The present invention relates to a hinge which provides fixation of doors at one or more than one predetermined angle while the door of vehicles is being opened, particularly while the rear cargo door of vehicles is being opened.

PRIOR ART

Today, in automotive sector, hinges are used which have various functions and which connect vehicle doors and the body of the vehicle. There are hinges which provide opening or closing of vehicle doors in a one-sided or two-sided manner without completely separating from the vehicle body by making circular movement at specific angles at the axis of the points where the vehicle door is connected to the vehicle body. These hinge systems can be used in sections of the vehicles like rear deck doors, rear doors, front doors, sliding roof, or in all sections of the vehicle which require openable-closeable mechanism. Hinges are elements which generally connect the door to the vehicle body and which carry the door and which provide opening and closing of the door at a specific axis.

The door holders (check-arm) in the present system prevent excessive opening of the door or unintentional closing of the door while the doors are in open position, as long as there is no intervention or as long as no force is exerted. When a force is exerted on the door or when the door holder is manually intervened, the door is slightly opened more. The door continues to be opened in a stepped manner in angles and in numbers which change depending on the force or the intervention. In this case, the door can be opened in a stepped manner and again it can be closed in a stepped manner. The door holders are mechanisms which generally comprise some sections provided on the vehicle body and some sections provided on the vehicle door.

As a result, because of all of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hinge, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a hinge which can be fixed at predetermined positions and which has a compact structure.

In order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a hinge for providing connection of a door onto a vehicle body in a rotatable manner and comprising at least one fixed wing connected to the vehicle body, at least one movable wing connected to the door and at least one intermediate body connected to said fixed wing on a first rotation axis from one side and connected to said movable wing on a second rotation axis from the other side. Accordingly, the subject matter hinge comprises at least one door holder arm connected to the fixed wing in a first connection axis provided in the vicinity of the first rotation axis from one side and connected to the movable wing in a second connection axis provided in the vicinity of the second rotation axis from the other side. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed wing comprises at least one arm assembly hole whose center defines said first connection axis.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable wing comprises at least one arm connection hole whose center defines said second connection axis.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one body connection plate is provided in order to provide the connection of the fixed wing to the vehicle body and at least one fixed bearing, whereon a first bearing hole exists, is provided in order to provide the connection of the fixed wing to the intermediate body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said arm assembly hole is provided on at least one arm assembly extension provided in the vicinity of the fixed bearing.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed bearing comprises at least one lower fixed bearing and at least one upper fixed bearing which define an arm movement gap such that at least the door holder arm can pass in between. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one door connection plate is provided in order to provide the connection of the movable wing to the door and at least one movable bearing, whereon a second bearing hole exists, is provided in order to provide the connection of the movable wing to the intermediate body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said arm connection hole is provided on the movable bearing and in the vicinity of the second bearing hole.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one connection pin is provided in the connection of said door holder arm and the fixed wing, and at least one assembly pin is provided in the connection of the door holder arm and the movable wing.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the door holder arm comprises at least one stop wedge.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the door holder arm comprises at least one first connection end provided in the vicinity of the end thereof connected to the fixed wing, and at least one first hole, through which the connection pin passes, provided on said first connection end.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the door holder arm comprises at least one second connection end provided in the vicinity of the end thereof connected to the movable wing, and at least one second hole, through which the assembly pin passes, on said second connection end.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to prevent rotation of the connection pin, there is at least one tab and at least one housing provided mutually on the connection pin and on the arm assembly extension. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to fix the door in at least one predetermined position during the rotational movement of the door, there is at least one stage mechanism at the section where the fixed wing and the door holder arm are connected. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said stage mechanism is positioned on the connection pin. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the stage mechanism comprises at least one first disc and at least one second disc where one of them is connected to the fixed wing and where the other one is connected to the door holder arm, and the first disc and the second disc comprise at least one each stage protrusion and at least one each stage channel provided mutually on the sides thereof facing each other.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, pluralities of stage channels are provided such that there is a predetermined distance in between. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first disc and the second disc is configured in a vertically movable manner in the direction of the connection pin and comprises at least one spring which presses one of the discs towards the other disc.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the door holder arm comprises at least one disc housing wherein the first disc is positioned.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the second disc comprises at least one disc center opening through which the pin body of the connection pin passes and at least one protrusion and at least one guide channel provided mutually at the connection pin and the inner wall of the disc center opening.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one bolt section is provided in the vicinity of the end of the connection pin and at least one nut fixed onto said bolt section. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one upper washer is provided between the nut and the spring.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the second disc comprises at least one centering extension extending into the spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a general representative view of the subject matter hinge is given. In Figure 2, a representative exploded view of the subject matter hinge is given. In Figure 3a and 3b, the representative views of the closed form of the subject matter hinge are given.

In Figure 4a and 4b, the representative views of the subject matter hinge are given where the hinge is open 90 degrees.

In Figure 5, the representative view of the subject matter hinge is given where the hinge is open 180 degrees. In Figure 6, the representative view of the subject matter hinge is given where the hinge is open 270 degrees.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 Vehicle body 40 Door holder arm

2 Door 41 First connection end

3 Hinge 41 1 First hole

10 Fixed wing 412 Disc housing

1 1 Body connection plate 42 Second connection end

1 1 1 Connection hole 421 Second hole

12 Fixed bearing 43 Stop wedge

121 First bearing hole 431 Stop end

122 Upper fixed bearing

123 Lower fixed bearing 50 Stage mechanism

124 Arm movement gap 51 Bearing

13 Arm assembly extension 51 1 Bearing extension

131 Arm assembly hole 512 Bearing center opening

132 Housing 52 First disc

14 Elastic wedge 521 Outer wall

522 Bearing gap

20 Movable wing 523 Stage protrusion

21 Door connection plate 524 Chamfered edge

211 Assembly hole 53 Second disc

22 Movable bearing 531 Stage channel

221 Second bearing hole 532 Disc center opening

222 Upper movable bearing 533 Guide channel 223 Lower movable bearing 534 Centering extension

224 Arm connection hole 54 Spring

225 Arm passage opening 55 Upper washer

30 Intermediate body 551 Washer center opening

31 Intermediate plate 56 Nut

32 Upper plate 57 Cover

33 Lower plate

34 First housing

35 Second housing

36 Pin hole

60 Connection pin x1 First rotation axis

61 Head section x2 Second rotation axis

62 Tab a1 First connection axis

63 Pin body a2 Second connection axis

64 Protrusion I Door closed

65 Bolt section II Door open 90 degrees

70 Assembly pin III Door open 180 degrees

IV Door open 270 degrees

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter hinge (3) is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

As can be seen in Figure 1 , the subject matter hinge (3) comprises at least one fixed wing (10) connected to the vehicle body (1 ), at least one movable wing (20) connected to the door (2) and at least one intermediate body (30) extending between said fixed wing (10) and said movable wing (20).

As can be seen in Figure 2, said fixed wing (10) comprises at least one body connection plate (1 1 ) and at least one fixed bearing (12) provided in the vicinity of an end of said body connection plate (1 1 ). There is at least one connection hole (1 1 1 ) provided on the body connection plate (1 1 ). The connection of the fixed wing (10) to the vehicle body (1 ) is provided through said connection hole (1 1 1 ). Said fixed bearing (12) and said body connection plate (1 1 ) create an L-like form. There is at least one first bearing hole (121 ) extending along the height of the fixed bearing (12). The center of said first bearing hole (121 ) defines a first rotation axis (x1 ). The fixed bearing (12) comprises an upper fixed bearing (122) and a lower fixed bearing (123) such that there is predetermined distance in between. The gap between the upper fixed bearing (122) and the lower fixed bearing (123) is defined as an arm movement gap (124). Moreover, at least one arm assembly extension (13) extends between the lower fixed bearing (123) and the body connection plate (1 1 ). There is at least one arm assembly hole (131 ) provided on said arm assembly extension (13). There is at least one housing (132) provided on the side of the arm assembly extension (13) which is opposite with respect to the upper fixed bearing (122). Said housing (132) is provided in the vicinity of the arm assembly hole (131 ).

The movable wing (20) comprises at least one door connection plate (21 ) and at least one movable bearing (22). There is at least one assembly hole (21 1 ) provided on the door connection plate (21 ). The connection of the movable wing (20) to the door (2) is provided through said assembly hole (21 1 ). The door connection plate (21 ) and the movable bearing (22) create an L-like form. There is at least one second bearing hole (221 ) extending along the height of the movable bearing (22). The center of said second bearing hole (221 ) defines a second rotation axis (x2). The movable bearing (20) comprises a lower movable bearing (223) and an upper movable bearing (222) provided such that there is a predetermined distance in between. The distance between the upper movable bearing (222) and the lower movable bearing (223) is defined as an arm passage opening (225). There is an arm connection hole (224) provided in the vicinity of the second bearing hole (221 ) on the lower movable bearing (223). Said arm connection hole (224) is preferably provided at a position which is closer to the door connection plate (21 ) when compared with the second bearing hole (221 ).

The intermediate body (30) comprises at least one upper plate (32), at least one lower plate (33) and at least one intermediate plate (31 ) extending between said upper plate (32) and said lower plate (33). The lower plate (33) and the upper plate (32) are essentially positioned in a parallel manner with respect to each other such that there is a predetermined distance in between. The width of the intermediate plate (31 ) is smaller than the width of the lower plate (33) and the width of the upper plate (32). Thus, a first housing (34) and a second housing (35) are obtained between the lower plate (33) and the upper plate (32) on both sides of the intermediate plate (31 ). At least one each pin holes (36) are provided at the sections of the upper plate (32) and the lower plate (33) which correspond to the first housing (34) and to the second housing (35). The pin holes (36) extend along the thicknesses of the upper plate (32) and the lower plate (33) such that the two ends thereof are open. The fixed bearing (12) section of the fixed wing (10) is placed to the first housing (34) provided on a side of the intermediate body (30). After the first bearing hole (121 ) and the pin holes (36) are made concentric with each other, the assembly pins (70) fixed to each pin hole (36) extend into the first bearing hole (121 ), and the connection of the fixed wing (10) and the intermediate body (30) is realized. In a similar manner, the movable bearing (22) section of the movable wing (20) is placed to the second housing (35) provided on the other side of the intermediate body (30). After the second bearing hole (221 ) and the pin holes (36) are made concentric with each other, the assembly pins (70) passed through each pin hole (36) extend into the second bearing hole (221 ). Thus, the connection of the movable wing (20) and the intermediate body (30) is realized. While said assembly pins (70) are fixed, preferably one each bearings (51 ) are positioned to the end sections of the first bearing hole (121 ) and the second bearing hole (221 ). By means of said bearings (51 ), abrasion is prevented while the intermediate body (30) and the movable wing (20) rotate in the first rotation axis (x1 ) and in the second rotation axis (x2).

Moreover, there is at least one door holder arm (40) extending between the fixed wing (10) and the movable wing (20). Said door holder arm (40) is connected to the fixed wing (10) from one end and is connected to the movable wing (20) from the other end in a manner having rotation freedom. In order to provide this, the first connection end (41 ) and the second connection end (42) are defined at the ends of the door holder arm (40) provided in rod form. Said first connection end (41 ) and said second connection end (42) are provided in hollow loop form. In other words, there is a first hole (41 1 ) provided at the first connection end (41 ) and there is a second hole (421 ) provided at the second connection end (42). At the first connection end (41 ), there is at least one disc housing (412) provided in a circular recess form. Said disc housing (412) is provided in a concentric manner with the first hole (41 1 ). Moreover, there is at least one stop wedge (43) provided in the vicinity of the first connection end (41 ). Said stop wedge (43) is preferably provided in a rectangular prism form.

The door holder arm (40) is connected to the movable wing (20) by means of an assembly pin (70) through the second hole (421 ) provided at the second connection end (42). Accordingly, the connection with the assembly pin (70), which is passed through the second hole (421 ) and the arm assembly hole (131 ) provided on the movable wing (20), is provided. Accordingly, rotation freedom is obtained in the axis of the assembly pin (70) between the door holder arm (40) and the movable wing (20). Meanwhile, the door holder arm (40) passes through the arm passage opening (225) provided between the upper movable bearing (222) and the lower movable bearing (223). On the other hand, the door holder arm (40) is connected to the fixed wing (10) by means of at least one connection pin (60) passed through the first hole (411 ) provided on the first connection end (41 ). The connection of the door holder arm (40) to the fixed wing (10) is realized through the arm assembly hole (131 ) provided on the arm assembly extension (13). The connection pin (60) is passed through the arm assembly hole (131 ) and the first hole (41 1 ), and the connection pin (60) provides the connection of the door holder arm (40) and the fixed wing (10). Accordingly, rotation freedom between the door holder arm (40) and the fixed wing (10) is obtained in the axis of the connection pin (60). Said connection pin (60) has a cylindrical pin body (63). There is a bolt section (65), whereon screw threads are formed, at one end of the connection pin (60). Moreover, there is at least one protrusion (64) provided in embossment form outwardly from the pin body (63). Preferably pluralities of protrusions (64) are provided in a manner extending in the direction of the length of the pin body (63). There is a head section (61 ) extending radially outwardly at the other end of the pin body (63). There is at least one tab (62) provided in protrusion form on the side of the head part (61 ) facing the pin body (63). When the connection pin (60) is fixed to the arm assembly hole (131 ), said tab (62) is placed into the housing (132) provided in the vicinity of the arm assembly hole (131 ). Thus, the connection pin (60) is fixed inside the arm assembly hole (131 ) without rotation.

There is at least one stage mechanism (50) provided at the section where the door holder arm (40) is connected to the fixed wing (10). Said stage mechanism (50) is positioned on the connection pin (60) connecting the door holder arm (40) to the fixed wing (10). The stage mechanism (50) respectively comprises a first disc (52), and a second disc (53), a spring (54) and an upper washer (55) positioned one above the other on the connection pin (60). After the first disc (52), the second disc (53), the spring (54) and the upper washer (55) are fixed onto the connection pin (60), they are fixed by means of a nut (56) fixed to the bolt section (65) of the connection pin (60). In more details, the first disc (52) is provided in the form of a cylindrical washer. There is at least one stage protrusion (523) provided at the side of the first disc (52) facing the second disc (53). Said stage protrusion (523) is provided at a direction extending from the center of the first disc (52) towards the outer wall (521 ) of the first disc (52). Preferably pluralities of stage protrusions (523) are provided such that there is a predetermined distance in between. Chamfered edges (524) can be obtained by forming the two sides of the stage protrusions (523) in an inclined manner. There is a bearing gap (522) provided at the center of the first disc (52). There is at least one bearing (51 ) positioned inside said bearing gap (522). Thus, the friction between the first disc (52) and the connection pin (60) passing through the first disc (52) is reduced. Moreover, there are notches provided on the outer wall (521 ) of the first disc (52). Thus, the first disc (52) is fixed to the disc housing (412) provided on the door holder arm (40) in a tight manner; and the rotation of the first disc (52) inside the disc housing (412) is prevented. In other words, since the first disc (52) is fixed inside the disc housing (412), the first disc (52) moves together with the door holder arm (40), and the first disc (52) rotates together with the door holder arm (40) in the axis of the connection pin (60).

The second disc (53) is provided in the form of a cylindrical washer. Moreover, there is at least one centering extension (534) provided in a cylindrical protrusion (64) form on the side of the second disc (53) which is opposite with respect to the first disc (52). On the side of the second disc facing the first disc (52), there is at least one stage channel (531 ). Said stage channel (531 ) is provided in a direction extending from the center of the second disc (53) towards the outer wall of the second disc (53). When the second disc (53) is positioned on the first disc (52), the stage protrusions (523), provided on the first disc (52), are placed to the stage channels (531 ) provided on the second disc (53). In the preferred embodiment, pluralities of stage protrusions (523) and stage channels (531 ) are provided such that there are angles of 90 degree in between.

There is a disc center opening (523) provided at the center of the second disc (53). Said disc center opening (532) extends in a lengthwise manner from the side of the second disc (53) facing the first disc (52) until the side of the second disc (53) facing the spring (54). Moreover, there is at least one guide channel (533) provided in recess form on the inner wall of the disc center opening (532). Said guide channel (533) extends along the disc center opening (532). The form and number of the inner channels (533) are provided in a compliant manner to the protrusions (64) provided on the connection pin (60). Accordingly, when the second disc (53) is fixed onto the connection pin (60), said protrusions are placed to the guide channels (533). Thus, the rotation of the second disc (53) around the connection pin (60) is prevented. Since the connection pin (60) is connected to the fixed wing (10) in a manner preventing rotation thereof, the second disc (53) strictly has no possibility to make rotational movement. In other words, the second disc (53) does not rotate while the hinge (3) is being opened and closed.

The spring (54) is positioned in a manner wrapping the centering extension (534) provided on the second disc (53). The spring (54) is tightened at a predetermined amount thanks to the upper washer (55) provided on the spring (54) and thanks to the nut (56) provided on said upper washer (55). By means of this, the spring (54) presses the second disc (53) towards the first disc (52). The stage mechanism (50) moreover has a cover (57). Said cover (57) covers the first disc (52), the second disc (53), the spring (54), the upper washer (55) and the nut (56). Thus, the stage mechanism (50) is protected from external factors.

In the light of said structural details, the operation of the subject matter hinge (3) is as follows.

In Figure 3a and 3b, the view of the subject matter hinge (3) in the closed (I) position of the door (2) is given. In this position, the intermediate body (30) is approached to the fixed wing (10) as much as possible. In other words, the angle between the intermediate body (30) and the fixed wing (10) is as small as possible, and even the intermediate body (30) and the fixed wing (10) are positioned in a parallel manner to each other. Moreover, meanwhile, at least one stop end (431 ) provided on the stop wedge (43) stops onto the fixed bearing (12). When the user tries to open the door (2), the hinge (3) rotates in the first rotation axis (x1 ) and in the second rotation axis (x2). Accordingly, the angle between the intermediate body (30) and the fixed wing (10) begins increasing. Meanwhile, the door holder arm (40), extending between the movable wing (20) and the fixed wing (10), restricts the movement of the movable wing (20). In other words, the door holder arm (40) provides the angle, existing between the movable wing (20) and the intermediate body (30), to be changed in a controlled manner.

When the door (2) is tried to be opened, the rotational movement begins in the first rotation axis (x1 ) and in the second rotation axis (x2). In other words, since the movable wing (20) is tried to be opened, the door holder arm (40), connected to the movable wing (20), tries to make a rotational movement in the axis of the connection pin (60). Meanwhile, the first disc (52) connected to the door holder arm (40) tries to rotate, and the second disc (53) connected to the fixed wing (10) tries to stay fixed. Thus, a friction begins on the sides of the first disc (52) and the second disc (53) facing each other. Moreover, the stage protrusions (523) provided on the first disc (52) try to rotate the second disc (53) thanks to the stage channels (531 ) provided on the second disc (53). However, the second disc (53) does not rotate since it is held by the fixed wing (10) by means of the connection pin (60). When said force overcomes the pressure force of the spring (54), the stage protrusions (523) are released from the stage channels (531 ), and the first disc (52) rotates together with the door holder arm (40). After the door (2) is slightly opened, the stage protrusion (523) released from the stage channel (531 ) enters into another stage channel (531 ). After opening the door (2) at an amount which is equal to the angle difference between the stage channels (531 ), the door (2) is fixed again. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the stage channels (531 ) are positioned at intervals of 90 degrees, the subject matter hinge (3) arrives at the position where the door (2) illustrated in Figure 4a and 4b is open 90 degrees

(II) .

When the door (2) is continued to be tried to be opened in the 90 degrees open (II) position, the spring (54) force is overcome, and the door (2) arrives at the 180 degrees open position

(II I) illustrated in Figure 5. In case the door (2) is continued to be tried to be opened at the continuation of this, the spring (54) force is overcome again, and the door (2) arrives at the 270 degrees open position (IV) illustrated in Figure 6. When the door (2) arrives at the 270 degrees open position (IV), the elastic wedges (14) provided on the fixed wing (10) stop onto the stop wedge (43) provided on the door holder arm (40).

When the door (2) is desired to be closed by means of being moved in the opposite direction, the spring (54) force is overcome in the same manner, and thereby the door (2) can be closed in a stepped manner.

In the subject matter hinge (3), since the door holder arm (40) is connected to the fixed wing (10) and to the movable wing (20) in axes different from the first rotation axis (x1 ) and the second rotation axis (x2) and since the door holder arm (40) passes through the arm movement gap (124) and the arm passage opening (225) during the movement of the door holder arm (40), the intermediate body (30) is approached to the fixed wing (10) as much as possible when the hinge (3) is closed. By means of this, the door (2) is connected to the vehicle body (1 ) in accordance with the ECE 26 regulation.

Moreover, in the subject matter hinge (3), since the stage mechanism (50) is provided in the section where the door holder arm (40) and the fixed wing (10) are joined, the stage mechanism (40) is positioned between the fixed wing (10) and the intermediate body (30). Thus, the external dimensions of the hinge (3) are reduced. Thus, the hinge (3) occupies less space and it has a compact structure. The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed Claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.