A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a linear torque rod, a first end assembly and a second end assembly secured to the torque rod. The assemblies are easily mounted in the vehicle by means of brackets secured to the tailgate. The first end assembly pivotally supports the tailgate whi
A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a linear torque rod, a first end assembly and a second end assembly secured to the torque rod. The assemblies are easily mounted in the vehicle by means of brackets secured to the tailgate. The first end assembly pivotally supports the tailgate while permitting a torque rod end to be rigidly coupled to the tailgate for movement with the tailgate about a pivot axis. The first assembly includes a body bracket with an elongated key slot that receives an elongated key of a pivot coupling having an opening for receiving a first end of the torque rod. The second end assembly also pivotally supports the tailgate and permits the other end of the torque rod to be rigidly connected to the vehicle body. The second assembly includes a vehicle body hinge pin, and combines bushings with an aligned, elongated key to simplify installation and removal of the counterbalancing hinge assembly.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A mechanism for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart first and second body side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis of said closure member between open, closed and removal positions, the mechanism comprising: a first end assembly for
What is claimed is: 1. A mechanism for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart first and second body side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis of said closure member between open, closed and removal positions, the mechanism comprising: a first end assembly for pivotably supporting a first side of the closure member at the first side panel of the vehicle body, a second end assembly for pivotably supporting a second side of the closure member at the second side panel of the vehicle body, an axially elongated torque rod having a first end connected to the first end assembly and a second end connected to the second end assembly, the first end assembly securing the first end of the torque rod to the vehicle body, the second end assembly securing the second end of the torque rod to the closure member, the first end assembly including a first bracket with an elongated key slot mounted on the first side panel of the vehicle body and a first elongated key mounted on a first end of the closure member for insertion into the elongated key slot, and the second end assembly including a second bracket with a second elongated key mounted on the second side panel of the vehicle body and a bushing assembly mounted on a second end of the closure member and including a laterally open slot to permit said bushing assembly to laterally engage the second elongated key when the closure member is in the removal position, the torque rod being twisted in shear when the closure member is pivoted to either the closed or open positions from the removal position, thereby providing a counterbalancing effect to assist with pivotal movement of the closure member, and permitting facile removal of the closure member from the vehicle body when the closure member is in the removal position. 2. A hinge assembly for removably mounting a closure member between spaced apart first and second side panels of a vehicle body for movement about a pivotal axis of said closure member between open, closed and removal positions, the hinge assembly comprising: first and second hinge brackets secured to first and second ends, respectively, of the closure member, first and second bushings mounted on the first and second hinge brackets, respectively, the first and second bushings having pivotal axes that are coincident with the axis of pivotal movement of said closure member, a first mounting bracket secured to the first vehicle side panel, the first bracket including an elongated key slot, a first bushing insert rotatably inserted in the first bushing and including a first elongated key for insertion into the elongated key slot, a second mounting bracket secured to the second vehicle side panel, the second bracket including a second elongated key, a second bushing insert rotatably inserted in the second bushing, the second bushing insert and second bushing including a laterally open slot therein to permit the second bushing insert to laterally engage the second elongated key when the closure member is in the removal position; and an axially elongated torque rod having a first end connected in driving engagement to the vehicle body through the first bushing insert and a second end connected in driving engagement to the closure member through the second bushing, the torque rod being twisted in tension when the closure member is pivoted to either the closed or open positions from the removal position, thereby providing a counterbalancing effect to assist with pivotal movement of the closure member, and permitting facile removal of the closure member from the vehicle body when the closure member is in the removal position. 3. The hinge assembly of claim 2, wherein the second end of the torque rod has a faceted cross-section and the second bushing has a complementary faceted chamber for securely receiving the faceted end of the torque rod. 4. The hinge assembly of claim 3, wherein the faceted torque rod end and the faceted chamber are polygonal shaped for locked engagement with one another. 5. The hinge assembly of claim 3, wherein the faceted torque rod end and the faceted chamber are semicircular shaped for locked engagement with one another. 6. The hinge assembly of claim 2, wherein the torque rod is secured with a set screw at at least one end. 7. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the torque rod is secured with set screws at each of its ends. 8. The hinge assembly of claim 3, wherein the faceted torque rod is secured with a set screw. 9. A tailgate counterbalancing hinge comprising: a first end assembly with a first support for pivotally carrying a tailgate adjacent to a first vehicle body panel, the first support comprising a mounting bracket with a seat and a first bushing insert pivotally received by a first bushing attached to the tailgate and including a stem for locking the first bushing insert with respect to the vehicle; a second end assembly with a second support for pivotally carrying the tailgate adjacent to a second vehicle body panel opposed to the first body panel, the second support comprising a key with a mount for securing said key to said second body panel, a second bushing insert having a slot aligned for reception of said key, and a second bushing received in an opening in the tailgate and carrying the second bushing insert; and a torque rod having a first end secured with respect to the first bushing insert and a second end secured for movement with the second bushing insert for movement with the second bushing insert. 10. The tailgate counterbalancing hinge of claim 9, wherein the second end of the torque rod has a faceted cross-section and the second bushing has a complementary faceted chamber for securely receiving the faceted end of the torque rod. 11. The tailgate counterbalancing hinge of claim 10 wherein the faceted cross-section is polygonal shaped. 12. The tailgate counterbalancing hinge of claim 9 wherein the torque rod is secured in the second bushing by a set screw. 13. The tailgate counterbalancing hinge of claim 9 wherein the torque rod is secured in the first bushing insert by a set screw. 14. The tailgate counterbalancing hinge of claim 10 wherein the faceted cross-section is semicircular shaped. 15. A vehicle body comprising: a bed, first and second pillar structures on first and second sides, respectively, of said bed, a tailgate, and a hinge structure pivotally and removably supporting the tailgate at the first and second pillars, the hinge structure comprising: a first end assembly comprising a first support for pivotally carrying the tailgate adjacent to the first body pillar, the first support comprising a first bushing attached to the tailgate, a first mounting bracket secured to the first body pillar including a slot, and a first bushing insert rotatably received within the first bushing and including a first elongated key aligned for insertion in the slot to secure the first bushing insert with respect to the vehicle body, and a second end assembly comprising a second support for pivotally carrying the tailgate adjacent to the second body pillar, the second support including a second bushing attached to the tailgate, a second bushing insert rotatably received within the second bushing, and a second mounting bracket including a second elongated key, the second bushing including a stem for locking the second bushing with respect to the tailgate, the second bushing insert including a slot for laterally receiving the second elongated key, a torque rod including a first end secured with respect to the first bushing insert and a second end secured for movement with the second bushing insert. 16. The vehicle body of claim 15, wherein the second end of the torque rod has a faceted cross-section and the second bushing has a complementary faceted chamber for securely receiving the faceted end of the torque rod, and wherein the faceted torque rod is secured with a set screw within said pivot bushing. 17. A method for assembling a selectively removable tailgate with a hinge structure to first and second vehicle body pillars positioned adjacent to first and second ends of the tailgate, the hinge structure including a torque rod with first and second ends having faceted cross-sections, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the first end of the torque rod in a first bushing insert including a first chamber with a correspondingly faceted cross-section, inserting the second end of the torque rod into a first bushing fastened to the first end of the tailgate, and through the tailgate, whereby the first bushing insert is inserted into the first bushing, inserting the second end of the torque rod in a second bushing attached to a second end of the tailgate and including a second chamber with a correspondingly faceted cross-section, inserting a second bushing insert with a laterally open slot into the second bushing, inserting a key attached to the first bushing insert into a key slot attached to the first body pillar, and sliding the second bushing insert slot over an aligned, elongated key attached to the second vehicle body pillar, and pivotally rotating the tailgate from a removal position to an open or closed position. 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of fastening the first and second bushings to the first and second ends of the tailgate by installing first and second brackets having openings in the first and second ends of the tailgate, and inserting the bushings in said openings. 19. The tailgate counterbalancing hinge of claim 3, wherein the torque rod faceted cross-section has a cross-section having at least one surface discontinuity that prevents rotation within a correspondingly shaped, compatible bushing. 20. The tailgate counterbalancing hinge of claim 3, wherein the torque rod faceted cross-section is longitudinally continuous for ease of manufacture of the torque rod. 21. The tailgate counterbalancing hinge of claim 3, wherein the torque rod faceted cross-section is formed on only a part of the torque rod. 22. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first and second mounting brackets are secured to the sidewalls with a plurality of fasteners. 23. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first and second mounting brackets are secured to the sidewall by welding.
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