Gutter mounted deck lid hinge

Abstract

A link assembly forming a 6 bar linkage is integrally combined with a spring having a laterally coiled strand to form a hinge that is particularly well adapted to be installed in a small footprint. Such a unit is well adapted for installation within a peripheral channel of a vehicle body opening and to prop the closure in its open position. The present invention also provides a method for reducing packaging footprint of a vehicle closure hinge by integrating the 6 bar linkage with the laterally coiled strand, and selecting a strand shaping to reduce radial dimension of the coil and the coil cross-section while maximizing the radial dimension of material in the strand.

1 . A method for reducing the packaging footprint of a vehicle closure hinge comprising: 
 integrating a scissors link assembly with a laterally coiled strand biasing spring, and    selecting a strand shaping to reduce the radial dimension of said coils.    
   
   
       2 . The invention as defined in  claim 2  wherein said vehicle closure covers a vehicle opening peripherally defined by a channel, and wherein reducing further comprises: 
 positioning said integrated link assembly and biasing spring as a unit in said channel.    
   
   
       3 . The invention as defined in  claim 2  and further comprising mounting said integrated link assembly and biasing spring in said channel.  
   
   
       4 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  wherein said selecting comprises limiting the diameter of coil.  
   
   
       5 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  wherein said selecting comprises enhancing the material mass in the strand.  
   
   
       6 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  wherein said selecting comprises shaping as a rectangle.  
   
   
       7 . The invention as defined in  claim 4  wherein said shaping comprise shaping as a square.