Dual Gooseneck Hinge Assembly for EV Charge Port Doors

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charge port door hinges for electric vehicles offer limited rotation range, leading to inconvenience in narrow spaces and increased size and weight with 4-bar link hinges.

Innovation Solution

A dual gooseneck hinge assembly with an outer hinge member and inner hinge member, featuring a slotted opening and one-piece housing, allowing for increased rotation angles between open positions, reducing space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a gooseneck hinge is used to mount the charge port door, then the door can rotate between closed and opened positions, but the hinge is only capable of providing a one-dimensional range of motion which may result in an individual finding it inconvenient to open the charge port door in relatively narrow spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience to open charge port doorVSAvoidrange of motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly is divided into two separate hinge members (first and second hinge members) that can rotate relative to each other about a second axis. This segmentation allows the hinge to provide multi-dimensional motion rather than being constrained to a single axis, enabling the door to be opened at various angles including positions that clear adjacent vehicles in narrow spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a 4-bar link hinge is provided to increase the range of motion, then the charge port door can open in narrow spaces, but the four interlocking arms and the actuator increase the size, packaging, and weight of the charge port door assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of motionVSAvoidweight of charge port door assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the actuator component from the hinge mechanism. Instead of using a powered 4-bar link hinge with an actuator, the patent employs a passive dual-hinge mechanism that achieves multi-axis rotation through the geometric arrangement of the two hinge members and their relative rotation capability, thereby reducing weight while maintaining the desired range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than using a complex 4-bar linkage mechanism to achieve multi-dimensional motion, the invention inverts the approach by using two simple hinge members that naturally provide multi-axis rotation through their arrangement and relative movement, simplifying the mechanism while achieving the same functional outcome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a 4-bar link hinge is provided to increase the range of motion, then the charge port door can open in narrow spaces, but the four interlocking arms and the actuator increase the size, packaging, and weight of the charge port door assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of motionVSAvoidpackaging size of charge port door assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the actuator component from the hinge mechanism. Instead of using a powered 4-bar link hinge with an actuator, the patent employs a passive dual-hinge mechanism that achieves multi-axis rotation through the geometric arrangement of the two hinge members and their relative rotation capability, thereby reducing weight while maintaining the desired range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than using a complex 4-bar linkage mechanism to achieve multi-dimensional motion, the invention inverts the approach by using two simple hinge members that naturally provide multi-axis rotation through their arrangement and relative movement, simplifying the mechanism while achieving the same functional outcome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20260022599A1Dual gooseneck hinge assembly for a door cover

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A dual gooseneck hinge assembly for a door cover that provides access to an opening defined by a body panel includes an outer hinge member, an inner hinge member, and a one-piece housing defining a cavity that houses the outer hinge member and the inner hinge member when the dual gooseneck hinge assembly is in a closed position. The outer hinge member defines a curved body portion and a slotted opening. The curved body portion includes a gooseneck bend and the slotted opening includes a first stopping surface defining a first open position and a second stopping surface defining a second open position of the dual gooseneck hinge assembly. The outer hinge member rotates about a main axis of rotation of the dual gooseneck hinge assembly between the closed position, the first opened position, and the second opened position.