Hinge assembly and method of assembling an actuator to a hinge assembly

1. A hinge assembly mounting a door to a frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a hinge bracket including a first receiver and a second receiver;

a hinge pin pivotally connecting said door to said hinge bracket at said first receiver;

an actuator having an output shaft;

a retention feature connecting said output shaft to said hinge bracket at said second receiver; and

an actuator mounting feature securing said actuator to said door wherein (a) said first receiver and said second receiver are axially aligned and (b) said actuator includes a motor and an offset drive feature between said motor and said output shaft whereby said motor may be offset from said output shaft.

2. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said hinge bracket includes a first leaf carrying said first receiver and a second leaf carrying said second receiver.

3. The hinge assembly of claim 2 , wherein said hinge bracket is fixed to said frame.

4. The hinge assembly of claim 3 , wherein said actuator mounting feature includes a door bracket fixed to said door, an adapter plate fixed to said actuator and a fastener securing said adapter plate to said door bracket.

5. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retention feature is a double spring-ball carried on one of said output shaft and said hinge bracket.

6. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retention feature is a single spring-ball carried on one of said output shaft and said hinge bracket.

7. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retention feature is a double spring carried on said output shaft.

8. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retention feature is a double spring carried on said hinge bracket and a spring receiver carried on said output shaft.

9. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retention feature is a single spring carried on said hinge bracket and a spring receiver carried on said output shaft.

10. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retention feature is a spring-loaded dog ear carried on said output shaft.

11. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retention feature is a spring clip retainer carried on said hinge bracket.

12. A method of assembling an actuator in a hinge assembly that mounts a door to a frame of a motor vehicle comprising:

inserting an output shaft of said actuator into a receiver of a hinge bracket;

retaining, by a retention feature, said output shaft in said receiver;

connecting, by an actuator mounting feature, said actuator to said door; and

holding said actuator in a single hand during said inserting of said output shaft of said actuator into said receiver of said hinge bracket.

13. The method of claim 12 , including holding, by said retention feature, a first mounting point in a door bracket in alignment with a second mounting point in an adapter plate carried on said actuator.

14. The method of claim 13 , including driving, by a drive tool, a fastener into said first mounting point and said second mounting point whereby said actuator is mounted to said door.

15. The method of claim 14 , further including keying said output shaft to said hinge bracket by aligning an acircular cross section of said output shaft with a mating acircular opening of said receiver.

16. A hinge assembly mounting a door to a frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a hinge bracket including a first receiver and a second receiver, said second receiver being acircular in cross section;

a hinge pin pivotally connecting said door to said hinge bracket at said first receiver;

an actuator having an output shaft;

a retention feature connecting said output shaft to said hinge bracket at said second receiver; and

an actuator mounting feature securing said actuator to said door.