Multi-axis hinge for a stylized vehicle door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11660940-B2
Application number	US-201916376991-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2019
Priority date	Apr 5, 2019
Publication date	May 30, 2023
Grant date	May 30, 2023

Abstract

A multi-axis hinge mechanism for a vehicle door. The multi-axis hinge mechanism moves the vehicle door laterally and vertically by means of multiple axial rotations. An actuator pivots the door hinges attaching the door to the vehicle to move the door away from the vehicle while a set of gears translates the motion of the actuator into a vertical rotation of the door.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-axis hinge mechanism for connecting a vehicle door to a vehicle frame, the multi-axis hinge mechanism comprising:
a first arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first arm pivotally connected to the vehicle frame by a first pivot joint having a first axis;
a second arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second arm pivotally connected to the vehicle frame;
a gearbox hub pivotally connected, by a gearbox post having a second axis, to the second end of the first arm and pivotally connected, by a second pivot joint, to the second end of the second arm, the gearbox hub comprising a through-hole extending through the gearbox hub along a third axis, wherein the third axis is perpendicular to the second axis;
a gearbox rod that extends from the vehicle door and into the through-hole of the gearbox hub, the gearbox rod configured to rotate about the third axis relative to the gearbox hub;
a pair of gears including a first gear positioned on the first arm and having teeth positioned coaxially with the gearbox post and a second gear configured to control pivoting motion of the vehicle door relative to the first arm about the third axis, wherein the second gear is connected to the vehicle door and has teeth positioned coaxially with the gearbox rod, and wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the third axis; and
an actuator configured to move between an un-actuated position and an actuated position, wherein movement by the actuator from the un-actuated position to the actuated position pushes the first arm to cause the second arm to generate a first pivoting motion about the second axis of the first gearbox post, wherein the first axis of the first pivot joint and the second axis of the second pivot joint are parallel to one another during movement by the actuator between the un-actuated position and the actuated position.

2. The multi-axis hinge mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox post is not parallel to the gearbox rod.

3. The multi-axis hinge mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first gear is fixedly mounted to the second end of the first arm.

4. The multi-axis hinge mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the pair of gears translates the first pivoting motion generated by the second arm into a second pivoting motion of the vehicle door about the third axis.

5. A vehicle door including a multi-axis hinge mechanism for connecting the vehicle door to a vehicle frame, the vehicle door comprising:
a first arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first arm pivotally connected to the vehicle frame by a first pivot joint having a first axis;
a second arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second arm pivotally connected to the vehicle frame;
a gearbox hub pivotally connected, by a gearbox post having a second axis, to a second end of the first arm and pivotally connected, by a second pivot joint, to the second end of the second arm, the gearbox hub comprising a though-hole extending through the gearbox hub along a third axis, wherein the third axis is perpendicular to the second axis;
a gearbox rod that extends from the vehicle door and into the through-hole of the gearbox hub, the gearbox rod configured to rotate about the third axis relative to the gearbox hub;
an engaged pair of gears including a first gear positioned on the first arm and having teeth positioned coaxially with the gearbox post and a second gear configured to control pivoting motion of the vehicle door relative to the first arm about the third axis, wherein the second gear is connected to the vehicle door and has teeth positioned coaxially with the second gearbox rod, and wherein the third axis is perpendicular to the first axis; and
an actuator configured to move between an un-actuated position and an actuated position, wherein the first axis of the first pivot joint and the second axis of the gearbox post are parallel to one another during movement by the actuator between the un-actuated position and the actuated position.

6. The vehicle door of claim 5 , wherein the gearbox post is not parallel to the gearbox rod.

7. The vehicle door of claim 5 , wherein the engaged pair of gears translates the first pivoting motion into a second pivoting motion of the door about the third axis.

8. A hinge mechanism comprising:
a vehicle bracket including a first pivot joint having a first axis;
a first arm having a first end pivotally connected to the first pivot joint and a second end connected to a gearbox hub via a gearbox post having a second axis, the gearbox hub comprising a through-hole extending through the gearbox hub along a third axis, wherein the third axis is perpendicular to the second axis;
a vehicle door including a gearbox rod extending outwardly from the vehicle door and into the through-hole of the gearbox hub, the gearbox rod configured to rotate about the third axis relative to the gearbox hub;
a pair of gears configured to control a pivoting motion of the vehicle door relative to the first arm about the first axis, the pair of gears including a first gear positioned at the second end of the first arm and a second gear positioned at the first end of the gearbox rod, the second gear having teeth circumferentially disposed about the first end of the gearbox rod; and
an actuator configured to translate the hinge mechanism between an actuated position and an un-actuated position, wherein the first axis of the first pivot joint and the second axis of the gearbox hub are parallel to one another during translation of the hinge mechanism between the actuated position and the un-actuated position.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the gearbox post is not parallel to the gearbox rod.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first gear is fixedly mounted on the second end of the first arm.

11. The vehicle door of claim 5 , wherein movement by the actuator from the un-actuated position to the actuated position pushes the first arm to cause the second arm to generate a first pivoting motion about the second axis of the gearbox post.

Assignees

• Karma Automotive Llc

Inventors

• Sordelli Jorge
• Ruisinger Herbert
• Flynn Jacques
• Luis Andre Franco
• Thurner Andreas

Classifications

• E05D7/00

  Hinges or pivots of special construction (used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02) · CPC title

• E05Y2900/531

  Doors · CPC title

• E05F15/611

  for swinging wings · CPC title

• E05Y2201/604

  Transmission members · CPC title

• B60J5/0472 Primary

  the door having a hinge axis in horizontal direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis · CPC title