Hinge assembly for vehicle interior trim component
View Patent ↗A hinge assembly is provided that includes a follower and a cam disposed adjacent to the follower. The cam is capable of translating relative to the follower along a vertical direction and rotating relative to the follower about a rotational axis. The hinge assembly also includes an axle disposed through the cam to facilitate rotation of the cam about the rotational axis. The axle is configured to bias the cam toward the follower along the vertical direction.
1. A vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly, comprising:
a follower;
a cam disposed adjacent to the follower, wherein the cam is configured to translate relative to the follower along a translational direction and to rotate relative to the follower about a rotational axis; and
an axle disposed through the cam to facilitate rotation of the cam about the rotational axis, wherein the axle is bent along the entire length thereof and configured to further bend in response to rotation of the cam to establish a force in the translational direction that urges the cam toward the follower; and
end caps configured to secure respective end portions of the axle in a downward position relative to the follower along the translational direction.
2. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cam is contoured such that contact between the follower and the cam induces the cam to rotate.
3. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cam is contoured such that contact between the follower and a first portion of the cam induces the cam to rotate in a first direction, and contact between the follower and a second portion of the cam induces the cam to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction.
4. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cam comprises at least one detent region having detent surfaces configured to capture the follower and bias the cam toward an orientation aligned with the detent region.
5. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 4 , comprising a plurality of detent regions positioned about a circumference of the cam.
6. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 3 , wherein the cam comprises a first detent region adjacent to the first portion along the first direction, and a second detent region adjacent to the second portion along the second direction, wherein the first and second detent regions include detent surfaces configured to capture the follower and bias the cam toward an orientation aligned with the respective detent region.
7. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 1 , comprising an axle support configured to enable the axle to translate in the translational direction relative to the follower while blocking movement of the axle in a crosswise direction, substantially perpendicular to the translational direction.
8. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of followers and a corresponding plurality of cams, wherein the axle is disposed through each cam to facilitate rotation of each cam about the respective rotational axis.
9. A vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly, comprising:
a follower;
a cam disposed adjacent to the follower, wherein the cam is configured to translate relative to the follower along a translational direction and to rotate relative to the follower about a rotational axis; and
an axle disposed through the cam to facilitate rotation of the cam about the rotational axis, wherein the axle is bent along the entire length thereof and configured to further bend in response to rotation of the cam to establish a force in the translational direction that urges the cam toward the follower; and
end caps configured to secure respective end portions of the axle in a downward position relative to the follower along the translational direction.
10. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the bearing surface is contoured such that contact between the follower and a first portion of the bearing surface induces the cam to rotate in a first direction, and contact between the follower and a second portion of the bearing surface induces the cam to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction.
11. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the bearing surface comprises at least one detent region having detent surfaces configured to capture the follower and bias the cam toward an orientation aligned with the detent region.
12. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 9 , comprising an axle support configured to enable the axle to translate in the translational direction relative to the follower while blocking movement of the axle in a crosswise direction, substantially perpendicular to the translational direction.
13. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cam is rigidly coupled to a first surface and the follower is rigidly coupled to a second surface such that rotation of the cam about the rotational axis induces the first surface to rotate relative to the second surface.
14. A vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly, comprising:
a follower;
a cam having an opening positioned about a rotational axis of the cam, and a bearing surface configured to contact the follower;
a cam disposed adjacent to the follower, wherein the cam is configured to translate relative to the follower along a translational direction and to rotate relative to the follower about a rotational axis; and
an axle disposed through the cam to facilitate rotation of the cam about the rotational axis, wherein the axle is bent along the entire length thereof and configured to further bend in response to rotation of the cam to establish a force in the translational direction that urges the cam toward the follower; and
end caps configured to secure respective end portions of the axle in a downward position relative to the follower along the translational direction.
15. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 14 , wherein a portion of the bearing surface is contoured such that contact between the follower and the bearing surface induces the cam to rotate.
16. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 15 , wherein the bearing surface is contoured such that contact between the follower and a first portion of the bearing surface induces the cam to rotate in a first direction, and contact between the follower and a second portion of the bearing surface induces the cam to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction.
17. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 14 , wherein the bearing surface comprises at least one detent region having detent surfaces configured to capture the follower and bias the cam toward an orientation aligned with the detent region.
18. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 16 , wherein the bearing surface comprises a first detent region adjacent to the first portion along the first direction, and a second detent region adjacent to the second portion along the second direction, wherein the first and second detent regions include detent surfaces configured to capture the follower and bias the cam toward an orientation aligned with the respective detent region.
19. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 14 , comprising a plurality of followers and a corresponding plurality of cams, wherein the axle is disposed through the opening of each cam to facilitate rotation of each cam about the respective rotational axis.
20. The vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly of claim 9 , comprising end caps configured to secure respective end portions of the axle in a downward position relative to the follower along the translational direction.