Vehicle Hinge Assembly With Internal Stop for Precise Door Travel

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle closure member systems, such as doors and swing gates, lack an efficient internal stop mechanism to precisely control the range of motion between the closed and fully open positions, leading to potential misalignment and reduced operational reliability.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle closure member system incorporating a hinge assembly with an internal stop feature, where the internal stop is established by a combination of features from both the stationary and movable hinge components, such as ears and stop surfaces, to limit the range of motion effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an internal stop mechanism is added to control the range of motion, then the precision of closure member positioning is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure member positioning precisionVSAvoidhinge assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stop mechanism is merged into the hinge assembly by integrating stop features directly into the hinge components. The stationary hinge component includes a stop feature, and the movable hinge component includes a corresponding stop feature, which work together to limit rotation without requiring separate external stop components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stop features are nested within the hinge assembly structure itself. The stop features are positioned inside the hinge assembly such that they are concealed from external view, effectively hiding the complexity within the existing structural envelope of the hinge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If an internal stop mechanism is added to limit range of motion, then the operational reliability is improved, but the packaging space required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidhinge assembly volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The stop mechanism is merged into the hinge assembly by integrating stop features directly into the hinge components. The stationary hinge component includes a stop feature, and the movable hinge component includes a corresponding stop feature, which work together to limit rotation without requiring separate external stop components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stop features are nested within the hinge assembly structure itself. The stop features are positioned inside the hinge assembly such that they are concealed from external view, effectively hiding the complexity within the existing structural envelope of the hinge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS12203303B2Vehicle closure member hinge assemblies with internal stop features

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Closure member systems are provided for motor vehicles. Exemplary closure member systems may include a hinge assembly having an internal stop. The internal stop may be established by portions of both a stationary hinge component and a movable hinge component of the hinge assembly. For example, the stationary hinge component may include one or more ears that are arranged to contact one or more stop surfaces provided on the movable hinge component. The ears may engage the stop surfaces to limit a range of motion of the closure member.