Vehicle hinge assembly

A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a door and a hinge assembly. The door is coupled to the vehicle body and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a closed position and a horizontal open position. The door is also pivotable about a vertical axis between the closed position and a vertical open position. The hinge assembly pivotably couples the door to the vehicle body and includes a first hinge and a second hinge. The first hinge includes a first hinge plate and at least one first hinge barrel extending from the first hinge plate. The second hinge includes a second hinge plate, an extension section and at least one second hinge barrel. The extension section positions the vertical axis laterally outwardly relative to a mounting location of the hinge assembly to the vehicle body. The vertical axis also being positioned inwardly relative to the door.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle hinge assembly.

BACKGROUND

A pickup truck disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,740,279, which issued Jun. 3, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, includes a multi-functional tailgate spanning a width of the aft end of the cargo bed. The multi-functional tailgate is pivotably coupled to the cargo bed so that the multi-functional tailgate is allowed to pivot about a horizontal axis between a horizontal open position and a closed position. The multi-functional tailgate also includes two doors that can be latched together so as to pivot together between the horizontal open position and the closed position, or unlatched so as to pivot independently of each other between the horizontal open position and the closed position. When the two doors are unlatched from each other, each door can rotate independently about the horizontal axis (i.e., between the horizontal open position and the closed position) and about a vertical axis (i.e., between a vertical open position and the closed position).

SUMMARY

The teachings of the present disclosure provide a hinge assembly that allows for each door to be rotated about the vertical axis while concealing the hinge assembly from view outside of the vehicle.

In one form, the present disclosures provides a vehicle that includes a vehicle body, a door and a hinge assembly. The door is coupled to the vehicle body and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a closed position and a horizontal open position. The door is also pivotable about a vertical axis between the closed position and a vertical open position. The hinge assembly is pivotably coupling the door to the vehicle body and includes a first hinge, a second hinge and a pivot pin. The first hinge includes a first hinge plate and at least one first hinge barrel extending from the first hinge plate. The second hinge includes a second hinge plate, an extension section and at least one second hinge barrel extending from the extension section. The pivot pin defines the vertical axis and extends at least partially through the at least one first hinge barrel and the at least one second hinge barrel. The extension section positions the vertical axis laterally outwardly relative to a mounting location of the hinge assembly and the vehicle body. The vertical axis also being positioned inwardly relative to the door.

In some configurations of the vehicle of the above paragraph, the extension section includes a plate portion, an intermediate portion and a hinge-barrel portion. The plate portion extends at an angle from the second hinge plate to the intermediate portion and the hinge-barrel portion extends at an angle from the intermediate portion to the hinge-barrel portion.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, the extension section includes a stop surface. The first hinge is configured to contact the stop surface when the door is in the vertical open position to prevent further opening of the door.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, the extension section includes a plate portion, an intermediate portion and a hinge-barrel portion. The plate portion extends laterally outwardly and rearwardly from the second hinge plate and the hinge-barrel portion extends laterally outwardly and rearwardly from the intermediate portion.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, the extension section positions the vertical axis adjacent to an outer corner edge of the door.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, a frame is coupled to the vehicle body. The second hinge plate is coupled to the frame.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, the at least one first hinge barrel includes a tab extending therefrom and the extension section includes a stop surface. The tab is configured to contact the stop surface when the door is in the vertical open position to prevent further opening of the door.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, an outer corner edge of the door is chamfered and an outer corner edge of the vehicle body opposing the door is chamfered.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, the at least one first hinge barrel and the at least one second hinge barrel is positioned adjacent the outer corner edge of the door.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, a gap exists between the outer corner edge of the vehicle body and the outer corner edge of the door. The gap is equal to or less than 5 mm.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, a frame coupled to the vehicle body, and wherein the first hinge is coupled to the door and the second hinge is coupled to a vertical section of the frame at a middle portion of the vertical section.

In some configurations of the vehicle of any one or more of the above paragraphs, the extension section at least partially wraps around the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle10is provided. The vehicle10can be similar or the same as the vehicle disclosed in Applicant's commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,740,279, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The vehicle10include a vehicle body12. The vehicle body12includes a cab (not shown), a cargo bed14, a multi-functional tailgate16, a frame18and a pair of hinge assemblies19. The cargo bed14is attached to an aft end of the cab and includes sidewalls20extending between fore and aft ends of the cargo bed14.

The multi-functional tailgate16spans across the aft end of the cargo bed14and is pivotably coupled thereto. The tailgate16is pivotable about a horizontal axis21abetween a closed position and a horizontal open position. The multi-functional tailgate16includes left and right doors22,24. Each door is independently pivotable between the closed position and a vertical open position about respective vertical axes21b. In some configurations, each door22,24of the tailgate16is independently pivotable between the closed position and the horizontal open position about the horizontal axis21a.

As shown inFIG. 4, the frame18is U-shaped and includes a horizontal section26and a pair of vertical sections28. The horizontal section26is rotatably coupled to the cargo bed14and defines the horizontal axis21a. The horizontal section26includes striker pins30extending outwardly therefrom. Latch mechanisms (not shown) of the doors22,24are configured to latch onto the striker pins30. When the latch mechanisms are latched onto the striker pins30, the doors22,24are prevented from pivoting about the respective vertical axis21b. When the latch mechanisms are unlatched from the striker pins30, the doors22,24are allowed to pivot about the respective vertical axis21b.

Each vertical section28is coupled to opposing ends of the horizontal section26and includes a latch mechanism32. Each door22,24is pivotably coupled to a respective vertical section28via a respective hinge assembly19(FIGS. 1, 3 and 6-10), thereby allowing the door22,24to pivot about the respective vertical axis21b. The latch mechanism32is configured to latch onto the striker pin (not shown) extending outwardly from a respective sidewall20of the cargo bed14. When the latch mechanism32is latched onto the striker pin, the door22,24is prevented from pivoting about the horizontal axis21a. When the latch mechanism32is unlatched from the striker pin, the door22,24is allowed to pivot about the horizontal axis21a.

With reference toFIGS. 1-10, the pair of hinge assemblies19couples the doors22,24to respective sidewalls20of the cargo bed14via the frame18such that the doors22,24are allowed to independently pivot about respective vertical axes21bbetween the closed position and the vertical open position. As will be described in more detail below, each hinge assembly19is hidden from view from behind the cargo bed14as the doors22,24pivot about respective vertical axes21b.

Each hinge assembly19includes a first hinge bracket34, a second hinge bracket36and a pair of pins38. The first hinge bracket34is coupled to an inner surface40of the door22,24and includes a hinge plate42and a plurality of hinge barrels44. The hinge plate42has a planar surface that is coupled to the inner surface40of the door22,24. The hinge plate42also includes a plurality of apertures48extending therethrough. Fasteners (not shown) extend through the apertures48and through apertures of the door22,24, thereby coupling the hinge plate42to the inner surface40of the door22,24. The plurality of hinge barrels44extend from a periphery of the hinge plate42and are spaced apart from each other.

Two or more of the barrels44include a tab50extending outwardly therefrom. As shown inFIG. 8, each tab50is configured to contact the second hinge bracket36when the door22,24is pivoted from the closed position to the vertical open position to prevent further opening of the door22,24.

The second hinge bracket36is coupled to a respective vertical section28of the frame18at a middle portion of the respective vertical section28(the second hinge bracket36is positioned below the latch mechanism32). The second hinge bracket36is also positioned adjacent to a respective tail light52of the cargo bed14and extends substantially a length of the respective tail light52. The second hinge bracket36includes a hinge plate54, and extension or gooseneck section56and a plurality of hinge barrels58. The hinge plate54is coupled to an inside surface60of the respective vertical section28at a middle portion thereof (the inside surface60of each vertical section28faces toward each other). In this way, when the door22,24is pivoted to the vertical open position, the load of the door22,24is transferred to the middle portion of the respective vertical section28, thereby preventing a twisting movement of the respective vertical section28. The hinge plate54also includes a plurality of apertures62extending therethrough. Fasteners (not shown) extend through the apertures62of the hinge plate54and through apertures of the respective vertical section28, thereby coupling the hinge plate54to the frame18.

The extension section56extends from the hinge plate54to the hinge barrels58and at least partially wraps around the vertical section28of the frame18. The extension section56positions the vertical axis21bof the door22,24laterally outwardly relative to the mounting location of the hinge plate54to the vertical section28of the frame18. The extension section56also positions the vertical axis21badjacent to an outer corner edge64of the door22,24and inwardly relative to an outer panel66of the door22,24. In this way, a gap63between an outer corner edge69of the sidewall20of the cargo bed14and the outer corner edge64of the door22,24is minimized (i.e., less than 5 mm) thereby restricting debris from entering between the cargo bed14and the door22,24. The outer corner edge64of the door22,24and the outer corner edge69of the sidewall20are chamfered. In this way, the door22,24is prevented from contacting the sidewall20of the cargo bed14when the door22,24is pivoted from the closed position (FIGS. 7 and 9) to the vertical open position (FIGS. 8 and 10).

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the extension section56defines surfaces65(only one shown inFIGS. 7 and 8) that are configured to abut against respective tabs50of the first hinge bracket34when the door22,24is in the vertical open position to prevent further opening of the door22,24. As shown inFIGS. 5, 9 and 10, the extension section56includes a plate portion67, an intermediate portion68and a plurality of hinge barrel portions70. The plate portion67extends generally laterally outwardly (toward a proximate sidewall20) and rearwardly (toward the outer panel66of the door22,24) from the hinge plate54.

The plurality of hinge barrel portions70are spaced apart from each other. The plurality of hinge barrel portions70also extend generally laterally outwardly (toward the proximate sidewall20) and rearwardly (toward the outer panel66of the door22,24) from the intermediate portion68. Each hinge barrel58extends from a respective hinge barrel portion70and is received in a space provided between the hinge barrels44of the first hinge bracket34. The pins38are received in one or more hinge barrels44of the first hinge bracket34and one or more hinge barrels58of the second hinge bracket36to couple the hinge brackets34,36to each other. The pins38also define the vertical axis21bthat the door22,24pivots about.

The pair of hinge assemblies19of the present disclosure provides the benefit of positioning the vertical axis21bof the door22,24laterally outwardly relative to the mounting location of the hinge plate54to the vertical section28of the frame18. The pair of hinge assemblies19also positions the vertical axis21badjacent to the outer corner edge64of the door22,24and inwardly relative to an outer panel66of the door22,24. In this way, the gap63between the outer corner edge69of the sidewall20of the cargo bed14and the outer corner edge64of the door22,24is minimized (i.e., less than 5 mm) thereby restricting debris from entering between the cargo bed14and the door22,24. The hinge assemblies19are also hidden from view from behind the cargo bed14when the doors are in the closed position.