Patent ID: 7195300

Claim:
A mechanism for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart first and second body side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis of said closure member between open, closed and removal positions, said mechanism comprising: first and second hinge brackets secured to opposite ends of the closure member, said first and second hinge brackets carrying, respectively, first and second bushings thereon with pivotal axes that are coincident with the axis of pivotal movement of said closure member; first and second vehicle body hinge pins for mounting on the first and second spaced apart body side panels, respectively, said first and second vehicle body hinge pins being coincident with the axis of pivotal movement of the closure member, and being configured to support said first and second bushings thereon, and in turn, said closure member on which said first and second hinge brackets are mounted; one of said first and second bushings having a laterally open slot therein positioned circumferentially to permit said bushing to laterally engage at least a portion of a corresponding one of said first and second vehicle body hinge pins when the closure member is in the removal position; and an axially elongated torque rod having a first end connected in driving engagement to said first hinge bracket and a second end for connecting the torque rod in driving engagement with said second vehicle body hinge pin within said second bushing and independently of rotatable support of said second bushing on said second hinge pin; said torque rod being twisted in tension when the closure member is pivoted to either the closed or open positions from the removal position, thereby providing a counterbalancing effect to assist with pivotal movement of the closure member, and permitting facile removal of the closure member from the vehicle body when the closure member is in the removal position.