US2479437A

US2479437A - Deck lid hinge

Info

Publication number: US2479437A
Application number: US568652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vigmostad Trygve; Earl W Redick
Original assignee: Briggs Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Briggs Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1944-12-18
Filing date: 1944-12-18
Publication date: 1949-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1966-08-16

Description

Aug. 16, 1949. T. VIGMOSTAD ETAL DECK LID HINGE Filed Dc. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. ye z"g/ 3141 47! W 36% C I y -Aug. 16, 1949. T. VIGMOSTAD ET AL 2,479,437

' I DECK LID HINGE Filed Dec. 18,1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5.

Patented Aug. 16, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE}:

Trygve Vigmostad and Earl w. Redick, Detroit,

Mich., assignors to Briggs Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 18, 1944, Serial No. 568,652

This invention relates to hinge devices and more particularly to so-called deck lid hinges having especial application to swinging doors or lids of automobile or vehicle bodies, such as deck, trunk and hood lids thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge device of the foregoing character which is compact, strong and durable in construction while at the same time providing a unitary structure easily installed and occupying a minimum of space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a deck lid hinge or the likehaving spring'controlled means of improved construction adapted to counterbalan'ce, or substantially so, the weight of the lid or closure and-to hold the same in raised position. I V

Another object of the invention is toprovide a deck lid hinge having tension spring means mounted and operable in improved manner for counterbalancing the weight of the lid and assisting. in the raising thereof.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like. reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of an automobile body illustrating a deck lid hinged to the body by means of a hinge device constructed in accordance with the present invention. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the deck lid hinge illustrating the relation of the parts when the deck lid is in raised position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the deck lid hinge.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the deck lid hinge illustrating the relation of the parts when the lid is closed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken substantially through lines 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In Fig. l of the drawingsthere is illustrated an automobile body having a rear metal panel l0 913Claim8. (o1. Mai-) forming a sloping deck, trunkor other compartment provided with an opening I l into the compartment which is adapted tobe closed by means of a swinging lid or closure [2 supported byrmeans of a hinge device, generally designated at I3, constructed in accordance with :the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment the fixed member of the hinge i3 is in the form of a U-shaped stamped or pressed metal support l4 adapted to be rigidlysecured by means of bolts Hi to. the roof panel N5 of the compartment 1 l. The support I4 is a unitary stamping of inverted channel shape construction comprising a transverse front portion Ma and integral rearwardly extending legs or side members [4b extending in parallelism. As will be readily seen from the drawings, the support 14 comprises in section a top web engaging the underside of the panel H5 and depending spaced side flanges which terminate in laterally extending outer and inner edge flanges I1 and I8. Each of the sides or legs Mb of the U -shaped hinge frame I4 is bent downwardly at its rear end to provide a rearwardly and downwardly inclined portion l9 terminating below the panel I6 at or adjacent the margin of the deck opening I I.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention the movable member of the hinge device is in the form of a unitary generally U- shaped stamping comprising two spaced hinge members 20 integrally connected together at their outer ends by means of a transverse channeled plate or bar 2| rigidly bolted at 22 to the underside of the deck lid l2 Each of the hinge members 20 as well as the lid attaching portion 2| is pressed into channel shape and each member 20 intermediate its ends is bent into substantially a gooseneck 23. As illustrated in Fig. 5, each member 20 is formed with a relatively wide central web terminating in depending side flanges 24 turned outwardly along their edges to provide marginal flanges 25. Inwardly of the gooseneck 23 the side flanges 24 are progressively increased in depth so as to provide a channel shaped crank portion 21.

The side flanges 2 4 of each crank portion 21 embrace opposite sides of one of the depending legs [9 of the fixed hinge member [4. Each hinge member 20 is pivoted to the lower end of one of the depending legs I9 by means of spaced alined shoulder rivets 26. As illustrated in Fig. 3, each rivet passes through one side flange 24 and the adjacent side flange of the channel shaped leg portion l9. From this construction it will be seen that each hinge member is pivoted to one of the legs H! by means of transversely spaced pivots 26, thus providing an unobstructed space or passage between the side flanges of the leg portion I9 for the free movement of the counterbalancing Spring as hereinafter described.

Located below the hinge connections 26 of each of the hinge arms 20, when the lid is closed, is a transverse pin 28 connecting the side flanges 24 of the crank portion 21 and having its ends rigidly secured thereto as by riveting. Each pin 28 provides the connection for one end 29a of a heavy tension spring 29 which is hooked over the pin. Two of these springs are provided, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and each spring has its forward end 291) confined in a notch 30 in the flange l1 and hooked into a hole 3| in the backsideoi the support M. Thus, the crank portion 21 at the inner end of each of the hinge members -2|D is connected to the back of the fixed support, I4

by means of a tension spring lying immediately below one of the sides Mb of the supporting frame and adapted to project into the downwardly opening channel thereof when the deck lid is in raised position, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to provide clearance for the movement of the rear ends of the springs 29 from the position shown in Fig. "4 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the top wall of each channel shaped leg I'll is cut away at '32. Likewise the flanging ll along the lower edges-oi each leg I9 is cut away at 33 in order to provide clearance for the movement of the-inner end of the hinge member 20.

When the deck lid {2 is raised to the position shown in-Fig. 2 the springs 29-, which are at all times loaded or under tension, exert a forward pull on the crank or lever portions 2'! of the hinge members 271. The springs are so selected that the effective effort exerted by them is sufiic ient'to substantially counterbalance the weight of the deck lid and thereby 'maintain it in its raised position. Since the rivets 26 of each pair forming the hinge connection for each hinge arm 28 are spaced apart, it will be seen that the spring 29 is permitted to pass between these rivets into the channel of the side member Mb during movement-of the spring from the position of Fig. =4 to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the deck lid is lowered the spring connections 28 swing outwardly and downwardly thereby progressively stretching the springs and increasing the loading thereof. In the preferred construction each spring -'ccnnection 28 moves a slight distance'below a dead center line passing through the points '26 and Si when the lid reaches its closed position as illustrated in Fig. 4. Hence, whenthe lid is in ful'ly'closed position the springs 29 will exert a slight eliort tending to hold the lid firmly closed. 'Upon raising the lid from this position it will be seen that the springs will exert a progressively increasing lifting eifort on the lid as soon as the springs have moved upwardly beyond dead center. a

We claim:

1. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment .or the like, comprising a generally U-shaped 'supportadapted to be mounted within said compartment and having "substa'nt'ially parallel transversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced hinge members pivoted at their inner ends "to said side members to swing abouta transverse axis, and tension springs connected at ppposite ends to said support and hinge members, said springs extending horizontally in the vertiwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members telescoped with said downwardly bent ends and pivotally-connecte'd thereto to swing about a transverse axis, and'tension springs lying below and in the vertical planes. of said side members connected to the inner end of the support and also connected to the upper ends of lever portions on said hinge members extending upwardly above,

said axis when the-lid is open and adapted to swing rearwardly of said axis and downwardly as the lid is swung to closed position.

3. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment or the like, comprising a gen erally U-shaped support adapted to be mounted within said compartment and having substan tially parallel transversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced hinge members pivoted at their inner ends to said side members to swing about-a transverse axis, and tension springs connected at opposite ends to said support andhinge members; said springs extending horizontally in the vertical planes of said side members when the lid is open and each movable within a slot in the channel of one of said downwardly bent ends from a position above said axis to a position in which the spring intersects said axis.

4. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment or the like, comprising a generally "U shaped support adapted to be mounted within said compartment and having substantially parallel transversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members telescoped with said downwardly bent ends and pivotally connected thereto to swing about a transverse axis, tension springs connected at their forward ends to the frontedge of the support and extending rearwardly and horizontally at least partially within said side members when the lid is open, said hinge members terminating in lever arms extending upwardly from said axis when the lid is open and providing connections at their ends with the rear ends of the springs which connections are adapted to swing from points above said axis when the lid is open rearwardly of said axis and downwardly as the lid is moved to closed position.

5. A hinge device for the swinging lid or oldsure of a compartment or "the like, comprising a generally 'U-shaped support adapted to be mounted within said compartment and having substantially parallel transversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced inverted 'c'hannel shaped hinge members tel'es'coped with said downwardly bent ends and pivotally connected "thereto to swing about a transverse axis, tension springs connected at their forward ends to the front edge of the support and extending rearwardly and horizontally below said side members when the lid is open, said hinge members terminating in lever arms extending upwardly from said axis when the lid is open and providing connections at their ends with the rear ends of the springs which connections are adapted to swing from points above said axis when the lid is open rearwardly of said axis and downwardly as the lid is moved to closed position, said springs passing through said axis during closing movement of the lid.

6. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment or the like, comprising a generally U-shaped support adapted to be mounted within said compartment and having substantially parallel transversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced hinge members pivoted at their inner ends to said side members to swing about a transverse axis, and tension springs connected at opposite ends to said support and hinge members, said springs extending horizontally in the vertical planes of said side members when the lid is open and each extending through and movable within a slot in the channel of one of said downwardly bent ends, said hinge members having lever arms extending upwardly from said axis when the lid is open and providing connections for the rear ends of said springs swingable rearwardly of said axis when the lid is moved to closed position.

7. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment or the like, comprising a generally U-shaped support adapted to b'emounted within said compartment and having substantially parallel transversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members telescoped with said downwardly bent ends and pivotally connected thereto to swing about a transverse axis, and tension springs lying below and in the vertical planes of said side members connected to the inner end of the support and also connected to lever portions on said hinge members at points lying above said axis when the lid is open and rearwardly of said axis when the lid is swung to closed position, the pivotal connection of each hinge member to one of said bent ends comprising pivots spaced apart to permit the adjacent spring to pass therebetween with the rear ends of the springs passing rearwardly of said axis as the lid is closed.

8. A hinge device for the swinging lid or closure of a compartment or the like, comprising a generally U-shaped support adapted to be mounted within said compartment and having substantially parallel transversely spaced inverted channel shaped Side members provided with downwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members pivotally connected thereto to swing about a transverse axis, and tension springs lying below and in the vertical planes of said side members connected to the inner end of the support and also con-- nected to lever portions on said hinge members at oints lying above said axis when the lid is open, said points of connection of the springs to said lever portions adapted to move rearwardly of and below said axis when the lid is swung to closed position.

9. A hinge device for the swinging lid or 010-- sure of a compartment or the like, comprising a generally U-shaped support adapted to be mounted within said compartment and having substantially parallel transversely spaced inverted channel shaped side members provided with downwardly bent outer ends, a hinge structure adapted to be secured to the lid and having spaced inverted channel shaped hinge members pivotally connected thereto to swing about a transverse axis, and tension springs lying below and in the vertical planes of said side members connected to the inner end of the support and also connected to lever portions on said hinge members at points lying above said axis when the lid is open, said points of connection of the springs to, said lever portions adapted to move rearwardly of and below said axis when the lid is swung to closed position, the rear ends of said springs projecting through openings in said bent ends and rearwardly thereof when the lid is open.

TRYGVE VIGMOSTAD. EARL W. REDICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 216,777 Barry June 24, 1879 1,649,607 Marshall Nov. 15, 1927 2,129,750 Schneider Sept. 13, 1938 2,229,315 Sullivan Jan, 21, 1941 2,235,984 Devereaux Mar. 25, 1941 2,259,970 Benzick Oct. 21, 1941 2,279,992 Jackson et a1 Apr. 14, 1942 2,341,847 Roethel Feb. 15, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,650 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1896