GB2261022A

GB2261022A - A hinge for a vehicle tailgate

Info

Publication number: GB2261022A
Application number: GB9123213A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Button
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1991-11-01
Filing date: 1991-11-01
Publication date: 1993-05-05
Also published as: GB9123213D0

Abstract

A hinge for a vehicle tailgate 14 or bonnet which moves through substantially 180 DEG during opening. The hinge comprises a first link L1 having one end 31 pivotably attached at P1 to a vehicle body member and the other end 31a pivotably attached at P2 to a tailgate bracket 12. Second, third and fourth links, L2, L3, L4 cause the tailgate 14 to rotate about pivot P2 as the first link rotates about pivot P1. The tailgate 14 is therefore moved away from the body member 16 as it is opened. <IMAGE>

Description

A HINGE FOR A VEHICLE TAILGATE The present invention relates mainly to hinges suitable for vehicle tailgates but also to hinges suitable for vehicle bonnets.

It is known to provide a hinge mechanism comprising two links each rotatably connected at one end to a vehicle body member and at the other end to a tailgate mounting. As the tailgate is opened the tailgate mounting rotates about its points of onnection with the links, which in turn rotate about their points of connection with the body member.

It is a problem with such known hinge mechanism that they do not provide enough clearance between the edge of the tailgate and the vehicle body member when the tailgate is open. This can cause problems during fitting of seals round the tailgate opening and can aiso restrict opening of the tailoate.

The present Invention provides a hinge mechanism suitable for connecting a lid to a vehicle body member, the mechanism comprising a first link connected by a first pivot to the body member, a lid mounting connected by a second pivot to the first link, and rotation linking means connected by a third pivot to the lid mounting, by a fourth pivot to the body member and by a fifth pivot to the first link such that as the lid mounting is rotated about the second pivot to open or close the lid, the first link rotates about the first pivot to move the second pivot away from or towards the body member.

The present invention is particularly suitable for connecting a tailgate to a vehicle body member wherein when the tailgate is closed it is substantially vertical or at 0 least within about 30 of the vertical. In such a case the tailgate needs to be able to rotate by substantially 1800, Dr at least about 1400 to allow easy access to the luggage compartment.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a hinge mechanism according the present invention in a closed position; and Figure G is a side view of the hinge of Figure 1 in an open position.

As can be seen most clearly in Figure 2, a hinge mechanism 10 comprises a first link L1, a second link L2, a third link L3, a fourth link L4, and a lid mounting in the form of a tailgate bracket 12 and forms one of a pair of hinges connecting a lid in the form of a tailgate 14 to a vehicle body member 16. The vehicle body member 16 has an edge 18 for engaging the tailgate 14, the edge 18 being incline at 0 about 25 to the vertical and defining one side of a tailgate opening. A similar vehicle body member (not shown) on an opposite side of the vehicle defines an opposite side of the tailgate opening and has mounted on it a second hinge mechanism (not shown).

The tailate bracket 12 is attached to the tailgate 14 near a pivoting edge 20 of the tailgate and extends perpendicular to the tailgate.

The first link L1 is connected by a first pivot P1 at a first end 31 thereof to the vehicle body member 16 and by a second pivot P2 at a second end 31a thereof to the tailgate bracket 12. The second link L2, third link L3 and fourth link 4 form a rotation linking means as described below.

The third link L3 is connected by a third pivot P3 at a first end 33 thereof to the tailgate bracket 12, the fourth link 4 is connected by a fourth pivot P4 at a first end 34 thereof to the body member 16, the second link L2 is connected by a fifth pivot P5 near its centre to the first link L1, by a sixth pivot at a first end 32 thereof to a second end 33 of the third link L3 and by a 7th pivot P7 at a second end 32a thereof to a second end 34a of the fourth link L4.

The first link L1 is the longest of the links and is straight. The fifth pivot P5 is nearer to the second end 31a of the first link L1 than to its first end 31. The second link L2 is shorter than the first link L1 and the fifth pivot P5 is approximately halfway along it. The second link L2 is slightly angled near its centre so that the fifth pivot P5 is out of line with the sixth pivot P6 and the seventh pivot P7. The third link is shorter than the second link and is slightly angled near its first end 33 such that it remains clear of the fifth pivot P5 on closure of the tailgate 14. The fourth link L4 is the shortest of the links and is straight.

The first pivot Pl is lower down the body panel 16 and nearer to its edge 18 than the fourth pivot P4. The first pivot P1 and fourth pivot P4 are space apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of the second link 2, but less than the length of the first link L1. The second and third pivots L2, 3 are spaced apart by a distance less than the length of any of the links and are substantially equidistant from the lid 14.

When the hinge mechanism 10 is in a fully closed position as shown in Figure 1, the tailgate 14 lies substantially parallel to the edge 18 of the body member 16 with its pivoting edge 20 uppermost. The first link L1 lies between the vertical and the line of the edge 18 of the vehicle body member 16, and extends generally upwards from the first pivot P1 to the tailgate bracket 12. The fourth link L4 is substantially vertical, extending upwards from the pivot P4 to the second link L2. The third link L3 extends substantially parallel to the tailgate 14, and the second link extends across the first link Li from the second upper end 34a of the fourth link L4 to the second lower end 33a of the third link L3. The second pivot P2 is below the third pivot P3.

As the tailgate 14 is opened towards the fully open position shown in Figure 2, the first link pivots about the first pivot Pl, its second, upper end 31a moving away from the vehicle body member 16. At the same time the bracket 12 and tailgate 14 rotate about the third pivot P3. The second, third and fourth links L2, L3, L4 act as a rotation linking means which directly links rotation of the first link L1 about the first pivot P1 to rotation of the bracket 2 and tailgate 14 about the second pivot 2. This is done by the second end 34a of the fourth link moving downwards rotating the second link L2 about the fifth pivot P5, the first end 32 of the second link L2 moving upwards, and the third link L3 moving upwards. The third pivot P3, which is attached to the tailgate bracket 12, therefore moves upwards relative to the second pivot P2.

When the tailgate 14 reaches its fully open position as shown in Figure 2, the second and fourth links L2, L4 are aligned and substantially horizontal, the first link L1 extends upwards from the first pivot P1 and outwards from the vehicle body member 16 and is substantially perpendicular to the second link L2. The third pivot P3 is above the second pivot P2 substantially aligned with the first, second, and fifth pivots Pl, P2, P5, and the tailgate extends upwards from its pivoting edge 20. In this position movement of the tailgate 14 about the second pivot P2 causes only slight movement of the first link L1 about the first link L1. Between the fully opened and fully closed positions, since the first link L1 moves through the vertical, the second pivot P2, although moving in an arc, moves continuously away from the vehicle body member. This allows the tailgate 14 to move through substantially 1800, in tis case about 1600, and end up in a position which is clear of the vehicle body member 16.

Claims

1. A hinge mechanism suitable for connecting a lid to â vehicle body member, the mechanism comprising a first link connected by a first pivot to the body member, a lid mounting connected by a second pivot to the first link, and rotation linking means connected by a third pivot to the lid mounting, by a fourth pivot to the body member and by a fifth pivot to the first link such that as the lid mounting is rotated about the second pivot to open or close the lid, the first link rotates about the first pivot to move the second pivot away from or towards the body member.

2. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the rotation linking means comprises a second link and a third link, the second link being connected by the fifth pivot to the first link and by sixth divot to the third link and the third link being connected the third divot to the lid mounting.

3. A hinge mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the second link is connected via the fourth pivot to the body member.

4. A hinge mechanism according to the claim 3 wherein the the rotation linking means further comprises a fourth link connected by the fourth pivot to the body member and by a seventh pivot to the second link.

5. A hinge mechanism according to any foregoing claim wherein the fifth pivot is between the first pivot and the second pivot.

6. A hinge mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the fifth pivot is at a point on the rotation linking means between the fourth pivot and the sixth pivot.

7. A hinge mechanism according to any foregoing claim adapted such that when the hinge mechanism is near fully open position, pivoting of the lid mounting about the second pivot causes only slight movement of he first link about the first pivot.

8. A hinge mechanism according to claim 4 or any preceding claim appendant thereon adapted such that the fourth link is substantially aligned with the second link when the hinge mechanism is in a fully open position.

9. A hinge mechanism according to any foregoing claim when attached to a vehicle body member wherein, between a fully open and a fully closed position, the first link can pass through a vertical position.

10. A hinge mechanism according to any foregoing claim when attached to a vehicle body member wherein the lid mounting can rotate through substantially 1800 about the second pivot between a fully open position and a fully closed position.

11. A hinge mechanism according to any foregoing claim wherein the first link can rotate through no more than about 300 between a fully open position and a fully closed position.

12. R hinge mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.