Patent Publication Number: US-8108969-B2

Title: Checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority of Japanese Application No. 2007-190019, filed Jul. 20, 2007, the entire specification, claims and drawings of which are incorporated herewith by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle door hinge device that supports a door for opening and closing a door opening or a tail gate of an automobile or the like, specifically, a checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle, comprising: a first bracket fixed to one of a body and a door; a second bracket fixed to another one of the body and the door; a hinge pin connecting the first and second brackets to each other, and allowing the brackets to be relatively rotatable; an inner cylinder connected integrally to the first bracket and disposed coaxially with the hinge pin; an outer cylinder connected integrally to the second bracket and disposed so as to surround the inner cylinder in a manner of being rotatable relative to the inner cylinder; and a checking-force generating mechanism provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the checking-force generating mechanism generating a checking force against the door at a predetermined opening position for the door. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Such checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle has already been known as disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,056. 
     In the conventional checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle, a checking-force generating mechanism includes a retainer, detent rollers, a coil spring, a plurality of detent grooves. The retainer is attached to an outer cylinder, and rotates along with the outer cylinder. The detent rollers are supported by the retainer, and capable of rolling on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. The coil spring is wound around the detent rollers and generates an elastic recoil force in the radial direction to urge each of the detent rollers towards the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. The detent grooves are provided in the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder so as to be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction while extending in the axial direction of the inner cylinder. The detent rollers are engaged with, and disengaged from, the detent grooves in association with the relative rotations of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. In any cases, in such conventional checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle, since the checking-force generating mechanism is provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, across the circumferences of these cylinders, the entire diameter of the checker-equipped door hinge device is inevitably increased. As a result, a problem may possibly occur that such door hinge device is difficult to arrange in a narrow and small space between the body and the door of an automobile. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide a compact checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle, in which a checking-force generating mechanism can be disposed in an outer cylinder without the diameter of the outer cylinder being particularly increased. 
     In order to achieve the object, according to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided a checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle, comprising: a first bracket fixed to one of a body and a door; a second bracket fixed to another one of the body and the door; a hinge pin connecting the first and second brackets to each other, and allowing the brackets to be relatively rotatable; an inner cylinder connected integrally to the first bracket and disposed coaxially with the hinge pin; an outer cylinder connected integrally to the second bracket and disposed so as to surround the inner cylinder in a manner of being rotatable relative to the inner cylinder; and a checking-force generating mechanism provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the checking-force generating mechanism generating a checking force against the door at a predetermined opening position for the door, wherein an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder are eccentric to each other, so that a thick wall portion having a large distance between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface is formed in the outer cylinder, and the checking-force generating mechanism is provided in the thick wall portion of the outer cylinder. 
     With the first feature of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder are eccentric to each other, and the checking-force generating mechanism is provided in the thick wall portion, having the large distance between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, of the outer cylinder. This configuration makes it possible to efficiently arrange the checking-force generating mechanism with a large volume in the outer cylinder without the diameter of the outer cylinder being particularly increased, and thus achieve a compact checker-equipped door hinge device. Accordingly, the checker-equipped door hinge device can be easily arranged even in a narrow and small space between the body and the door. 
     According to a second feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, an attachment concave portion opening towards an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder is provided in the thick wall portion, the checking-force generating mechanism is formed of: a holding member supported in the attachment concave portion so as to be capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder; and an elastic member housed in the attachment concave portion so as to urge the holding member towards the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, a detent projection is provided on the holding member, the detent projection projecting to be abut against the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, and a detent groove is provided in the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, the detent projection being engaged with, and disengaged from, the detent groove in association with the relative rotations of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. Note that the detent projection corresponds to detent rollers  26  in a later-described embodiment of the present invention. 
     With the second feature of the present invention, the checking-force generating mechanism can be easily provided in the thick wall portion of the outer cylinder. 
     According to a third feature of the present invention, in addition to the second feature, the checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle further comprises a slider in the inner cylinder, the slider slidably abutting against the inner peripheral surface of a thin wall portion of the outer cylinder, the thin wall portion having a small distance between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. 
     With the third feature of the present invention, the outer cylinder brings the inner peripheral surface of the thin wall portion into pressure contact with the slider by receiving the compression repulsive force of an elastic member. When the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder relatively rotate, the slider slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the thin wall portion side. This configuration makes it possible to desirably adjust the opening and closing feeling of the door by changing the material properties, the surface roughness, the sliding area, and the like, of the slider. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view showing an essential part of an automobile including a checker-equipped door hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the checker-equipped door hinge device. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the checker-equipped door hinge device in a state where a door is closed. 
         FIG. 4  is a view in the direction of an arrow  4  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 5  and showing the checker-equipped door hinge device in a state where the door is fully opened. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 5  and showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 5  and showing a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Firstly, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In  FIG. 1 , a door D is rotatably attached to a body B of an automobile with a door hinge device H interposed therebetween so that the door D can open and close the door opening of the automobile. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the door hinge device H includes: a female bracket  1  fixed to the body B with a plurality of bolts  3 ; a male bracket  2  fixed to the door D with a plurality of bolts  4 ; and a hinge pin  5  disposed in a vertical direction to couple these brackets  1  and  2  in a relatively rotatable manner. 
     The female bracket  1  includes a pair of upper and lower female arm portions  1   a . A pair of upper and lower male arm portions  2   a  of the male bracket  2  are arranged adjacently on the inner sides of the upper and lower female arm portions  1   a , respectively. The hinge pin  5  is arranged to vertically penetrate the arm portions  1   a  and  2   a . The hinge pin  5  is fixed to the female arm portions  1   a  by an enlarged head portion  5   a  on one side of the hinge pin  5  and a riveting portion  5   b  on the other side thereof. An inner cylinder  6  that penetrates the male arm portions  2   a  is fitted on the outer circumference of the hinge pin  5 . A positioning projection  8  is provided on each surface of the inner cylinder  6 , while a positioning concave portion  9  is provided on a surface, facing the inner cylinder  6 , of each of the female arm portions  1   a  (see  FIGS. 2 and 7 ). Opposite end portions of the inner cylinder  6  are integrally connected respectively to the female arm portions  1   a  in a way that each positioning projection  8  and the corresponding positioning concave portion  9  engage with each other. One of the male arm portions  2   a  is rotatably supported on one end portion of the inner cylinder  6  with a first bearing bush  16  interposed in between. The other one of the male arm portions  2   a  is rotatably supported on the other end portion of the inner cylinder  6  with a second bearing bush  16 ′ and a collar  17  interposed in between. The second bearing bush  16 ′ has a diameter larger than that of the first bearing bush  16 , and the collar  17  is fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the second bearing bush  16 ′ (see  FIGS. 2 and 8 ). 
     An outer cylinder  7 , which is rotatable relative to the inner cylinder  6 , is disposed on the outer circumference of the inner cylinder  6 . A first and a second covers  10  and  10 ′ are disposed respectively on opposite ends of the outer cylinder  7 . The first and second covers  10  and  10 ′ are rotatably supported respectively on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second bearing bushes  16  and  16 ′ while sealing the inside of the outer cylinder  7 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 9 , each of the male arm portions  2   a  integrally has an ear portion  11  protruding in the radial direction. The covers  10 ,  10 ′ are fixed to these ear portions  11  with rivets  12 , respectively. In addition, each of these covers  10 ,  10 ′ has, on its inner side surface, a circular connecting projection  14  that is concentric with the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder  7 , in other words, eccentric to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder  7 . The connecting projections  14  are fitted respectively on the end surfaces of the outer cylinder  7 , so that each of the first and second covers  10  and  10 ′ and the outer cylinder  7  are connected to one another so as to be integrally rotatable. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a stopper wall  15  is formed integrally in the female bracket  1 . The stopper wall  15  restricts a fully opening position for the door D in a way that the ear portions  11  of the male arm portions  2   a  come into contact with the stopper wall  15 . 
     In  FIGS. 2 ,  5  to  7 , a checking-force generating mechanism  20  is provided between the inner cylinder  6  and the outer cylinder  7 . The checking-force generating mechanism  20  generates a checking force against the door D at a half opening position or the fully opening position for the door D. Hereinafter, the checking-force generating mechanism  20  will be described. 
     As clearly shown in  FIG. 5 , in the outer cylinder  7 , the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface are eccentric to each other. A semi-circular part of the outer cylinder  7 , on a side where the distance between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface thereof is large, is defined as a thick wall portion  7   a , while the other semi-circular part of the outer cylinder  7 , on a side where the distance is small, is defined as a thin wall portion  7   b . One or a plurality of attachment concave portions  21  arranged in the circumferential direction (two in the embodiment shown) are formed in the inner peripheral surface of the thick wall portion  7   a . Each attachment concave portion  21  is formed in a manner that its inner side surfaces, facing to each other in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder  7 , are parallel to each other. Holding members  22  each having a high rigidity are fitted respectively into the attachment concave portions  21  so as to be slidable in the radial direction of the outer cylinder  7 , and elastic members  23  each made of rubber are filled respectively in the attachment concave portions  21  so as to cause the corresponding holding members  22  to be resiliently urged against the inner cylinder  6 . Each of the elastic members  23  is provided with recesses or drillings  24  for adjusting the compression modulus of elasticity of the elastic member  23 . 
     A semi-columnar holding groove  25  opening towards the inner cylinder  6  and extending in the axial direction of the outer cylinder  7  is formed in each of the holding members  22 . A substantially semi-circular part of a detent roller  26  that is capable of rolling on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder  6  is engaged with and held by each holding groove  25  in a manner that the detent roller  26  is rotatable. 
     Meanwhile, the outer diameter of an intermediate part, sandwiched by the first and second bearing bushes  16  and  16 ′, of the inner cylinder  6  is smaller than the outer diameter of the second bearing bush  16 ′ but is larger than the inner diameter thereof. A plurality of detent grooves  27  each having a V-shaped cross section and extending in the axial direction of the inner cylinder  6  are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate part of the inner cylinder  6 . Each of the detent rollers  26  is engaged with, and disengaged from, one of the detent grooves  27  in association with the relative rotations of the inner cylinder  6  and the outer cylinder  7 . 
     Each of the detent rollers  26  is engaged with a corresponding one of the detent grooves  27  by means of the elastic force of the corresponding elastic member  23  so as to generate the checking force against the door D. In the case of the embodiment shown in the figures, a set of three detent grooves  27  are provided correspondingly to each of the detent rollers  26  so that the checking force can be generated at the two half opening positions and the fully opening position for the door D. A roller releasing groove  28  having a groove width larger than the detent groove is provided to be adjacent to one side of each set of these detent grooves  27 . Each of the roller releasing grooves  28  frees the detent roller  26  when at a closing position for the door D. 
     The movements of the holding members  22 , the elastic members  23 , and the detent rollers  26  in the axial direction are restricted by the covers  10 ,  10 ′ closing the respective opposite ends of the outer cylinder  7 . 
     The checking-force generating mechanism  20  is provided to the thick wall portion  7   a  of the outer cylinder  7  in the above-described manner. 
     In the above-described configuration, the pressure-receiving area, which receives the pressure from the elastic member  23 , of a connecting wall portion  22   b  is set to be sufficiently larger than an area where each detent roller  26  and each detent groove  27  abut against each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a concave portion  30  is provided at a part, facing the thin wall portion  7   b  of the outer cylinder  7 , on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate part of the inner cylinder  6 . A slider  29  slidably abutting against the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder  7  is fitted in the concave portion  30 . 
     Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. 
     The checker-equipped door hinge device H of the present invention will be assembled in the following way. In  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the inner cylinder  6  and the outer cylinder  7  are firstly fitted to each other while the holding members  22 , the elastic members  23 , the detent rollers  26 , and the slider  29  are installed between the inner cylinder  6  and the outer cylinder  7 . Then, the first and second covers  10  and  10 ′ are mounted respectively on opposite end portions of the outer cylinder  7 , so that the assembly of the inner cylinder  6  and the outer cylinder  7  is built up. 
     Subsequently, the first bearing bush  16  is mounted on a first bush hole  18  of one of the male arm portions  2   a , thereafter, the assembly is inserted into a second bush hole  18 ′ of the other one of the male arm portions  2   a , and then, one end portion of the inner cylinder  6  is fitted onto the inner peripheral surface of the first bearing bush  16 . Thereafter, the second bearing bush  16 ′ is mounted on the second bush hole  18 ′, and the collar  17  is fitted between the inner peripheral surface of the second bearing bush  16 ′ and the outer peripheral surface of the other end of the inner cylinder  6 . Then, the first and second covers  10  and  10 ′ are joined to the ear portions  11  of the male arm portions  2   a  with the rivets  12 , respectively. As a result, the mounting of the assembly of the inner cylinder  6  and the outer cylinder  7  into the male bracket  2  is completed. 
     Next, the male bracket  2  is inserted between the pair of female arm portions  1   a  of the female bracket  1 , and the positioning projections  8  on opposite end surfaces of the inner cylinder  6  is engaged respectively with the positioning concave portions  9  of the corresponding female arm portions  2   a . Thereafter, the hinge pin  5  is mounted, so that the assembly of the checker-equipped door hinge device H is completed. 
     In the mounting of the checker-equipped door hinge device H on an automobile, while the female bracket  1  is fixed to the body B with bolts  3 , the male bracket  2  is fixed to the door D with bolts  4 . 
     Thus, when the user rotationally moves the door D between the fully closing position and the fully opening position, the male bracket  2  joined to the door D rotationally moves between the closing position (the state in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) and the fully opening position (the state in  FIG. 6 ). Accordingly, the outer cylinder  7  connected to the male bracket  2  rotates with respect to the inner cylinder  6  connected to the female bracket  1 . The rotation of the outer cylinder  7  simultaneously causes the holding members  22  and the elastic members  23  the two supported in the attachment concave portions  21  to rotate, so that each detent roller  26  held by the holding groove  25  of the holding member  22  moves while rolling on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder  6 . 
     In this event, when the door D is moved to the predetermined half opening position or the fully opening position, each detent roller  26  reaches a position where the detent roller  26  can be engaged with a predetermined one of the detent grooves  27  that corresponds to the position of the door D. Then, the holding member  22  holding the detent roller  26  is caused to slide towards the inner cylinder  6  by the compression repulsive force of the elastic member  23 , thus pressing the detent roller  26  into the predetermined detent groove  27 . 
     Meanwhile, when a rotational force is applied to the door D by an external force, the detent roller  26  held by each of the holding members  22  starts to climb up the slope of the detent groove  27  of the inner cylinder  6 , in a manner of getting out of the detent groove  27 . At this time, upon receiving a pressing force from the detent roller  26 , each of the holding members  22  slides in the attachment concave portion  21  outward in the radial direction, thus compressing equally each portion of the elastic member  23  with the entire pressure-receiving surface of the holding member  22 . For this reason, the compression ratio at this moment is high enough to thus generate a large compression repulsive force in the elastic member  23 . Accordingly, since the pressure-receiving area, which receives the pressure from the elastic member  23 , of each holding member  22  is set to be larger than the area where each detent roller  26  and each detent groove  27  abut against each other, the holding member  22  can effectively amplify the pressure applied thereto from the elastic member  23 , and thus transmit the amplified pressure to the detent roller  26  and the detent groove  27 . It is thus possible to enhance the engaging force of the detent roller  26  and the detent groove  27 , and thus, to more effectively enhance the check torque of the door D. As a result, the door D can be prevented from moving freely. 
     In a case where a plurality of sets of the holding member  22  and the elastic member  23  are arranged in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder  7 , each set of the holding member  22  and the elastic member  23  individually operates. Accordingly, even when some of the elastic members  23  lose their resilient forces for some reason, the other normal elastic members  23  keep pressing the corresponding holding members  22 , thus preventing loss of the checking function of the checking-force generating mechanism  20 , so that the reliability is enhanced. 
     In addition, the pressure-receiving area, which receives the pressure from the elastic member  23 , of each holding member  22  is set to be larger than the area where each detent roller  26  and each detent groove  27  abut against each other. Accordingly, the surface pressure between each holding member  22  and the corresponding elastic member  23  is sufficiently reduced, so that the wear resistances thereof are improved. Additionally, each holding member  22  can amplify the pressure applied thereto from the elastic member  23 , and thus transmit the amplified pressure to the detent roller  26  and the detent groove  27 . With this effect, it is possible to enhance the engaging force of the detent roller  26  and the detent groove  27 , and thus, to effectively enhance the check torque of the door D. 
     Moreover, the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder  7  are eccentric to each other. The semi-circular part of the outer cylinder  7 , on the side where the distance between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface thereof is large, is defined as the thick wall portion  7   a . The checking-force generating mechanism  20  formed of the holding member  22  and the elastic member  23  is provided in the thick wall portion  7   a . Accordingly, the checking-force generating mechanism  20  with a large capacity can be efficiently arranged in the outer cylinder without the diameter of the outer cylinder  7  being particularly increased. For this reason, this configuration contributes to achieving a compact checker-equipped door hinge device H. As a result, the checker-equipped door hinge device H can be easily arranged even in a narrow and small space between the body B and the door D. 
     Furthermore, the other semi-circular part of the outer cylinder  7 , on the side where the distance between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface thereof is small, is defined as the thin wall portion  7   b . Then, the slider  29  slidably abutting against the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder  7  is fitted in the part, facing the thin wall portion  7   b , the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder  6 . The outer cylinder  7  thus receives the compression repulsive force of the elastic member  23  so as to bring the inner peripheral surface of the thin wall portion  7   b  into pressure contact with the slider  29  that is made of a synthetic resin. Accordingly, when the inner cylinder  6  and the outer cylinder  7  relatively rotate, the slider  29  slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface on the thin wall portion  7   b  side. Therefore, it is possible to desirably adjust the opening and closing feeling of the door D by changing the material properties, the surface roughness, the sliding area, or the like, of the slider  29 . 
     In addition, the female bracket  1  is provided with the pair of female arm portions  1   a , which support opposite end portions of the hinge pin  5 , and which are connected to the inner cylinder  6  disposed on the outer periphery of the hinge pin  5 . The male bracket  2  is provided with the pair of male arm portions  2   a , which are arranged adjacently on the inner sides of the female arm portions  1   a , and which are supported to be relatively rotatable on the outer peripheries of opposite end portions of the inner cylinder  6  with the bearing bushes  16  and  16 ′ interposed in between, respectively. Then, the outer cylinder  7  is connected to, and arranged between, the two of the male arm portions  2   a . Accordingly, it is possible to arrange the inner cylinder  6 , the outer cylinder  7 , and the checking-force generating mechanism  20  by effectively utilizing the space between the pair of male arm portions  2   a  arranged between the pair of female arm portions  1   a . For this reason, this configuration also contributes to achieving a compact checker-equipped door hinge device H. 
     Still furthermore, the pair of covers  10 ,  10 ′ are attached to opposite ends of the outer cylinder  7 . The pair of covers  10 ,  10 ′ seal the inside of the outer cylinder  7 , and restrict the movements of the detent rollers  26 , the holding members  22 , and the elastic members  23  in the axial direction. Accordingly, the pair of covers  10 ,  10 ′ prevent rain water and dust from entering inside the checking-force generating mechanism  20  in the outer cylinder  7 , so as to secure the normal function of the checking-force generating mechanism  20  over a long period of time. Additionally, since the covers  10 ,  10 ′ also function as stopper members that restrict the movements of the detent rollers  26 , the holding members  22 , and the elastic members  23  in the axial direction, this configuration contributes to reduction in the number of components, and therefore, to the simplification of the structure. 
     The elastic member  23  made of rubber is filled in each attachment concave portion  21  in a compressed state, and the surface of the elastic member  23  is in close contact with the holding member  22  in a resiliently urged manner. This configuration makes it possible to effectively utilize the space in the attachment concave portion  21  for the filling of the elastic member  23  made of rubber. This configuration also contributes to achieving a compact checker-equipped door hinge device H. 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in  FIG. 10 , will be described. 
     In the second embodiment, each of the holding members  22  provided respectively in the attachment concave portions  21  in the outer cylinder  7  is formed of a plate spring, and includes a pair of end wall portions  22   a  and a flexible connecting wall portion  22   b . The end wall portions  22   a  are placed respectively on the inner walls, facing each other in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder  7 , of the attachment concave portion  21 , while the connecting wall portion  22   b  integrally connect the end wall portions  22   a  to each other. A holding groove  25  for holding the detent roller  26  is formed in the connecting wall portion  22   b , while the elastic member  23  made of rubber is filled in the attachment concave portion  21  so as to urge the connecting wall portion  22   b  towards the inner cylinder  6 . Since the other configurations in the second embodiment are the same as those of the aforementioned embodiment, parts corresponding to those in the aforementioned embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in  FIG. 10 , and overlapping descriptions therefor will be omitted. 
     In the second embodiment, the flexure of the connecting wall portion  22   b  allows the resilient force of the elastic members  23  to be transmitted to the detent rollers  26 . This configuration makes it possible to eliminate the sliding portion between each holding member  22  and the corresponding attachment concave portion  21 , thus preventing friction noise from being generated. 
     Lastly, a third embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in  FIG. 11 , will be described. 
     The third embodiment shows that a semi-columnar detent projection  26  extending in the axial direction of the outer cylinder  7  may be formed integrally on each holding member  22  in place of the detent roller  26  in each of the first and second embodiments.  FIG. 11  shows a representative example of the third embodiment, in which the holding members  22  and the detent roller  26  in the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  are modified. Since the other configurations in the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in  FIG. 11 , and overlapping descriptions therefor will be omitted. 
     According to the third embodiment, the forming of the detent projection  26  integrally on each holding member  22  makes it possible to simplify the structure by reducing the number of components, and further to achieve reduction in cost. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications in design may be made thereon without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, the female bracket  1  may be fixed to the door D, and the male bracket  2  may be fixed to the body B. In addition, the hinge pin  5  and the inner cylinder  6  may be formed integrally with each other. Moreover, the checker-equipped door hinge device H may be employed as a hinge that supports a door for opening and closing a tailgate of a wagon-type vehicle. Furthermore, as the elastic members  23 , one of a coil spring, a disc spring, a plate spring, and the like, each made of metal may be alternatively employed.