EP1788176A1 - Door hinge with integrated doorstop - Google Patents

Abstract

The hinge has a fixed knuckle (4) fixed on a motor vehicle body and a mobile knuckle (7) integrated to a swinging door. A door stop device has a retractable mobile element (17) e.g. rotary cam, on the fixed knuckle, and a protruding element (21) on the mobile knuckle. A spring (19) solicits the mobile element mounted in a guiding bore (18), and the protruding element cooperates with the mobile element. A spring (25) solicits a movable stop (23) which has a control knob (28) cooperating with the mobile or protruding element.

Description

The present invention relates generally to door stop devices, particularly in the automotive field. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a door stop device which is integrated into a hinge, whereby the door considered is hinged to the body of the vehicle concerned.

Doors that equip vehicles usually have hinges that allow their opening at an angle of the order of 90 °, which does not allow to fold the door against a sidewall of the vehicle body.

In the vast majority of cases, door hinges for which a larger opening angle is desired are then visible from the outside.

Such doors are usually equipped with a door stop device, which allows them to be immobilized or indexed in at least one intermediate open position, for example a 90 ° open position in which the door is located perpendicular to the side of the vehicle body.

As a rule, the door stop devices are mechanisms independent of the hinges of the door. However, vehicles are known in which a door stop device is integrated into a hinge hinge of the door in question.

In the current state of the art, there is no vehicle door hinge, which is invisible at least in the closed position and which, in addition, incorporates an "unlockable" door stop device.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a door hinge, incorporating a door stop device suitable for this type of door, and made invisible from the outside when the door is closed, this hinge allowing greater opening on demand.

• le charnon fixe ou mobile possède un alésage de guidage d'axe parallèle à l'axe d'articulation, et situé à distance réduite de ce dernier, alésage de guidage dans lequel est monté un élément mobile escamotable sollicité par un ressort,
• l'autre charnon, mobile ou fixe selon le cas, porte au moins un élément saillant prévu pour coopérer avec une partie de l'élément mobile escamotable ou avec l'élément saillant.
• une butée solidaire de l'un des charnons est montée mobile dans une position angulaire différente de celle de l'élément saillant, la butée mobile étant sollicitée par un ressort et comportant un moyen de commande pour son déplacement à l'encontre de l'action du ressort, cette butée mobile étant prévue pour coopérer également avec l'élément mobile escamotable ou avec l'élément saillant.

For this purpose, the invention essentially relates to a door hinge with integrated door stop and allowing a large opening, typically at an angle greater than 90 °, the hinge comprising a fixed knuckle adapted to be fixed on a vehicle body , a movable knuckle adapted to be secured to the door, and a hinge axis which articulately connects the movable knuckle to the fixed knuckle, defining a hinge axis, the hinge being essentially characterized in that, for constituting a device for stopping the door in at least one intermediate opening position:

• the fixed or movable knuckle has a guide bore axis parallel to the axis of articulation, and located at a reduced distance from the latter, guide bore in which is mounted a retractable movable member biased by a spring,
• the other knuckle, mobile or fixed as appropriate, carries at least one projecting element provided to cooperate with a portion of the movable movable member or with the projecting element.
• an abutment integral with one of the knuckles is movably mounted in a different angular position from that of the projecting element, the movable stop being biased by a spring and comprising a control means for its displacement against the action spring, this movable stop being provided to cooperate also with the retractable movable element or with the projecting element.

Preferably, the retractable movable member has a conjugate shape, cooperating with the projecting member of the movable knuckle, and a portion which in connection with the movable stop is provided for positioning the projecting element in a defined position.

Thus, when opening the door, the projecting element pivots, with the movable knuckle, around the axis of articulation of the hinge, and it comes into contact, at a given moment, with the conjugate form of the retractable movable element, which it pushes against the action of the associated spring. Once past this "hard point", the retractable mobile element is pushed back by its spring, and the three elements (retractable movable element, projecting element and stop) are found held together, one of the elements being blocked angularly between the two others. The movable knuckle which is provided with the projecting element, therefore the door itself, are then stopped in an intermediate open position. This intermediate open position, defined by the door stop device integrated in the hinge, is in particular a position in which the door is open at 90 °.

The movable stop preferably has a locking face, preferably substantially flat and parallel to the axis of articulation of the hinge, this locking face being turned towards the projecting element, while on the opposite face of the movable stop, is arranged a conjugate form such as erasure ramp which allows the retraction of the movable stop, said stop mobile being immobilized in rotation relative to the knuckle that supports it. To this movable stop is advantageously associated a control element of the manual type, acting against the action of the spring.

More particularly, the movable stop can be extended by a rod which directly carries a control means of manual type, accessible, in particular button-shaped. Alternatively, the manual control means is located away from the hinge, and mechanically connected to the movable stop.

Thus, in the intermediate open position for example at 90 °, the projecting element is immobilized by the locking face of the movable stop. From this position, the door can be closed without special action, the projecting element then pushing the retractable movable member through the conjugate form. By cons, to open the door wider, the user must operate the manual control means to retract the movable stop against the action of its spring, allowing the moving knuckle to continue its rotation at beyond the intermediate opening position and up to the final stop of the door.

From the fully open position of the door, the closing thereof is done without any particular action, by inverse rotation of the moving knuckle, the conjugate form (erasure ramp) arranged on the movable stop allowing the passage of the intermediate open position towards the closed position.

• La butée mobile peut prendre des positions relatives variées en fonction de l'accessibilité au déverrouillage.
• Une simple section de forme carrée ou rectangulaire, pour la butée mobile, assure son immobilisation en rotation relativement au charnon mobile, pour le positionnement de ses faces.
• L'élément mobile escamotable peut posséder des configurations variables.
• Des formes adaptées, sur les différents composants de la charnière, permettent l'écoulement de la cataphorèse.
• Cette charnière est particulièrement robuste, et notamment résistante aux efforts, tels que ceux résultant d'un coup de vent, en position d'ouverture intermédiaire.
• De plus, en ce qui concerne le fonctionnement de la charnière, la maîtrise des couples notamment au passage de la position d'ouverture intermédiaire est aisément obtenue, par la forme de l'élément mobile escamotable (en particulier par conjugaison des formes au regard de l'élément saillant) et par le tarage du ressort qui sollicite cet élément.

Overall, it is thus realized a compact hinge, incorporating a stop device in the intermediate position, this hinge being completely concealed and invisible from the outside at least when the door concerned is closed. The overall design of the hinge is simple and adapted to the requirements of manufacture and use:

• The movable stop may take various relative positions depending on the accessibility to unlocking.
• A simple section of square or rectangular shape, for the movable stop, ensures its immobilization in rotation relative to the moving knuckle, for the positioning of its faces.
• The retractable movable element may have variable configurations.
• Suitable shapes on the different components of the hinge allow the flow of cataphoresis.
• This hinge is particularly robust, and particularly resistant to forces, such as those resulting from a gust of wind, in the intermediate open position.
• Moreover, with regard to the operation of the hinge, the control of the torques, in particular at the passage of the intermediate open position, is easily obtained by the shape of the retractable movable element (in particular by conjugating the shapes with respect to the protruding element) and the setting of the spring which solicits this element.

• Figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une charnière conforme à la présente invention ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en perspective de la charnière de figure 1 à l'état assemblé, en position "porte fermée" ;
• Figure 3 est une vue en perspective similaire à la figure 2, illustrant la position d'ouverture intermédiaire ;
• Figure 4 est une vue en perspective similaire aux deux précédentes, illustrant la position d'ouverture complète ;
• Figure 5 est une vue partielle en plan par dessus d'une porte de véhicule équipée d'une charnière selon l'invention, en position de fermeture ;
• Figure 6 est une vue similaire à la figure 5, mais correspondant à la position d'ouverture complète.

The invention will be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of example, an embodiment of this door hinge with integrated door stop:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hinge of Figure 1 in the assembled state, in "closed door"position;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the intermediate open position;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to the previous two, illustrating the full open position;
• Figure 5 is a partial plan view from above of a vehicle door equipped with a hinge according to the invention, in the closed position;
• Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but corresponding to the full open position.

The hinge shown in the drawing, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, serves for the articulation of a swing door 2, indicated schematically in FIGS. 5 and 6, on a body 3 of a motor vehicle, partially shown. The door 2 is movable between a closed position (FIG. 5) and a full open position, for example open at 180 ° (FIG. 6), passing through intermediate positions, such as an open position at 90 °.

The hinge 1 is designed for the articulation of the door 2 between the "closed door" (FIG. 5) and "open door" positions (FIG. 6), and for the indexing of this door 2 in the intermediate open position. shown in Figure 3 (for the elements of the hinge).

The hinge 1 comprises a fixed knuckle 4, intended to be fixed on the body 3 by a base 5. This hinge 1 also comprises a movable knuckle 7, provided to be secured to the door 2 by a base 8.

The two knuckles, respectively fixed 4 and movable 7, are interconnected in a hinged manner by a hinge axis 10, substantially vertical. The hinge axis 10 defines a geometric axis of articulation, which is designated by A.

The components described below constitute the door stop device integrated in the hinge 1.

These components comprise, on the fixed knuckle 4, a retractable movable member 17 mounted in a guide bore 18 of the fixed knuckle 4, along an axis B parallel to the hinge axis A, and away from this hinge axis A from a distance d. The retractable mobile element 17 is biased by a spring 19, associated with the guide bore 18.

More particularly, in the example illustrated in the drawing, the retractable movable member 17 is constituted by a rotary cam, rotatably mounted by an axis 16 introduced into the bore 18 of the fixed knuckle 4. The spring 19, which urges in rotation retractable movable member 17 shaped as a cam, is a torsion spring mounted between the fixed knuckle 4 and said retractable movable member 17. This retractable movable member 17 has, on its active face, at least one notch or a rounded notch defining a position intermediate stop.

The components of the door stop device comprise, on the movable knuckle 7, a projecting element 21 mounted in such a way as to come into contact with the retractable mobile element 17. The zone of the retractable mobile element 17, which cooperates with the projecting element 21 has a conjugate geometry allowing the retraction.

More particularly, in the example illustrated in the drawing, the projecting element 21 is constituted by a roller mounted to rotate on a finger 22 parallel to the hinge axis A, and connected to the movable knuckle 7. This roller 21 is provided for cooperate with the retractable movable member 17 shaped cam, and more particularly to engage in the notch (or one of the notches) of this cam.

Finally, on one of the knuckles, here the fixed knuckle 4, said components further comprise a movable stop 23, which is slidably mounted in a sleeve-shaped part 24 of the knuckle 4, following a C axis parallel to the hinge axis A, and away from this hinge axis A by a certain distance D, the same order as the distance d between the axes A and B.

The movable stop 23 is urged outwards by a spring 25, also mounted in the sleeve-shaped portion 24 of the knuckle 4. A rod 27, which extends the movable stop 23, passes through the end of the sleeve 24 and comprises at its end a small control button 28, here ring-shaped.

The movable stop 23 has a square or rectangular horizontal section, avoiding its rotation relative to the fixed knuckle 4, so that it has a single degree of freedom (translation along the axis C) relative to the knuckle receiving it.

This movable stop 23 has a locking lateral face 29, substantially flat and parallel to the axes A, B and C, thus vertical, which is turned (in the circumferential direction) towards the projecting element 21. On the opposite face of the stop mobile 23, is arranged an erase ramp 30.

The operation of the hinge 1, previously described, is as follows:

It is assumed, initially, that the door 2 is closed (see Figures 2 and 5). In this position, the hinge 1 is rendered completely invisible because it is concealed by the door 2 and the body 3. The base 5 of the fixed knuckle 4 and the base 8 of the moving knuckle 7 are then substantially parallel. The relative positions of the hinge pin A, the axis B of the retractable mobile element 17, the axis C of the movable stop 23 and the projecting element 21 are clearly visible in these FIGS. 5, the relative position of these three elements being dependent on the selected architecture.

When the door 2 is opened, when approaching an intermediate open position at 90 °, the projecting element 21 which pivots (with the movable knuckle 7) around the hinge axis A enters in contact with the retractable mobile element 17, which then retracts thanks to the twisting of the spring 19. Once past this "hard point", the retractable mobile element 17 returns to its initial position under the effect of the spring 19, and the three elements are held together, one of the elements being blocked angularly between the two others. The retractable mobile element 17 can be retained between the projecting element 21 on the one hand, and the locking face 29 of the movable stop 23 on the other hand, coming into abutment on this face of blocking 29, or the projecting element 21 is retained between the retractable movable element 17 and the locking face 29 of the movable abutment 23. The door 2 is thus indexed in a 90 ° open position, as the FIG. 3 is a diagram. Starting from the 90 ° open position, the door 2 can be closed by a reverse pivoting movement of the previously described one, by ironing the "hard point" made by the retractable mobile element 17.

Still from the open position at 90 ° (Figure 3), the door 2 can also be opened more widely. For this purpose, the user manually grasps the control button 28, and he pulls the movable stop 23, against the action of the spring 25 which is compressed. The abutment 23 is thus retracted, and the door 2 can be pivoted beyond its open position at 90 °, until it comes to a maximum opening stop. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the door 2 can thus be brought for example into a fully open position close to 180 °, a position that can be defined by a stop made on one or the other of the two hinges by which the door 2 is articulated on the bodywork 3.

In this fully open position, the fixed knuckle 4 advantageously has a clearance 31 allowing the end portion of the door 2 located opposite the opening to be housed.

To close the swing door 2, from its fully open position to 180 ° (Figure 6), simply rotate it in the opposite direction. Thanks to the erasure ramp 30 provided on the movable stop 23, and cooperating with the projecting element 21 or the retractable movable element 17 according to the adopted architecture, the passage from the intermediate position to 90 ° is carried out without difficulty. , and without special intervention, during the closing movement of the door 2.

• en modifiant les formes de détail des composants de la charnière et du dispositif d'arrêt de porte intégré à celle-ci ;
• en changeant la position relative des trois éléments sur les charnons, par exemple en disposant la butée mobile perpendiculairement à l'axe A d'articulation ;
• en ayant recours à tous moyens équivalents de ceux décrits et illustrés, par exemple en remplaçant l'élément saillant par un galet fixe et non tournant ;
• dans le même ordre d'idées, en remplaçant le bouton de commande de la butée mobile par un organe d'une autre forme, tel qu'une palette, par un câble pour une commande à distance, ou encore par un actionneur motorisé ;
• en disposant cette charnière avec arrêt de porte intégré soit en position de charnière supérieure, soit en position de charnière inférieure de la porte concernée ;
• en destinant cette charnière non seulement à une porte, mais encore à tous autres ouvrants de véhicules, voire même à des portes ou portails utilisés dans des domaines autres que l'automobile ;
• en agençant le dispositif d'arrêt de telle sorte qu'il intervienne dans une position d'ouverture intermédiaire autre qu'à un angle de 90°, ou bien en appliquant l'invention à une porte dont l'ouverture complète est à un angle autre que 180°, par exemple un angle de 270° ;
• en réalisant cette charnière avec deux ou plusieurs positions d'ouverture intermédiaires, toutes indexées grâce au dispositif d'arrêt de porte.

One would not depart from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims:

• modifying the detail forms of the components of the hinge and the door stop device integrated therewith;
• changing the relative position of the three elements on the knuckles, for example by arranging the movable stopper perpendicularly to the hinge axis A;
• using all equivalent means of those described and illustrated, for example by replacing the projecting element by a fixed and non-rotating roller;
• in the same vein, by replacing the control button of the movable stop by a member of another form, such as a pallet, by a cable for a remote control, or by a motorized actuator;
• providing this hinge with integrated door stop either in the upper hinge position or in the lower hinge position of the door concerned;
• by noting this hinge not only to a door, but also to all other opening of vehicles, or even to doors or gates used in areas other than the automobile;
• arranging the stopper such that it intervenes in an intermediate open position other than at a 90 ° angle, or by applying the invention to a door whose full opening is at an angle other than 180 °, for example an angle of 270 °;
• by making this hinge with two or more intermediate opening positions, all indexed by the door stop device.

Claims (5)

Door hinge with integrated door stop and allowing a large opening, typically at an angle greater than 90 °, for a motor vehicle door, the hinge (1) comprising a fixed knuckle (4) adapted to be fixed to the body (3). ) of the vehicle, a movable knuckle (7) adapted to be secured to the door (2), and a hinge pin (10) which articulately connects the movable knuckle (7) to the fixed knuckle (4), defining a articulation pin (A), characterized in that , to constitute a device for stopping the door (2) in at least one intermediate opening position: the fixed or movable knuckle (4 or 7) has a guide bore (18) with an axis (B) parallel to the hinge axis (A) and situated at a reduced distance (d) from the latter, bore of guide (18) in which is mounted a retractable movable member (17) biased by a spring (19), the movable or fixed knuckle (4 or 7) carries at least one projecting element (21) designed to cooperate with a part (17) of the retractable movable element (17), one of the knuckles (4 or 7) comprises a stop (23) movably mounted in a different angular position from that of the projecting element (21), the mobile stop (23) being urged by a spring (25) and comprising a control means (28) for its movement against the action of the spring (25), this movable stop (23) being provided to cooperate also with the retractable movable element (17) or with the element salient (21). Door hinge with integrated door stop according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable stop (23) has a locking face (29) preferably substantially flat and parallel to the hinge axis (A) of the hinge (1), this locking face (29) being turned towards the projecting element (21), while on the opposite face of the mobile stop (23) is arranged an erasing ramp (30), said movable stop ( 23) being immobilized in rotation relative to the knuckle (4 or 7) which supports it. Door hinge with integrated door stop according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable stop (23) is extended by a rod (27) which carries a manual type of control means, accessible, in particular in the form of a button (28), or in that this stop mobile (13) is mechanically connected to a manual control means located at a distance from the hinge (1). Door hinge with integrated door stop according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the retractable movable member (17) is constituted by a rotary cam, urged to rotate by a spring (19). Door hinge with integrated door stop according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fixed knuckle (4) has a recess (31) intended to accommodate, in the fully open position, the end portion of the door (2) opposite the opening.

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