VEHICLE DOOR HINGE

Abstract

A hinge for a vehicle has a first and second leaf. The first leaf includes a barrel or knuckle to receive a pin. The barrel or knuckle has a first and second end. The second leaf includes an opening to receive the barrel or knuckle. A pair of legs extend from a body defining the opening. A first leg has the pin to insert into the first end of the barrel or knuckle. The pin extends into the knuckle. A second leg extends adjacent to the second end of the barrel or knuckle so that in a first or closed position, the second leg contacts or blocks the barrel or knuckle when the second leaf is moved axial along an axis of the pin to remove the door. When the second leaf moves to a second position with respect to the first leaf, the second leg clears the barrel or knuckle to enable movement of the second leaf along the pin axis to enable removal of the pin from the barrel or knuckle.

Claims

1. A hinge for a vehicle comprising: a first and second leaf; the first leaf including a barrel or knuckle for receiving a pin, the barrel or knuckle has a first and second end; the second leaf includes an opening for receiving the barrel or knuckle, a pair of legs extending from a body defining the opening, a first leg including the pin for inserting into the first end of the barrel or knuckle and the pin extending into the knuckle; a second leg extends adjacent to the second end of the barrel or knuckle so that in a first position, the second leg blocks removal of the second leaf from the barrel or knuckle when the second leaf is moved axial along an axis of the pin, and when the second leaf moves to a second position with respect to the first leaf, the second leg is clear of the barrel or knuckle enabling movement of the second leaf along the pin axis enabling removal of the pin from the first leaf barrel or knuckle.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the second leg has a reduced thickness.

3. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the second leg has a curved portion providing clearance for the second leaf.

4. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the second leaf has a barrel or knuckle.

5. The hinge according to claim 4, wherein the pin is fixed with the second leaf barrel or knuckle.

6. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the barrel or knuckle include a pivot bushing.

7. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the pin extends through and past the second end of the barrel or knuckle.

8. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the pin includes a tapered end.

9. A vehicle door comprising: a body having two sides, one side including a hinge construction, the hinge construction comprising: a first and second leaf; the first leaf including a barrel or knuckle for receiving a pin, the barrel or knuckle has a first and second end; the second leaf includes an opening for receiving the barrel or knuckle, a pair of legs extending from a body defining the opening, a first leg including the pin for inserting into the first end of the barrel or knuckle and the pin extending into the knuckle; a second leg extends adjacent to the second end of the barrel or knuckle so that in a first position, the second leg blocks removal of the second leaf from the barrel or knuckle when the second leaf is moved axial along an axis of the pin, and when the second leaf moves to a second position with respect to the first leaf, the second leg is clear of the barrel or knuckle enabling movement of the second leaf along the pin axis enabling removal of the pin from the first leaf barrel or knuckle.

10. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein the second leg has a reduced thickness.

11. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein the second leg has a curved portion providing clearance for the second leaf.

12. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein the second leaf has a barrel or knuckle.

13. The hinge according to claim 12, wherein the pin is fixed with the second leaf barrel or knuckle.

14. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein the barrel or knuckle include a pivot bushing.

15. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein the pin extends through and past the second end of the barrel or knuckle.

16. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein the pin includes a tapered end.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0011] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a vehicle with a door including the hinge.

[0013] FIG. 2 is an elevation of the hinge in a closed position.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 2.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the hinge in an open position.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge.

[0018] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Turning to the figures, a vehicle is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral 10. The vehicle includes a side door 12 with a pair of hinges 14 to secure the door 12 to the vehicle 10. The door 12 may include a tubular construction or could be a solid construction if desired. Also, the door could be a tailgate, swing gate, lift gate, hood or the like.

[0021] The hinge 14 includes a body bracket or leaf 16. The leaf 16 includes a body 18 having apertures 20 to secure the leaf 16 with the vehicle 10. One end of the body 18 includes a barrel or knuckle 22. The barrel or knuckle 22 has a curved exterior with a bore 24 extending through the barrel 22. The bore 24 has a first end 26 and a second exit end 28. A pivot bushing 30 is positioned into the bore 24 to receive a pivot pin 50.

[0022] The hinge 14 includes a door bracket or second leaf 32. The leaf 32 includes a body 34 with apertures 36 that receive fasteners 38 to secure the second leaf 32 with the door 12. The body 34 includes a first leg 40 and a second leg 42 defining an opening 44. This provides the body with an overall U shape.

[0023] The first leg 40 includes a knuckle or barrel 46. The knuckle or barrel 46 includes a bore 48 that may be threaded or the like to receive the pivot pin 50. Thus, the pivot pin 50 is secured in the first leg barrel or knuckle 46. The pivot pin 50 includes a flange 52 prohibiting further insertion into the knuckle bore 48. Also, the pin 50 has a tapered portion 54 at its end to enable easy insertion into the pivot bushing 30. The pin 50 generally has a circular cylindrical shape, however, any desired shape could be utilized that fits within the pivot bushing 30 to enable the pin 50 to rotate within the pivot bushing 30.

[0024] The second leg 42 has a curved portion 56 and a reduced thickness portion 58. The curved portion 56 corresponds to the outer surface of the barrel or knuckle 22. The thin or reduced thickness portion 58 provides clearance for the second leaf in a fully opened position as seen in FIG. 5. Here the knuckle 22 can be tuned. Also, the reduced thickness portion 58 can be reduced to a desired amount to tune the thickness or shape to ensure lift off prevention up to a specific angle of the hinge.

[0025] When the door 12 is in a closed position in FIG. 2, the first and second leaves 16,32 are substantially perpendicular to one another as illustrated in FIG. 3. The second leg 42 blocks axial removal of the door 12 from the first leaf 16. Thus, in the close position, the pin 50 is secured or positioned in the pivot bushing 30 with the second leg 42 blocking the second leaf 32 if the door is attempted to be moved upward in a first direction to remove the door 12 from the hinge 14.

[0026] As the door is moved to a fully open position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the second leg 42 clears the knuckle or barrel 22 to enable axial removal of the door 12 from the hinge body bracket leaf 16. The thin portion 58 clears the barrel 22 so that the door 12 can be removed. Thus, the door 12 can be removed from the hinge body bracket leaf 16 without the need of tools. Thus, upon rotation of the door 12 from a closed to an open position, a user can move the door 12 axially along the axis of the pivot pin 50 to remove the pin 50 from the knuckle 22 and thus enable the door 12 to be removed from the vehicle 10.

[0027] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.