US 7,536,748 B2
Gooseneck hinge assembly for vehicles
David T. Renke, Macomb, Mich. (US); David E. Wheeler, Novi, Mich. (US); David E. Thomas, Clarkston, Mich. (US); Mark A. Seiler, Clarkston, Mich. (US); and Robert D. Flatley, Commerce Twp., Mich. (US)
Assigned to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich. (US)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/104,840.
Prior Publication US 2006/0230578 A1, Oct. 19, 2006
Int. Cl. E05F 1/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 16—289  [16/308] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gooseneck hinge assembly for a closure of a vehicle comprising:
a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle;
a closure side strap having a gooseneck shape adapted to be connected to a closure for closing an aperture in the vehicle body;
a pivot pin to pivotally connect said closure side strap to said body side strap to allow rotational movement therebetween, said pivot pin having a head portion and a shaft portion, said head portion being disposed outside of side portions of said body side strap and said shaft portion extending through the side portions of said body side strap and through said closure side strap disposed between the side portions of said body side strap; and
a clock spring disposed around said head portion of said pivot pin and interconnecting said body side strap and said closure side strap to counterbalance a weight of the closure when opening and closing the aperture.