Abstract: A dual pivot door hinge assembly for a side door system of a vehicle includes a body side-mounting bracket adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle. The dual pivot door hinge assembly also includes a door side-mounting bracket adapted to be connected to a side door of the side door system of the vehicle. The dual pivot door hinge assembly includes at least one load arm pivotally connected to the body side-mounting bracket to form a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to the door side-mounting bracket to form a second pivot axis. The dual pivot door hinge assembly further includes a connecting member operatively interconnecting the first pivot axis and second pivot axis to allow the side door to remain parallel to a side of the vehicle body as the side door is pivoted radially outward and longitudinally.

Abstract: A four bar linkage is configured in non parallelogram form as a hinge for pivotally guiding a closure panel in a predetermined opening motion between a closed position closing an access opening and a fully open position longitudinally adjacent one side edge of the opening and generally parallel with a side of a vehicle or compartment body. In the opening motion, one edge of the panel first moves outward to clear a structural body member at one edge of the opening and another edge of the panel first rotates and moves longitudinally away from the opposite side of the opening as the panel pivots outward and then inward to the fully open position. The closure panel may be paired with a conventionally hinged front door of a vehicle to allow both the door and the panel to be independently opened or closed regardless of the position of the other.