[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a hinge assembly for automobile trunk lid, and, in particular, hinge assembly adapted to give provision in order to adjust popup height of trunk lid after de-latching the trunk lid provided in the rear part of vehicle. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to structure of a trunk lid link for adjusting the pop-up height of the trunk lid while unlocking and to nullify the cumulative effect of parts' tolerances of trunk lid hinge assembly.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Automotive vehicles, generally sedan class vehicles, have a rear closure panel hinged to the body of the vehicle. A trunk lid or cover is provided at the rear end to cover luggage area of the vehicle. The trunk lid is hingedly attached to the rear portion of the body. Further, a hinge arm is provided in the trunk lid to open and close the trunk lid. One end of the hinge arm is fixed to the back surface of the trunk lid, and the other end of the hinge arm is turnably attached to a vehicle body panel in a trunk compartment. The hinge arm has a bent part that is strongly curved downward so as not to interfere with the vehicle body panel when the trunk lid is opened upward. One end of a hinge link is pivotally supported on an intermediate portion of the bent part of the hinge arm, and a receiving part is provided at the other end of the hinge link. On the other hand, in the trunk compartment, two torsion bars are arranged in the vehicle width direction, and crank parts provided on the torsion bars are disposed so as to engage with the receiving parts of the right and left hinge links.
[003] Torsion bars are used to assist in the opening/raising lids of trunk. The hinge arm and the crank part of the torsion bar are connected to each other via the hinge link. Therefore, by closing the trunk lid from an opened state, the torsion bar is twisted, and thereby the force is transmitted from the crank part to the hinge link in turn to the hinge arm as a spring action, so that a restoring force in the

opening direction is imparted to the trunk lid by torsion bars' twist. Thus, the phenomenon of trunk lid opening and coming to rest at a certain height by utilizing this restoring force when the trunk lid is unlocked is called "pop-up function" is provided. Thereby, the user can judge the opening and closing state of the lid at a glance.
[004] Figure 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate assembly of the hinge arm on the trunk lid with torsion bar and trunk lid link as known in the art. The assembly 100 has two hinge arms 102 having first end portion connected with trunk lid 103 and other portion connected with the vehicle body via brackets 101 on both left and right hand side. The brackets 101 are bolted to the hinge arms 102 and the brackets 101 are mounted on the body panel. The brackets 101 have holes/slots in which the torsion bars 104 are mounted as shown in the figure 2. The torsion bars 104 can be inserted into the hole/slot of the brackets 101, which become the fixed end of torsion bar and the crank part of the torsion bar is inserted in the Hinge link.
[005] As shown in the figure 1 and 2, the torsion bars 104 is provided in between the two brackets provided at left and right hand side of the vehicle in vehicle width direction. The torsion bars 104 are in pair of torsion bars 1 and 2. The trunk lid 103 which is rotatably mounted on the hinge arm 102. The bracket 101 limits the movement of torsion bars 104 in vehicle width direction during opening and closing operation of the trunk lid 103. The two torsion bars 104 are arranged in symmetry with each other. One end part thereof is formed with a substantially inverse U-shaped crank part, and the other end part is formed with a folded part engagingly fixed to the bracket 101. The torsion bars 104 are fixed in such a way with the bracket 101 that the bracket 101 prevents the torsion bars from coming off. The arrangement of the torsion bar with the bracket is well known in the art.
[006] As shown in the figure 3a, 3b, 3c, and 4, a hinge link 105 is configured so that one end part 105a a thereof is pivotally supported on an intermediate portion on the hinge arm 102 towards the bracket 102, and the other end part 105b thereof is engaged with the crank part of the torsion bar 104. As shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, and 4, the hinge link 105 is formed by two plates or by folding one plate in

two. For the hinge link 105, is mounted on the hinge arm 102 by a mounting pin through a mounting holes present on the two plates of the hinge link 105. The two plates of the hinge link 105 have fixed space to receive the hinge arm 102 for pivotably or rotatably mounting.
[007] The hinge link 105 is formed with a U-shaped receiving part 105c extending from the end face toward the lengthwise direction in the paired plate at end part 105b. The crank part of the one torsion bar 104 is engagingly supported by the receiving part 105c. During opening operation of the trunk lid 103, the torsion bar 104 applies torque on the hinge arm 102 via the receiving part 105c of the hinge link 105. During closing operation of the trunk lid 103, force applied on the trunk lid 103 twists the torsion bar 104 via the receiving part 105c of the hinge link 105. The hinge link 105 applies twisting force on the crank part (which is U shaped part) of the torsion bar 104 to restore the torque.
[008] Referring to figure 3d which illustrates another structure with an adjustment system, slots are provided in the bracket but this design has two major issues, 1. While inserting torsion bar from upper slot to the lower one, bending of torsion bar takes place which changes the axis of rotation of torsion bar, creates unwanted bending forces and hinders the pop up. 2. While inserting torsion bar from upper slot to the lower one, interference of torsion bars can happen.
[009] Generally, when a torsion bar is assembled on the trunk lid, then only trunk lid operating performance, such as pop-up height is measured. If the pop-up height and other operating performance are not as per specification, workers in the production process needs to switch the trunk lid, torsion bar, and hinge link many times to achieve the required pop-up height, also they do hit and trial by replacing just torsion bars but this counter measure is not 100% full proof. Further, it becomes difficult to identify the faulty part in the arrangement. Therefore, labour intensity is high in the production process.
[0010] For the better control and operation of Trunk Lid which is affected by multiple factors like friction in the arrangement/system and tolerances in the weight and dimensions of the parts of the assembly. Even though the components

of the assembly lie within the tolerances specified, the popup height gets affected since one component may lie in upper tolerance zone and its mating component in lower tolerance zone. These cumulative tolerances affect the performance of Trunk Lid even though the components are individually as per the defined specification. Small variation in dimensions, though within the defined specification, may affect the popup height of the trunk lid. It is evident from the previous statement that the whole assembly/system is extremely sensitive and there is a requirement of a provision to control the popup height.
[0011] Therefore, the technical problem can be associated as the adjustment of pop-up height due to tolerances in the dimensions of the parts, such as hinge link and crank part of the torsion bar.
[0012] Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a system/device which can adjust or negate tolerance effects on the pop-up height of the trunk lid. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide an adjustable hinge assembly that can be simple and inexpensive, and which can be placed in the existing structures of the vehicle without any substantial modification in any other part of the assembly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[0013] The principal object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable hinge assembly for automobile trunk lid.
[0014] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a hinge link with a plurality of receiving portion to adjust the pop-up of the trunk lid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0015] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an adjustable hinge assembly for adjusting pop-up height of trunk lid. The adjustable hinge assembly has a hinge bracket mounted on vehicle body panel and a hinge arm having one end fixed to the trunk lid and another end attached to the hinge bracket. Further, a torsion bar is provided in between the hinge bracket and the hinge arm via a hinge link. The hinge link has one end and another end where the one end turnably attached to intermediate portion of the hinge arm and the other end has a plurality

of U shaped receiving portions to receive crank part of the torsion bar for applying torque and receiving twisting force. The torsion bar imparts torque to the other end having the plurality of U shaped receiving portions of the hinge link which opens the Trunk lid.
[0016] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0018] Fig. 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate hinge assembly for trunk lid of an automobile as known in the art;
[0019] Fig. 5 illustrates structure of hinge link with a plurality of receiving portion for adjusting pop-up height of the trunk lid, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0020] Fig. 6 illustrates assembly of hinge bracket, torsion bar, hinge link and hinge arm with engagement of the torsion bar with the first receiving portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;

[0021] Fig. 7 illustrates assembly of hinge bracket, torsion bar, hinge link and hinge arm with engagement of the torsion bar with the second receiving portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0022] Fig. 8 illustrates assembly of hinge bracket, torsion bar, hinge link and hinge arm with engagement of the torsion bar with the third receiving portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0023] Fig. 9 illustrates four bar mechanism for adjusting pop-up height of the trunk lid, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0024] Fig. 10 illustrates isometric view of the hinge link with a plurality of receiving portions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0025] Fig. 11 illustrates graph showing the relationship between rotational torque around a pin due to a conventional torsion bar and torque due to the weight of the trunk itself and with the torque due to present subject matter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0026] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0027] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an adjustable hinge assembly for adjusting pop-up height trunk lid of vehicle. The adjustable hinge assembly has a hinge bracket mounted on vehicle body panel and a hinge arm having one end fixed to the trunk lid and another end attached to the hinge bracket. Further, a torsion bar is provided in between the hinge bracket and the hinge arm via a hinge link. The hinge link has one end and another end where the one end turnably attached to intermediate portion of the hinge arm and the other end has a plurality of U shaped receiving portions to receive crank part of the torsion bar for applying

torque and receiving twisting force. The torsion bar imparts torque to the other end having the plurality of U shaped receiving portions of the hinge link which opens the Trunk lid.
[0028] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) for furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0029] The present subject matter relates to structure of hinge link in such a way that the popup height of the trunk lid can be varied. The resultant torque that is available to lift the trunk lid is also dependent on the length of linkages of the four bar mechanism. So by giving a provision to alter one of the linkages lengths, varied pop-up height of the trunk lid can be achieved. Therefore, the present subject matter provides a mechanism to vary the length of hinge link by inserting torsion bar at different slots available on the hinge link.
[0030] Figure 5 illustrates structure of hinge link, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The hinge link plate 500 has one end 501 having mounting hole 501a for mounting the hinge link plate 500 with

intermediate portion of hinge arm (as shown in the figure 6). The hinge link plate 500 has other end 502 having a plurality of U shape receiving portions 502a, 502c, 502b extending in lengthwise direction of the hinge link plate 500. The one end 501 of the hinge link plate 500 is narrower than the other end 502 having the plurality of U shape receiving portions 502a, 502b, 502c. In the present structure of the hinge link plate 500, the number of U shape receiving portions can be increased upto N numbers depending upon the requirement. Further, the plurality of U shape receiving portions 502a, 502c, 502b are provided in vertical direction of the vehicle or along height of the vehicle at the other end portion 502 to receive crank part/portion of the torsion bar.
[0031] Fig. 6 illustrates assembly of hinge bracket, torsion bar, hinge link and hinge arm with engagement of the torsion bar with the first receiving portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The adjustable hinge assembly 600 has a hinge bracket 601 which is mounted on vehicle body panel as illustrated in the figure 1. The adjustable hinge assembly 600 has a hinge arm 604 which is substantially in U shape. The hinge arm 604 has one end fixed to the trunk lid and another end attached to the hinge bracket 601 as shown in the figure 2. Construction of hinge bracket, hinge arm, and torsion bar is well known in the art, therefore, the present subject matter describes the area where the invention lies in detail apart from other parts. Further, a hinge link 603 having one end 603d and having another end. The one end 603d turnably attached /mounted to intermediate portion of the hinge arm 604 towards the hinge bracket 601. Further, the other end has a plurality of U shaped receiving portions 603a, 603b, 603c to receive crank part of the torsion bar 602. A torsion bar 602 having a U shape crank part/portion and other end fixed with the hinge bracket 601. The crank part engages with the plurality of U shaped receiving portion 603a, 603b, 603c of the hinge link 603 to vary the length of the hinge link 603 to adjust the pop-up height of the trunk lid. The torsion bar 602 imparts torque to the other end having the plurality of U shaped receiving portions 603a, 603b, 603c of the hinge link 603 which in turn applies force on the hinge arm 602 in the opening direction of trunk lid. Upon closing operation of the trunk lid, the hinge arm 602 applies

twisting force on the torsion bar 602 via the engaged portion of the hinge link 603 to store the force for popping up the trunk lid during open operation. In the present subject matter construction and assembly of the hinge bracket, hinge arm, and the torsion bar remain same as known in the art. In the present subject matter, length of the hinge link is varied by engaging the torsion bar 602 with the plurality of U shaped receiving portions of the hinge link 603. As shown in the figure 6, when short hinge link length is required due to tolerances in the torsion bar, hinge arm or hinge bracket, the torsion bar 602 engages with the first U shaped receiving portion 603a.
[0032] Similarly, as shown in the figure 7, when there is no change required in the hinge link length, the torsion bar 602 engages with the second U shaped receiving portion 603b of the hinge link 603.
[0033] As shown in the figure 8, when more hinge link length is required in the hinge link, the torsion bar 602 engages with the third U shaped receiving portion 603c of the hinge link 603. From the figure 9, four bar mechanism is clearly illustrated. By varying dimensions of any bar from the four bars, the force transferred can be changed. Therefore, the present subject matter changes the dimensions of the hinge link which is easy and convenient to adjust when there is cumulative effect of tolerances in other three linkages
[0034] As evident from the above figure, the torsion bar can be assembled at any of the U shaped receiving portion from the plurality of U shaped receiving portions to have freedom to alter the popup height of trunk lid. By changing the engagement with the plurality of U shaped receiving slots, length of the hinge link can be changed to adjust the pop-up height. Further, 'N' no. of U shaped receiving portions can be used depending on the requirement.
[0035] As shown in the figure 10, the hinge link 603 is formed by combining a pair of hinge link plates 603x, 603y which form mirror images having same shape and configuration. For the hinge link 603, the mounting holes 603z facing to each other are formed in the pair of plates 603x and 603y on the one end part 603d side facing to each other with a fixed space being provided there between. The

mounting holes 603d are lapped on mounting holes of the hinge arm in the vehicle width direction and riveted so that the hinge link 603 is pivotally supported on the hinge arm 604 so as to be rotatable. The hinge link plates 603x, 603y, 500 are made of sheet metal. Further, U shaped receiving portions are provided along vertical direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, the U shaped receiving portions can be of any number depending upon the requirement.
[0036] Fig. 11 illustrates graph showing the relationship between torque around a pin due to a conventional torsion bar and torque due to the weight of the trunk itself and with the torque due to present subject matter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0037] Curve-1: Resultant Torque of torsion bar in slot 502c with present subject matter as illustrated in Figure 11.
[0038] Curve-2: Resultant Torque of torsion bar in slot 502b with present subject matter as illustrated in Figure 11.
[0039] Curve-3 Resultant Torque of torsion bar in slot 502a as illustrated in figure 11.
[0040] Curve-4: Resultant Torque of torsion bar in slot 105 with Prior Art as illustrated in figure 11.
[0041] Curve-5: Torque due to weight of trunk lid. Resultant Lower Torque -With Prior Art
[0042] It can be understood from the graph that, just before opening of trunk lid, Curve-4 and Curve-5 are very close. As already mentioned, the torques get varied due to the effect of tolerances and when this happens, curve-4 might shift below curve-5 right after closed condition. This results in trunk lid not opening because torque due to weight of trunk lid is higher than resultant torque due to torsion bar. But this problem can be overcome by using the present subject matter. For instance, if curve-3 shifts below curve-5 then torsion rod can be inserted in slot 502-b and the system follows the curve-2 where resultant torsion rod torque is higher than the torque due to weight of trunk lid. This helps in opening the trunk

lid. Similarly, torsion rod can be inserted into slot 502-c which follows the curve-1, as per the requirement. The graph is a schematic representation only.
[0043] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Plural structural components or steps can be provided by a single integrated structure or step. Alternatively, a single integrated structure or step might be divided into separate plural components or steps. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of "comprising" or "including" also contemplates embodiments that "consist essentially of or "consist of the recited feature.
[0044] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:
An adjustable hinge assembly (600) for adjusting pop-up height trunk lid of vehicle, the adjustable hinge assembly (600) comprising:
a hinge bracket (601) mounted on vehicle body panel;
a hinge arm (604) having one end fixed to the trunk lid and having another end attached to the hinge bracket (601);
a torsion bar (602) provided in between the hinge bracket (601) and the hinge arm (604);
characterized in that
a hinge link (603) having one end (603 d) and having another end, the one end (603d) turnably attached to intermediate portion of the hinge arm (604) and the other end has a plurality of U shaped receiving portions (603 a, 603b, 603 c) to receive crank part of the torsion bar (602);
wherein the torsion bar (602) that imparts a torque to the other end having the plurality of U shaped receiving portions (603a, 603b, 603c) of the hinge link (603) which in turn applies force on the hinge arm (602) in the opening direction to the trunk lid.
The adjustable hinge assembly (600) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torsion bar (602) engages with the U shaped receiving portion (603 a) of the plurality of U shaped receiving portions (603 a, 603b, 603 c) of the hinge link (603) to change length of the hinge link (603), wherein change in the length of the hinge link (603) changes the pop-up height of the trunk lid.
The adjustable hinge assembly (600) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torsion bar (602) engages with the U shaped receiving portion (603b) of the plurality of U shaped receiving portions (603 a, 603b, 603 c) of the hinge link (603).
The adjustable hinge assembly (600) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torsion bar (602) engages with the U shaped receiving portion (603 c) of the

plurality of U shaped receiving portions (603 a, 603b, 603 c) of the hinge link (603).
The adjustable hinge assembly (600) as claimed in claim 1, wherein number of U shaped receiving portions in the hinge link (603) is N numbers.
The adjustable hinge assembly (600) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pop-up height of the trunk lid is adjusted by varying length of the hinge link (603), wherein the length of the hinge link (603) is varied by engaging the torsion bar (602) with the plurality of receiving portions (603a, 603b, 603c) of the hinge link (603).
The adjustable hinge assembly (600) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge link (603) is made of sheet metal.
The adjustable hinge assembly (600) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge link (603) is formed in pair of plates (603x, 603y) having same shape and configuration.
A hinge link plate (500) to adjust pop-up height of trunk lid in an adjustable hinge assembly (600), the hinge link plate (500) comprises:
one end (501) having mounting hole (501a); and
other end (502) having a plurality of U shape receiving portions (502a, 502c, 502b), wherein the one end (501) is narrower than the other end (502).
The hinge link plate (500) as claimed in the claim 9, wherein two hinge link plates (500) join with each other in length wise direction where one end (501) and other end (502) of first hinge link plate (500) matches with the one end (501) and the other end (502) of second link plate (500) to form a hinge link (603).