Gooseneck hinge assembly for vehicles

A gooseneck hinge assembly for a closure of a vehicle includes a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle and a closure side strap having a gooseneck shape adapted to be connected to a closure for closing an opening in the vehicle body. The gooseneck hinge assembly also includes a pivot pin pivotally connecting the closure side strap and the body side strap to allow rotational movement therebetween. The gooseneck hinge assembly further includes a wedge bumper interconnecting the body side strap and the closure side strap to allow the decklid to free rise to a fully open position and to dampen an impact of the closure side strap.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to hinges for vehicles and, more particularly, to a gooseneck hinge assembly for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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 decklid is attached to the vehicle body with at least one, preferably a pair of laterally spaced hinges. Currently, the decklid hinges are of a goose-neck type for allowing motion of the decklid from a fully open position to a fully closed position. However, these goose-neck hinges typically require the use of additional hinge bumpers or gas struts. For traditional hinge bumpers, these bumpers are attached directly to a goose-neck shaped member below a hinge box and have significantly more rebound that causes the decklid to oscillate toward a partial closing condition, before again cycling up to an open position, which is undesired. For gas struts, the gas struts provide decklid opening force and also provide a dampened full open stop. However, gas struts are more costly than traditional hinge bumpers, which is undesired.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a gooseneck hinge for a closure of a vehicle that eliminates the need for hinge bumpers and gas struts. It is also desirable to provide a gooseneck hinge that reduces rebound response time and rebound travel. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a gooseneck hinge for a vehicle that meets these desires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is a gooseneck hinge assembly for a closure of a vehicle including a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle and a closure side strap having a gooseneck shape adapted to be connected to a decklid for closing an opening in the vehicle body. The gooseneck hinge assembly also includes a pivot pin pivotally connecting the closure side strap and the body side strap to allow rotational movement therebetween. The gooseneck hinge assembly further includes a wedge bumper interconnecting the body side strap and the closure side strap to allow the decklid to free rise to a fully open position and to dampen an impact of the closure side strap.

One advantage of the present invention is that a new gooseneck hinge assembly is provided for a closure such as a decklid or liftgate of a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the gooseneck hinge assembly incorporates a wedge bumper that significantly reduces a rebound response time and rebound travel. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the gooseneck hinge assembly improves operator opening for vehicle closures such as decklids or liftgates on a vehicle. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the gooseneck hinge assembly reduces mass and cost including assembly labor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and in particularFIG. 1, one embodiment of a gooseneck hinge assembly10, according to the present invention, is shown for a vehicle such as an automotive vehicle, generally indicated at12. Such vehicles12typically include a vehicle body14(partially shown) forming a trunk or rear compartment16. The rear compartment16has an opening such as a recess18therein. The recess18is formed by a floorpan20and side walls22extending upwardly from the floorpan20and generally perpendicular thereto. The vehicle body14also includes a closure such as a decklid24closing the recess18. The decklid24is attached to the rear compartment16of the vehicle body14by at least one, preferably a pair of laterally spaced gooseneck hinge assemblies10. It should be appreciated that only one gooseneck hinge assembly10is illustrated inFIG. 1and will be subsequently described. It should also be appreciated that, except for the gooseneck hinge assembly10, the vehicle12is conventional and known in the art.

Referring toFIGS. 2 through 4, the gooseneck hinge assembly10includes a body side bracket or strap26to be mounted to the vehicle body14. The body side strap26is generally rectangular in shape. The body side strap26has a base portion28with a generally inverted “U” shape. The base portion28has at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures30extending therethrough for a function to be described. The body side strap26also has a pair of opposed side portions32extending longitudinally from the base portion28. Each of the side portions32has at least one enlarged aperture34and a plurality of tooling apertures35extending therethrough for a function to be described. The body side strap26also has a first support portion36extending laterally between the side portions32and a second support portion38spaced longitudinally from the first support portion36and extending laterally between the side portions32. The first support portion36and second support portion38each have a generally inverted “U” shape. Each of the first support portion36and second support portion38has at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures40extending therethrough for a function to be described.

The gooseneck hinge assembly10also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners41such as bolts to attach the body side strap26to the vehicle body14. The fasteners41extend through some of the apertures30and40in the body side strap26and corresponding apertures (not shown) in the vehicle body14and are engaged by nuts (not shown) to prevent the fasteners from disengaging the apertures30and40. The body side strap26is made of a rigid material such as metal. The body side strap26may be formed in one or more pieces joined together by a suitable mechanism such as welding. The body side strap26is integral and one-piece. It should be appreciated that the fasteners41are conventional and known in the art.

The gooseneck hinge assembly10further includes a closure side bracket or strap42to allow the decklid24to be attached to the body side strap26. The closure side strap42has a generally “gooseneck” shape. The closure side strap42is a hollow member having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. The closure side strap42has a generally arcuate base portion44and an attachment portion46extending longitudinally from one end of the base portion44. The base portion44may include at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures (not shown) extending therethrough near one end thereof for a function to be described. The base portion44may also have a pair of opposed slots (not shown) extending therein from one end thereof on sides adjacent the apertures. The attachment portion46includes at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures52extending therethrough for a function to be described.

The gooseneck hinge assembly10includes at least one, preferably a plurality of fasteners (not shown) such as bolts to attach the closure side strap42to the decklid24. The fasteners extend through some of the apertures52in the attachment portion46and corresponding apertures (not shown) in the decklid24and are engaged by nuts (not shown) to prevent the fasteners from disengaging the apertures. The closure side strap42is made of a rigid material such as metal. The closure side strap42is integral and one-piece. It should be appreciated that the fasteners are conventional and known in the art.

The gooseneck hinge assembly10also includes at least one first or pivot pin54to pivotally attach the closure side strap42to the body side strap26at a forward end thereof. The pivot pin54includes a head portion extending radially, a shaft portion extending generally axially from the head portion, and a flange portion extending radially outwardly near one end thereof. The shaft portion extends through a pair of opposed apertures34of the body side strap26and a pair of opposed apertures (not shown) of the closure side strap42such that the head portion is disposed on one side of the body side strap26and the flange portion is disposed on the other side of the body side strap26. The pivot pin54is made of a rigid material such as metal.

The gooseneck hinge assembly10also includes a bumper64to allow the decklid24to free rise to a fully open position and to dampen the impact of the closure side strap42. The bumper64is of wedge type. The bumper64has a generally inverted “U” shape. The bumper64has a base wall66extending laterally and a pair of opposed side walls68extending generally vertically or perpendicularly from the base wall66. The side walls68have inner surfaces70that are tapered or inclined from the base wall66toward a free end thereof. In one embodiment, the bumper64may include at least one, preferably a plurality of projections72extending laterally from the side walls68. The bumper64may also include at least one, preferably a plurality of apertures74extending through the side walls68. The bumper64is disposed between the side walls32of the body side strap26. The apertures74are aligned with corresponding apertures35in the side walls32of the body side strap26and a pin (not shown) may be inserted through the apertures74in the bumper64and the apertures35of the body side strap26and staked or riveted thereto. The projections72of the bumper64extend through corresponding apertures35in the side walls32of the body side strap26and create an anti-rotation feature. The bumper64is made of a dampening material such as an elastomeric material. It should be appreciated that, any suitable mechanism, may be used to secure the bumper64between the side walls32of the body side strap26such as by an adhesive. It should also be appreciated that the gooseneck hinge assembly10may also include a torque rod (not shown) to power the decklid24to an open position by applying a force to the closure side strap42and to counterbalance the weight of the decklid24.