Re: [DML] Other Gull Wing sports cars

["Rob Hook" <robhook@xxxx>]

JZD DOES have a patent on the DeLorean's door mechanisms. It is
patent#4,378,658 and, ironically, wasn't granted until April 5,1983. Here
is the part of the patent that applies:


================
1. In combination:

a vehicle body;

a door;

a pair of hinges disposed on a common hinge axis, for mounting said door on
said vehicle body for movement between a closed position and an open
position, each hinge having a mounting plate, a hinge plate and a pin
mounted on said axis and in said mounting plate with said hinge plate
pivoted thereon;

means securing said mounting plate to said vehicle body;

at least one bolt securing each respective hinge plate to said door frame,
said bolt having a projecting head for abutting said vehicle in a recessed
manner in a closed position of said door; and

a torsion bar having one end secured to said door and another end secured to
said vehicle body biasing said door toward said open position.

===========================
There are other parts but they are references to and modifications of the
above. This does not give JZD patent rights to all gull-wing doors but does
give him rights to the way it is done on the DeLorean. Specifically, the
torsion bar mechanism.

--Rob Hook