Hinge for a hinged opening of a vehicle

Abstract

A hinge for a hinged opening of a vehicle includes a first hinge part and a second hinge part which are connected to one another via an axis of rotation so as to be movable relative to one another. The first hinge part has a slot and the second hinge part has a fitting hole. A screw is received through the slot of the first hinge part and fitting hole of the second hinge part. A shaped nut clamps the first hinge part and the second hinge part against the screw. The shaped nut forms a step that includes a first part received in the slot and a second part protruding from the first hinge part and resting on an edge of the slot.

Claims

1. A hinge for a hinged opening of a vehicle, comprising: a first hinge part having a slot; a second hinge part having a fitting hole; a screw received through the slot of the first hinge part and the fitting hole of the second hinge part such that the first hinge part and the second hinge part are rotatably connected about the screw; a shaped nut clamping the first hinge part and the second hinge part against the screw; and at least one guide element having an elongated projection disposed adjacent to a side edge of the slot of the first hinge part and configured to lock the shaped nut from rotation, wherein the first hinge part and the second hinge part are movable relative to one another about an axis of rotation defined by the screw, wherein the shaped nut comprises a first part embedded in the slot of the first hinge part and a second part protruding from the first hinge part and resting on an edge of the slot of the first hinge part, and wherein the elongated projection extends along the side edge of the slot of the first hinge part, and the shaped nut comprises a flattened region disposed adjacent to the elongated projection such that the elongated projection guides the flattened region of the shaped nut in a longitudinal direction.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the shaped nut comprises a pin with an internal thread.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, wherein the internal thread extends through the shaped nut.

4. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide element is configured to lock the shaped nut from rotation.

5. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the screw has a compressed end region.

6. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the screw includes a screw head, a compressed end, a threaded portion extending between the screw head and the compressed end, and the threaded portion extends beyond an end of the second part of the shaped nut by a clearance corresponding to an axial length of the first hinge part such that the shaped nut is configured to be released from clamping the first hinge part and second hinge part while remaining on the threaded portion.

7. A hinged opening of a vehicle comprising: at least one hinge, wherein each hinge comprises: a first hinge part having a slot; a second hinge part having a fitting hole; a screw received through the slot of the first hinge part and the fitting hole of the second hinge part such that the first hinge part and the second hinge part are rotatably connected about the screw; a shaped nut clamping the first hinge part and the second hinge part against the screw; and at least one guide element having an elongated projection disposed adjacent to a side edge of the slot of the first hinge part and configured to lock the shaped nut from rotation, wherein the first hinge part and the second hinge part are movable relative to one another about an axis of rotation defined by the screw, wherein the shaped nut comprises a first part embedded in the slot of the first hinge part and a second part protruding from the first hinge part and resting on an edge of the slot of the first hinge part, and wherein the elongated projection extends along the side edge of the slot of the first hinge part and the shaped nut comprises a flattened region disposed adjacent to the elongated projection such that the elongated projection guides the flattened region of the shaped nut in a longitudinal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawing, same reference numerals designate components that perform the same or analog functions. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a hinge for a hinged opening of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention from FIG. 1 with a first exemplary embodiment of at least one guide element, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention from FIG. 1 with a second exemplary embodiment of the at least one guide element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(5) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a hinge 10A, 10B for a hinged opening of a vehicle includes a first hinge part 11 and a second hinge part 12, which are connected to one another via an axis of rotation so as to be movable relative to one another. The first hinge part 11 has a slot 13, and the second hinge part 12 has a fitting hole 14. Through the slot 13 and through the fitting hole 14, a screw 15 is guided, which is clamped by a shaped nut 16.

(6) According to various embodiments of the present invention, the shaped nut 16 forms a step, wherein a first part 16.1 of the shaped nut 16 is inserted into the slot 13 and a second part 16.2 of the shaped nut 16 protrudes from the first hinge part 11 and rests on an edge of the slot 13.

(7) As shown in FIG. 1, the first hinge part 11 and the second hinge part 12 have mutually facing surfaces, between which a washer 18 is arranged. In the illustrated exemplary embodiments, the screw 15 is designed as a stepped screw, which includes a larger diameter in a first portion guided in the fitting hole 14 than a threaded portion 15.1 guided in the slot 13.

(8) The two hinge parts 11, 12 are clamped between the screw head 15.3 and the shaped nut 16 such that the position of the screw and thereby the position of the axis of rotation is fixed in the slot but a relative rotational movement between the hinge parts 11, 12 is still possible. The screw 15 has an upset end portion 15.2. Here, the shaped nut 16 and the two hinge parts 11, 12 are arranged between the screw head 15.3 and the upset end portion 15.2 of the screw 15. As a result, disengagement of the hinged opening of a vehicle connected to a hinge part 11, 12 is made more difficult by a body component connected to the other hinge part 11, 12, and an effective theft protection is implemented. In addition, an unwanted complete release of the screw can be avoided in an advantageous manner. Between the upset end portion 15.2 and the shaped nut 16, the threaded portion 15.1 has a sufficient clearance to allow the release of the connection, which allows a displacement of the screw 15 and the shaped nut 16 along the slot 13.

(9) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first part 16.1 of the shaped nut 16 forms a pin with an internal thread, which completely penetrates the shaped nut 16. Thereby, the expansion of the shaped nut 16 can be reduced along the axis of rotation maintaining the same thread length. The shaped nut 16 completely covers the slot 13 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. A further embodiment is also conceivable in which the shaped nut 16 covers only the width of the slot 13 but not the entire length of the slot 13.

(10) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shaped nut 16 is mounted so as to be longitudinally movable along at least one guide element 20 along the slot 13 on the first hinge part 11, wherein the guide element 20 forms a rotation lock.

(11) The first embodiment of the hinge 10A according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2 differs from the embodiment of the hinge 10b shown in FIG. 3 by the at least one guide member 20.

(12) As shown in FIG. 2, the at least one guide element 20 is designed as a projection 20A which runs at least next to a side edge of the slot 13 and which guides a flattened region of the shaped nut 16, said region being adjacent to the projection 20A. In the illustrated first exemplary embodiment, the second part 16.2 of the shaped nut 16 resting on the outside of the first hinge part 11 is disposed between two projections 20A, each extending along a side edge of the slot 13. The projections 20A can be easily inserted into the first hinge part 11 by caulking.

(13) As shown in FIG. 3, at least one side wall 20B of the slot 13 forms the at least one guide element 20 in the illustrated second exemplary embodiment and guides a flattened region of the first part 16.1 of the shaped nut 16 embedded in the slot 13. In the illustrated second exemplary embodiment, both side walls 20B of the slot 13 each guide a flattened region of the first part 16.1 of the shaped nut 16 embedded in the slot 13, such that the shaped nut 16 is guided in the slot 13 in a manner locked against rotation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(14) 10A, 10B Hinge

(15) 11 First hinge part

(16) 12 Second hinge part

(17) 13 Slot

(18) 14 Fitting hole

(19) 15 Screw

(20) 15.1 Thread section

(21) 15.2 Compressed end area

(22) 15.3 Screw head

(23) 16 Shaped nut

(24) 16.1 First part

(25) 16.2 Second part

(26) 18 Washer

(27) 20 Guide element

(28) 20A Projection

(29) 20B Sidewall