Hinge

Abstract

A hinge to pivotably connect a motor vehicle door to a body of the motor vehicle. The hinge includes a bolt, a first hinge half rotationally connected to a bolt, a second hinge half, a bushing, composed of an electrically insulating material, arranged on the second hinge half to rotationally connect the second hinge half to the bolt, and an electrically conductive component arranged between the bolt and the second hinge half to bridge the bushing and facilitate electrical contact between the bolt and the second hinge half.

Claims

1. A hinge to pivotably connect a motor vehicle door to a body of the motor vehicle, the hinge comprising: a bolt; a first hinge half rotationally connected to a bolt; a second hinge half; a bushing, composed of an electrically insulating material, arranged on the second hinge half to rotationally connect the second hinge half to the bolt; and an electrically conductive component, comprising a plastic having a high proportion of carbon or an elastomer having a high carbon proportion, arranged between the bolt and the second hinge half to bridge the bushing and facilitate electrical contact between the bolt and the second hinge half.

2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the bushing comprises a first bushing section and a second bushing section, and the electrically conductive component is positioned between the first bushing section and the second bushing section.

3. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive component is axially positioned between the axial ends of the bushing.

4. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive component is axially positioned at a middle of the length of the bushing.

5. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the bushing is rotationally connected to the second hinge half.

6. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive component comprises an O-ring.

7. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises a cathodic dip-coating.

8. A motor vehicle, comprising: a motor vehicle body; a motor vehicle door; and a hinge to pivotably connect the motor vehicle door to the motor vehicle body, the hinge including: a bolt; a first hinge half rotationally connected to a bolt; a second hinge half; a bushing, composed of an electrically insulating material, arranged on the second hinge half to rotationally connect the second hinge half to the bolt; and an electrically conductive component, comprising a plastic having a high proportion of carbon or an elastomer having a high carbon proportion, arranged between the bolt and the second hinge half to bridge the bushing and facilitate electrical contact between the bolt and the second hinge half.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the bushing comprises a first bushing section and a second bushing section, and the electrically conductive component is positioned between the first bushing section and the second bushing section.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive component is axially positioned between the axial ends of the bushing.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive component is axially positioned at a middle of the length of the bushing.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the bushing is rotationally connected to the second hinge half.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive component comprises an O-ring.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the hinge comprises a cathodic dip-coating.

15. A method for producing a hinge to pivotably connect a motor vehicle door to a body of the motor vehicle, the method comprising: rotationally connecting a first hinge half to a bolt; rotationally connecting a second hinge half to the bolt via a bushing composed of an electrically insulating material; positioning an electrically conductive component, comprising a plastic having a high proportion of carbon or an elastomer having a high carbon proportion, between the bolt and the second hinge half to bridge the bushing such that electrical contact occurs between the bolt and the second hinge half; and cathodically dip-coating the hinge.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the bushing comprises a first bushing section and a second bushing section, and positioning the electrically conductive component comprises positioning the electrically conductive component between the first bushing section and the second bushing section.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hinge, in accordance with embodiments.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a hinge connection along line A-A of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the hinge of FIG. 1 with a section through the hinge connection.

DESCRIPTION

(5) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, embodiments relate to a hinge suitable to pivotable connect a motor vehicle door or tailgate to a body of the motor vehicle. The hinge comprises a first hinge half 1 and a second hinge half 2, and a bolt 3 rotationally connected to the first hinge half 1. The hinge may be coated via a cathodic dip coating.

(6) In accordance with embodiments, the second hinge half 2 comprises an axial bushing 4 having a bifurcated structure composed of plastic, including a first bushing section 4a and a second bushing section 4b. The second hinge half 2 is mounted pivotably on the bolt 3 via the bushing 4.

(7) An electrically conductive component 5 is arranged in the plane of the bushing 4 between the second hinge half 2 and the bolt 3. Particularly, the electrically conductive component 5 is positioned axially between the first bushing section 4a and the second bushing section 4b. The electrically conductive component 5 is to axially extend only over a small region T of the overall length H of the bushing 4, approximately in the middle of the length H of the bushing 4. The electrically conductive component 5 may comprise an O-ring composed of an elastically deformable plastic having a high carbon proportion.

(8) The electrically conductive component 5 may have a thickness that is approximately the same thickness as the bushing 4. The electrically conductive component 5 serves to bridge the bushing 4 to facilitate electrical contact between the first hinge half 1 and the second hinge half 2. Alternatively or additionally, the electrically conductive component 5 serves to bridge the bushing 4 to facilitate electrical contact between the second hinge half 2 and the bolt 3.

(9) Due to the electrically conductive connection between the first hinge half 1 and the second hinge half 2 via the electrically conductive component 5 and/or the second hinge half 2 and the bolt 3, defects during painting are prevented.

(10) The terms coupled, attached, or connected may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms first, second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

(11) Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(12) 1 First hinge half

(13) 2 Second hinge half

(14) 3 Bolt

(15) 4 Bushing

(16) 4a First Bushing Section

(17) 4b Second Bushing Section

(18) 5 Electrically conductive component

(19) T Region of length of bushing

(20) H length of bushing