Patent ID: 7357354

Claim:
A hinge assembly for connecting an aircraft door to an aircraft fuselage comprising: a hinge member having first and second opposed ends, said first end of said hinge member being configured to be coupled to the aircraft fuselage adjacent a door opening; a door fitting pivotably coupled to said second end of said hinge member, said door fitting being configured to pivot with respect to said hinge member about a first pivot axis, and further being configured to be coupled to the aircraft door; and a programmable mechanical linkage coupled to said hinge member and to said door fitting, said programmable mechanical linkage being configured to allow said aircraft door to pivot around said second end of said hinge member when said hinge member is moved from a door closed position to a door open position, said programmable mechanical linkage being further configured to cause said aircraft door to rotate and maintain the aircraft door in a generally parallel orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft fuselage; wherein said programmable mechanical linkage includes at least a first pivot fitting, at least a second pivot fitting, at least a first linkage rod, at least a second linkage rod and at least a third linkage rod, and said first pivot fitting, said second pivot fitting, said first linkage rod, said second linkage rod and said third linkage rod are connected in series.