Hinge device.

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to a hinge device in accordance with the preamble of appended claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Motor vehicles are normally fitted with a bonnet which covers a compartment in which the vehicle's engine is arranged. The bonnet is normally pivotably arranged by means of two hinge devices, one on each side of the bonnet, for allowing the bonnet to be raised to a position in which it defines an angle of approximately 60-90° with reference to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

A hinge device which allows the bonnet to be opened and raised to an "inspection position", corresponding to an angle of approximately 60°, or a "service position", corresponding to an angle of approximately 90°, is previously known. For this purpose, the known hinge device comprises a release mechanism which can be manually operated so as to select the 60° position or the 90° position.

A problem which occurs with the previously known device is that the bonnet cannot be locked in the 90° position, which of course may inflict injuries if the bonnet were to fall down. Another problem is that the release mechanism might be "too easily" activated by the user, i.e. the bonnet may unintentionally be raised to the 90° position if for example the owner of the car, who normally should not need to open the bonnet to the 90° position, activates the release mechanism. If for example the windscreen wipers are in their folded out position, this may result in the bonnet being damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

A main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a hinge device for a vehicle which solves the above-mentioned problems and which provides a simple, cheap and functionally secure hinge device. This is accomplished by means of a hinge device, the features of which are defined in appended claim 1.

The invention comprises a first hinge element and a second hinge element which are pivotably arranged in relation to each other. The second hinge element is preferably fastened to the bonnet of a vehicle. The first hinge element comprises a stop element which cooperates with a projecting element on the second hinge element, thus defining the "inspection position". Furthermore, the first hinge element comprises an arrangement with a bolt and a nut which defines the "service position" . This gives a simple and effective hinge device, which also allows the the bonnet to be locked in the "service position".

Consequently, the hinge device according to the invention has both a stop function, for allowing the bonnet to be raised to the 60° position or the 90° position, and locking function in which the bonnet can be locked in the 90° position.

Furthermore, the hinge device according to the invention prevents in an effective manner the user from unintentionally raising the bonnet to the 90° position. This is due to the fact that a bolt and nut is used, which cannot be unscrewed by chance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the hinge device according to the invention in its "inspection" position,

Fig. 2 is a front view of the hinge device according to Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the hinge device according to the invention in its "service" position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Figs . 1 and 2 show a hinge device according to the present invention in a first position. The hinge device is particularly suitable for pivotably arranged vehicle bonnets. According to a preferred embodiment, the hinge device comprises a first hinge element in the form of a mounting 1. As is apparent from Fig. 2, the mounting 1 has a generally L-shaped cross section and comprises a bottom section 2 provided with through holes 3 and 4. The hinge device is fastened to the body of a vehicle by means of screws or bolts (not shown) which are inserted through the holes 3, 4 and fastened to the vehicle. The surface of the vehicle body is schematically shown by means of the line 5.

The hinge device also comprises a second hinge element in the form of an essentially elongate arm 6 which is pivotally arranged on the mounting 1. To this end, a rivet joint (or alternatively a screw joint) is formed by a first rivet head 7 and a second rivet head 8 (see Fig. 2) which are connected by means of a shank 9 which is arranged in holes through the arm 6 and the mounting 1. Consequently, an axis of rotation 12 is defined by the shank 9.

The arm 6 is adapted to be fixed to the vehicle's bonnet 13 by means of screw or bolt joints 14 and 15, or the like, which are arranged in two holes 16 and 17, respectively, in the arm 5 and corresponding holes in the bonnet 13.

As is apparent from Fig. 1, the mounting 1 comprises a stop element 18, which preferably is formed by a protruding section which forms a shoulder in the mounting 1. Moreover, a spacer element in the form of a bolt 19 is arranged in a further hole 20 (see Fig. 2) in the mounting 1, and cooperates with a nut 21 on the reverse side of the mounting 1. The stop element 19 protrudes from the surface of the mounting 1 at a distance which is approximately equivalent to the height of the bolt's 19 head.

The hole 20 is arranged so that the head of the bolt 19 becomes situated adjacent to the stop element 18. Alternatively, the bolt 19 and nut 21 can be arranged the other way around, i.e. so that the nut 21 becomes situated adjacent to the stop element 18.

Furthermore, the arm 6 is formed with a projecting section in the form of a tab 22. During operation, i.e. when the bonnet 13 is opened, the arm 6 pivots about the axis 12 from a position in which the arm 6 is essentially parallel to the surface 5 (i.e. the bonnet 13 is closed) until it reaches a position in which the tab 22 contacts the bolt 19. The bolt 19, in turn, may be in contact with the stop element 18. This prevents the bonnet 9 from being raised further. This end position of the bonnet 13 corresponds to an "inspection position" in which the bonnet 13 forms an angle with reference to the surface 5 which is approxi¬ mately 40-70°, preferably 60°. As is apparent from Fig. 1, the tab 22 has an outer edge 23 which during the pivoting movement of the arm 6 defines an outer limit, or boundary line, of an area around the axis 12. The bolt's 19 head is arranged at least partly inside this line of movement which is defined by the tab 22.

If the user wishes to raise the bonnet 13 to its "service position", in which it forms an angle of approximately 90°

to the surface 5, the user must unscrew and remove the bolt 19 from the mounting 1. This makes it possible to raise the bonnet 13 further, until the tab 22 contacts the stop element 18. Fig. 3 shows the hinge device according to the invention in this "service position" .

The arm 6, and consequently also the bonnet 13, can be locked in the "service position" by once again fastening the bolt 19 and nut 21. As is apparent from Fig. 3, the tab 22 has a slightly curved outer surface which is in contact with the bolt's 19 head when the latter is positioned in the hole 20. This makes it impossible to swing back the arm 6, i.e. to lower the bonnet 13. Thus, the bonnet 13 cannot be lowered until the bolt 19 once again has been removed.

The locking of the arm 6 in the "service position" is facilitated through the fact that the bolt's 19 head has six sides, so that one of its sides is situated parallel to the stop element 18 and one of its edges acts as a stop for the lower, outer surface of the tab 22.

The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but may be varied within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the values of the angles corresponding to the "inspection position" and "service position", respectively, may vary. In addition, a plurality of holes can be provided, with each hole defining a certain end position of the arm 6, i.e. a certain angle of the arm 6 in relation to the mounting 1.

The bolt 19 and nut 21 arrangement can be removed and then fastened again. According to an alternative embodiment, the invention can comprise a spacer element in the form of a movable element, for example a pin or the like which may be forced by a spring to a position in which it acts as a spacer element. When the bonnet 13 should be completely

raised, the pin can be manually moved by pushing or pulling it away against the force of the spring, thereby allowing the tab 22 to pass and the arm 6 to be pivoted further.

Furthermore, a vehicle can be provided with one or two hinge devices according to the invention.