Patent ID: 7469446

Claim:
A hinge system that is adapted to releasably retain a vehicle door in a desired angular orientation on a vehicle body, comprising: a pillar hinge bracket adapted to be secured to the vehicle body; a door hinge bracket adapted to be secured to the vehicle door, said door hinge bracket being movable between a first angular orientation relative to said pillar hinge bracket and a second angular orientation relative to said pillar hinge bracket; a hinge pin having a generally circular head, said hinge pin extending through the pillar hinge bracket and the door hinge bracket and relative to which the door hinge bracket is rotatable; at least first and second engagement points provided on the generally circular head of said hinge pin, wherein between the engagement points, the perimeter of the head of the hinge pin has a consistent radius that is generally equivalent to the radius of the remainder of the perimeter of the head; and, a latching device including a first straight portion, a second straight portion transverse to the first straight portion, and an intermediate portion located therebetween that curls around a loop of more than 180 degrees, said latching device first straight portion being releasably affixed to said door hinge bracket and being releasably engageable with any of said at least first and second engagement points so as to releasably retain said door hinge bracket, and said vehicle door secured thereto, in said first and second angular orientations and said second straight portion abutting the door bracket.