Removable Vehicle Door Hinge With Detent Retaining Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door hinge assemblies do not allow for easy and secure removal of vehicle doors while maintaining the ability to drive the vehicle without the doors attached, limiting the open-air driving experience.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly comprising first and second hinge portions, a pivot pin, and a retaining member, with detents and a biasing member, allowing the door to pivot between closed and open positions and be easily removable by engaging and disengaging the pivot pin and detents, utilizing a retaining member that limits axial motion and provides stability in both positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional fixed hinge assembly is used, then the door remains securely attached to the vehicle body, but the door cannot be easily removed for open-air driving experience
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into separate components: a first hinge portion attached to the vehicle body, a second hinge portion attached to the door, a pivot pin connecting them, and a retaining member with biasing mechanism. This segmentation allows the door to be easily detached by removing the pivot pin while maintaining secure attachment during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly incorporates a dynamic retaining mechanism with a biasing member that automatically engages and disengages detents based on door position and removal force. This dynamic system transitions from a locked state during normal operation to an unlocked state when removal is intended, enabling easy door detachment without complex manual operations.
2Ease of operation
If the door is made easily removable, then open-air driving experience is improved, but the security and stability of the door when attached may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is pre-loaded to automatically engage the detent with the protrusion when the door is attached, securing the door in place before any removal action is taken. This preliminary engagement ensures reliable attachment during normal vehicle operation while allowing easy removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent and protrusion act as intermediary elements between the hinge portions and the retaining member, providing a mechanical interface that ensures secure attachment when engaged and allows easy detachment when the retaining member is actuated. This intermediary mechanism bridges the need for both security and ease of removal.
3Extent of automation
If a retaining member with biasing mechanism is added, then automatic engagement and disengagement is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member is combined with the biasing member as an integrated assembly, where the biasing mechanism is housed within or directly connected to the retaining member structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall hinge assembly while maintaining automatic engagement functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and secure removal of vehicle doors, allowing for an open-air driving experience while ensuring the vehicle can be driven without the doors, with the hinge assembly retaining the door in both positions effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member disposed between the retaining member and a surface of one of the first and second hinge portions and may urge the retaining member away from the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly may include first and second hinge portions, a pivot pin, and a retaining member. The first hinge portion may be secured to one of a vehicle body and a door, and may include a first aperture and a protrusion. The second hinge portion may be secured to another of the vehicle body and the door, and may include a second aperture and a first detent. The protrusion may engage the first detent when the door is in an open position. The pivot pin may selectively engage the first and second apertures to provide relative rotation between the first and second hinge portions. The retaining member may engage a portion of the pivot pin and may be axially movable relative to one of the first and second apertures.