CA1305202C - Spring-loaded hinge assembly for vehicle accessories - Google Patents
Spring-loaded hinge assembly for vehicle accessoriesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1305202C CA1305202C CA000547243A CA547243A CA1305202C CA 1305202 C CA1305202 C CA 1305202C CA 000547243 A CA000547243 A CA 000547243A CA 547243 A CA547243 A CA 547243A CA 1305202 C CA1305202 C CA 1305202C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- door
- cam member
- leaf spring
- spring means
- housing structure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J3/00—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles
- B60J3/02—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles adjustable in position
- B60J3/0204—Sun visors
- B60J3/0278—Sun visors structure of the body
- B60J3/0282—Sun visors structure of the body specially adapted for a courtesy mirror
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D11/00—Additional features or accessories of hinges
- E05D11/10—Devices for preventing movement between relatively-movable hinge parts
- E05D11/1028—Devices for preventing movement between relatively-movable hinge parts for maintaining the hinge in two or more positions, e.g. intermediate or fully open
- E05D11/105—Devices for preventing movement between relatively-movable hinge parts for maintaining the hinge in two or more positions, e.g. intermediate or fully open the maintaining means acting perpendicularly to the pivot axis
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D7/00—Hinges or pivots of special construction
- E05D7/10—Hinges or pivots of special construction to allow easy separation or connection of the parts at the hinge axis
- E05D7/1061—Hinges or pivots of special construction to allow easy separation or connection of the parts at the hinge axis in a radial direction
- E05D7/1077—Hinges or pivots of special construction to allow easy separation or connection of the parts at the hinge axis in a radial direction with snap-fitted pins
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D5/00—Construction of single parts, e.g. the parts for attachment
- E05D5/10—Pins, sockets or sleeves; Removable pins
- E05D5/14—Construction of sockets or sleeves
- E05D2005/145—Construction of sockets or sleeves with elastically deformable parts
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05F1/00—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
- E05F1/08—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass spring-actuated, e.g. for horizontally sliding wings
- E05F1/10—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass spring-actuated, e.g. for horizontally sliding wings for swinging wings, e.g. counterbalance
- E05F1/12—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs
- E05F1/1284—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs with a leaf or similar spring
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
- E05Y2900/20—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for furnitures, e.g. cabinets
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
- E05Y2900/50—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles
- E05Y2900/53—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles characterised by the type of wing
- E05Y2900/538—Interior lids
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A hinge assembly is disclosed which is particularly well suited for vehicle accessory applications, such as for pivotally interconnecting vanity doors with vanity housing structures for example. A hinge assembly according to the present invention, which is also applicable for other applications, includes a pivot means pivotally interconnecting first and second members for relative rotational movement about a longitudinal axis, with a cam on the first member protruding in a generally lateral direction to engage a resilient biasing means on the second member. The resilient biasing means, which is preferably a leaf spring, is slidably engaged and resiliently deflected by the cam on the first member and exerts a resilient biasing force on the cam in a generally lateral direction, generally toward the pivot axis. The cam preferably includes one or more dwell portions such that the spring or other resilient biasing means tends to resiliently and releasably maintain the first and second members in one or more predetermined relative rotational orientations when engaged by the dwell portions on the cam.
A hinge assembly is disclosed which is particularly well suited for vehicle accessory applications, such as for pivotally interconnecting vanity doors with vanity housing structures for example. A hinge assembly according to the present invention, which is also applicable for other applications, includes a pivot means pivotally interconnecting first and second members for relative rotational movement about a longitudinal axis, with a cam on the first member protruding in a generally lateral direction to engage a resilient biasing means on the second member. The resilient biasing means, which is preferably a leaf spring, is slidably engaged and resiliently deflected by the cam on the first member and exerts a resilient biasing force on the cam in a generally lateral direction, generally toward the pivot axis. The cam preferably includes one or more dwell portions such that the spring or other resilient biasing means tends to resiliently and releasably maintain the first and second members in one or more predetermined relative rotational orientations when engaged by the dwell portions on the cam.
Description
c~ ) ~3~5202 ~RG~WN~ ~D Sll~ OF q~E ~Vl~ION
The present invention relates generally to hinge aEEæ~blies for hinged or pivokally interoonnected ~embers, and more particularly to Cuch hinge ~ssemblies especially adapted for pivotally interoonnecting a vehicle acce~sory door with a vehicle accessory housing structure or other portion of the intecior of a vehicle.
Such vehicle ~o oe ssory d~ors inclu~e vanity doors, storage oompart~ent dbors or other aooessory oovers. Hinge a~cPnhl ies aocording to the present invention can ~lEo be emplcyed for various non~vehicular uses, as will be readily ~ppreciated b~y one skilled in the art from the following discussion.
The typical vehicle includes a wide variety of hinged or pivotally moun~ed vehicle acoes~ories or accessory oovers in the interior, luggage ~torage areas, engine oompartment, or o~her areas.
In the pa~t, however, na~y hinge as~emblies for such vehicular apelic~ticns, as well as those for various nDnrvehicular aFFlicatic~, either have not been sufficienkly durakle or have heen relatively expensive to produoe ~nd inEkall. Furthermore, nzny of such prior hinge as~emklies have heen found to he inordinately bulky, unsightly, or ill-fitting, dl of which detr~ct frc~ the u6er'~
per oeption of c~ualit~y with regard to the vehicle or other devi oe in which Euch hinge as~emb~ies are included.
In addition to the ~bove diEadvantages, no~y prior hinge as~emblie~ have not prcqidea the u~er with relatively rotated or F~vcked p~iticns ~n which the hinged memkers can he held and (~ ~305202 maintained, especi~lly after extended uæe and wear of the hinge aomponents. one example of the prior art wherein such a feature has been provi W , hcwever, i~ an over-center, ~pring-and~lever arrangement, BUCh as that ~hown in Uhited State6 Patent Nbs..
4,491,899; 4,227,242; and 4,000,404. Another examFle i6 an arrangement having a coil spring with it~ oEpD6ite en~s inkeraon~ected with oppo~ite hinged members in order to bias the ~wo hinge members t~ward one ancther in a nLtual 81iding arrangement.
This hinge arrangement does n~t have a pivot pin or other member pivotally interoonnecting the hinged nenber~ and thus the slpring functions both as a resilient bia6ing m~mker for resiliently biasing the hinged member6 tcward one another and a8 a ~fastener~ for ~ecuring the hinged n~mbers together. The6e arrangements have been found to have various disadvantages in terms af durability, performance, oomElexity, or expense of manufacture. lhe need has therefore arisen for a hinge assembly of the type described herein, which i~ sin~ae and inexpensive to produ oe , assemble and install, ~hat is highly durable, and that is cape~le ae maint~ining the hinged member in one or more relative rotational or p~ivotal orientations, such as in cpen and clo~ed positions, for ex~mple.
According to the present invention, a spring-loaded hinge as6em~1y is provided for interoonnecting first ~nd seoond relatively rotatzble n~mber6 in a hinged relationship with respect to one another. S4ch a hinge a~Eembay include6 a pivot pin or other pivot ~eans for pivotally interoonnect~ng the first and ~econd members for relative rotational movement about a generally lcngit~dinally-extending axis and a o~m protruding in a generally l~ter~l direction from one of the fir~t or second member6 for rotational relative moYement therewith. A s~pring or other re6ilient bia6ing neans on the other of the fir6t or second nembers i6 ~lidably engaged and re6iliently deflected by the cam in order to exert ~ re6ilient biaEing for oe on the cam in a generally later~l direct~on generally toward the longitudinal axi6, thu6 tending to bias the hinged member6 generally in oppo6ite direction6 away from one another. Prefera~ly, the re6ilient biasing mean6 include6 a leaf 6pring secured to one of the first or EeoDnd member6, with the leaf ~pring being laterally and resiliently deflected by the cam on the other o ber dbring at lea6t a portion of the rotational mLvement of the nember.
Preferably, the ~bove-~entioned cam ha6 at lea6t one dwell portion therecn for engaging the leaf spring or other re~ilient bia6ing ~ean~ at a oDrre6ponding predetermined, relative rokational orientation o the first and seoond members with respect to one an~ther. In such an arrangement, the re~ilient b$a,sing neans tends to resiliently and releasskly maintain the first and second members in the predetermined relative rotational orienkation when ensaged ~y the dwell portion of the cam.
In ~till ~nother preferred hinge arrangement accord$ng to the prefient invention~ the cam can have at least ~ p~ir ot the dwell portions thereon, with a laterally-enlarged lobe portion disEosed between the dwell Eortions. In this arrar~snent, the dwell pDrt$ons engage the resilient biasing means at a correspDnd$ng pair o predetermined relative rotational ientations of the flrst and ~econd nemkers, such ~ in E~reselected open and cloeed orientations for ex~nple, in order to re~iliently ~nd releasa~ly rainkain tne C~ 1305Z02`
fir~t and seoDnd ~ember~ in each of the peedetenmined orientations.
Preferably the resilient biasing means i6 re6$1$ently and laterally deflected by the cam to a greater extent when engaged by the laterally-enlarged lobe pertion of the c~ than when engaged by either of the dwell portion6 of the cam, ~nd the laterally-enlarged lobe portion of the cam ha6 a rounded configuration. Ihi6 preferred arrangement cau~es the resilient bia6ing nean8 to tend to forcikly urge or ~6elf-propel~ the first and seoond members into one o the p~edetermined relative rotational orientations when the re~ilient biasing nean8 i8 engaged ~y the rounded and laterally-enlarged lobe portion of the cam.
In ~pecific apFlications of the hinge aEeenkly described ~bove, the cam can be dispo~ed on an acce660ry door for rotational movement therewith relative to an accessory hou6ing ~tructure. In such an arrangement, the leaf qDring or other re6ilient biasing neans is dispoeed on the housing 6tructure for engage~ent with the cam on tne door, a6 exFlained above. N ternately, the cam can be disposed on the hou~ing structure, and the leaf sLDring or other resilient bia6ing mean8 can be di6poeed on the ac oe ssory door for rotational ncvement therewith relative to the housing structure. In any of the erlxclu~ent8 di6cussed above, a first nLvakle nember 16 hinged or pivotally interoDnnected with a fixæd or mLvatle Eeoond member and is preferably resilienkly urged and subst~ntially Eelf-proFelled into one o the above n~nkioned predetermined rokational oeientation6 rel~tive to the ~eoDnd mewber whenever the hinged oomFonent6 are n4ved to relative rokational or~ d tions ln cloee proslmity with one of the predetermined relative rotational orientations at which the (~ 1305~02 - ) cam dwell portion or portions engage the lea qpring or ot'her re6ilient biasing means.
Additional object6, advantage6 ~nd features of t'he pre6ent invention will beoome apparent from the following description and appended claim6, taken in oonjunction wit'h the ~ooomp3nying drawfngs.
Figure 1 i6 a perspective view of an e~emFlary vi~r a66emkly for the interior of a vehicle, wit'h t'he vicor having a vanity assembay and a h~nge aE~emkly according to the present invention for piv~Ally lnterconnecting the vanity door wit-h t'he vanity hou~ing ~tructure.
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view oE an exemp~ary vehicle ~eat having a vanity aEsemkly on the rear side-thereof, with a hinge assemkly according to the present i~vention pivokally interoonnecting the vanity door with the vanity housing structure.
Figure 3 i~ a p rtial view d a preferred vanity a8Eemkly of Figure 1, in a clo~ed position, showing the hinge assemkay in hidden lines.
Figure 4 is a p rtial top view d the aEsem~y of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a croeE-Eectional view taken generally ~long line 5-5 oE Pigure 3.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 oE Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a p rtial view~ oE an ~lternate vanity aEsemkly, g~m11ar to that oE Figure 1, in a clo~ed po~ition wlth portions broken away to reveal the oomeonents oE an ~ltern~te hlnge aEsem~ly.
(~ 1305~0~
Figure 8 i~ a p~rtial exploded perspective view of the hinge portion of the vanity a~sem~ly of Figure 7.
Figure 9 i~ a cros~-~ectional view t~ken generally slong line 9-9 of Figure 7.
Figure 10 i~ a crossr~ectional view t~ken gener~lly ~long line 10-10 o Figure 7.
Figure 11 i~ a cro~s-sectional view taXen generally along line 1 of Figure 7.
Figure 12 i8 a cross,~ectional view t~ken gener~lly along line 12-12 of Figure 7, with the vanity d~or ~hown in a cloeed position.
Figure 13 i6 a cross,Eectional view Eimilar to Figure 12, but showing the vanity dDor rotated to an open position.
Figure 14 i6 a cross,sectional view taken generally along line 14-14 of Figure 12.
Figures 1 through 14 illustrate various e~bcdine~ts of hinge ~EEemblies aocording to the pre~ent invention, which are ~hown ¦ incorpDrated in an exemplsry ~pçlication for a v~nity door o a I vanity as~embly on one d de of a vehhicle sun visor~ ~ well as illustrating a 6imilar v~nity ~sEembly for the re~r side of a vehicle seat. one skilled in the art will ro~dily recognize from the discussion, claims and drawings herein, however, that the principles of the preeent invention ~re egually ~FF~cable to hinge ~Eeemblies okher thsn those shown in Figure6 1 through 14, ~8 well ns in otner vehicular or nonrvehicul~r ~Felications.
~305Z02 Figuxe 1 illu6trates an exemEaary 6un vi60r 12 pivokally inkeroonnected with a pivot rod 14 adapted for ncunting in the interior of a vehicle (not shown). A vanity assem~ly 20 is mcunted on one 6ide of the 6un vi60r 12 and includes a vanity housing 22 and a hinged vanity door 24 for enclosing a mirror 26 and ~llumlnation lights 28, for ex3mple.
In Fi~ure 2, a vehicle seat 16 includes a head restraint 18 interconnected therewith, with a vanity ~fisemkly 20A nounted on the rear 6ide of the vehicle seat 16. The exe~plary vanity as6emkly 20A
includes a vanity housing 22A and a hinged vanity door 24A for enclosing a mirror 26A and illumination lights 28A, or other 6uch vehicular ac~e~60ries. The vanity asPenb~ies 20 and 20A shown in Figure6 1 and 2, re6p~ctively, are merely illu6trative examples of 6uitab1e applications for one or more hinge a6semblie6 according to the present invention for hingedly or pivotally interconnecting the vanity dbors 24 and 24A with the vanity hous~ngs 22 and 22A, refipectively. One preferred embodilent of such a hinge a6sembly according to the present invention i~ shown in F$gures 3 through 6 and 1~ de~cribed in more detail below.
Figures 3 through 6 ~llu~trate various detailedlviews of hinge aseembly 30 for hingedl or pivotal interoonnection of the vanity door 24 with the vanity housing 22, of Figure 1. It Ehould be noted that one or more of the h~nge a6~emblies 30 can aleo be uffed for hinged or pivotal interoonnection of the vanity door 24A w$th the vam ty housing 22A in Figure 2, as well as in the other vehicular or non,vehic~lar applications.
(~ 130520~: ' The exempaary hinge ~6~embly 30 includes one or ~ore pivok bearing member~ 32 interconnected or integr~lly formed with the vanity door 24 and h N ing open portions 34 for insertion of a piVOk rod or pin 50. A cam member 36 is ~180 ~nteroonnected or integrally formed with the vanity door 24 and ln~ludes an open portion 38 for receiving the pivok rod or pin 50 extending longitudinally between the pivot bearing members 32. m e cam nember 36 preferably includes one or more dwell portions 40 and 42 and a lobe portion 44~ m e pivot pin 50, which extends in a generally longitudinal direction, is received within the çpen p~rtions 34 ~nd 38 of the pivot bearing nembers 32 and tbe cam member 36, re6pectively, in order to hingedly and pivotally interoonnect the vanity d~or 24 with the vanity housing 22. Although the exemplary hinge assembly 30 is pre~erably oomposed of a lded synthetic or paastic material, it Ehould ke nDted that the various comFonents of the hinge assembly 30 can alternately be oompo~ed of other suit~kle material6, and oan be oonstructed by okher methods, as will be ~ppreciated by one skilled in the art.
It ~hould be n~ted th~t the single pivot pin 50 shown in the exemFlary mbodiments of the hinge ~EEemkly 30 depicted in the drawingfi csn be replaced by two or ~ore pivot pins, each of which being received in one of the bearing members 32. In such an arrangement, wterein a p~ir of pivot pins are disposed on opposite ~ides of the cam member 36 in lieu of the single pivot pin 50 shown in the draw~n3s, the open portion 38 of the cam member 36 can be eli~inated if desired.
The vanity hDusing 22 of the preferred exemplary h~nge ~E~embly 30 ~leo inCludes a spring supeort portion 52, h~ving a qpring Eeat 54 ~ ~305:~02 ) thereon, $or receiving and retaining a leaf qpring 60 extending in a generally longitudinal direction. In the hinge assemkly 30 depicted in the drawinss, the leaf spring 60 is generally unsupported in a nedial portion between the associ~ted qpring eeats 54 at opposite ends of the leaf ~pring 60. ~hus, when the hinge asaembly 30 i~
assembled, the leaf spring 60 i~ filidably engaged and resiliently deflected by the osm member 36 during pivotal rotational nrvement of the vanity dbor 24 relative to the vanity housing 22. The deflected leaf ~pring 60 exerts a resilient biasing for oe on the cam member 36 in a generally lateral direction, generally toward the longitudinal axi6 of rotation extending through the pivok pin 50, d thus also tend6 to res~liently b~ias the vanity door 24 d the vanity housing 22 in generally opeosite directionfi ~way from one another.
The leaf ~pring 60 functians to re~iliently but releasably ~aintain the vanity door 24 in ~predetermined rokational orientations relative to the vanity housing æ when the leaf ~pring 60 is engaged b~y the dwell p~rtions 40 and 42 of the cam member 36. The laterally-enlarged lobe portion 44 ce the cmm member 36 preferably has either the narrcw intersect1on of the dwell portions 40 ~nd 42 shown in Figure~ 5 d 6, or an optional rounded or arcuate shape, confronting the leDf qpring 60. mu6, the resilient bia6ing foroe af the le~f qpring 60 tend~ to resiliently ~nd ~orcibly urge or self-prnp~l the vanity door 20 toward or into one of such predetermined rotational orientat~ons relative to the v~nity houfiing 22 when the leaf qpring 60 iB engaged by the laterAlly-erlarged lcbe portion 44. Ihi~ effect results pri~arily from the fact th~t the leaf ~pring 60 is preferably resiliently deflected in a lateral 1305202 ` ?
direction to a greater extent when engRged ~y the lcbe portion 44 than when engaged ty either o the dwell portion~ 40 or 42.
As a result of the arrangement discussed akove, when t~e vani~y dbor 24 is manually rotated to rotational orientations in relatively close proximity to the p~edetermined relative rotational orientations oorresponding to the pDsitions of the dbell portions 40 and 42, the resilient biasing force of the leaf ~pring 60 tends to self-proFel the vanity dbor portion into such predeter~ined relative rotational orientations. Although such relative rotational orientations oorrespond to open and closed position~ of the vanity dbor 24 in the hinge assemkly 30 depicted in the drawings, one skilled in the art will readily ~ppreciate that the dwell p~rtians of the cam member in ~ny given apE~ication oan be preEelected to result in any number c~
other predetermined relative rotational orient~tions.
In addition to the above, it should also be noked that ~lthough the exemplary hinge assembly 30 depicted in the drawings includbs the cam member 36 and the pivot bearing n~s~ber~ 32 on the vanity dDor 24, with the pivot pin S0, the leAf spring 60, and the related w pporting~
components on the vanity hDusing 22, one skilled in the art will readily ~F~DreSiate that this ~rr~ngement c~n ~ltern~tely be reverEed.
In ~uch a reversed ~rrangement, the csm ~ember 36 and the pivot bear~ng mRmbers 32 would be di~posed on the vanity housing 22, while the pivot pin 50, the leaf spring 60, ~nd related supporting camponents would then be disposed on the v~nity door 24. PDr purpoee6 of convenient reference and ~inpaicity d the drawing figure6, such reversed ~rrangement ha6 not been expllcitly ~hown ln the drawing6, but the oanfiguration of the hinge comFonents would be subst~ntially C~ 1305202 `` ) ldentical to hat shown in the drawings in cDnnection wlth the e~xemplary hinge assemkly 30.
Figures 7 through 14 illustrate various detailed views o~ an alternate exæmEaary hinge ~semkly 130 $or hlnged or p~votal interoonnection of a vanity dbor 124 with n vanity hcu~ing 122, Billilar to that Ehcwn in Pigure 1. It ~hould be noked that one or more of the hinge as~em~dies 130 can be ueed for hinged or p~vokal interoonnection of a vanity door with a vanity hou~ing similar to that Ehown in Figure 2, ag well as in other vehicular or nonrvehicular apQlication~.
m e hinge ~EEembly 130 ~ncludes one or m~re pivot bearing members 132 ~nteroDnnected with the vanity door 124 d h2ving cpen pDrtions 134 for insertion of a pivot rod or pin (described below).
A cam member 136 i~ ~180 interoonnectecl or ~ntegrally formed with tne vanity door 124 and includes an open portion 138 for re oe iving a pivot rod or pin extending longitudinally bet~ween the pivot bearing members 132. Ihe cam rember 136 preferakly ~nclude~ one or more dwell portion~ 140 d 142 d a lcke pDrticn 144. A~ perhaE~ begt Eeer in Plgure~ 9 through 14, the exemFaary hlnge ~EEemkly 130 i~
preferably compo~ed of ~ molded ~ynkhetic or pl~çtlc m~terial, d thu~ the cam re~ter 136 can opticnally be molded with ~ hollowed conflguration, indicsted by reerence nu~eral 14~. ~t should be noted that the various comFonentg of the hinge afiEem~y 130 can ~lternately be campo~ed o other Ewdt~ble material6, d c~n be conEkructed ty ckher nekhod6, As will te appreciated by cne skilled in the art.
~305202~ ) qhe vanity housing 122 include5 one or re stanchion~ 148 protruding in a generally laterAl direction to support a pivot pin 150, which extends in a generally longitudiral direction. Ihe pivok pin 150 i~ received within the cpen portions 134 and 138 of the pivot bearing me~bers 132 ~nd the osm mel~er 136, respectively, in order bo hingedly and pivotally interoDnrect the vanity dbor 124 with the vanity housing 122.
Preferakly, esFecially where the variou~ oomEonents of the hinge as~embly 130 ~re oompoEed of mclded plastic or other ~ynthetic materials, the pivot Ein 150 ~ay be laterally urged and ~snapFed~
into pl~ce in a pivotal engagement with the pivok bearing nembers 132. Alternabely, a8 will now be ~ppreciated by one ~killed in the ~rt, other suit~ble rekaining arrangements oan be emplcyed to retain the pivot pin in pla oe in a pivotal engagement with the pivot bearing nembers 132. In this regard, it 8hould further ke nDted that the ~ingle pivot pin 150 shown in the exemp~ary bodllYses of the hinge assembly 130 depicted in the drawings oan be reEaa oe d ty two or more E~Vot pins, each of ~hich being e~p~orted ~y one or more o the stanchion6 148 or other ~milar E~in ~4pport arrangements. Where a p ir of pivot E~ins are disposed on opp w ite d des o the c~m member 136 in lieu o the sinsle E~ivot Ein 150 shown in the drawings, the open Eortion 138 o the cam member 136 can be elimLnated if aesired.
The v~nity hLusing 122 o the exemplary hinge a6ERm~ay 130 ~180 incluaes a Esir cf spring suE~ort member~ 152, eac'h of which includes a spring ~eat 154, and ~ E~ir of ~pring reta~ners 156 l~terally ~p~ced ~way from the spring ~eats 154 for receiving ~nd retaining a leaf sprin~ 160 extending generally longitudinally thRrebetween. In 1:~052~)2 the hinge a6semb~y 130 depicted in the dr~wings, the lea spring 160 i6 generally unsupported in a med$al portion between the associated spring 6upport members 152 and 6pring retainer nember6 15b at oQpo~ite ends of the leaf zpring 160. Ihus, when the h~nge aEsem~ly 130 is a~senkled, the lea~ Epr$ng 160 $~ Elidably engaged and reRiliently deflected ~y the cam nember 136 during pivn~Al rokational ~Gvement of the vanity dbor 124 relative to the vanity hou6ing 122.
m e deflected leaf spring 160 exerts a resilient bia ing for oe on the cam member 136 in a gener~lly laterAl direction, generally tcward the longitudinal ~xi6 of rotation e~dYooding through the p~vot pin 150.
As perhaps be~t ~een in Figure~ 12 and 13, the lea 6pring 160 tends to resiliently but releaEa}ly naintain the vanity door 124 in p~redetermined rotationzl orientations relative to ~he vanity housing 122 when the leaf gpring 160 is engaged by the dwell porticns 140 and 142 o the cam nember 136. Ccnversely, because the laterally-enlarged lobe portion 144 of the cam memker 136 has a generally rounded oonfiguration oonfronting the leaf sspring 160, the re~ilient biasing foroe of the leaf ~pring 160 tends to resiliently and forcibly urge or ~elf-propel the v~nlty door 120 into one of such predetenmined rot~tional orientations rd ative to t,he vanity ,housing 122 when the leaf gpring 160 is en,gaged by the laterally-enlarged lobe portion. This effect results from the akove-mentioned rounded configuration of the loke portion 144 and from the fact that the leaf pring 160 is preferably resiliently deflected to a greater lateral extent w,hen engaged ~y the lobe portion 144 than when eng~ged by either of the dwell portions 140 or 142.
05~02 As a result of the arrangement di~cussed above, when the vanity door 124 is manually rotated to rokational orientatlons in relatively clo~e proximity to the predetermlned relatlve rotational orientations corresponding to the positions of the dwell Fortions 140 ~nd 142, the resilient biasing for oe of the leaf spring 160 tends to Eelf-proFel the vanity dbor portion inko Euch Ftedetenmined relative rotational orientations. Although such relative rok~ticnal orientations correspond to open and cloeed Foeitions of the vanit~ door 124 in the ~hnge assemkly 130 depicted in the drawings, one sk~lled in the art will readily ~ppreciate that the dwell portions of the cam ~ember in bny given apFlication can be Eteeelected to result in any n~mber of other 2redeteDmined relative rokational orientations.
In addition to the ~bove, it should al60 be nDted that ~lthough the exemplary hhnge a~Eembly 130 depicted in the draw$ngs includes the cam memker 136 and the pivot bD~rin9 members 132 on the vanity door 124, with the pivot pin 150, the leaf ~pring 160, and their related supeorting oomEonent~ on the vanity housing 122, one skilled ln the art will readily ~ppreciate th~t thi~ arrangement can ~lternately te reverEed. In cuch a reversed arrangement, the cam memker 136 and the pivot bearing members 132 ~ould ke diqposed on the vanity housing 122, wh~le the pivot pin 150, the leaf spring 160, and their related oomponents would then be dispDsed on the vanity door 124. For purpDse~ of oanvenient reference and s$n~1icity of the drawing figures, such reversed arrangement ha6 nDt been explicitly shown in the drawings, kut the oDnfiguration of the hdnge oomFonent~
would ke 8ub6t~nti~11y identical tD that ~hown in the draw~ngs in oonnection with the exemplary hinge assemkly 130.
~ 0 5 2 0 2 Ihe foregoing discussion disclose~ ~nd de~cribes exemFaary er!xll~oents o~ the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily reoognize from such discuE6ion and $rom the o~YsJqp~nying dr~wings and claim6, that various ctuLnges, r~diflcation6, d variation6 may be made th OE ein without deporting from the spirit and scope o$ the invention as defined in the following claims.
-1~
The present invention relates generally to hinge aEEæ~blies for hinged or pivokally interoonnected ~embers, and more particularly to Cuch hinge ~ssemblies especially adapted for pivotally interoonnecting a vehicle acce~sory door with a vehicle accessory housing structure or other portion of the intecior of a vehicle.
Such vehicle ~o oe ssory d~ors inclu~e vanity doors, storage oompart~ent dbors or other aooessory oovers. Hinge a~cPnhl ies aocording to the present invention can ~lEo be emplcyed for various non~vehicular uses, as will be readily ~ppreciated b~y one skilled in the art from the following discussion.
The typical vehicle includes a wide variety of hinged or pivotally moun~ed vehicle acoes~ories or accessory oovers in the interior, luggage ~torage areas, engine oompartment, or o~her areas.
In the pa~t, however, na~y hinge as~emblies for such vehicular apelic~ticns, as well as those for various nDnrvehicular aFFlicatic~, either have not been sufficienkly durakle or have heen relatively expensive to produoe ~nd inEkall. Furthermore, nzny of such prior hinge as~emklies have heen found to he inordinately bulky, unsightly, or ill-fitting, dl of which detr~ct frc~ the u6er'~
per oeption of c~ualit~y with regard to the vehicle or other devi oe in which Euch hinge as~emb~ies are included.
In addition to the ~bove diEadvantages, no~y prior hinge as~emblie~ have not prcqidea the u~er with relatively rotated or F~vcked p~iticns ~n which the hinged memkers can he held and (~ ~305202 maintained, especi~lly after extended uæe and wear of the hinge aomponents. one example of the prior art wherein such a feature has been provi W , hcwever, i~ an over-center, ~pring-and~lever arrangement, BUCh as that ~hown in Uhited State6 Patent Nbs..
4,491,899; 4,227,242; and 4,000,404. Another examFle i6 an arrangement having a coil spring with it~ oEpD6ite en~s inkeraon~ected with oppo~ite hinged members in order to bias the ~wo hinge members t~ward one ancther in a nLtual 81iding arrangement.
This hinge arrangement does n~t have a pivot pin or other member pivotally interoonnecting the hinged nenber~ and thus the slpring functions both as a resilient bia6ing m~mker for resiliently biasing the hinged member6 tcward one another and a8 a ~fastener~ for ~ecuring the hinged n~mbers together. The6e arrangements have been found to have various disadvantages in terms af durability, performance, oomElexity, or expense of manufacture. lhe need has therefore arisen for a hinge assembly of the type described herein, which i~ sin~ae and inexpensive to produ oe , assemble and install, ~hat is highly durable, and that is cape~le ae maint~ining the hinged member in one or more relative rotational or p~ivotal orientations, such as in cpen and clo~ed positions, for ex~mple.
According to the present invention, a spring-loaded hinge as6em~1y is provided for interoonnecting first ~nd seoond relatively rotatzble n~mber6 in a hinged relationship with respect to one another. S4ch a hinge a~Eembay include6 a pivot pin or other pivot ~eans for pivotally interoonnect~ng the first and ~econd members for relative rotational movement about a generally lcngit~dinally-extending axis and a o~m protruding in a generally l~ter~l direction from one of the fir~t or second member6 for rotational relative moYement therewith. A s~pring or other re6ilient bia6ing neans on the other of the fir6t or second nembers i6 ~lidably engaged and re6iliently deflected by the cam in order to exert ~ re6ilient biaEing for oe on the cam in a generally later~l direct~on generally toward the longitudinal axi6, thu6 tending to bias the hinged member6 generally in oppo6ite direction6 away from one another. Prefera~ly, the re6ilient biasing mean6 include6 a leaf 6pring secured to one of the first or EeoDnd member6, with the leaf ~pring being laterally and resiliently deflected by the cam on the other o ber dbring at lea6t a portion of the rotational mLvement of the nember.
Preferably, the ~bove-~entioned cam ha6 at lea6t one dwell portion therecn for engaging the leaf spring or other re~ilient bia6ing ~ean~ at a oDrre6ponding predetermined, relative rokational orientation o the first and seoond members with respect to one an~ther. In such an arrangement, the re~ilient b$a,sing neans tends to resiliently and releasskly maintain the first and second members in the predetermined relative rotational orienkation when ensaged ~y the dwell portion of the cam.
In ~till ~nother preferred hinge arrangement accord$ng to the prefient invention~ the cam can have at least ~ p~ir ot the dwell portions thereon, with a laterally-enlarged lobe portion disEosed between the dwell Eortions. In this arrar~snent, the dwell pDrt$ons engage the resilient biasing means at a correspDnd$ng pair o predetermined relative rotational ientations of the flrst and ~econd nemkers, such ~ in E~reselected open and cloeed orientations for ex~nple, in order to re~iliently ~nd releasa~ly rainkain tne C~ 1305Z02`
fir~t and seoDnd ~ember~ in each of the peedetenmined orientations.
Preferably the resilient biasing means i6 re6$1$ently and laterally deflected by the cam to a greater extent when engaged by the laterally-enlarged lobe pertion of the c~ than when engaged by either of the dwell portion6 of the cam, ~nd the laterally-enlarged lobe portion of the cam ha6 a rounded configuration. Ihi6 preferred arrangement cau~es the resilient bia6ing nean8 to tend to forcikly urge or ~6elf-propel~ the first and seoond members into one o the p~edetermined relative rotational orientations when the re~ilient biasing nean8 i8 engaged ~y the rounded and laterally-enlarged lobe portion of the cam.
In ~pecific apFlications of the hinge aEeenkly described ~bove, the cam can be dispo~ed on an acce660ry door for rotational movement therewith relative to an accessory hou6ing ~tructure. In such an arrangement, the leaf qDring or other re6ilient biasing neans is dispoeed on the housing 6tructure for engage~ent with the cam on tne door, a6 exFlained above. N ternately, the cam can be disposed on the hou~ing structure, and the leaf sLDring or other resilient bia6ing mean8 can be di6poeed on the ac oe ssory door for rotational ncvement therewith relative to the housing structure. In any of the erlxclu~ent8 di6cussed above, a first nLvakle nember 16 hinged or pivotally interoDnnected with a fixæd or mLvatle Eeoond member and is preferably resilienkly urged and subst~ntially Eelf-proFelled into one o the above n~nkioned predetermined rokational oeientation6 rel~tive to the ~eoDnd mewber whenever the hinged oomFonent6 are n4ved to relative rokational or~ d tions ln cloee proslmity with one of the predetermined relative rotational orientations at which the (~ 1305~02 - ) cam dwell portion or portions engage the lea qpring or ot'her re6ilient biasing means.
Additional object6, advantage6 ~nd features of t'he pre6ent invention will beoome apparent from the following description and appended claim6, taken in oonjunction wit'h the ~ooomp3nying drawfngs.
Figure 1 i6 a perspective view of an e~emFlary vi~r a66emkly for the interior of a vehicle, wit'h t'he vicor having a vanity assembay and a h~nge aE~emkly according to the present invention for piv~Ally lnterconnecting the vanity door wit-h t'he vanity hou~ing ~tructure.
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view oE an exemp~ary vehicle ~eat having a vanity aEsemkly on the rear side-thereof, with a hinge assemkly according to the present i~vention pivokally interoonnecting the vanity door with the vanity housing structure.
Figure 3 i~ a p rtial view d a preferred vanity a8Eemkly of Figure 1, in a clo~ed position, showing the hinge assemkay in hidden lines.
Figure 4 is a p rtial top view d the aEsem~y of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a croeE-Eectional view taken generally ~long line 5-5 oE Pigure 3.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 oE Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a p rtial view~ oE an ~lternate vanity aEsemkly, g~m11ar to that oE Figure 1, in a clo~ed po~ition wlth portions broken away to reveal the oomeonents oE an ~ltern~te hlnge aEsem~ly.
(~ 1305~0~
Figure 8 i~ a p~rtial exploded perspective view of the hinge portion of the vanity a~sem~ly of Figure 7.
Figure 9 i~ a cros~-~ectional view t~ken generally slong line 9-9 of Figure 7.
Figure 10 i~ a crossr~ectional view t~ken gener~lly ~long line 10-10 o Figure 7.
Figure 11 i~ a cro~s-sectional view taXen generally along line 1 of Figure 7.
Figure 12 i8 a cross,~ectional view t~ken gener~lly along line 12-12 of Figure 7, with the vanity d~or ~hown in a cloeed position.
Figure 13 i6 a cross,Eectional view Eimilar to Figure 12, but showing the vanity dDor rotated to an open position.
Figure 14 i6 a cross,sectional view taken generally along line 14-14 of Figure 12.
Figures 1 through 14 illustrate various e~bcdine~ts of hinge ~EEemblies aocording to the pre~ent invention, which are ~hown ¦ incorpDrated in an exemplsry ~pçlication for a v~nity door o a I vanity as~embly on one d de of a vehhicle sun visor~ ~ well as illustrating a 6imilar v~nity ~sEembly for the re~r side of a vehicle seat. one skilled in the art will ro~dily recognize from the discussion, claims and drawings herein, however, that the principles of the preeent invention ~re egually ~FF~cable to hinge ~Eeemblies okher thsn those shown in Figure6 1 through 14, ~8 well ns in otner vehicular or nonrvehicul~r ~Felications.
~305Z02 Figuxe 1 illu6trates an exemEaary 6un vi60r 12 pivokally inkeroonnected with a pivot rod 14 adapted for ncunting in the interior of a vehicle (not shown). A vanity assem~ly 20 is mcunted on one 6ide of the 6un vi60r 12 and includes a vanity housing 22 and a hinged vanity door 24 for enclosing a mirror 26 and ~llumlnation lights 28, for ex3mple.
In Fi~ure 2, a vehicle seat 16 includes a head restraint 18 interconnected therewith, with a vanity ~fisemkly 20A nounted on the rear 6ide of the vehicle seat 16. The exe~plary vanity as6emkly 20A
includes a vanity housing 22A and a hinged vanity door 24A for enclosing a mirror 26A and illumination lights 28A, or other 6uch vehicular ac~e~60ries. The vanity asPenb~ies 20 and 20A shown in Figure6 1 and 2, re6p~ctively, are merely illu6trative examples of 6uitab1e applications for one or more hinge a6semblie6 according to the present invention for hingedly or pivotally interconnecting the vanity dbors 24 and 24A with the vanity hous~ngs 22 and 22A, refipectively. One preferred embodilent of such a hinge a6sembly according to the present invention i~ shown in F$gures 3 through 6 and 1~ de~cribed in more detail below.
Figures 3 through 6 ~llu~trate various detailedlviews of hinge aseembly 30 for hingedl or pivotal interoonnection of the vanity door 24 with the vanity housing 22, of Figure 1. It Ehould be noted that one or more of the h~nge a6~emblies 30 can aleo be uffed for hinged or pivotal interoonnection of the vanity door 24A w$th the vam ty housing 22A in Figure 2, as well as in the other vehicular or non,vehic~lar applications.
(~ 130520~: ' The exempaary hinge ~6~embly 30 includes one or ~ore pivok bearing member~ 32 interconnected or integr~lly formed with the vanity door 24 and h N ing open portions 34 for insertion of a piVOk rod or pin 50. A cam member 36 is ~180 ~nteroonnected or integrally formed with the vanity door 24 and ln~ludes an open portion 38 for receiving the pivok rod or pin 50 extending longitudinally between the pivot bearing members 32. m e cam nember 36 preferably includes one or more dwell portions 40 and 42 and a lobe portion 44~ m e pivot pin 50, which extends in a generally longitudinal direction, is received within the çpen p~rtions 34 ~nd 38 of the pivot bearing nembers 32 and tbe cam member 36, re6pectively, in order to hingedly and pivotally interoonnect the vanity d~or 24 with the vanity housing 22. Although the exemplary hinge assembly 30 is pre~erably oomposed of a lded synthetic or paastic material, it Ehould ke nDted that the various comFonents of the hinge assembly 30 can alternately be oompo~ed of other suit~kle material6, and oan be oonstructed by okher methods, as will be ~ppreciated by one skilled in the art.
It ~hould be n~ted th~t the single pivot pin 50 shown in the exemFlary mbodiments of the hinge ~EEemkly 30 depicted in the drawingfi csn be replaced by two or ~ore pivot pins, each of which being received in one of the bearing members 32. In such an arrangement, wterein a p~ir of pivot pins are disposed on opposite ~ides of the cam member 36 in lieu of the single pivot pin 50 shown in the draw~n3s, the open portion 38 of the cam member 36 can be eli~inated if desired.
The vanity hDusing 22 of the preferred exemplary h~nge ~E~embly 30 ~leo inCludes a spring supeort portion 52, h~ving a qpring Eeat 54 ~ ~305:~02 ) thereon, $or receiving and retaining a leaf qpring 60 extending in a generally longitudinal direction. In the hinge assemkly 30 depicted in the drawinss, the leaf spring 60 is generally unsupported in a nedial portion between the associ~ted qpring eeats 54 at opposite ends of the leaf ~pring 60. ~hus, when the hinge asaembly 30 i~
assembled, the leaf spring 60 i~ filidably engaged and resiliently deflected by the osm member 36 during pivotal rotational nrvement of the vanity dbor 24 relative to the vanity housing 22. The deflected leaf ~pring 60 exerts a resilient biasing for oe on the cam member 36 in a generally lateral direction, generally toward the longitudinal axi6 of rotation extending through the pivok pin 50, d thus also tend6 to res~liently b~ias the vanity door 24 d the vanity housing 22 in generally opeosite directionfi ~way from one another.
The leaf ~pring 60 functians to re~iliently but releasably ~aintain the vanity door 24 in ~predetermined rokational orientations relative to the vanity housing æ when the leaf ~pring 60 is engaged b~y the dwell p~rtions 40 and 42 of the cam member 36. The laterally-enlarged lobe portion 44 ce the cmm member 36 preferably has either the narrcw intersect1on of the dwell portions 40 ~nd 42 shown in Figure~ 5 d 6, or an optional rounded or arcuate shape, confronting the leDf qpring 60. mu6, the resilient bia6ing foroe af the le~f qpring 60 tend~ to resiliently ~nd ~orcibly urge or self-prnp~l the vanity door 20 toward or into one of such predetermined rotational orientat~ons relative to the v~nity houfiing 22 when the leaf qpring 60 iB engaged by the laterAlly-erlarged lcbe portion 44. Ihi~ effect results pri~arily from the fact th~t the leaf ~pring 60 is preferably resiliently deflected in a lateral 1305202 ` ?
direction to a greater extent when engRged ~y the lcbe portion 44 than when engaged ty either o the dwell portion~ 40 or 42.
As a result of the arrangement discussed akove, when t~e vani~y dbor 24 is manually rotated to rotational orientations in relatively close proximity to the p~edetermined relative rotational orientations oorresponding to the pDsitions of the dbell portions 40 and 42, the resilient biasing force of the leaf ~pring 60 tends to self-proFel the vanity dbor portion into such predeter~ined relative rotational orientations. Although such relative rotational orientations oorrespond to open and closed position~ of the vanity dbor 24 in the hinge assemkly 30 depicted in the drawings, one skilled in the art will readily ~ppreciate that the dwell p~rtians of the cam member in ~ny given apE~ication oan be preEelected to result in any number c~
other predetermined relative rotational orient~tions.
In addition to the above, it should also be noked that ~lthough the exemplary hinge assembly 30 depicted in the drawings includbs the cam member 36 and the pivot bearing n~s~ber~ 32 on the vanity dDor 24, with the pivot pin S0, the leAf spring 60, and the related w pporting~
components on the vanity hDusing 22, one skilled in the art will readily ~F~DreSiate that this ~rr~ngement c~n ~ltern~tely be reverEed.
In ~uch a reversed ~rrangement, the csm ~ember 36 and the pivot bear~ng mRmbers 32 would be di~posed on the vanity housing 22, while the pivot pin 50, the leaf spring 60, ~nd related supporting camponents would then be disposed on the v~nity door 24. PDr purpoee6 of convenient reference and ~inpaicity d the drawing figure6, such reversed ~rrangement ha6 not been expllcitly ~hown ln the drawing6, but the oanfiguration of the hinge comFonents would be subst~ntially C~ 1305202 `` ) ldentical to hat shown in the drawings in cDnnection wlth the e~xemplary hinge assemkly 30.
Figures 7 through 14 illustrate various detailed views o~ an alternate exæmEaary hinge ~semkly 130 $or hlnged or p~votal interoonnection of a vanity dbor 124 with n vanity hcu~ing 122, Billilar to that Ehcwn in Pigure 1. It ~hould be noked that one or more of the hinge as~em~dies 130 can be ueed for hinged or p~vokal interoonnection of a vanity door with a vanity hou~ing similar to that Ehown in Figure 2, ag well as in other vehicular or nonrvehicular apQlication~.
m e hinge ~EEembly 130 ~ncludes one or m~re pivot bearing members 132 ~nteroDnnected with the vanity door 124 d h2ving cpen pDrtions 134 for insertion of a pivot rod or pin (described below).
A cam member 136 i~ ~180 interoonnectecl or ~ntegrally formed with tne vanity door 124 and includes an open portion 138 for re oe iving a pivot rod or pin extending longitudinally bet~ween the pivot bearing members 132. Ihe cam rember 136 preferakly ~nclude~ one or more dwell portion~ 140 d 142 d a lcke pDrticn 144. A~ perhaE~ begt Eeer in Plgure~ 9 through 14, the exemFaary hlnge ~EEemkly 130 i~
preferably compo~ed of ~ molded ~ynkhetic or pl~çtlc m~terial, d thu~ the cam re~ter 136 can opticnally be molded with ~ hollowed conflguration, indicsted by reerence nu~eral 14~. ~t should be noted that the various comFonentg of the hinge afiEem~y 130 can ~lternately be campo~ed o other Ewdt~ble material6, d c~n be conEkructed ty ckher nekhod6, As will te appreciated by cne skilled in the art.
~305202~ ) qhe vanity housing 122 include5 one or re stanchion~ 148 protruding in a generally laterAl direction to support a pivot pin 150, which extends in a generally longitudiral direction. Ihe pivok pin 150 i~ received within the cpen portions 134 and 138 of the pivot bearing me~bers 132 ~nd the osm mel~er 136, respectively, in order bo hingedly and pivotally interoDnrect the vanity dbor 124 with the vanity housing 122.
Preferakly, esFecially where the variou~ oomEonents of the hinge as~embly 130 ~re oompoEed of mclded plastic or other ~ynthetic materials, the pivot Ein 150 ~ay be laterally urged and ~snapFed~
into pl~ce in a pivotal engagement with the pivok bearing nembers 132. Alternabely, a8 will now be ~ppreciated by one ~killed in the ~rt, other suit~ble rekaining arrangements oan be emplcyed to retain the pivot pin in pla oe in a pivotal engagement with the pivot bearing nembers 132. In this regard, it 8hould further ke nDted that the ~ingle pivot pin 150 shown in the exemp~ary bodllYses of the hinge assembly 130 depicted in the drawings oan be reEaa oe d ty two or more E~Vot pins, each of ~hich being e~p~orted ~y one or more o the stanchion6 148 or other ~milar E~in ~4pport arrangements. Where a p ir of pivot E~ins are disposed on opp w ite d des o the c~m member 136 in lieu o the sinsle E~ivot Ein 150 shown in the drawings, the open Eortion 138 o the cam member 136 can be elimLnated if aesired.
The v~nity hLusing 122 o the exemplary hinge a6ERm~ay 130 ~180 incluaes a Esir cf spring suE~ort member~ 152, eac'h of which includes a spring ~eat 154, and ~ E~ir of ~pring reta~ners 156 l~terally ~p~ced ~way from the spring ~eats 154 for receiving ~nd retaining a leaf sprin~ 160 extending generally longitudinally thRrebetween. In 1:~052~)2 the hinge a6semb~y 130 depicted in the dr~wings, the lea spring 160 i6 generally unsupported in a med$al portion between the associated spring 6upport members 152 and 6pring retainer nember6 15b at oQpo~ite ends of the leaf zpring 160. Ihus, when the h~nge aEsem~ly 130 is a~senkled, the lea~ Epr$ng 160 $~ Elidably engaged and reRiliently deflected ~y the cam nember 136 during pivn~Al rokational ~Gvement of the vanity dbor 124 relative to the vanity hou6ing 122.
m e deflected leaf spring 160 exerts a resilient bia ing for oe on the cam member 136 in a gener~lly laterAl direction, generally tcward the longitudinal ~xi6 of rotation e~dYooding through the p~vot pin 150.
As perhaps be~t ~een in Figure~ 12 and 13, the lea 6pring 160 tends to resiliently but releaEa}ly naintain the vanity door 124 in p~redetermined rotationzl orientations relative to ~he vanity housing 122 when the leaf gpring 160 is engaged by the dwell porticns 140 and 142 o the cam nember 136. Ccnversely, because the laterally-enlarged lobe portion 144 of the cam memker 136 has a generally rounded oonfiguration oonfronting the leaf sspring 160, the re~ilient biasing foroe of the leaf ~pring 160 tends to resiliently and forcibly urge or ~elf-propel the v~nlty door 120 into one of such predetenmined rot~tional orientations rd ative to t,he vanity ,housing 122 when the leaf gpring 160 is en,gaged by the laterally-enlarged lobe portion. This effect results from the akove-mentioned rounded configuration of the loke portion 144 and from the fact that the leaf pring 160 is preferably resiliently deflected to a greater lateral extent w,hen engaged ~y the lobe portion 144 than when eng~ged by either of the dwell portions 140 or 142.
05~02 As a result of the arrangement di~cussed above, when the vanity door 124 is manually rotated to rokational orientatlons in relatively clo~e proximity to the predetermlned relatlve rotational orientations corresponding to the positions of the dwell Fortions 140 ~nd 142, the resilient biasing for oe of the leaf spring 160 tends to Eelf-proFel the vanity dbor portion inko Euch Ftedetenmined relative rotational orientations. Although such relative rok~ticnal orientations correspond to open and cloeed Foeitions of the vanit~ door 124 in the ~hnge assemkly 130 depicted in the drawings, one sk~lled in the art will readily ~ppreciate that the dwell portions of the cam ~ember in bny given apFlication can be Eteeelected to result in any n~mber of other 2redeteDmined relative rokational orientations.
In addition to the ~bove, it should al60 be nDted that ~lthough the exemplary hhnge a~Eembly 130 depicted in the draw$ngs includes the cam memker 136 and the pivot bD~rin9 members 132 on the vanity door 124, with the pivot pin 150, the leaf ~pring 160, and their related supeorting oomEonent~ on the vanity housing 122, one skilled ln the art will readily ~ppreciate th~t thi~ arrangement can ~lternately te reverEed. In cuch a reversed arrangement, the cam memker 136 and the pivot bearing members 132 ~ould ke diqposed on the vanity housing 122, wh~le the pivot pin 150, the leaf spring 160, and their related oomponents would then be dispDsed on the vanity door 124. For purpDse~ of oanvenient reference and s$n~1icity of the drawing figures, such reversed arrangement ha6 nDt been explicitly shown in the drawings, kut the oDnfiguration of the hdnge oomFonent~
would ke 8ub6t~nti~11y identical tD that ~hown in the draw~ngs in oonnection with the exemplary hinge assemkly 130.
~ 0 5 2 0 2 Ihe foregoing discussion disclose~ ~nd de~cribes exemFaary er!xll~oents o~ the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily reoognize from such discuE6ion and $rom the o~YsJqp~nying dr~wings and claim6, that various ctuLnges, r~diflcation6, d variation6 may be made th OE ein without deporting from the spirit and scope o$ the invention as defined in the following claims.
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Claims (24)
1. A spring-loaded hinge assembly for interconnecting an accessory door with an accessory housing structure for a vehicle, said hinge assembly comprising: pivot means pivotally interconnecting the door with the housing structure for rotational movement of the door relative to the housing structure about a longitudinally extending axis; a cam member protruding in a generally lateral direction from the door for rotational movement therewith; said cam member having at least one dwell portion thereon; leaf spring means on the housing structure and slidably and resiliently deflectably engageable by said cam for exerting a resilient biasing force on said cam member; and support means interconnected with the housing structure for supporting said leaf spring means in a direction generally opposite the direction of said engagement of said leaf spring means by said cam member, said support means supporting said leaf spring means at least at two spaced-apart support locations thereon, said cam member deflectably engaging said leaf spring means at a medial location thereon between said spaced-apart support locations, said leaf spring means tending to maintain the door in a predetermined rotational orientation relative to the housing structure when engaged by said dwell portion of said cam member.
2. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein said leaf spring means is secured to the housing structure, said leaf spring means being laterally and resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least a portionof said rotational movement of said cam member and the door relative to the housing structure.
3. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cam member includes a laterally-enlarged lobe portion disposed generally adjacent said dwell portion, said leaf spring means being resiliently and generally laterally deflected by said cam member to a greater extent when engaged by said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of said cam member than when engaged by said dwell portion of said cam member.
4. A hinge assembly according to claim 3, wherein said cam member includes at least a pair of said dwell portions, and said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of said cam member is disposed generally at the intersection of said dwell portions in order to cause said leaf spring means to tend to forcibly urgethe door into said predetermined relative rotational orientation relative to thehousing structure when said leaf spring means is engaged by said laterally-enlarged lobe portion.
5. A hinge assembly according to claim 3, wherein said cam member includes at least a pair of said dwell portions thereon, said laterally-enlargedlobe portion being disposed between said dwell portions, said dwell portions engaging said leaf spring means at a corresponding paid of said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door and the housing structure, said leaf spring means tending to resiliently and releasably maintain the door and the housing structure in each of said predetermined relative rotational orientationswhen engaged by the corresponding dwell portion of said cam member.
6. A hinge assembly according to claim 5, wherein said leaf spring means is secured to the housing structure, said leaf spring being laterally and resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least a portion of said rotational movement of said cam member and the door relative to the housing structure.
7. A hinge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle window visor adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotally interconnected to said visor for rotational movement between an open position exposing said vanity assembly and a closed position covering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door relative to the visor corresponding to said open and closed door positions.
8. A hinge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle head restraint adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotally interconnected to said head restraint for rotational movement between an open position exposing said vanity assembly and a closed position covering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door relative to the head restraint corresponding to said open and closed door positions.
9. A spring loaded hinge assembly for interconnecting an accessory door with an accessory housing structure for a vehicle, said hinge assembly comprising: pivot means pivotally interconnecting the door with the housing structure for rotational movement of the door relative to the housing structure about a longitudinally-extending axis; a cam member protruding in a generally lateral direction from the housing structure; said cam member having at least one dwell portion thereon; leaf spring means disposed on the door for rotational movement therewith, said leaf spring means being slidably and resiliently deflectably engageable by said cam member for exerting a resilient biasing force on said cam member; and support means interconnected with the door for supporting said leaf spring means in a direction generally opposite thedirection of said engagement of said leaf spring means by said cam member, said support means supporting said leaf spring means at least at two spaced-apart support locations thereon, said cam member deflectably engaging said leaf spring means at a medial location thereon between said spaced-apart support locations, said leaf spring means tending to maintain the door in a predetermined rotational orientation relative to the housing structure when engaged by said dwell portion of said cam member.
10. A hinge assembly according to claim 9 wherein said leaf spring means is secured to the door, said leaf spring means being laterally and resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least a portion of said rotational movement of said cam member and the door relative to the housing structure.
11. A hinge assembly according to claim 9, wherein said cam member includes a laterally-enlarged lobe portion disposed generally adjacent said dwell portion, said leaf spring means being resiliently and generally laterally deflected by said cam member to a greater extent when engaged by said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of said cam member than when engaged by said dwell portion of said cam member.
12. A hinge assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cam member includes at least a pair of said dwell portions, and said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of said cam member is disposed generally at the intersection of said dwell portions in order to cause said leaf spring means to tend to forcibly urgethe door into said predetermined relative rotational orientation relative to thehousing structure when said leaf spring means is engaged by said laterally-enlarged lobe portion.
13. A hinge assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cam member includes at least a pair of said dwell portions thereon, said laterally-enlargedlobe portion being disposed between said dwell portions, said dwell portions engaging said leaf spring means at a corresponding pair of said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door and the housing structure, said leaf spring means tending to resiliently and releasably maintain the door and the housing structure in each of said predetermined relative rotational orientationswhen engaged by the corresponding dwell portion of said cam member.
14. A hinge assembly according to claim 13, wherein said leaf spring means is secured to the door, said leaf spring means being laterally and resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least a portion of said rotational movement of said cam member and the door relative to the housing structure.
15. A hinge assembly according to claim 13, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle window visor adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotally interconnected to said visor for rotational movement between an open position exposing said vanity assembly and a closed position covering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door relative to the visor corresponding to said open and closed door positions.
16. A hinge assembly according to claim 13, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle head restraint adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotally interconnected to said head restraint for rotational movement between an open position exposing said vanity assembly and a closed position covering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door relative to the head restraint corresponding to said open and closed door positions.
17. A spring-loaded hinge assembly for interconnecting an accessory door with an accessory housing structure for a vehicle, said hinge assembly comprising: pivot means pivotally interconnecting the door with the housing structure for relative rotational movement of the door and the housing structurewith respect to one another about a longitudinally-extending axis; a cam member protruding in a generally lateral direction from one of the door or the housing structure for relative rotational movement therewith; said cam member having at least one dwell portion thereon; leaf spring means on the other of thedoor or the housing structure said leaf spring means being resiliently deflectably engageable by said cam member for exerting a resilient biasing force on said cam member; and support means interconnected with one of the door or the housing structure for supporting said leaf spring means in a direction generally opposite the direction of said engagement of said leaf spring means by said cam member, said support means supporting said leaf spring means at least at two spaced-apart support locations thereon, said cam member deflectably engaging said leaf spring means at a medial location thereon between said spaced-apart support locations during at least a portion of said relative rotational movement of the door and the housing structure, saidleaf spring means tending to maintain the door and the housing structure in a predetermined relative rotational orientation with respect to one another when engaged by said dwell portion of said cam member.
18. A hinge assembly according to claim 17, wherein said leaf spring means is secured to one of the door or the housing structure, said leaf spring means being laterally and resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least a portion of said relative rotational movement of the door and the housingstructure.
19. A hinge assembly according to claim 17, wherein said cam member includes a laterally-enlarged lobe portion disposed generally adjacent said dwell portion, said leaf spring means being resiliently and generally laterally deflected by said cam member to a greater extent when engaged by said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of said cam member than when engaged by said dwell portion of said cam member.
20. A hinge assembly according IO claim 19, wherein said cam member includes at least a pair of said dwell portions, and said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of said ow member is disposed generally at the intersection of said dwell portions in order to cause said leaf spring means to tend to forcibly urgethe door and the housing structure into said predetermined relative rotational orientation when said leaf spring means is engaged by said laterally- enlarged lobe portion.
21. A hinge assembly according to claim 19, wherein said cam member includes at least a pair of said dwell portions thereon, said laterally-enlargedlobe portion being disposed between said dwell portions, said dwell portions engaging said leaf spring means at a corresponding pair of said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door and the housing structure, said leaf spring means tending to resiliently and releasably maintain the door and the housing structure in each of said predetermined relative rotational orientationswhen engaged by the corresponding dwell portion of said cam member.
22. A hinge assembly according to claim 21, wherein said leaf spring means is secured to one of the door or the housing structure, said leaf spring means being laterally and resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least a portion of said relative rotational movement of the door and the housingstructure.
23. A hinge assembly according to claim 21, wherein the housing structure is a vehicle window visor adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotally interconnected to said visor for said relative rotational movement between an open position exposing said vanity assembly and a closed position covering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door and the visor corresponding to said open andclosed door positions.
24. A hinge assembly according to claim 21, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle head restraint adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotally interconnected to said head restraint for said relative rotational movement between an open position exposing said vanity assembly and a closed position covering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotational orientations of the door and the head restraint corresponding to said open and closed door positions.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US910,129 | 1986-09-22 | ||
| US06/910,129 US4715644A (en) | 1986-09-22 | 1986-09-22 | Spring-loaded hinge assembly for vehicle accessories |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000616152A Division CA1319724C (en) | 1986-09-22 | 1991-08-28 | Spring-loaded hinge assembly for vehicle accessories |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1305202C true CA1305202C (en) | 1992-07-14 |
Family
ID=25428347
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000547243A Expired - Fee Related CA1305202C (en) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-09-18 | Spring-loaded hinge assembly for vehicle accessories |
| CA000616152A Expired - Fee Related CA1319724C (en) | 1986-09-22 | 1991-08-28 | Spring-loaded hinge assembly for vehicle accessories |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000616152A Expired - Fee Related CA1319724C (en) | 1986-09-22 | 1991-08-28 | Spring-loaded hinge assembly for vehicle accessories |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4715644A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0261906A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS63161278A (en) |
| CA (2) | CA1305202C (en) |
| MX (1) | MX160580A (en) |
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| FR2629768B1 (en) * | 1988-04-06 | 1992-02-28 | Rockwell Cim | MIRROR CASSETTE FOR SUN VISOR, ESPECIALLY IN AN AUTOMOBILE INTERIOR |
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| FR2647733B1 (en) * | 1989-06-06 | 1991-09-20 | Rockwell Abs France | MIRROR CASSETTE FOR SUN VISOR, ESPECIALLY IN AN AUTOMOBILE INTERIOR |
| US4997228A (en) * | 1989-07-24 | 1991-03-05 | Prince Corporation | Multiple function visor |
| DE3936350A1 (en) * | 1989-11-02 | 1991-05-08 | Happich Gmbh Gebr | SUN VISOR WITH MIRROR AND A FOLDING COVER |
| GB8928100D0 (en) * | 1989-12-12 | 1990-02-14 | Invicta Plastics Ltd | Hinge assembly |
| US4993772A (en) * | 1990-02-20 | 1991-02-19 | Irvin Automotive Products, Inc. | Spring-loaded, dual-action hinge assembly for vehicle accessories |
| DE4102517C1 (en) * | 1991-01-29 | 1992-03-05 | Gebr. Happich Gmbh, 5600 Wuppertal, De | |
| PL164965B1 (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1994-10-31 | Stefan Nazarewski | Positioning apparatus in particular for automobile doors |
| JPH05229340A (en) * | 1992-02-17 | 1993-09-07 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Vanity mirror |
| US5230546A (en) * | 1992-08-25 | 1993-07-27 | Prince Corporation | Vanity mirror visor cover |
| US5331518A (en) * | 1992-09-22 | 1994-07-19 | Prince Corporation | Visor mirror cover assembly |
| FR2699956B1 (en) * | 1992-12-31 | 1995-03-10 | Sdecc | Retarder for opening a folding gate. |
| US5428513A (en) * | 1993-11-17 | 1995-06-27 | Prince Corporation | Covered vanity mirror and flexible circuit |
| US7093320B2 (en) * | 2001-10-01 | 2006-08-22 | Tager Jean M | Pin-less locks for sliding members |
| US8701250B2 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2014-04-22 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Hinge assembly for vehicle interior trim component |
| US8556325B2 (en) | 2011-09-20 | 2013-10-15 | Irvin Automotive Products, Inc. | Sliding visor |
| US10737559B2 (en) | 2014-12-16 | 2020-08-11 | Irvin Automotive Products, LLC | Visor |
| US10688850B2 (en) | 2018-03-13 | 2020-06-23 | Irvin Automotive Products, LLC | Sliding visor |
| US10864804B2 (en) | 2019-02-28 | 2020-12-15 | Irvin Automotive Products, LLC | Sliding thin visor |
| US10870337B2 (en) | 2019-02-28 | 2020-12-22 | Irvin Automotive Products, LLC | Thin visor |
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-
1986
- 1986-09-22 US US06/910,129 patent/US4715644A/en not_active Ceased
-
1987
- 1987-09-18 CA CA000547243A patent/CA1305202C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-09-21 EP EP87308324A patent/EP0261906A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1987-09-21 MX MX8416A patent/MX160580A/en unknown
- 1987-09-22 JP JP62238614A patent/JPS63161278A/en active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-08-28 CA CA000616152A patent/CA1319724C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0261906A2 (en) | 1988-03-30 |
| MX160580A (en) | 1990-03-27 |
| CA1319724C (en) | 1993-06-29 |
| JPS63161278A (en) | 1988-07-04 |
| US4715644A (en) | 1987-12-29 |
| EP0261906A3 (en) | 1988-07-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |