US2091673A - Hinge structure - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1937. 5, DE ORLOW 2,091,673

I HINGE smucwnz Filed Jan. 2, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ETEFHEN DE URLUW Aug.31, 1931. 5, DE RLow 2,091,673

HINGE STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 2, 1957 a SnQBtS -SnQu 2 5 TEFHEN DE URL-0W fim/dfy Aug. 31, 1937. $.05 ORLOW HINGE STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 2, 1937 3 Sheets-Shoot 3 ETEFHEN DE URL Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in hinge construction for hoods, rear deck, rear truck lid of automobiles and the like where the contours of the hinged part as well as the question of appearance renders the use of conventional hinges impractical.

Recent changes in body design of automobiles has necessitated a departure from the conventional type of hood hinge. It has been proposed to use a lid type of hood having its hinge line transversely disposed to the longitudinal axis of the chassis and adjacent the cowl. v Because of the weight and the curvature of this type of hood it is not practical to use a conventional hinge. It'is desirable that the hood be firmly supported in either raised-or lowered position and at the same time the hinge should be inconspicuous and of a construction permitting the hinge line to be located between the crown of the curvature of the hood without interference between the edge of the hood adjacent the hinge line and the cowl.

Thus one object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the aforesaid purposes which is inexpensive, sturdy, and capable of supporting the hinge part firmly in both opened and closed positions.

Another object is to provide a concealed hinge which is particularly adapted to be .used in connection with a hinged sheet metal part of curved contour.

A further object is to provide a pantagraph type of binge in which a pivotal point for the hinged part swings through an arc duringhinging movement.

A still further object is to, provide a hinge of the aforesaid construction of a design supporting the hinged part in an open position without the necessity of auxiliary props.

These and other objects and advantages residing in the specific details of construction and Y combination of parts will be more fully set forth hereinafter and will be understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings whereinseveral different embodiments of the invention are disclosed:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the hood structure of an automobile, parts of whichhave been broken away showing one type of hinge structure located at the sides of the hinged part,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another form of hinge structure adapted to be used intermediate the opposite sides of the hinge part,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a further modified form of hinge structure shown in open and closed positions and disassociated from the fixed and hinged parts,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another form of hinge structure capable of supporting the hfhge part in open position, 1

Fig. 5 is 'a cross-sectional view through the hood structure showing one possible arrangement of the hinge structure shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a view similar toFig. 3 of a further modified form of hinge structure designed to be resiliently urged to both open and closed position, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 2 of further modified forms of hinge structure embodying the present invention.

In Fig. 1 is shown a side-elevational view of an automobile having a lid type of hood. The lid III as shown is equipped at the forward end with a handle l2 in the form of an ornament which maybe rotated to lock and unlock the lid in the position shown in full line. The handle I2 is shown rotated through 180 preparatory to lifting the lid 10 to the dottedline position. The lower edge of the lid I0 is indicated at H and the rear edge at Hi; the rear edge It with the lid l0 closed overlies a cushioned ledge l8 of the cowl structure generally designated 20 in .the

-manner. of the conventional hood. Pivotally supupon opposite sides thereof adjacent the edge I4.

It will be noted from a consideration of Fig.1 that the hinge line is materially below the crown 40. This necessitates bodily lifting of the entire lid l0 and forward movement so that the edge that this axis swings through an arc scribed by the arms 32. The shorter arms 34 define and control the pivotal movement of the lid III as it is raised and lowered. It is to be understood, however, that the pins 38 might be just as accurately considered the pivotal axis of the lid I0 and the longer arms 32 as in control of pivotal movement for the reason that pivotal movement of the lid l0 takes place about both the pins 36 and 38.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 2. This hinge is particularly dis posed to be used in either single or double units and to be supported upon an upper surface of the cowl structure rather than at opposite sides thereof as shown in Fig. 1. With a single'unit the hinge would be supported centrally of the inside. The rear edge I6 is shown flush with the cowl 20 and resting upon an anti-rattle and sealing strip 44. The hinge construction takes the form of four strips of sheet metal 46, 48, and 52 with the ends of each strip curled in a well known manner in hinge constructions to form eyes through which pins 64 are passed to form pivotal connections. The strips 46 and 50 are welded, bolted or otherwise suitably attached to the dash 24 and reinforcement 42, respectively. As in the hinge construction shown in Fig. 1, the strip 48 is longer than the strip 52 with the. same movement being imparted to the lid I0 upon being raised, namely, the lid I0 is bodily raised and moved forward and at the same time pivots clockwise about the axis of the pins 54 at opposite ends of the strip 50.

In Fig. 3 isshown a hinge unit which may be conveniently attached between a fixed and hinge part, as for example, in the manner of the hinge in Fig. 2, or in connection with rear deck or rear truck cover of automobiles or other similar purposes. Upper and lower attachment plates 56 and 58 are shown with cars 60 serving as bearings for the pins 62 which connect the arms 64 and 66 to the plates. As shown, a latch member 68 is freely pivoted fromthe same pin 62 as the upper end of the lever 66 and is provided with a notched out portion 68 which is adapted to receive the pin 62 at the lower end of the lever 64 when the hinge is; in the raised position shown indotted outline. In this manner the member 68 is capable of locking the hinge in an opened position and necessitating the lifting of the member 68 to collapse the hinge into closed position. A further modification oi the invention is shown in Fig. 4 in which the hinge itself is so designed as to make it unnecessary for any auxiliary means to be provided for holding-the hinge part in a fully opened position. In this form of the invention the hinge may be substantially identical with that shown in Fig. 3 with the exception that the shorter arm I0 is L-shaped,

suitably curvilinear, or otherwise shaped to accomplish the following described results. Referring to the dotted line representation of the lid I0 in fully opened position, it will be noted that the shape of the arm 10 provides clearance of the overhanging of the edge I6 beyond the pivotal connection I6. Moreover, in fully opened position the connection I6 is positioned to the left of the center line between the pivotal connections I4 and I8. From this it will appear that the weight 'of the lid I0 as supported by the pivotal connections 16' and I8 is tending to hold the lid I0 in the dotted line position. In order to close the lid I0 it is necessary to first raise the lid I0 bodily by a forward and upward movement bringing the connection I6 to the right of the center line between the connections I4 and I8. from which position the lid I0 can then be pivoted above the connections 74 and 18 to closed position. with the foregoing arrangement the weight of the lid I0 is acting to lock the same in a fully opened position and the locking action will be stable as long as the cantilever weight of the lid I0 is held to insuflicient value to efiect a bodily lifting of the lid I0 to a point permitting pivoting of the lid about the connections I4 and I8. Obviously the stability of the locking feature is increased by a design which positions the lid l0 when fully opened closely approaching the vertical.

In Fig. 5 one satisfactory arrangement of the hinge shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 is illustrated.

The hinges illustrated correspond in specific construction to the hinge of Fig. 2 and are shown as fixedly supported in specially shaped recesses in the cowl construction providing horizontal portions and 82 for placing the pivotal connections of the hinges in horizontal alignment. Attention is directed to the fact that the pivotal connections at 84 and 86 with the fixed bases of the hinges are substantially below the crown 40 of the lid I0.

An arrangement is shown in Fig. 6 for resiliently holding the hinge construction in fully opened and fully closed positions. The hinge illustrated is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 enabling the fixed base 88 thereof to,,be..welded, bolted or otherwise secured to the opposite sides of the cowl construction. Theshorter of .the. two arms 90 and 92 is provided with an ear 94 ofiset to one side of a center line between the pivotal connections 96 and 98. A C-shapedarm I00 is pivotally connected to the car 94 by a pin connection at I02. A spring I04 is connected at I06 to the arm I00 and at I08 to the base 88. With theupper plate IIO to which the hinged part is attached in the position shown, the hinge is closed. In this position the pull of the spring I04 through the connection I02 is below the connection 98 and the spring acts to hold the hinge closed. When the hinge is opened up the arm 90 will be moved anti-clockwise and the center line between the connections I02 and I08 will be above the connection 88 whereby the pull of the spring be supported in an opened position without any auxiliaryprops.

In Figs. 7 and 8 are illustrated embodiments in which the arm members of the hinge are in crossed relation in lazy tong manner with the exception that the effective hinging length of the associated members is unequal. For example in Fig. '7 the member I22 is shorter than the member I24, the ends of the members having pivotal connections with the upper and lower attachment plates I26 and I28 in the manner of the embodiment of Fig. 3. The reinforcement I30 is shown extended to provide a channel I32 underlapping the forward edge I34 of the cowl I36 and carrying a sealing strip I38. Upon lifting movement of the hood part I40 the differentiation in length of the members I22 and I24 will pivot the hinge part to the position shown in dotted line. In Fig. 8 the members I42 and I44 are crossed as in the embodiment of Fig. '7. However, an action similar to the constructions of Fig. 1 through Fig. 6 has been accomplished through a pin and slot connection at the end of the longer of the two members. As shown the member I44 has an angular end I46 which is slotted at I48 to receive the pin I50. Upon an initial opening movement of the hood part I52 2. forward pull will result in the hood part being bodily lifted as the member I42 is swung counterclockwise and moved forward so that theedge I54 will clear the ledge I56 of the cowl I58. During such movement the pin I 50 which is carried by the upper plate I60 will be moved a'long the slot I48. When the edge I54 has cleared the ledge I56, the hood part may then be hinged about the pin I50 and the pivotal connection I62 inthe manner similar to theconstruction of Fig. 7; It will be understood that suitable props or rests may be used in conposition. This is also true with the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the'sealing members 44 and I56 are of relatively soft rubber, sufllcient yieldability is 5 present to take care of any excess closing action that may take place upon moving the hinged part to fully closed position. When the sealing member for the hinged part is relatively unyielding as in the case of the usual woven web, the lower plate I of the hinge structure illustrated in Fig. 4 may be yieldingly anchored to'the cowl structure through bolts I10 having springs I12 surrounding the shank thereof and against which the nuts I'll are drawn up. Such an arrange- 15 ment will enable the plate I68 to yield slightly to avoid distortion of the cowl or hinge structure if in the course of manufacture there should be such discrepancies as to offer resistance to a complete closing of the hinge. It should be understood that where the soft rubber sealing member' is used or the spring structure shown in Fig. 4 that under proper design the hinge structure when fully closed will be held under sufficientthe hinge part adjacent its hinge line is merely,

held to its seat by spring tension and a certain looseness of structure is always present..

From the foregoing description it should become apparent that I have provided a principle 40 in construction making possible rugged concealed hinges particularly adapted for hinged parts curvilinear in contourand requiring bodily as well as pivotal movement in order to clear associated structure. For the reason that one of the major fields of application is in connection with automobile hoods, the several illustrated forms of the invention have been disclosed and described with reference to the so-called lid type of hood. It is to be understood, however, that the herein described hinge construction has wide application and for this reason'I do not wish to be restricted by the foregoing disclosure except as appears from the appended claims.

I claim:

- 1. In an automobile, the combination with a cowl having a hood supporting ledge and a part' extending forward of said ledge, a hood part in closed position having the rear edge thereof dis- 50 posed upon said ledge, of a hinge structure fixedly supported from said part for pivotal movement and attached for pivotal movement to the underside of said hood part forward of said rear edge, said structure comprising means for bodily supporting and guiding said hood part forwardly upon opening movement to clear said ledge, and means for controlling the pivotal movement of said hood part about said first means.

2. In an automobile, the combination with a cowl having a hood supporting ledge and a part thereof disposed forward of said ledge and below 'at least a portion thereof, a hood part in closed position having the rear edge thereof disposed upon said ledge, of a hinge structure fixedly'supported from said part defining pivotal connections below a portion of said ledge, said structure being attached to and having pivotal connections with the under side of said hood part forward of said rear edge, said structure comprising means including said pivotal connections for bodily supporting and'guiding said hood part forward to clear said ledge upon initial opening movement and for pivotal movement thereafter.

3. In an automobile, the combination with a cowl having a hood supporting ledge and a part extending forward of said ledge, a hood part in closed position having the rear edge thereof disposed upon said ledge, of a hinge structure comprising a pair of members of unequal length having the opposite ends thereof pivotally supported from said cowl part and from said hood part adjacent the rear edge thereof, the shorter of said members being disposed between said other member and said rear edge, said members upon initial opening movement of said hood part supporting the same for bodily forward movement and for pivotal movement about an axis scribing an arc upon opening movement of said hood part.

4. In an automobile, the'combination with a cowl having a hood supporting ledge and a part extending forward of said ledge, a hood part in closed position having the rear edge thereof disposed upon said ledge, of a hinge structure between the pivotalconnections of said longer member and the rear edge of said hood part, said members and pivotal connections with said parts being so proportioned and positioned as to support said hood part for bodily forward movement upon initial opening movement of said hood part to clear said ledge, and for pivotal movement about an axis scribing an are. a

5. In an automobile, the combination with a cowl having a hood supporting ledge and a part extending forward of said ledge, a hoodpart in closed position having the rear edge thereof resting upon said ledge, said ledge and rear edge being curvilinear, of a hinge structure comprising a; pair of members of unequal length located upon one side of said hood part, a similar pair of members of unequal length located upon the opposite side of said hood part, said members having the lower ends thereof pivotally supported for swinging movement from said forwardly extending part, the upper ends of said members having pivotal connection with the underside of said hood at opposite sides thereof, the shorter member of each of said pairs of members having its connection with said hood part forward of said rearv edge and said ledge, and its pivotal connection with said forwardly extending part located still further forward, whereby upon open ing movement of said hood part, the upper end of said shorter members swinging upwardly and forwardly causing said rear edge to clear saidledge and to be positioned forwardly of said ledge when the hood part is in a raised position.-

STEPHEN DE ORLOW.

DISCLAIMER 2,091,673.Stephen De Orlow, Detroit, Mich. HINGE STRUCTURE. Patent dated August 31, 1937. Disclaimer filed July 11, 1940, by the assignee, Hancock Manufacturing Oompany.

- Hereby disclaims from the scopeof claims 1 and 2 of said Letters Patent all slylstems except those wherein the hinge line is below the crown of the cowl, and wherein the hinge structure comprises a pair of links spaced from each other longitudinally of t e hood, one end of each whereof is pivotally connected to the hood and the other end of each whereof is pivotally connected to the cowl.

Gazette December 10, 1940.]

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