GB2039592A - Combined hinge and hold-open device - Google Patents

Abstract

A combined hinge and hold-open device, for example for a motor vehicle door, is used to hold the door open until a predetermined holding force is exceeded by the closing force. The design of such a device is simplified by mounting a torsion bar 54 in one leaf 51 of the hinge so that the bar extends substantially perpendicular to the pivot pin 53 of the hinge. The torsion bar 54 has a transversely-extending arm 56 at one end thereof which is engaged by a cam surface 61 on one side 59 of the second leaf 52, a recess 62 in the cam surface providing the hold-open position of the hinge as the arm 56 is urged into the recess by the torsional action of the bar 54. A roller 65 is rotatably mounted on the inner surface of the second leaf 52 and extends beyond the cam surface 61. As the door is opened, the second leaf 52 moves from a closed position until the roller 65 engages the arm 56 of the torsion bar 54. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Combined hinge and hold-open device This invention relates to a combined hinge and hold-open device suitable for use with a motor vehicle door.

Combined hinge and hold-open devices are used on motor vehicle doors to hold the door in an open position until sufficient force is applied to the door to move the door out of the open position against a holding load and towards the closed position.

According to the present invention, there is provided a combined hinge and hold-open device comprising a pair of hinge leaves pivotally joined together by a pivot pin, one leaf mounting a torsion bar which extends perpendicular to the axis of the pivot pin and which has at one end thereof a transversely-extending arm, and the other leaf having a cam surface which can engage the arm over at least a part of the opening movement of the hinge, the cam surface having a recess which receives the arm when the hinge is at its hold-open position.

The torsion bar may have a second transverselyextending arm at its other end, the second arm being secured to the said one leaf, and preferably the or each arm is shorter than the bar. The bar may be formed from a straight piece of steel rod, at least one end portion of which is bent substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the bar or to a central portion thereof, if both ends are bent over.

The said other leaf of the hinge may have a roller rotatably mounted thereon adjacent the recess in the cam surface, whereby on opening the hinge the arm is engaged by the roller before passing into the recess. The roller may be toothed around its periphery so as to ensure rotation thereof when in engagement with the arm.

Two or more hold-open positions of the hinge may be provided by furnishing the cam surface with two or more recesses.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the torsion bar has a second, transverselyextending, torsion bar at its other end, the second torsion bar being under torsion whereby the first torsion bar is held within the one leaf of the hinge.

The second torsion bar may have a transverselyextending arm at the free end thereof, which arm is held at the one leaf, for example by a support bracket mounted thereon, thus holding the second torsion bar in torsion.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, a single torsion bar has a transverselyextending arm at each end thereof, the arms extending in substantially the same plane but on opposite sides of the bar.

Athird preferred embodiment of the invention has a single torsion bar with a transversely-extending arm at each end thereof, the arms extending in substantially the same plane and on the same side of the bar, so as to form a U-shape. This arrangement permits the hinge to be made very narrow in comparison with conventional devices in which the torsion bar is mounted generally parallel to the hinge pivot pin axis.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a device according to the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of a device according to the third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the device comprises a first hinge leaf 21 of generally U-shaped cross-section and a second hinge leaf 22 pivotally mounted within the first leaf 21 on a pivot pin 23 which is the hinge pin for the device. A first torsion bar 24 is mounted in the first leaf 21 with the axis thereof perpendicular to the pivot pin 23 and a second torsion bar 25 extends transversely of the first bar 24 from one end thereof. A first arm 26 extends transversely from the other end of the first bar 24, while a second arm 27 extends transversely from the end of the second bar 25 towards the first arm 26. The two bars 24 and 25 and the two arms 26 and 27 together form a torsion spring of generally open rectangular configuration.

The first arm 26 extends generally parallel to the pivot pin 23 and the free end of the arm enters an elongate slot 28 in one side wall 29 of the first leaf 21.

The second arm 27 is received in a bracket 30 mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall 29. The bracket 30 is arranged to hold the arm 27 in such a position that the second torsion bar 25 is in torsion and would tend to rotate the first torsion bar 24 towards the first hinge leaf 21. This helps to hold the first bar 24 in position. Additional locating means are provided by a tongue 31, on the leaf 21 which is bent over the first bar 24 after it is installed in the hinge, and a locating plate 32 held on the hinge leaf 21 by the heads of the fixing bolts 33 by which the leaf may be secured to a vehicle body, the other leaf 22 being secured in use to a door.

The torsion in the first torsion bar 24 is such as to urge the first arm 26 towards the hinge pin.

The second hinge leaf 22 is also of generally U-shaped cross-section but one side 34 is longer than the other 35. The longer side 34 has a cam surface 36 in which is provided a recess 36a corresponding to the hold-open position of the hinge. The cam surface 36 is so arranged that it impinges on the bar 26 at the hold-open position and thus constitutes a stop limiting opening of the hinge.

A roller 39 is rotatably mounted on the inner surface of the second leaf 22 so that it extends beyond the cam surface at a position just before the recess 36a, rotation of the arm assisting displacement of the arm 26 as the door approaches the hold-open position.

The roller 39 thus engages the arm 26 at a position adjacent to the slot 28 and deflects the end of the arm towards the inner surface 38 of the leaf 21.

In the device shown in Figures 3 and 4, many of the parts are similar to those of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2. Where parts are similar in structure and function they are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again in detail.

The torsion bar 24 is mounted in the first leaf 41 of the hinge device, within which the second leaf 42 is pivotally mounted by means of the pivot or hinge pin 23. The bar 24 has a transversely extending first arm 26 at one end and a second arm 43 extending transversely of the bar from the other end thereof, but on the opposite side thereof from the first arm.

For convenience of installation, the torsion bar 24 makes a slight angle with a line perpendicular to the pivot pin 23 on the inner surface 38 of the first leaf 41.

The free end of the first arm 26 is urged away from the surface 38 by the pre-loaded torsion in the torsion bar 24, and is restrained by the end surface of a slot 44 cut in one side 45 of the first leaf 41. The bar 24 is kept in torsion by the second arm 43 which engages an overhanging member 46 in the other side 47 of the first leaf 41. The bar 24 is also held in position by projections 47 pressed into the leaf 41 and by the head 33a of one of the fixing bolts 33.

With both embodiments, in use, the first leaf 21 or 41 is attached to a car body, for example, and the second leaf 22 or42 is attached to the car door, by bolts 33. As the door is opened, the second hinge leaf 22 or 42 moves from the closed position, as illustrated, until the roller 39 engages the arm 26 of the torsion bar 24. Further movement of the door causes the arm 26 to be displaced against the force exerted on it by the torsion bar 24, increasing the torsion in the bar 24 and hence the resistance to opening of the door. After the position of maximum deflection of the arm 26, the force on the arm 26 due to torsion in the bar 24 tends to force the arm 26 into the recess 36a and hence the door into the hold-open position. The door cannot be opened further because of the stop action of the surface 36 which impinges on arm 26.The arm 26 has to be deflected again against the torsion in the torsion bar 24 to push the door out of the hold-open position to close it.

The device illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 comprises a first hinge leaf 51 of generally U-shaped crosssection and a second hinge leaf 52 pivotally mounted in the first leaf 51 on a pivot pin 53 which is the hinge pin for the device. A torsion bar 54 is mounted in the first leaf 51 and has two transverselyextending arms 55 and 56, one of which 55 is secured to the leaf 51 at one end by a raised tag 70 bent over the arm. The other end rests in a slot 71 in the sidewall 57 of the hinge leaf 51. The other arm 56 is free to rotate through a small angle about the axis of the torsion bar 54. A slot 58 is provided in the side wall 57 of the leaf 51 and the elevation of the free end of the arm 55 is sufficient to ensure that the arm 56 is urged into contact with the end of the slot 58.

The second hinge leaf 52 is also of generally U-shaped cross-section but one side 59 of the U is longer than the other 60, extending downwards below the base of the U. The longer side 59 has a cam surface 61 in which is provided a recess 62 corresponding to the hold-open position of the hinge. The cam surface 61 is so arranged that the uppermost point 63 thereof engages the inner surface 64 of the first hinge leaf 51 at the hold-open position and thus constitutes a stop limiting opening of the hinge. A roller 65 is rotatably mounted on the inner surface of the second leaf 52 so that it extends beyond the cam surface 61 at a position just before the recess 62, rotation of the roller assisting displacement of the arm 56 as the door approaches the hold-open position.

In use the second leaf 52 is attached to the car door, and the first leaf 51 is attached to a car body, for example by bolts passed through holes 66 in the leaf. Figure 5 shows in solid lines the closed position of the hinge device and in chain-dotted lines the hold-open position. As the door is opened, the second hinge leaf 52 moves from the closed position until the roller 65 engages the arm 56 of the torsion bar 54. Further movement of the door causes the arm 56 to be displaced outwardly of the hinge leaf 51, increasing the torsion in the bar 54 and hence the resistance to opening of the door. After the position of maximum deflection of the arm 56, the force on the arm 56 due to torsion in the bar 54 tends to force the arm 56 into the recess 62 and hence the door into the hold-open position. The door cannot be opened further because of the stop action of the point 63 on the surface 64 of the first leaf 51. The arm 56 has to be deflected again against the torsion in the torsion bar 54 to push the door out of the hold-open position to close it.

Claims (12)

1. A combined hinge and hold-open device, comprising a pair of hinge leaves pivotally joined together by a pivot pin, one leaf mounting a torsion bar which extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pivot pin, and which has at one end thereof a transversely extending arm, and the other leaf having a cam surface which can engage the arm over at least a part of the opening movement of the hinge, the cam surface having a recess which receives the arm when the hinge is at its hold-open position.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the torsion bar has a second transversley-extending arm at the other end thereof, the second arm being secured to the said one leaf.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each arm is shorter than the torsion bar.

4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the torsion bar is formed from a straight piece of steel rod, one or both end portions of which are bent substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the rod orto a central portion thereof if both ends are bent, thereby forming the arm or arms.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the said other leaf has a roller rotatably mounted thereon adjacent to the recess in the cam surface, whereby on opening the hinge the arm is engaged by the roller before passing into the recess.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the roller is toothed around its periphery.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein two or more recesses are furnished in the cam surface, each providing an alternative holdopen position for the hinge.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the torsion bar has a transversely-extending arm at each end thereof, the arms lying in substantially the same plane but on opposite sides of the bar.

9. A device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the torsion bar has a transversely-extending arm at each end thereof, the arms lying in substantally the same place and on the same side of the bar, so as to form a U-shape.

10. A device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the torsion bar has a second, transverselyextending, torsion bar at the other end thereof, the second torsion bar being undertorsion whereby the first torsion bar is held within the one leaf of the hinge.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the second torsion bar has a transversely-extending arm at the free end thereof, the arm being held relative to the said one leaf so as to hold the second torsion bar in torsion.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the said one leaf mounts a bracket into which the free end of the arm may be engaged.