US3785006A

US3785006A - Hinge for a cover

Info

Publication number: US3785006A
Application number: US00196693A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Metz
Original assignee: Audi AG
Current assignee: Audi AG
Priority date: 1971-11-08
Filing date: 1971-11-08
Publication date: 1974-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-15

Abstract

A hinge is provided for a cover preferably used for a tank closure in the body of a motor vehicle. The invention is characterized in that the cover is rotatably mounted upon a crankshaft having a crank pin which is engaged by a sheet spring supported on a ground plate. The other crank pin of the shaft is fixed to the cover.

Description

llnited States Patent [191 Metz Jan. 15, 1974 HINGE FOR A COVER [75] Inventor: Helmut Metz, Neuberg, Germany [73] Assignee: Audi NSU Auto Union Aktiengesellscha't't, Ingolstadt, Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,693

[52] US. Cl 16/184, 16/73, 16/145, 16/163 [51] Int. Cl E05f l/12 [58] Field of Search 16/145, 163, 180, 16/184, 73, 72, DIG. 1O

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MacCallum 16/145 Youngdale l6/l63 Cartwright et al 16/180 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Attorney-V. Alexander Scher et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A hinge is provided for a cover preferably used for a tank closure in the body of a motor vehicle. The invention is characterized in that the cover is rotatably mounted upon a crankshaft having a crank pin which is engaged by a sheet spring supported on a ground plate. The other crank pin of the shaft is fixed to the cover.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures IHIINGE FOR A COVER This invention relates to a hinge for a cover preferably used for a tank closure in the body of a motor vehicle.

In a known construction of this type the sheet spring slides over the cover and can destroy the layer of varnish unless it is carefully lubricated. There are unpleasant noises when the cover is opened and closed.

Furthermore, the known construction requires a substantial amount of space when the cover is placed into the body, so that it is necessary to solder a special bowllike part for the covering, since the usually required height of the opening due to the great pulling depth would provide a great deal of scrap during pressing.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of prior constructions and to provide a hinge which will remain automatically in the open or closed position.

Other objects will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to mount the cover rotatably upon a crankshaft having a crank pin engaged by a spring supported on a ground plate, while the other crank pin of the shaft is fixed to the cover. The srping rotates along with the crank pin so that it can be easily lubricated at that location. Thus it needs little service and does not produce any unpleasant sounds when actuated. The crank serves at the same time as a bearing pin for the cover and as one support for the spring. When the cover is closed the spring requires a space of small depth in the bowl-like opening. It is, therefore, possible to avoid the use of a special soldered bowl and to make the cover receiving portion out of one piece, for example, out of the outer cover of the car body.

The spring may consist of a sheet spring one end of which is hook-shaped, while the other end is cut and engages a recess. The two ends of the spring constitute at the same time a spring support.

The crank pin can be held by a strap upon the cover plate. The strap is pressed out of the cover plate and bent. It secures the crankshaft in a simple manner against rotation relatively to the cover plate.

Finally, a bracket can be bent out of the bearing plate which serves as a stop for the cover plate.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea. In the drawing:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the cover and car body opening which is to be closed.

FIG. 2 is a section along the line IIII of Fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section similar to that of Fig. 2, FIG. showing the cover in the closed position.

The body of a motor car has an outer cover 1 provided with a pressed in recess 2 of small depth. The tank closure (not shown) can be reached through the opening 3 in the recess 2. The recess 2 can be closed by a cover 4. The cover 4 is strengthened by a cover plate 5 andjs swingably mounted through this plate by a crank 6 in the base plate 7. The diameter of the upper end of the crank 6 is enlarged by pressing, so that it can not slide through the supporting flaps 8. The crank 6 is fixed to the cover plate 5 by a strap 9 which encloses the crank pin 10. A spring 12 engages the other crank pin 11 and is supported in a recess 13 of a bent portion 14 of the base plate 7. For that purpose the sheet spring 12 has a hook-shaped end 15 while the other end is cut, so that the end 16 is not as wide as the spring 12 itself. A bracket 17 is shaped out of the plate 7 and is used as a stop for the cover 4 in its open position. Both FIGS. 1 and 2 show the open position of the cover 4. When the cover 5 is swung about the crank 6, or, more correctly, when it is swung about an imaginary axis by the part 6 of the crank shown in FIG. 2, then the crank pin 1 1 moves along a circular path, strengthening the curvature of the spring 12, and when it moves over an imaginary line 18 (FIG. 2), the curvature of the spring 12 is again diminished and the crank pin 11 is pressed by the cover 5 into the closing position.

(FIG. 3). A rubber buffer 19 extending into the recess 2 supports the cover 4 in the closed position, so that it extends in the same plane as the outer cover 1 of the car body.

In the position of the cover shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring 12 presses the cover 5 into the open position and against the bracket 17.

I claim:

1. In a motor car body comprising an outer cover having a recess with a tank opening, a closing cover for closing said opening, and a hinge construction having a base plate fixed to said cover recess adjacent said opening and having a bent end portion with a recess, a crank shaft having a central portion and an end portion, a portion of said end portion pivoting said base plate to said closing cover, said end portion including a crank portion laterally spaced from the axis of said pivot portion, means carried by said cover and engaging said central portion and a curved sheet spring having an end engaging said plate recess and another end engaging said crank portion.

2. A hinge construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein the end of the sheet spring engaging said plate recess is narrowed than the rest of the spring.

3. A hinge construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means consist of a strap carried by said cover and having a curved portion enclosing the central portion of the crank shaft.

Claims

2. A hinge construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein the end of the sheet spring engaging said plate recess is narrower than the rest of the spring.