Abstract:
A strut and hinge assembly for a closure of a vehicle includes a hinge adapted to be connected to a vehicle body and a closure for closing an aperture in the vehicle body for allowing rotation therebetween. The strut and hinge assembly also includes a strut to counterbalance a weight of the closure when opening and closing the aperture and having a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the hinge. The strut and hinge assembly further includes an actuator connected to the hinge and the second end of the strut to change a position of the second end relative to the hinge depending on whether opening or closing the closure.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to hinges for vehicles and, more particularly, to a strut and hinge assembly for a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is known to provide a closure such as a decklid for a vehicle to open and close a rear compartment or trunk of a vehicle body of the vehicle. Typically, the deck lid is attached to the vehicle body with at least one, preferably a pair of laterally spaced hinges. Currently, the decklid hinges of the free-rise type use a large size goose-neck hinge for counter-balancing a weight of the decklid. However, these goose-neck hinges reduce trunk volume of the rear compartment by 1 to 1.5 cu. ft. This is undesired because trunk volume is a key attribute that purchasers compare when making a vehicle selection.  
         [0003]     One attempt to maintain trunk volume and counterbalance the weight of the decklid is to use either pneumatic or hydraulic devices such as a strut. The strut is typically fixed at one end to the decklid and the other end is typically fixed to the vehicle body. However, the opening and closing effort of the decklid changes over time due to the temperature and age of the strut. In addition, the opening and closing effort of the decklid changes with the pitch angle of the vehicle, e.g., when the vehicle is sitting on a hill. Since the ends of the strut are fixed, there is no way to adjust the strut to compensate for these changes.  
         [0004]     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a strut and hinge for a closure of a vehicle that adjusts for changes in opening versus closing, temperature, age of the strut, and pitch angle of the vehicle. It is also desirable to provide a strut and hinge for a closure of a vehicle that improves opening and closing efforts of the closure due to changes affecting the strut. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a strut and hinge for a vehicle that meets these desires.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a new strut and hinge assembly for a closure of a vehicle.  
         [0006]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a strut and hinge assembly for a closure of a vehicle that improves the opening and closing effort of the closure.  
         [0007]     To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a strut and hinge assembly for a closure of a vehicle including a hinge adapted to be connected to a vehicle body and a closure for closing an aperture in the vehicle body for allowing rotation therebetween. The strut and hinge assembly also includes a strut to counterbalance a weight of the closure when opening and closing the aperture and having a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed. The strut and hinge assembly further includes an actuator connected to the second end of the strut to change a position of the second end relative to the hinge depending on whether opening or closing the closure, temperature, age of the strut, or vehicle pitch angle.  
         [0008]     One advantage of the present invention is that a new strut and hinge assembly is provided for a closure such as a decklid, liftgate, or door of a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the strut and hinge assembly improves operator opening and closing efforts for vehicle closures such as decklids, liftgates, and doors on a vehicle. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the strut and hinge assembly has improved opening and closing efforts based on different strut endpoint positions for opening versus closing, temperature, age, or vehicle pitch angle. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the strut and hinge assembly incorporates a strut with a four bar hinge to combine the compact package size of a four bar hinge with the convenience of improved opening and closing efforts for a door of a vehicle.  
         [0009]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a strut and hinge assembly, according to the present invention, illustrated in operational relationship with a vehicle.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the strut and hinge assembly of  FIG. 1  illustrated in an open operating position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  of the strut and hinge assembly illustrated in a closed operating position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the strut and hinge assembly illustrated in operational relationship with a vehicle.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the strut and hinge assembly of  FIG. 4  illustrated in a closed operating position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  of the strut and hinge assembly illustrated in an open operating position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     Referring to the drawings and in particular  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a strut and hinge assembly  10 , according to the present invention, is shown for a vehicle such as a motor vehicle, generally indicated at  12 . Such motor vehicles  12  typically include a vehicle body  14  (partially shown) forming a trunk or rear compartment  16 . The rear compartment  16  has an opening such as a recess  18  therein. The recess  18  is formed by a floorpan  20  and side walls  22  extending upwardly from the floorpan  20  and generally perpendicular thereto. The vehicle body  14  also includes a closure such as a decklid  26  closing the recess  18 . The decklid  26  is attached to the rear compartment  16  of the vehicle body  14  by at least one, preferably a pair of laterally spaced strut and hinge assemblies  10 . It should be appreciated that only one strut and hinge assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and will be subsequently described. It should also be appreciated that, except for the strut and hinge assembly  10 , the vehicle  12  is conventional and known in the art.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the strut and hinge assembly  10  includes a hinge, generally indicated at  27 , to pivotally connect the decklid  26  to the vehicle body  14 . The hinge  27  includes a body side bracket or strap  28  to allow the hinge  27  to be mounted to the vehicle body  14 . The body side strap  28  is generally rectangular in shape. The body side strap  28  extends longitudinally and has at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures  30  extending therethrough. The strut and hinge assembly  10  also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners (not shown) such as bolts to attach the body side strap  28  to the vehicle body  14 . Each of the fasteners extends through some of the apertures  30  and corresponding apertures (not shown) in the vehicle body  14  and are engaged by nuts (not shown) to prevent the fasteners from disengaging the apertures  30 . It should be appreciated that the fasteners are conventional and known in the art.  
         [0018]     The body side strap  28  also includes a projection  32  such as a ball stud extending generally perpendicularly and laterally outwardly at one end thereof for a function to be described. The projection  32  is generally cylindrical or spherical in shape. The body side strap  28  is made of a rigid material such as metal.  
         [0019]     The hinge  27  includes a closure side bracket or strap  34  to allow the decklid  26  to be attached to the strut and hinge assembly  10 . The closure side strap  34  has a generally inverted “L” shaped cross-section. The closure side strap  34  extends longitudinally and has a base wall  36  and a side wall  38  extending generally perpendicular to the base wall  36 . The base wall  36  includes at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures (not shown) extending therethrough. The strut and hinge assembly  10  also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners (not shown) such as bolts to attach the closure side strap  34  to the decklid  26 . Each of the fasteners extend through some of the apertures and corresponding apertures (not shown) in the decklid  26  and are engaged by nuts (not shown) to prevent the fasteners from disengaging the apertures. The closure side strap  34  is made of a rigid material such as metal. It should be appreciated that the fasteners are conventional and known in the art.  
         [0020]     The hinge  27  includes a first or short link  40  to allow pivoting action of the strut and hinge assembly  10 . The first link  40  extends longitudinally. The first link  40  includes at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures (not shown) extending therethrough. The strut and hinge assembly  10  also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners  42  to pivotally attach the first link  40  to the closure side strap  34  at a forward end thereof and to the body side strap  28  at a forward end thereof. The first link  40  also includes a flange  44  extending generally perpendicularly and laterally outwardly near one end thereof. The flange  44  may have an aperture (not shown) extending therethrough to receive a fastener  46  such as a bolt that acts as a stop. The first link  40  is made of a rigid material such as metal.  
         [0021]     The hinge  27  includes a second or upper link  48  to guide the pivoting action of the hinge  27  along a predetermined path. The second link  48  extends longitudinally. The second link  48  includes at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures (not shown) extending therethrough. The hinge  27  also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners  50 . One of the fasteners  50  is used to attach the second link  48  to the closure side strap  34  at a forward end thereof. Another one of the fasteners  50  is used to attach the second link  48  to a rearward end of the body side strap  28 . The second link  48  is made of a rigid material such as metal. It should be appreciated that the fasteners  50  are conventional and known in the art.  
         [0022]     The strut and hinge assembly  10  includes a strut, generally indicated at  52 , to power the decklid  26  to an open position by applying a force to the hinge  27 . The strut  52  is of a gas spring type. The strut  52  includes a reservoir tube  54  that provides a reservoir for a damping fluid. The reservoir tube  54  may be fixed or movable relative to the body side strap  28 , the closure side strap  34 , or the vehicle body  14 . The strut  52  also includes a cylindrical piston rod  56  extending along a central axis of the reservoir tube  54  and is attached at one end to a conventional valved piston (not shown) slidably mounted in the reservoir tube  52 . The piston rod  56  may be fixed or movable relative to either the body side strap  28  or the closure side strap  34 . In the embodiment illustrated, the piston rod  56  is connected to the body side strap  28  by suitable means such as a connector  58  pressed onto the projection  32 . It should be appreciated that the strut  52  applies a force to counterbalance the weight of the decklid  26 . It should also be appreciated that the strut  52  may be used with either a single pivot or multi-link hinge.  
         [0023]     The strut and hinge assembly  10  includes an actuator  60  to move one end of the strut  52  to change a position or moment arm of a closure side or body side strut endpoint between an open position and a closed position. The actuator  60  is of an electric type to act upon either the first end or the second end of the strut  52 . In the embodiment illustrated, the actuator  60  is connected to the closure side strap  34  by suitable means such as a fastener  62 . The actuator  60  has an extendable and retractable or moveable member  64  to move the closure side strut endpoint of the strut  52 . In the embodiment illustrated, the moveable member  64  is connected to the reservoir tube  54 . The actuator  60  may have a guide slot  66  to guide the moveable member  64  in any suitable manner, for example, in a linear manner. The actuator  60  has a force of approximately 600 Newtons to 800 Newtons acting through an angle of about 120 degrees with an actuation range of about 30 to 50 millimeters. In one embodiment, the actuator  60  receives a signal from a switch (not shown) at the full open position and from a switch (not shown) at the full closed position to change the strut endpoint position. In another embodiment, the actuator  60  receives a signal from an electronic controller (not shown). It should be appreciated that the actuator  60  may be attached to the body side strap  28 . It should also be appreciated that the actuator  60  may be an electro-mechanical or purely mechanical device. It should further be appreciated that the actuator  60  could act in a linear motion or be on a bell-crank type mechanism.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the strut and hinge assembly  10  is shown in open and closed operating positions, respectively. During opening, the actuator  60  would locate the strut endpoint in such a manner as to increase the moment arm distance from the strut line-of-force to the hinge pivot (or instantaneous center), thereby providing more lift from the strut and reducing the opening effort that an operator must provide. For example, the actuator  60  moves the strut endpoint rearward. During closing, the actuator  60  would reduce the moment arm distance from the strut line-of-force to the pivot (or instant center), thereby reducing the closing effort that the operator must provide. For example, the actuator  60  moves the strut endpoint “forward” relative to the orientation of the closure. At cold temperatures, the actuator  60  moves the strut endpoint rearward. At hot temperatures, the actuator  60  moves the strut endpoint forward. As the strut  52  ages, the actuator  60  moves the strut endpoint rearward. Further, for vehicle pitch angle when the vehicle has its front downward, the actuator  60  moves the strut endpoint forward. It should be appreciated that, if desired, an automatically opening closure could be obtained by providing enough strut force and/or moment arm and a minimum and a minimum hold-open force would be provided to keep the closure open. It should also be appreciated that, with sensors (not shown) and other components (not shown), the strut and hinge assembly  10  could adjust the strut endpoint position in an infinitely variable manner to account for temperature variation (i.e., strut force change due to temperature effect) and time variation (strut force loss due to leakage over time). It should further be appreciated that a controller (not shown) could be connected to the actuator  60  to account for all the above environment factors to position the strut endpoint at the optimum position.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 through 6 , another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the vehicle and strut and hinge assembly  10  is shown. Like parts have like reference numerals. In this embodiment, the motor vehicle  112  typically includes a vehicle body  114  having at least one opening or aperture  118  in the side thereof. The vehicle body  114  also includes a closure such as a door  126  closing the opening  118 . The door  126  is attached to the side of the vehicle body  114  by at least one strut and hinge assemblies  110 . It should be appreciated that only one strut and hinge assembly  110  is illustrated in  FIG. 4  through  6  and will be subsequently described. It should also be appreciated that, except for the strut and hinge assembly  110 , the vehicle  112  is conventional and known in the art.  
         [0026]     The strut and hinge assembly  110  includes a hinge  127  to pivotally connect the door  126  to the vehicle body  114 . The hinge  127  is of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,705 to Lang et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The hinge  127  includes a body side bracket or strap  128  to allow the hinge  127  to be mounted to the vehicle body  114 . The strut and hinge assembly  110  also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners (not shown) such as bolts to attach the body side strap  128  to the vehicle body  14 .  
         [0027]     The hinge  127  includes a closure side bracket or strap  134  to allow the door  126  to be attached to the strut and hinge assembly  110 . The strut and hinge assembly  10  also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners (not shown) such as bolts to attach the closure side strap  134  to the door  126 .  
         [0028]     The hinge  127  includes a first or outboard link  140  to allow pivoting action of the strut and hinge assembly  110 . The strut and hinge assembly  110  also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners  142  to pivotally attach the first link  140  to the closure side strap  134  and to the body side strap  128 .  
         [0029]     The hinge  127  includes a second or inboard link  148  to guide the pivoting action of the hinge  127  along a predetermined path. The hinge  127  also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners  150 . One of the fasteners  150  is used to attach the second link  148  to the closure side strap  134  and another one of the fasteners  150  is used to attach the second link  148  to the body side strap  128 .  
         [0030]     The strut and hinge assembly  10  includes a strut  152  to power the door  126  to an open position by applying a force to the hinge  127 . The strut  152  is of a gas spring type. The strut  152  includes a reservoir tube  154  that provides a reservoir for a damping fluid. The reservoir tube  154  may be fixed relative to the body side strap  128 , the closure side strap  134 , or the vehicle body  14 . The strut  152  also includes a cylindrical piston rod  156  extending along a central axis of the reservoir tube  154  and is attached at one end to a conventional valved piston (not shown) slidably mounted in the reservoir tube  152 . The piston rod  156  may be fixed or movable relative to either the body side strap  128  or the closure side strap  134 . In the embodiment illustrated, the reservoir tube  154  is connected to the closure side strap  134 . It should be appreciated that, in one embodiment, the strut  152  is located above or below the link  140  with the strut  152  positioned during opening in such a way as to provide a self-opening force to the door  126 , provide a hold-open force at full-open, and during closing to provide a self-closing door. It should also be appreciated that the strut  152  acting on the door  126  through the moment arm distance from the strut line-of-force to the hinge instant center provides a moment on the door  126  which overcomes friction so as to self-open/close the door  126 .  
         [0031]     The strut and hinge assembly  110  includes an actuator  160  to move one end of the strut  152  to change a position or moment arm of a closure side strut endpoint between an open position and a closed position. The actuator  160  is of an electric type to act upon either the first end or the second end of the strut  152 . In the embodiment illustrated, the actuator  160  is connected to the body side strap  128 . The actuator  160  has an extendable and retractable or moveable member  164  to move the closure side strut endpoint of the strut  152 . In the embodiment illustrated, the moveable member  164  is connected to the piston rod  156 . The actuator  160  may have a guide slot  166  to guide the moveable member  164  in a linear manner.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the strut and hinge assembly  110  is shown in open and closed operating positions, respectively. During opening, the actuator  160  would locate the strut endpoint to provide opening movement by increasing the moment arm distance from the strut line-of-force to the hinge pivot (or instantaneous center), thereby providing self-opening of the door  126 . During closing, the actuator  60  would change the moment arm to the other side of the instant center, thereby providing self-closing of the door  126 . It should also be appreciated that, with sensors (not shown) and other components (not shown), the strut and hinge assembly  110  could adjust the strut endpoint position in an infinitely variable manner to account for temperature variation (i.e., strut force change due to temperature effect), time variation (strut force loss due to leakage over time), and vehicle pitch attitude. It should further be appreciated that the strut damping would be adjusted to provide a constant, door opening speed (e.g., not too fast).  
         [0033]     The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.  
         [0034]     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.