Patent ID: 7430785

Claim:
A hinge system that is adapted to releasably retain a vehicle door in a desired orientation on a vehicle body, comprising: a pillar hinge bracket adapted to be secured to the vehicle body, wherein the pillar hinge bracket defines first and second mounting holes; a door hinge bracket adapted to be secured to the vehicle door, said door hinge bracket being movable between a first orientation relative to said pillar hinge bracket and a second orientation relative to said pillar hinge bracket; a hinge pin extending through the pillar hinge bracket and the door hinge bracket; and, a checking device removably secured to the pillar hinge bracket and the door hinge bracket, said checking device including: a spring portion connected between the pillar hinge bracket and the door hinge bracket, and wherein the spring portion biases the door hinge bracket and the door to only the first orientation or the second orientation, and a pin portion having an upper segment and a lower segment, said upper segment having a first diameter and being received in said first mounting hole and said lower segment having a second diameter, larger than the first diameter, and being received in said second mounting hole.