Chrysler Corporation

Robert F Giorio

Frederick F Bender

Hinge apparatus for a door of a motor vehicle providing precise door-on-door-off capability enabling the door to be hinged to a vehicle body post in adjusted position, unhinged, and then re-hinged in the same adjusted position. A pair of hinges connect a door panel to a body post panel. Each hinge comprises a first hinge plate connected to the body post panel and a second hinge plate connected to the door panel. A tapping plate is secured to the door panel and has a pair of spaced threaded holes therein. Clearance openings are provided in the second hinge plate and in the door panel in alignment with the threaded holes in the tapping plate to clear mounting screws which are threaded into the tapping plate. The clearance holes are large enough to allow adjustment of the door. A locator comprises a tab secured to the second hinge plate, provided with a locator pin adapted to extend into a locator hole in the tapping plate. The tab is secured in position on the second hinge plate by a thermosetting adhesive which is activated after the screws have clamped the door to the hinge plate. Thereafter, the door may be unhinged, and later re-hinged in the exact same position because of the presence of the tab and the engagement of the tab locator pin in the locator hole in the tapping plate.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Robert F Giorio