US1940099A

US1940099A - Safety self-closing vehicle door hinge

Info

Publication number: US1940099A
Application number: US648031A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles H Preston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-12-20
Filing date: 1932-12-20
Publication date: 1933-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1950-12-19

Description

Dec. 19, 1933. c, H. PRESTON SAFETY SELF CLOSING VEHICLE DOOR HINGE Filed Dec. 20. 1932 w Fig-3.

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9'90 2 4 6 0 1 4 7 INVENTOR v 1 CHARLES H. laes ou a1- Wig $5 -7.

BY ,g g ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE SAFETY SELF-CLOSING VEHICLE DOOR HINGE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a safety self-closing vehicle door hinge.

The invention has for an object the construction of a hinge as mentioned which is characterized by the ability of 'naturally urging the vehicle door into the closed position except limiting closing to a small distance from the true closed position so as not to catch a persons fingers and also so as not to slam closed the door which will thereafter automatically lock.

Still further it is proposed to so arrange the door hinge with a releasable catch to lock the door in the slightly opened position to prevent persons from falling out of the vehicle during travel and further that upon certain motion of the door it is possible to move the door to the completely closed position.

Furthermore, it is proposed to construct a hinge from a pair of hingedly connected leaves which are urged together by resilient means to accomplish the automatic closing of the door.

It is another object of this invention to provide a certain arrangement upon the hinged leaves so as to limit the closing as before specified and furthermore to allow complete closing when desired.

The invention still further proposes the construction of an article as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and 'to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vehicle having a door equipped with hinges according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing in detail one of the hinges shown with the leaves opened. up, and viewed from the inner side.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed elevational view looking in the direction of the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-'7 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 a vehicle 10 is illustrated having a door 11 hingedly mounted at one side with the hinges 12. In the other figures the details of the hinges 12 are shown. These hinges are so constructed that the door 11 is automatically urged into the closed position, but there is an arrangement whereby the closing of the door is limited to a nearly closed position, so that the free end of the door stops 1 inches from its jamb so as to prevent possibility of clamping a person's finger therebetween and also eliminates the possibility of the door closing and automatically locking.

Each of the hinges comprises a pair of hingedly connected

leaves

13 and 14. The hinge connection between these leaves is accomplished by a pintle rivet 15 engaged through interengaging prongs from the leaves. One of the leaves is adapted for attachment upon the jamb of the door and the other upon the door in a manner so that the door may completely close with the

hinges

13 and 14 pivoting together so as to touch on their inner sides, which are shown in Fig. 2 closest to a reader of the drawing. A resilient means is provided for normally urging the leaves together and comprises springs 16 arranged upon the rivet 15 and acting between the rivet and the leaves. The outer ends of the springs are engaged through diametric openings in the rivet while the inner ends extend slightly downwards against the outer sides of the leaves. The springs 16 serve tov pivot the

leaves

13 and 14 closed.

A means is provided for limiting closing of the leaves to a slightly opened position and consequently, correspondingly, a door, which the hinge supports. This limiting means comprises a. projection 17 on one end of the leaves, namely leaf 14, as shown on the drawing, adapted to act against the leaf 13 or a part carried thereby so as to prevent complete closing. Another means is provided for moving the part upon the leaf 13 out of position after complete closing of the leaves has been prevented, upon slight opening of the'leaves and then moving them to the closed position. More particularly a pair of superimposed

movable blocks

18, 19 are vertically slidably mounted upon the leaf 13 within a space 20 in the leaf. These blocks are provided at the sides with reduced edges or flanges engaging in recesses or grooves 21 formed'in the sides of the opening 20 to accomplish the slidable mounting. A removable plate 22 is shown upon the leaf I3 and serves to provide for the engaging and removal when desired of the blocks within the opening 20.

The projection 17 is adapted to normally engage in a groove 23 formed in the lower block 19. This groove 23 is shallower than the length of the projection 17 so as to prevent complete closing of the leaves. A catch finger 24 is mounted upon the leaf 14 and is adapted. to coact in a certain manner with the top block 18 for raising the top block and causing an urge for the bottom block to move upwards in a manner so that the leaves may subsequently be slightly separated to disengage the projection 17 from the groove 23 to allow the bottom block to move upwards so that upon closing of the leaves the projection 17 engages beneath the block 19 and so the leaves may be completely closed.

The catch finger 24 is pivotally mounted at 25 within an opening 26 formed in the leaf 14. The free end of the catch finger is formed with a beveled edge 27 adapted to engage under a hook 28 projecting from the top block 18. This hook 28 is immediately to the front of an opening 29 extending through the top block. The arrangement is such that the beveled portion 27 may engage against the hook 28 to cause the top block to move upwards and furthermore the beveled portion 27 may engage into the opening 29 when the top block 18 has assumed the raised position.

A means is provided for resiliently connecting the top block 18 with the bottom block 19 and comprises a tension spring 28' within cavities in adjacent faces of the blocks, and at its ends respectively secured to said blocks. Thus when the top block is raised there will be an urge for the bottom block to follow it except when it is held downwards. A spring 29' is arranged coaxially upon the pivot of the catch finger 24 and serves to normally move the catch finger into a position in which the beveled portion 27 slightly extends from the opening 26. This position is shown in full lines in Fig. 7. Further, the catch finger 24 is provided with a lug portion 30 near its pivot which is adapted to act against a face 31 of the opening 26 to limit outward pivoting of the catch finger to a small distance, and a lip 30 from the leaf 14 prevents inward pivoting.

A means is also provided for latching the leaves in the partially closed position against opening. The advantage of such construction lies in the fact that it will then be impossible for the vehicle door to accidentally open even though not completely closed, especially during travel with the possibility of persons falling from the car. This means comprises a latch bolt 34 urged transversely across the groove 23 and adapted to engage in a keeper opening 35 formed upon the projection 17. The latch bolt 34 is resiliently urged outwards by a spring 36. This spring is mounted within a cavity formed in the leaf 13 and closed by a plate 3'7. A pair of fiexible cables 38 connect with the bolt 34 and pass through the spring 36 and extend from the bottom of the leaf 13 and are adapted to extend through passageways in the door 11 so that one of the flexible members is located outside of the door and the other on the inner side. In Fig. 1 the outside passageways are indicated by reference numerals 39 and the flexible members 38 are shown extending therefrom. Rings 40 are attached upon the free ends of the flexible members 38. It is necessary that the leaf 13 be connected to the door and the leaf 14 be connected with the door jamb so that the flexible members may extend through the door as directed.

The operation of the device may be best understood by first assuming it in the position shown in Fig. 2. Now then, when a door equipped with the hinge is released the leaf 14 will move relatively towards the leaf 13 until the projection 17 engages into the groove 23 and prevents further closing. Of course, the door will be automatically urged into the closed position by the springs 16. Immediately before the projection 17 engages into the base of the groove 23, the beveled portion 27 of the catch finger will ride under the hook 28 lifting the block 18 relative to the block 19 'in that the lower block 19 is being held by the partially inserted projection 17. When the projection 17 touches the base of the groove 23 the hook 28 will reach its position immediately behind the beveled portion 27 so as to be retained thereon. Furthermore, the bolt 34 will pass through-the opening 35 and latch the leaf 14 relative to the leaf 13.

The hinge now remains in this position indefinitely until the door is manually moved. For example, the door may be reopened, or the door may be completely closed. To completely close the door it is necessary that it first be slightly reopened. Before the door may be slightly reopened it is necessary that one of the flexible members 38 on each of the hinges on the door be first pulled to cause the bolts 34 to disengage from the keeper openings in the projections 17. It makes no difference whether the flexible members from the outside of the door or the inside of the door be drawn. The catch finger 24 will maintain its hold upon the hook 28 in that it may pivot about the point 25. If the door is opened too far the stop 30 will act against the face 31 and so cause the hook 28 to jump off or disengage from behind thebeveled portion 27. Consequently the small opening up of the door must be limited so that such disengagement does not occur. It is necessary. that .the door be opened up sufficiently so that the projection 17 disengages from the groove 23 whereupon the spring 28" will immediately lift the bottom block 19. Then the door may be moved closed and this time the projection 17 will ride in beneath the bottom block 19 to allow complete closing of the leaves and consequently complete closing of the door.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:--

1. A safety self-closing vehicle door hinge, comprising a pair of leaves hingedly connected, one for attachment upon a door jamb and the other for attachment upon a door, resilient means urging said leaves together, a pair of superimposed movable blocks vertically slidable on one of said leaves and resiliently connected, a projection on the other of said leaves adapted to engage into a shallow groove formed in the lower block preventing complete closing of the leaves, and means on said latter leaf for raising the top block as said projection engages in said shallow groove and holding said top block raised as the a projection on the other of said leaves adapted to engage into a shallow groove formed in the lower block preventing complete closing of the leaves, and means on said latter leaf for raising the top block as said projection engages in said shallow groove and holding said top block raised as the leaf is slightly opened to disengage the projection from said groove, whereby the bottom block moves up out of the path of the projection so that the door may be completely closed, a rivet engaging through said leaves serving to form the pivotal connection, and springs acting between said rivet and said leaves for constituting the resilient means for urging the leaves together.

3. A safety self-closing vehicle door hinge,

comprising a pair of leaves hingedly connected one for attachment upon a door jamb and the other for attachment upon a door, resilient means urging said leaves together, a pair of superimposed movable blocks, vertically slidable on one of said leaves and resiliently connected, 9. projection on the other of said leaves adapted to engage into a shallow groove formed in the lower block preventing complete closing of the leaves, and means on said latter leaf for raising the top block as said projection engages in said shallow groove and holding said top block raised as the leaf is slightly opened to disengage the projection from said groove, whereby the bottom block moves up out of the path of the projection so that the door may be completely closed, said movable blocks being disposed within an opening in said leaf.

4. A safety self-closing vehicle door hinge, comprising a pair of leaves hingedly connected, one for attachment upon a door jamb and the other for attachment upon a door, resilient means urging said leaves together, a pair of superimposed movable blocks vertically slidable on one of said leaves and resiliently connected, 9. projection on the other of said leaves adapted to engage into a shallow groove formed in the lower block preventing complete closing of the leaves, and means on said latter leaf for raising the top block as said projection engages in said shallow groove and holding said top block raised as the leaf is slightly opened to disengage the projection from said groove, whereby the bottom block moves up out of the path of the projection so that the door maybe completely closed, said latter means comprising a catch finger pivotally mounted at one end within an opening in said leaf, and being formed at the other end with a beveled portion adapted to engage beneath a hook formed upon said top comprising a pair of leaves hingedly connected, one for attachment upon a door jamb and the other for attachment upon a door, resilient means urging said leaves together, a pair of superimposed movable blocks vertically slidablex on one of said leaves and resiliently connected, a projection on the other of said leaves adapted j to engage into a shallow groove formed in the, lower block preventing complete closing of the leaves, means on said latter leaf for raising the top block as said projection engages in said shallow groove and holding said top blockraised as the leaf is slightly opened to disengage the projection from said groove, whereby the bottom block moves up out of the path of the projection so that the door may be completely closed, and means for latching the leaves in the said partially closed position.

6. A safety self closing vehicle door hinge,

comprising a pair of leaves hingedly connected,

one for attachment upon a door jamb and the other for attachment upon a door, resilient means for urging said leaves together, a projection on one leaf engageable with an element on the other leaf for preventing complete closing of the leaves and maintaining a partially closed position when the leaves initially move closed from the completely opened position, and means for moving said element out of the path of said projection when the leaves are slightly opened from said partially closed position. so

that the door may be completely closed.

7. A safety self closing vehicle door hinge, comprising a pair of leaves hingedly connected, one for attachment upon a door jamb and the other for attachment upon a door, resilient means for urging said leaves together, a projection on one leaf engageable with an element on the other leaf for preventing complete closing of the leaves and maintaining a partially closed position when the leaves initially move closed from the completely opened position,

means for moving said element out of the path of said projection when the leaves are slightly opened from said partially closed position so that the door may be completely closed, and means for locking said leaves in the partially closed position and manually releasable.

8. A safety self closing vehicle door hinge, comprising a pair of leaves hingedly connected,

one for attachment upon a door jamb and'the.

other for attachment upon a door, resilient means for urging said leaves together, a projection on one leaf engageable with an element releasing the catch and extending to the exterior.

CHARLES H. PRESTON;