A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a linear torque rod, a first end assembly and a second end assembly. One end assembly pivotally retains the tailgate while permitting the torque rod to be rigidly coupled to the tailgate for movement with the tailgate about a pivot axis. The other
A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a linear torque rod, a first end assembly and a second end assembly. One end assembly pivotally retains the tailgate while permitting the torque rod to be rigidly coupled to the tailgate for movement with the tailgate about a pivot axis. The other end assembly pivotally retains the tailgate and permits the end of the torque rod o be rigidly retained with respect to the vehicle body. The assemblies are easily mounted in the vehicle using brackets that are secured to the tailgate and a vehicle body hinge pin to simplify installation and repair of the assembly.
대표청구항▼
I claim: 1. A hinge assembly for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart body side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis between open, closed and removal positions comprising: a pair of bushings secured at opposite ends of the closure member, said pair of bushi
I claim: 1. A hinge assembly for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart body side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis between open, closed and removal positions comprising: a pair of bushings secured at opposite ends of the closure member, said pair of bushings having an axis that is coincident with the pivotal axis; a vehicle body hinge pin for mounting on each of the spaced apart body side panels and configured to rotatably support each of said pair of bushings thereon; at least one of said pair of bushings including a slot that permits the one of said pair of bushings to engage at least a portion of said vehicle body hinge pin when the closure member is in the removal position; a linear torque rod having a first end that is rotationally fixed relative to the spaced apart body side panels and a second end that is rotationally fixed relative to one of said pair of bushings, and said linear torque rod being twisted when the closure member is pivoted away from the removal position to produce a bias toward the removal position; and a securing member that secures said linear torque rod to the closure member to rotationally fix said second end of said linear torque rod relative to said one of said pair of bushings. 2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said securing member and said pair of bushings are secured to the closure member for movement with the closure member. 3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said securing member includes an opening that is coincident with the pivotal axis and receives said second end of said linear torque rod there through, said opening corresponding in shape to a cross-sectional shape of said second end. 4. The assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said securing member includes a clamp, said clamp includes first and second clamping portions that clamp on said linear torque rod to rotationally fix said second end. 5. The assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said first and second clamping portions form said opening. 6. The assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said securing member includes a first and second walls that are angled relative to each other, and said first wall includes said opening and said second wall includes said clamp. 7. A tailgate counterbalancing hinge comprising: a first end assembly including a support for pivotally carrying a tailgate adjacent to a body panel and rotationally fixing a torque rod, the support including a pivot member, and a retainer bushing pivotally received by said pivot member and including a stem locking member for locking said bushing with respect to the tailgate; a second end assembly including a support for pivotally carrying the tailgate adjacent to an opposed body panel, the support including a key with a mount for securing said key to said opposed body panel, a pivot body having a receiver portion for reception of said key, at least one of said key or said receiver portion forms an angle relative to vertical such that when the tailgate is positioned at said angle said receiver receives said key, and a pivot bushing received in an opening in said tailgate and carrying said pivot body; and a torque rod having a first end secured for movement with said retainer bushing and a second end secured with respect to said pivot body. 8. The hinge as recited in claim 7, wherein said key mounts on said opposed body panel at an angle between 5° and 75° relative to vertical. 9. The hinge as recited in claim 7, wherein said receiver portion includes a receiver opening that forms an angle between 5° and 75° relative to vertical when the tailgate is in a vertical position. 10. The hinge as recited in claim 9, wherein said receiver opening corresponds in shape to said key such that when said key is received in said receiver opening said receiver and said key are rotationally locked with respect to each other about a pivotal axis of the tailgate. 11. A method for assembling a removable closure member between vehicle body pillars comprising the steps of: (a) installing a linear torque rod along a pivotal axis of a closure member; (b) rotationally fixing a first end of the linear torque rod with respect to the closure member; (c) positioning the closure member along the pivotal axis at an angle between vertical and horizontal; and (d) rotationally fixing a second end of the linear torque rod with respect to the vehicle body pillars while at the angle, wherein the step (b) includes further comprising securing a clamp to the closure member and clamping the first end in the clamp. 12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the clamp includes an opening having a shape that corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of the linear torque rod and the step (a) includes inserting the linear torque rod through the opening to rotationally fix the linear torque rod about the pivotal axis. 13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the step (c) includes positioning the closure member along the pivotal axis at an angle between 5° and 75° relative to the vertical position. 14. A method for assembling a removable closure member between vehicle body pillars comprising the steps of: (a) installing a linear torque rod along a pivotal axis of a closure member; (b) rotationally fixing a first end of the linear torque rod with respect to the closure member; (c) positioning the closure member along the pivotal axis at an angle between vertical and horizontal; and (d) rotationally fixing a second end of the linear torque rod with respect to the vehicle body pillars while at the angle, wherein the step (d) includes further comprising connecting a bushing to at least one end of the closure member, receiving a pivot member in the bushing, and rotationally fixing the pivot member relative to the vehicle body pillars. 15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the step (d) includes connecting the linear torque rod to the pivot member to rotationally fix the second end relative to the vehicle body pillars. 16. A hinge assembly for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart body side panels of a vehicle body for rotation about a pivotal axis between open, closed and removal positions, the hinge assembly comprising: a pair of bushings secured at opposite ends of the closure member; a pair of vehicle body hinge pins, each of the hinge pins being mounted on a corresponding one of the spaced apart body side panels and being configured to rotatably support a corresponding one of the bushings thereon; at least one of the bushings including a slot that permits the at least one bushing to engage a portion of said vehicle body hinge pin when the closure member is in the removal position; a linear torque rod having a first end that is rotationally fixed relative to the spaced apart body side panels and a second end that is rotationally fixed relative to the closure member, the torque rod being twisted when the closure member is pivoted away from the removal position to produce a bias toward the removal position; and a securing member that secures the second end of the torque rod to the closure member to rotationally fix the second end of the torque rod relative to the closure member, the first end of the torque rod being connected to one of the vehicle body hinge pins so as to be rotationally fixed relative to the spaced apart body side panels. 17. A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly for removably mounting a tailgate between spaced apart body side panels of a vehicle, the hinge assembly comprising: a first end assembly including a first support for pivotally carrying a first end of the tailgate adjacent to a first body panel, the first support including a first pivot member mounted on the first body panel and a first bushing attached to the tailgate and pivotally supported by the first pivot member; a second end assembly including a second support for pivotally carrying a second end of the tailgate adjacent to a second body panel, the second support including a key mounted on the second body panel, a second pivot body removably mounted on the key, and a second bushing attached to the tailgate and pivotally supported by the second pivot body; and a torque rod including a first end rotationally secured to one of the body panels and a second end rotationally secured to the tailgate so that the torque rod is twisted when the tailgate is rotated. 18. The hinge assembly recited in claim 17, wherein the second pivot body includes a slot for receiving the key when the second pivot body is mounted on the key, at least one of the key or the slot forming an angle relative to a vertical such that when the tailgate is positioned at said angle the slot receives the key. 19. The hinge assembly of claim 17, wherein the first end assembly and the second end assembly further comprise a first attachment bracket and a second attachment bracket, respectively, that are attached to the tailgate. 20. The hinge assembly of claim 19, wherein one of the first or second attachment brackets includes a clamp for securing the second end of the torque rod to the tailgate. 21. The hinge assembly of claim 20, wherein the clamp includes a seat that is aligned with a pivotal axis of the tailgate and a flange engaging the seat for clamping the second end of the torque rod to the clamp. 22. The hinge assembly of claim 20, wherein the clamp is part of an offset arm included in the first or second attachment bracket including the clamp. 23. The hinge assembly of claim 21, wherein the flange is configured in compliance with a faceted segment of the second end of the torque rod.
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