Hinge assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9180761-B1
Application number	US-201414268487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 2, 2014
Priority date	May 2, 2014
Publication date	Nov 10, 2015
Grant date	Nov 10, 2015

Abstract

A hinge assembly includes a body strap having a main body. The main body defines a first surface end and a second surface opposite the first body end. The body strap includes a first pin support and a second pin support. The first and second pin supports extend from the main body. The body strap includes a protrusion extending from the second body end of the main body. The protrusion defines a first protrusion end and a second protrusion end opposite the first protrusion end. The hinge assembly further includes a door strap partially disposed between the first and second pin supports and a pin movably interconnecting the body strap and the door strap. The pin extends along an axis and is supported by the first and second pin supports.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hinge assembly, comprising:
a body strap including a main body, the main body defining a first body end and a second body end opposite the first body end, the main body has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the body strap including a first pin support and a second pin support, the first and second pin supports extending from the main body, the body strap including a protrusion extending from the second body end of the main body, the protrusion defining a first protrusion end and a second protrusion end opposite the first protrusion end, and wherein a first distance is defined from the second surface to the second protrusion end in a direction orthogonal to the second surface;
a door strap partially disposed between the first and second pin supports;
a pin movably interconnecting the body strap and the door strap, the pin extending along an axis and being supported by the first and second pin supports, and wherein a second distance is defined from the second surface to the axis along the direction orthogonal to the second surface; and
wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

2. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion includes a structural integrity feature.

3. The hinge assembly of claim 2 , wherein the structural integrity feature is an undulation.

4. The hinge assembly of claim 3 , wherein the undulation extends from the first protrusion end to the second protrusion end.

5. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the door strap includes a first door connection section, a second door connection section, and a pin connection section interconnecting the first and second door connection sections, and the protrusion is disposed between the first and second door connection sections.

6. The hinge assembly of claim 5 , wherein the pin connection section includes a first wall directly connected to the first door connection section, a second wall directly connected to the second door connection section, and a third wall directly interconnecting the first and second walls, and the protrusion is disposed between the first and second walls.

7. The hinge assembly of claim 6 , wherein the pin extends through the pin connection section.

8. The hinge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the pin extends through the first and second walls of the pin connection section.

9. The hinge assembly of claim 5 , wherein the door strap defines at least one pin opening extending through the pin connection section, and the at least one pin opening receives the pin such that the door strap is capable of rotating about the pin.

10. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pin has an outer surface, the outer surface defines an outer perimeter, and the protrusion is disposed around the outer perimeter.

11. The hinge assembly of claim 10 , wherein the outer perimeter is a circumference and the protrusion includes a protrusion body directly connected to the second body end of the main body, an annular body extending from the protrusion body, the annular body is disposed around the circumference of the pin.

12. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pin is at least partially disposed between the first and second pin supports.

13. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a column.

14. A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle body;
a vehicle door;
a hinge assembly movably coupling the vehicle door to the vehicle body such that the vehicle door is movable relative to the vehicle body, the hinge assembly including:
a body strap including a main body, the main body defining a first body end and a second body end opposite the first body end, the body strap including a first pin support and a second pin support, the first and second pin supports extending from the main body, the body strap including a protrusion extending from the second body end of the main body, the protrusion including a protrusion body coupled to the second body end of the main body and an annular body coupled to the protrusion body;
a door strap partially disposed between the first and second pin supports;
a pin movably interconnecting the body strap and the door strap, the pin extending along an axis and being supported by the first and second pin supports; and
wherein the annular body at least partially surrounds the pin.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the protrusion includes a structural integrity feature.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the structural integrity feature is an undulation.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the protrusion has a first protrusion end and a second protrusion end, and the undulation extends from the first protrusion end to the second protrusion end.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the door strap includes a first door connection section, a second door connection section, and a pin connection section interconnecting the first and second door connection sections, and the protrusion is disposed between the first and second door connection sections.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the pin connection section includes a first wall directly connected to the first door connection section, a second wall directly connected to the second door connection section, and a third wall directly interconnecting the first and second walls, and the protrusion is disposed between the first and second walls.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the pin extends through the pin connection section.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Watterworth Eric A
• Pupillo Dominic S
• Stahn Steven A

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

• E05D3/02

  with one pin · CPC title

• B60J5/0468 Primary

  Fixation or mounting means specific for door components (fasteners in general F16B21/00) · CPC title

• E05D5/062 Primary

  specially adapted for vehicles · CPC title