TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present subject matter relates to a door assembly of a vehicle, more particularly, a hinge assembly for a vehicle door assembly.

BACKGROUND

[002] In modem times, automobiles have become a necessity for any person who desire to communicate from one place to another. In this regard, the person prefers a safe and comfortable journey. To ensure safety and comfort is not compromised, the person travels in a vehicle having a cabin where he is not exposed to external environment. For closure of such cabin, a door assembly is installed for safety of the occupants. In many countries and markets, mass transport road vehicles like three wheeled vehicles such as autorickshaw, tuk-tuk etc. are often operated without any dedicated doors which may lead to safety risks. While the risk at lower speeds can be low, with improving road infrastructure and vehicle speeds, lack of doors tend to considerably increase the risk of major injury. Thus doors are becoming an essential aspect of such mass transport vehicles. It is known that doors are hingedly attached to the vehicle body. The hinged mechanism provides a movable joint between the door and the vehicle body which can be opened and closed as per the requirement of the passenger.

BRIEF DESCRIPT ION OF THE DRAWINGS

[003] The present invention is described with reference to an embodiment of a three wheeled multitrack vehicle along with the accompanying figures. This invention is implementable in two-wheeled canopy type vehicle, three-wheeled vehicles including trike and four wheeled vehicles. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components. Further, the inventive features of the invention are outlined in the appended claims.

[004] Figure 1 illustrates a left side view of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[005] Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a door assembly for the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. i [006] Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of a hinge assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[007] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the hinge assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[008] Figure 5 illustrates an exploded view of the hinge assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[009] Figu re 6 illustrate s a top view of a top portion of a vehicle body attachment member of the hinge assembly of the door assembly for the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[010] As described above, the hinged mechanism enables attachment of the vehicle door to the vehicle body. A proper connection between the vehicle door and the vehicle body is quintessential for safety of the passenger. Any loosening of the vehicle door or any obstruction in closure of the door may put the passenger in risk. [Oil] Additionally, in some circumstances the door is mounted to the vehicle body through plurality of external hinge assembly. For a typical vehicle like an autorickshaw, the body is made out of thin members making it very difficult for a designer to effectively couple the door to the thin body as well as safely conceal the hinges. While such mass transport vehicle being economical, it is not feasible for an engineer to consider thickening or widening the width of the vehicle to be able to accommodate a complex hinge assembly as typically installed in cars. Thus a frugal solution to such a requirement is typically achieved by installing a conventional hinge joint. The hinge assembly is external attached both to the vehicle door and vehicle body with its attachment points being visible from outside leading to undesirable aesthetic look and potential rusting of the hinge assembly over a period of time. Additionally in such circumstances, possibility of theft increases as the thieves can open the hinge member from the outside of the vehicle and steal the door and items within the vehicle. The mass transport vehicle may be used for transport of passenger and / or goods to provide end-to-end connectivity within short to medium distance travels and thus tend to be also referred as Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV). Such vehicles need to be frugal in their design to be able to provide good durability and performance while still being exposed to severe usage conditions like rough roads, vibrations, overloading etc. While speed of such LCV vehicles may be restricted, extreme usage condition can often lead to vibration lead loosening or failure of the door hinge assembly leaving them vulnerable to safety risk. Additionally, goods being carried inside may fall off on the road risking other user on the road.

[012] In other known hinge assembly, plurality of bearings and rollers are provided which cause the door to be opened and closed. However, provision of rollers and bearings adds additional number of parts and these parts are difficult to maintain. Consequently, the hinge door member become a complex structure which is prone to faults and damage.

[013] As per other known arts, the door hinge with checker includes a vehicle body side hinge part to be fitted with the body, a door side hinge part to be fitted with the door, a hinge means for connecting the body side hinge part with the door side hinge part to allow rotation of the door about a hinge axis between the open and closed positions and, a checker fitted in body side hinge part. The hinge means is supported in the body side hinge part with running fit and includes a hinge pin, a hollow cylindrical member fitted with the pin and having grooves on its outer periphery, and a pair off lugs for holding the pin in holes of the door and body side hinge parts. The checker includes a spring biased member and a roller fitted on one end of the spring biased member such that the roller engages and disengages with the grooves of the hollow cylindrical member of the hinge means, when the door is rotated between the open and the closed position. The engagement of the roller with the groves of the cylindrical member exerts a force on the door side hinge part to stop the door from free rotation, and hold the door at a designated open/closed position. However, the conventional checker integrated door hinge is bulky and includes many components. Besides, it is a complex and space consuming mechanism and thus undesirable.

[014] As per other known art, a hinge assembly is provided which includes a chamber divided by a piston into working spaces that are filled with an operating medium whose viscosity can be changed by means of a field force. The working spaces are connected to one another by at least one flow connection that is subject to the influence of a field force generating element. The door hinge is designed as a pivot bearing, wherein the cylinder takes the form of a bearing eye and the piston takes the form of a rotary piston with at least one blade. In another similar configuration of the hinge assembly is disclosed having a torsional magnetorheological device which has two chambers for magnetorheological fluid, and a coil surrounding a portion of the passageway interconnecting the chambers, enabling a variation of viscosity of the fluid to control the movement of the hinge. Such designs are prone to failure in a plurality of ways making them unviable as a frugal solution for the mass transport vehicles.

[015] Also, traditionally, passengers apply strong force to close the vehicle door and the passenger freely opens the vehicle door with an enormous force. Such application of additional force negatively impacts the hinge mechanism. In a conventional three-wheeled vehicles, the vehicle door is often damaged or even bend due additional force application by the passenger.

[016] Hence, it is an object of the present invention to overcome all the above stated and other related problems existing in the prior arts, with respect to hinge mechanism for attachment of the door to the vehicle body.

[017] The main objective of the present subject matter is to provide a simplified and frugal hinge mechanism configured to provide a strong, durable and reliable connection between the vehicle body and the door.

[018] Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the complexity of the hinge mechanism while still increasing the section modulus of the hinge assembly to achieve high strength. Section modulus is a geometrical property of a cross-section that measure the bending strength of the cross-section.

[019] The present invention discloses an improved hinge assembly for a vehicle door assembly. The hinge assembly comprises: a door attachment and a vehicle body attachment. The door attachment includes: a door leaf portion and a door coupling portion. A vehicle body attachment includes: a top portion, a lower portion, a stem portion, and a vertical connecting portion. The vertical connecting portion connects the top portion and the lower portion. The vertical connecting portion being configured to attach the vehicle body attachment to vehicle body. The stem portion connects the top portion and the lower portion wherein the stem portion forms a gap from the vertical connecting portion. The vehicle body attachment being coupled to the door attachment. A top reinforced portion being provided on the top portion and a lower reinforced portion being provided on the lower portion.

[020] As per another aspect of the present invention, the top portion has a first top portion and thickness of the top reinforced portion being greater than the first top portion. Also, the lower portion has a first bottom portion and thickness of the lower reinforced portion being greater than the first bottom portion.

[021] As per another aspect of the present invention, the stem portion being provided an ingression portion wherein the ingression portion prevents collision of said door coupling portion to said vehicle body attachment and removes an obstruction for the movement of the door coupling portion of the door attachment.

[022] In accordance with the present configuration, one of the advantages is that the hinge assembly provides a compact, safe and robust locking attachment of the door to the vehicle body which has a higher section modulus. The section modulus increase is based on the breadth and thickness of the cross-sectional area.

[023] The present subject matter is further described with reference to accompanying figures. It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. Various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, encompass the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

[024] The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.

[025] Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary”, “main” or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's understanding of the various elements, embodiments, variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.

[026] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[027] Figure 1 illustrates a left side view of a three wheeled vehicle (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The vehicle (100) comprising a chassis frame structure (not shown) providing a structural support the vehicle (100). The chassis frame structure supports a front suspension assembly being connected to a front wheel (104) and a rear suspension of the vehicle (100) connected to a rear wheel (109). The front portion of the vehicle (100) is covered by a front cover (105) and a rear portion of the vehicle (100) is covered by a rear cover (107). The front wheel (104) is covered by a front mudguard (103). The vehicle also includes a windscreen (101) and a headlamp assembly (102) attached to the front cover (105). Further a rear lamp assembly (108) is provided on the rear cover (107). Also, a hood (106) is provided covering the top of the vehicle and connecting the front portion and the rear portion of the vehicle (100). The vehicles include a door (110 being provided on rear portion of the vehicle (100) and the door (110) is attached to body of the vehicle through a hinged mechanism (not shown). The door (110) is provided to ensure safety of passengers to be seated on a rear seat (not shown) of the vehicle (100).

[028] Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the door assembly for the vehicle, the door (110) includes a door body portion (114). The door body portion (114) is in the middle region of the door (110). The door body portion (114) is having four boundary portions. A door top portion (111) is provided on a top side of the door body portion (114). A door first side portion (112) is provided on a first side of the door body portion ( 114) . A door second side portion ( 115 A) is provided on a second side of the door body portion (114) and opposite to the first side. The door second side portion (115A) is hingedly attached to the body of the vehicle (100). A door bottom portion (113) is provided on a bottom side of the door body portion (114). The door first side portion (112) is present on the opposite side to the door second side portion (115A). The door second side portion (115A) includes one or more hinge assembly (115). The hinge assembly (115) enables a connection between the door (110) and the body of the vehicle (110).

[029] In an embodiment, the door body portion (114) is provided on a rear side of a three wheeled vehicle wherein the door first side portion (112) is an inclined portion.

[030] Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of a hinge assembly (115), as per an embodiment of the present invention. The hinge assembly (115) provides a connection between the door (110) and the vehicle body. The hinge assembly (115) includes a first member (126) and a second member (116). The second member (116) is interchangeably referred as a vehicle body attachment member (116). The first member (126) is interchangeably referred as a door attachment member (126). The vehicle body attachment member (116) and the door attachment member (126) are pivotally coupled to each other through a pivot member (140). The door attachment member (126) includes a leaf portion (127) and a coupling portion (125). The leaf portion (127) is interchangeably referred as a door leaf portion (127). The coupling portion (125) is interchangeably referred as a door leaf portion (127) is a flat plate like structure which is connected to the door (114) through plurality of door fasteners (129). The door coupling portion (125) is adjacent to the door leaf portion (127) and the door coupling portion (125) allows the pivot member (140) to pass through itself and provide a rotary connection with a top coupling portion (120) and a bottom coupling portion (121) of the vehicle body attachment member (116). Further, the vehicle body attachment member (116) includes a top portion (133) and a lower portion (134). The top portion (133) and the lower portion (134) is connected to each other through a vertical connecting portion (117) and a stem portion (130) wherein the vertical connecting portion (117) and the stem portion (130) are provided on two opposite sides and are orthogonal to each other. Additionally, a gap (132) is formed between the vertical connecting portion (117) and the stem portion (130). Further, the top portion (133) includes a first top portion (118), a top reinforced portion (119) and a top coupling portion (120) adjacently. The top coupling portion (120) and the first top portion (118) are provided on opposite ends of the top portion (133) and the top reinforced portion (119) is provided between the top coupling portion (120) and the first top portion (118). The top coupling portion (120) allows the pivot member (140) to pass through it. Similar to the top portion (133), the lower portion (134) includes a first bottom portion (123), a lower reinforced portion (122) and a bottom coupling portion (121) adjacently. The bottom coupling portion (121) and the first bottom portion (123) are provided on opposite ends of the lower portion (134) wherein the lower reinforced portion (122) is provided between the first bottom portion (123) and the bottom coupling portion (121).

[031] Additionally, the vertical connecting portion (117) is attached to the body of the vehicle through plurality of second fasteners (124). The pivot member (140) passes through the top coupling portion (120), the door coupling portion (125) and the bottom coupling portion (121) forming a rotary joint between the vehicle body attachment member (116) and the door attachment member (126). The pivot member (140) is covered on the top and the bottom through a cap (128).

[032] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the hinge assembly (115) of the door (114) for the vehicle (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The stem portion (130) of the hinge assembly (115) is having an ingression portion (131). The ingression portion (131) provide an extra area which gives additional room for movement to the door coupling portion (125). The ingression portion (131) ensures that the door coupling portion (125) does not get obstructed by the stem portion (130). The door coupling portion (125) being rotatable relative to the vehicle body attachment member (116) and rotatable about an axis A-A’ of the pivot member (140). As per an embodiment, a third axis (AA’) passes through the pivot member (140) and the door coupling portion (125). [033] Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the hinge assembly (115) of the door (114) forthe vehicle (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The top portion (133) (as shown in figure 3) is having the first top portion (118) and a thickness of the top reinforced portion (119) being configured to be greater than the thickness or height of the first top portion (118). The lower portion (134) (as shown in figure 3) is having the first bottom portion (123) and a thickness of the lower reinforced portion ( 122) being configured to be greater than a thickness of the first bottom portion (123).

[034] The hinge assembly (115) is configured with a width of the top reinforced portion (119) higher width than a width of the stem portion (130) wherein as per a preferred embodiment, the width of the stem portion (130) being in range of 4-7mm and width of the top reinforced portion (119) being in range of 8-12mm. The lower reinforced portion (122) is configured with a width of the stem portion (130) higher than a width of the stem portion (130) and as per a preferred embodiment the width being in range of 4-7mm and width of the lower reinforced portion (122) being in range of 8- 12mm.

[035] Figure 6 illustrates a top view of the top portion (133) of the vehicle body attachment member of the hinge assembly the hinge assembly (115) of the door (114) forthe vehicle (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The hinge assembly (115) with the top portion (133) includes the first top portion (118), the top reinforced portion (119) and the top coupling portion (120) wherein the first top portion (118) being adj acent to the reinforced portion (119) and wherein a first axis (BB’) passes through middle of said top coupling portion (120) and a second axis (CC’) passes through an edge portion of said first top portion (118) and said first axis (BB’) being a predetermined distance (X) away from said second axis (CC’).

[036] The hinge assembly ( 115) for said vehicle door (110) having the lower portion (134) has a first bottom portion (123), a lower reinforced portion (122) and a bottom coupling portion (121) wherein the lower portion (134) being adjacent to the lower reinforced portion (122) wherein said lower portion (134) being pivotally coupled to a pivot member (140) through said bottom coupling portion (121) wherein a first axis (BB’) passes through middle of the bottom coupling portion (121) and a second axis (CC’) passes through an edge portion of the first bottom portion ( 123) and the first axis (BB’) being a distance (X) away from the second axis (CC’). Here as per a preferred embodiment, the distance (X) being in range of 18- 20mm

[037] In an embodiment, the top portion (133) and the lower portion (134) each being substantially L shaped when viewed from either top or bottom direction.

[038] While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes in form, connection, and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

List of Reference Numerals:

100: Vehicle 117: Vertical Connecting Portion

101: Windscreen 118: First Top Portion 102: Head Lamp Assembly 119: Top Reinforced Portion

103: Front Mudguard 25 120: Top Coupling Portion

104: Front Wheel 121: Bottom Coupling Portion

105 : Front Body Portion 122: Lower Reinforced Portion

106: Hood 123: First Bottom Portion 107: Rear Body Portion 125: Door Coupling Portion

108: Rear Lamp Assembly 30 126: First Member or Door Attachment member

109: Rear Wheel

127: Door Leaf Portion

110: Door

130: Stem Portion

111: Door Top Portion

131: Ingression Portion 112: Door First Side Portion

35 132: Gap

113: Door Bottom Portion

133: Top Portion

114: Door Body Portion

134: Lower Portion

115: Hinge assembly

140: Pivot Member

115 A: Door Second Side Portion 116: Second Member or Vehicle Body Attachment member