Patent Publication Number: US-2020291703-A1

Title: Locking hinge assembly

Description:
INTRODUCTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a hinge assembly for attaching components. Hinge assemblies are common in all industries, particularly automotive and are used for a variety of applications, such as attaching trunk lids and hoods to automobiles. Hinges must be robust enough to withstand collisions and still maintain their connection. Hinges must also be easy to assemble and cost effective. 
     Hinges are used on covers, doors, suitcases, vehicles, and the like, to provide a way to access an object without having to remove the cover, door, etc. Hinges come in a variety of designs and styles including door hinges, continuous hinges, internal and external hinges, and the like. Generally, hinges include two components with a pin or rod that connects the two hinge components together allowing the two hinge components to rotate relative to each other about the axis of the pin or rod. For example, to separate a door from its molding, the hinge pins must be removed in order to separate the two hinge components. 
     In another example, many automotive repairs require a mechanic to remove the hood of the car to gain access to the engine. Sometimes the engine must even be removed for service. Removing and reinstalling the hood of a car has been a difficult procedure at best. Typically, the hood is bolted onto hinges, which in turn are bolted somewhere into the engine compartment. As soon the bolts are loosened, the hood tends to fall over. In practice, one or two mechanics were required to hold the hood up while a mechanic removes the bolts connecting the hood to the car. The most time consuming and difficult aspect is the time spent remounting the hood. It is difficult to hold the hood in place and get the bolts or mounting hardware started. There is also difficulty in aligning the hood to the body parts so as not to damage the hood or other parts, or paint, upon initial closure of the hood. Lastly, getting the final fit and alignment correct requires numerous iterations of adjustments and possibly shimming to obtain the proper fit. The result is that substantial mechanic time and expense is required to remove and then to replace the hood. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a detachable hinge system that securely holds the door, cover, or vehicle hood when the hinge system is closed. What is also needed is a detachable hinge system that operates as a hinge when closed, but can be released when opened without removing any hinge bolts, hinge screws, or hinge pins. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to several aspects of the present disclosure, a hinge assembly for an automobile adapted to attach a first component to a second component, wherein the first component pivots about an axis relative to the first component, comprises a base plate adapted to be mounted to the first component, a hinge support adapted to be mounted to the second component and adapted to support the base plate and first component on the second component, a hinge hook extending from the base plate and adapted to removably and rotatably engage the hinge support, and a locking mechanism mounted onto the hinge assembly and adapted to selectively lock the hinge hook in rotational engagement with the hinge support. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the hinge support includes a cylindrical shaft having a longitudinal axis and the hinge hook rotatably engages the cylindrical shaft of the hinge support, further wherein the hinge plate and the first component is rotatable relative to the hinge support and second component about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shaft. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the hinge hook defines a c-shaped cylindrical inner surface and the cylindrical shaft defines a cylindrical outer surface, wherein the cylindrical inner surface of the hinge hook defines a longitudinal axis that is co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shaft. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the cylindrical inner surface of the hinge hook partially encircles the cylindrical shaft when the hinge hook is engaged with the cylindrical shaft. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the the cylindrical inner surface of the hinge hook encircles less than half of a circumference of the cylindrical shaft of the hinge support. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the locking mechanism is rotatable between a first position, wherein the cylindrical shaft can be inserted into and removed from the hinge hook, and a second position, wherein the locking mechanism locks the cylindrical shaft in engagement with the hinge hook. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the locking mechanism defines a cylindrical inner surface, wherein when the locking mechanism is rotated to the second position the cylindrical inner surface of the locking mechanism further encircles the cylindrical shaft of the hinge support to lock the cylindrical shaft in engagement with the hinge hook. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, when the locking mechanism is rotated to the second position, the cylindrical inner surface of the hinge hook and the cylindrical inner surface of the locking mechanism encircle more than half of a circumference of the cylindrical shaft of the hinge support. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the locking mechanism rotates about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shaft of the hinge support. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the hinge hook further includes a cylindrical outer surface, wherein the cylindrical inner surface of the locking mechanism is supported on the cylindrical outer surface of the hinge hook. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the hinge hook further comprises a flat portion extending tangentially from the cylindrical outer surface of the hinge hook, wherein when the locking mechanism is rotated from the second position to the first position, the cylindrical inner surface of the locking mechanism contacts the flat portion of the hinge hook to prevent the locking mechanism from rotating past the first position. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the locking mechanism includes a tang adapted to allow the locking mechanism to be manually moved from the first position to the second position. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the locking mechanism is rotated from the second position back to the first position, the tang is adapted to contact the base plate to prevent the locking mechanism from rotating beyond the first position. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the locking mechanism includes a detent to provide resistance to keep the locking mechanism in one of the first and second positions. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the base plate includes a first notch and a second notch and the locking mechanism includes a first extension and a second extension, wherein when the locking mechanism is in the first position the first extension is positioned within the first notch and the second extension is positioned within the second notch, and when the locking mechanism is in the second position, the first extension is positioned within the second notch. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the base plate further comprises a slot formed therein and the locking mechanism is adapted to rotate within the slot between the first position and the second position. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the slot includes a first side wall and a second side wall, further wherein the first and second notches are formed within at least one of the side walls and the first and second extensions extend laterally from at least one side wall of the locking mechanism. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the locking mechanism further comprises a stop, wherein when the locking mechanism is rotated from the first position to the second position the stop contacts the base plate to prevent the locking mechanism from rotating beyond the second position. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the base plate includes a plurality of bolt holes adapted to allow the base plate to be mounted onto the first component. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the base plate for a hinge assembly for an automobile of the present disclosure according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , a hinge assembly adapted to attach a first component to a second component is shown generally at  10 . The hinge assembly  10  is adapted to attach a first component to a second component, wherein the first component pivots about an axis relative to the first component. The first and second components may be any two components that need to be connected to one another with a hinge. By way of a non-limiting example, the first component may be a hood for an automobile, and the second component may be the automobile, to which the hood is mounted. The hinge assembly  10  allows the hood to be mounted pivotally to the automobile. The hinge assembly  10  would allow the hood of the automobile to be pivoted between and open and closed position. 
     The hinge assembly  10  includes a base plate  12  that is adapted to be mounted onto the first component, and a hinge support  14  that is adapted to be mounted to the second component. The hinge support  14  supports the base plate  12  and the first component on the second component. The base plate  12  includes a plurality of bolt holes  13  to allow the base plate  12  to be mounted onto a first component. A hinge hook  16  extends from the base plate  12 . The hinge hook  16  is adapted to removably and rotatably engage the hinge support  14 . A locking mechanism  18  is mounted onto the hinge assembly  10 . The locking mechanism  18  selectively locks the hinge hook  16  in rotational engagement with the hinge support  14 . When the hinge support  14  is engaged with the hinge hook  16  and secured therein by the locking mechanism  18 , the base plate  12  is rotatably supported on the hinge support  14  to pivotally support the first component on the second component. 
     The hinge support  14  includes a cylindrical shaft  20  having a longitudinal axis  22  and the hinge hook  16  rotatably engages the cylindrical shaft  20  of the hinge support  14 . The base plate  12  and the first component are rotatable relative to the hinge support  14  and second component about the longitudinal axis  22  of the cylindrical shaft  20 . 
     The hinge hook  16  defines a c-shaped cylindrical inner surface  24  and the cylindrical shaft  20  defines a cylindrical outer surface  26 . The cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  defines a longitudinal axis  28  that is co-axial with the longitudinal axis  22  of the cylindrical shaft  20 . A radius  28  of the cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  is larger than a radius  30  of the cylindrical shaft  20 . Preferably, the radius  24  of the cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  is only slightly larger than the radius  30  of the cylindrical shaft  20 , whereby the cylindrical shaft  20  fits within the c-shaped cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  with minimal relative movement, but with sufficient clearance to allow the cylindrical shaft  20  to freely rotate within the c-shaped inner cylindrical surface  24  of the hinge hook  16 . 
     When the cylindrical shaft  20  of the hinge support  14  is engaged with the hinge hook  16 , the cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  partially encircles the cylindrical shaft  20 . To allow the cylindrical shaft  20  of the hinge support  14  to be inserted and removed from the hinge hook  16 , the cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  extends less than half way around the circumference of the cylindrical shaft  20 . The cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  extends circumferentially around the cylindrical shaft less than 180 degrees, as shown at  25  in  FIG. 3 . 
     The locking mechanism  18  rotates about the longitudinal axis  22  of the cylindrical shaft  20  of the hinge support  14 . The locking mechanism  18  is rotatable between a first position  32 , as shown in phantom in  FIG. 3 , wherein the cylindrical shafts  20  can be inserted into and removed from the hinge hook  16 , and a second position  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein the locking mechanism  18  locks the cylindrical shaft  20  in engagement with the hinge hook  16 . 
     The locking mechanism  18  defines a cylindrical inner surface  36 , wherein when the locking mechanism  18  is rotated to the second position  34  the cylindrical inner surface  36  of the locking mechanism  18  further encircles the cylindrical shaft  20  of the hinge support  14  to lock the cylindrical shaft  20  in engagement with the hinge hook  16 . When the locking mechanism  18  is rotated to the second position  34 , the cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  in combination with the cylindrical inner surface  36  of the locking mechanism  18  encircles more than half of the circumference of the cylindrical shaft  20  of the hinge support  14 . The cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  in combination with the cylindrical inner surface  36  of the locking mechanism  18  extends circumferentially around the cylindrical shaft  20  more than 180 degrees, as shown at  27  in  FIG. 3 . When the locking mechanism  18  is rotated to the second position  34 , the cylindrical inner surface  24  of the hinge hook  16  in combination with the cylindrical inner surface  36  of the locking mechanism  18  prevent the cylindrical shaft  20  from dis-engaging from the hinge hook  16 . 
     The hinge hook  16  includes a cylindrical outer surface  38 . The cylindrical inner surface  36  of the locking mechanism  18  is supported on the cylindrical outer surface  38  of the hinge hook  16 . The hinge hook  16  further includes a flat portion  40  extending tangentially from the cylindrical outer surface  38  of the hinge hook  16 . When the locking mechanism  18  is rotated from the second position  34  to the first position  32 , the cylindrical inner surface  36  of the locking mechanism  18  contacts the flat portion  40  of the hinge hook  16  to prevent the locking mechanism  18  from rotating past the first position  32 . 
     The locking mechanism  18  includes a tang  41  adapted to allow the locking mechanism  18  to be manually moved from the first position  32  to the second position  34 . In addition to, or as an alternative to the flat portion  40  of the cylindrical outer surface  38  of the hinge hook, the tang  41  may also provide a stop for the locking mechanism  18 . When the locking mechanism  18  is rotated from the second position  34  back to the first position  32 , the tang  41  can be adapted to contact the base plate  12  to prevent the locking mechanism  18  from rotating beyond the first position  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the locking mechanism  18  includes a detent to provide resistance to keep the locking mechanism  18  in one of the first and second positions  32 ,  34 . The base plate  12  includes a first notch  42  and a second notch  44  and the locking mechanism  18  includes a first extension  46  and a second extension  48 . When the locking mechanism  18  is in the first position  32  the first extension  46  is positioned within the first notch  42  and the second extension  48  is positioned within the second notch  44 . When the locking mechanism  18  is in the second position  34 , the first extension  46  is positioned within the second notch  44 . The engagement of the first and second extensions  46 ,  48  in the first and second notches  42 ,  44  provides frictional resistance to keep the locking mechanism  18  in the first or second positions  32 ,  34 . The frictional resistance will not prevent manual engagement or dis-engagement of the locking mechanism  18 , but will maintain the position of the locking mechanism  18  under normal conditions. 
     The base plate  12  of the hinge assembly  10  includes a slot  50  formed therein. The locking mechanism  18  rotates within the slot  50  between the first position  32  and the second position  34 . The slot  50  includes a first side wall  52  and a second side wall  54 . The first and second notches  42 ,  44  are formed within at least one of the side walls  52 ,  54  and the first and second extensions  46 ,  48  extend laterally from at least one of the side walls  56 ,  58  of the locking mechanism  18 . In one possible non-limiting example, a first and second notch  42 ,  44  are formed in each of the first and second side walls  52 ,  54 , and first and second extensions  46 ,  48  extend laterally from each of the first and second side walls  56 ,  58  of the locking mechanism  18 . 
     The locking mechanism  18  includes a stop  60  extending from a distal end. When the locking mechanism  18  is rotated from the first position  32  to the second position  34  the stop  60  contacts the base plate  12  to prevent the locking mechanism  18  from rotating beyond the second position  34 . 
     A hinge assembly of the present disclosure offers several advantages. The hinge assembly of the present invention provides a robust hinge that can withstand impacts and wear and tear associated with automobiles. The hinge assembly of the present invention further provides re-usable connectivity that allows the hinged component to be removed without removing bolts or pins and allows re-assembly without the need to re-align the component. 
     The description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.