in which a hinge eye is arranged, wherein a stop part is arranged on a surface of the cantilever, a second hinge part; and a hinge pin which passes through the first hinge part and the second hinge part and connects the first hinge part and the second hinge part to one another, so that the first hinge part and the second hinge part are pivotable pivot about an axis of rotation, wherein the stop part comprises a groove protruding from the cantilever.

11. The vehicle hinge according to claim 10, wherein the groove is formed by a U-shaped bracket comprising two legs and a base connecting the two legs.

12. The vehicle hinge according to claim 11, wherein the legs run approximately parallel to the fastening surface of the first hinge part, and wherein one of the two legs of the U-shaped bracket comprises an end face facing away from the base, wherein the end face is configured to interact with a retaining lug of a temporary retaining device.

13. The vehicle hinge according to claim 11, wherein the U-shaped bracket is arranged with the base of the U-shaped bracket on the cantilever, and wherein a passage is arranged between the two legs of the U-shaped bracket, wherein the passage runs transversely at an angle to a plane of the fastening surface.

14. A retention system for an automobile bodyshell to be painted, the retention system comprising: an automotive hinge comprising: a first hinge part having a fastening surface for connecting to one of a door and a door frame, wherein the first hinge part comprises at least one cantilever in which a hinge eye is arranged, wherein a stop part is arranged on a surface of the cantilever; a second hinge part; and a hinge pin which passes through the first hinge part and the second hinge part and connects the first hinge part and the second hinge part to one another, so that the first hinge part and the second hinge part are pivotable about an axis of rotation, wherein the stop part comprises a groove protruding from the cantilever, a temporary retaining for use in the automotive hinge to temporarily lock a vehicle door in an open position relative to a door frame, the temporary retaining comprising: a flat portion in which an opening is arranged; a fold protruding from an edge of the flat portion; and a load arm extending from the flat portion, wherein the load arm comprises a projection formed as a retaining lug on an end facing away from the flat portion, wherein, instead of the hinge pin, a provisional hinge bolt pivotably couples the hinge parts and connects the retaining device to the second hinge part, and wherein the retaining lug is braceable on a leg of a bracket or an adapter piece connected to the bracket in order to lock the first and second hinge parts in a predetermined opening angle.

15. The retention system according to claim 14, wherein the fold is coupleable to the second hinge part, and wherein the retaining device and the second hinge part have a same axis of rotation.

16. The retention system according to claim 14, wherein a retaining force generated by the retaining device in order to temporarily lock a vehicle door in an open position has a torque of 2 Nm to 20 Nm.

17. The retention system according to claim 14, wherein the groove is formed by the bracket, the bracket being a U-shaped bracket comprising two legs and a base connecting the two legs.

18. The retention system according to claim 17, wherein the adapter piece is configured as a double-bent sheet metal part inserted with a central region thereof between the two legs of the U-shaped bracket, and wherein the retaining lug is connectable to an outer part of the double-bent sheet metal part.

19. The retention system according to claim 14, wherein the projection engages the groove to temporarily lock the vehicle door in an open position relative to the door frame.

20. The retention system according to claim 14, wherein the load arm comprises a contact surface which is provided adjacently to the retaining lug for interaction with the stop part.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The present disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using a preferred embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a temporary retaining device according to the present disclosure mounted in a vehicle hinge.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view from above of the retaining device from FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a front view of the temporary retaining device and the stop part or the U-shaped bracket.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a side view of the retaining device from FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a view from above of the retaining device and the stop part or the U-shaped bracket.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a detail from FIG. 1, in which the interaction of retaining lug and bracket is shown enlarged.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a temporary retaining device mounted in a vehicle hinge.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a perspective individual view of an alternative embodiment relative to the stop part and the adapter piece.

[0038] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle hinge 1 which comprises a first hinge part 20 and a second hinge part 25. The first hinge part 20 is mounted with a fastening surface 21 on a door frame R (shown as a broken line), so that consequently the second hinge part 25 is mounted on a vehicle door T (also shown as a broken line). It is possible that the second hinge part 25 is connected to the door frame R, and the first hinge part 20 is connected to the vehicle door T.

[0040] A stop part 24, which is designed as a U-shaped bracket 24 made of sheet steel, is arranged on the first hinge part 20 on a surface 23 of the cantilever 22.

[0041] The retaining device 10, which is also made from sheet steel, comprises a flat portion 11 which has an opening 12. The retaining device 10 is positioned on the second hinge part 25 such that the opening 12 is aligned with the hinge eye 32 of the second hinge part 25, and the flat portion 11 of the retaining device 10 is positioned flat on the second hinge part 25. A temporary hinge bolt 30 engages both through the opening 12 of the retaining device 10 and through the two hinge parts 20 and 25, after which the first and the second hinge part 20 and 25 and the retaining device 10 are connected to one another in an articulated manner, so that they can pivot about an axis of rotation D. So that the retaining device 10 can always follow the rotary movement about the axis of rotation D of the second hinge part 25 evenly, the retaining device 10 has a coupling element designed as a fold 13. The fold 13 extends in the form of a step or a wave from an edge 11a of the flat portion 11 of the retaining device 10. The fact that the second hinge part 25 has a corresponding recess which is adapted to the shape of the fold 13 in a form-fitting manner makes it possible to insert the fold 13 in the recess of the second hinge part 25 and finally form a non-rotatable coupling or interaction of the retaining device 10 with the second hinge part 25.

[0042] The retaining device 10 also comprises a load arm 14 which extends from the flat portion 11 of the retaining device 10. A free end 14a of the load arm 14 has, on the one hand, a lateral projection designed as a retaining lug 15 and, on the other hand, an arcuate portion 18. In addition, the load arm 14 has a lateral contact surface 19.

[0043] In FIG. 2, the vehicle hinge 1 is shown with the built-in retaining device 10 from a bird's eye view. In the case of a rotation in the clockwise direction of the second hinge part 25 about the axis of rotation D, the load arm 14 is guided tangentially past the stop part 24, wherein the lateral stop surface 19 of the load arm 14 contacts a leg 26 of the stop part 24 until the second hinge part 25 is stopped with its stop 25a via a base 28 of the stop part 24. Due to the elastic properties of the load arm 14 which is elastically bendable in the radial direction along its longitudinal axis, and due to the correspondingly designed guide bevel 17 of the retaining lug 15, a tilting movement of the free end 14a of the load arm 14 is prevented with the stop part 24 in the region of the base 28 in the case of a rotation in the clockwise direction. Furthermore, a bead 31 is introduced within the flat portion 11 of the retaining device 10 in FIG. 2 in order to provide the retaining device 10 with a specific stability and rigidity.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the retaining device 10 and the stop part 24 in a locked position. It can be seen that the retaining device 10 has a flat portion 11 from which the load arm 14 extends upwards. The retaining lug 15 of the load arm 14 acts orthogonally on a counter-surface 29 of the stop part 24 in order to ensure that the hinge 1 is locked in a functional manner.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the retaining device 10 starting from the flat portion 11. The stop part 24 is visible behind the load arm 14 or behind the flat portion 11.

[0046] FIG. 5 substantially corresponds to FIG. 2. The two hinge parts 20 and 25 and the hinge bolt 30 are not shown in FIG. 5. The retaining device 10 and the stop part 24 are shown in a view from above, with the retaining device 10 and the stop part 24 being in a locked position. Because the hinge bolt 30 is not shown, the opening 12 of the retaining device 10 is now visible.

[0047] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the free end 14a of the load arm 14 in interaction with the stop part 24. The retaining lug 15 comprises a guide bevel 17, which is designed laterally as a ramp or as a convex or rounded elevation, and a flat counter-surface 16, which interacts with the preferably sharp-edged end face 29 of the stop part 24 and correspondingly locks the hinge parts 20 and 25. In addition, the load arm 14 comprises an arcuate portion 18 so that the load arm 14 does not cant when passing the base 28 of the stop part 24 but rather can be tangentially guided past the U-shaped bracket 24. At this time, the load arm 14 is slightly elastically bent in the direction of the hinge bolt 30 by the stop part 24. As soon as the retaining lug 15 has passed the stop part 24 in the case of a rotation in the clockwise direction relative to FIG. 2, the load arm 14 springs back elastically into its starting position, so that the contact surface 16 interacts with the end face 29. Finally, in this way, the second hinge part 25 or the vehicle door T is locked in a defined, open position on the one hand by the retaining device 10 and on the other hand by the first end stop 25a. In this way, a vehicle door T can be held in an open position by the temporary retaining device 10 with a torque of 2 Nm to 20 Nm.

[0048] A torque greater than 20 Nm is required to release the lock. In this case, the second hinge part 25 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of rotation D relative to FIG. 2, so that the load arm 14 is in turn elastically deflected in the direction of the hinge bolt 30. As a result of this radial shifting of the load arm 14, the retaining lug 15 and the stop part 24 are disengaged, so that the locking of the temporary retaining device 10 is released. Due to the advantageous geometry of the retaining device 10, when the retaining device 10 is fixed and released with the stop part 24, the load arm 14, almost exclusively, is radially elastically bent or displaced, so that the flat portion 11 of the retaining device 10 always remains immovable and at a low stress level on the second hinge part 25. This has the advantage that the hinge bolt 30 is not displaced along its longitudinal axis, so that it is not necessary to attach a security element to the lower end of the hinge bolt 30.

[0049] Once the painting work is finished, the temporary hinge bolt 30 and the retaining device 10 are, for example, discarded. In order to permanently connect the two hinge parts 20 and 25, a permanent hinge pin S is then inserted into the hinge eyes 32 and 33 of the hinge parts 20 and 25 and then riveted, whereby the vehicle hinge is completed. The stop part 24 accordingly remains permanently on the first hinge part 20 since it also serves to limit the opening angle of a vehicle door T by means of the base 28.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows another preferred embodiment of a temporary retaining device, in which the same or structurally comparable parts are provided with the same reference signs. In the following, therefore, only the differences will be discussed.

[0051] On the surface 23 of the cantilever 22 of the first hinge part 20, an alternative variant of a U-shaped bracket 50 or a stop part 50 made of a steel material is arranged. The U-shaped bracket 50 comprises a base 51 from which two parallel legs 52 and 53 extend upwards in the vertical direction. FIGS. 7 and 9 show that the base 51 of the U-shaped bracket 50 is inserted with its side facing away from the legs 52 and 53 in a complementary, rectangular opening 70 which is arranged inside the cantilever 22. The opening 70 is arranged transversely in its longitudinal direction at an angle of approximately 10° to the fastening portion 21 of the first hinge part 20.

[0052] The U-shaped bracket 50 has a passage 54 between the two parallel legs 52 and 53. Due to the angled arrangement of the opening 70 or the U-shaped bracket 50 inserted in the opening 70, the passage 54 also has an angle of approximately 10° relative to the fastening portion 21 of the first hinge part 20.

[0053] An S-shaped adapter piece 60 made of sheet steel is inserted in the passage 54 in such a way that its central region 60a is located in a clamping manner within the passage 54 of the U-shaped bracket 50. The side surface 63 of the adapter piece 60 points in the direction of the fastening portion 21, and the side surface 62 of the adapter piece 60 points in the direction of the hinge bolt 30.

[0054] It can be seen in FIG. 7 that the adapter piece 60 is an S-shaped component, which is inserted into the passage 54 from above in such a way that the two side surfaces 62 and 63 of the adapter piece 60 are arranged approximately parallel with respect to the fastening surface 21.

[0055] The adapter piece 60 can be inserted into any stop part 50 which is equipped with a passage 54 designed as a channel.

[0056] Furthermore, the temporary retaining device 10 has both the same geometry and the same properties relative to the retaining system in both embodiments.

[0057] In contrast to the first embodiment, the alternative U-shaped bracket 50 does not have a stop surface for interaction with the load arm 14. Instead, an end face 61 is designed on a free end of the adapter piece 60 in order to lock the two hinge parts 20 and 25 together with the retaining lug 15 of the load arm 14. The end face 61 of the adapter piece 60 is in a parallel plane relative to the central region 60a. In order to lock a vehicle door T, the second hinge part 25 is pivoted together with the retaining device 10 about the axis of rotation D in a clockwise direction relative to FIG. 7. The arcuate portion 18 of the load arm 14 passes the side surface 62 of the adapter piece 60. During this process, the load arm 14 and the adapter piece 60 are elastically bent in the radial direction. As soon as the retaining lug 15 of the load arm 14 has passed the end face 61 of the adapter piece 60, the retaining lug 15 abuts orthogonally against the end face 61 of the adapter piece 60. The interaction of the retaining lug 15 with the end face 61 locks the hinge in a clamping manner.

[0058] The locking is released by pivoting the second hinge part 25 in a counterclockwise direction relative to FIG. 7. Insofar as a certain torque, for example higher than 20 Nm, is applied for the pivoting movement in the counterclockwise direction, the load arm 14 is in turn elastically bent in the radial direction. The shifting of the load arm 14 and the rotary movement of the second hinge part 25 disengages the retaining lug 15 from the stop face 61 of the adapter piece 60 so that the locking by the retaining device 10 is canceled.

[0059] As soon as the painting work is completed, the temporary hinge bolt 30 and the retaining device 10 and, if necessary, the adapter piece 60 are, for example, discarded. However, it is also possible to leave the adapter piece 60 in the bracket 50. In order to permanently connect the two hinge parts 20 and 25, a permanent hinge pin S is then inserted into the hinge eyes 32 and 33 of the hinge parts 20 and 25 and then riveted, whereby the vehicle hinge is completed. Accordingly, the U-shaped bracket 50 remains permanently on the first hinge part 20 since it also serves to limit the opening angle of a vehicle door T by means of the base 51. For this purpose, the U-shaped bracket 50 is riveted to the hinge part 20 in the embodiment shown.