A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, an enclosure housing positioned within the chilled chamber, the enclosure housing defining an enclosure and a docking port configured for receiving a water filter, and a door assembly for providing selective access to the enclosure. The door assembly includes an access door pivotally mounted to the enclosure housing, a guide pin mounted to the enclosure housing, a guide bar having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being pivotally mounted to the access door and the second end defining a slot having the guide pin slidably received therein, a friction washer mounted on the guide pin adjacent the guide bar; and a spring member mounted on the guide pin and being configured for urging the friction washer against the guide bar to resist motion of the access door.

In an example, a hinge may include a first hinge component having a first friction surface, and a second hinge component having a second friction surface. The second hinge component may be rotatably engaged with the first hinge component such that the first friction surface and the second friction surface are abutted against each other and are to move relative to one another if the first hinge component and the second hinge component are moved relative to one another. The hinge may include a graphene coating disposed on either of the first friction surface, or the second friction surface.

A vehicle interior component comprising a cover rotatably coupled to a base at a pivot joint is disclosed. The component may comprise a mechanism comprising a projection engaging a first surface when the cover is closed and engaging a ramp as the cover is rotated between closed and open positions. The pivot joint may comprise an axle to provide an axis of rotation. The pivot joint may comprise the projection on the axle. One of the projection and the ramp may slide along the other as the cover opens and/or closes. The mechanism may comprise a cam surface and a follower. The base and/or cover may flex at the pivot joint. The cover may comprise a door, bin or sunglass bin. The component may comprise a console, center stack/console, floor console, overhead console, instrument panel, door panel, etc.

A hinge module includes a plurality of discs, a plurality of friction plates and a restraining member. The discs are eccentrically connected to each other. Each of the friction plates has a circular hole, each of the friction plates is rotatably disposed on one of the discs through the circular hole, and the friction plates contact each other. The restraining member is disposed on the friction plates.

A hinge assembly comprise a hinge shaft (102) and a friction gear (108) located around the hinge shaft (102), wherein the friction gear (108) is to rotate around the hinge shaft (102) to create a friction force between the friction gear (108), a washer (106) and a retaining ring (114), generating a damper responsive to closing of a component coupled to the hinge assembly. A hinging method is disclosed.

Disclosed is a door hinge having a buffering function, including: a casing within which a damper is disposed in an axially movable manner, an end portion of a piston rod at the front end of the damper being fixedly connected to the casing; a hinge cup; a linking member A with a right end rotatably disposed inside the casing via a first rotating shaft and a left end rotatably connected to the hinge cup via a third rotating shaft; and a connecting member B with a right end rotatably disposed inside the casing via a second rotating shaft and a left end rotatably connected to the hinge cup via a fourth rotating shaft. The end portion at the right end of the linking member A or the connecting member B is disposed corresponding to the rear end of the damper.

A hinge assembly includes a first and a second set of friction elements engaged each other by an applied force perpendicular to the friction elements. The first and the second set of friction elements are capable of rotational movement about a cylindrical element that passes through each of the friction elements. Also, the first set of friction elements is capable of movement relative to the second set of friction elements. However, the first set friction elements can remain in a fixed position based upon the applied force, until an external force overcomes the applied. During rotation of the first set of friction elements about the cylindrical element, the frictional engagement that controls the position of the first set of friction elements is based primarily on engagement between the friction elements, as opposed to engagement, if any, between the friction elements and the cylindrical element.

A hinge mechanism includes a base gudgeon and a pivot pintle. The base gudgeon has a main body and first and second tubular portions formed on the main body and respectively having coaxial first and second pivot holes. The second tubular portion has a first torque regulating formation formed on an inner surrounding wall thereof. The pivot pintle has a first pintle section rotatably inserted into and pressed-fit to the first pivot hole to produce primary frictional torque during pivoting of the pivot pintle, a second pintle section rotatably inserted into and pressed-fit to the second pivot hole to produce secondary frictional torque, and a second torque regulating formation configured to be matingly engaged with the first torque regulating formation in a part of angular positions of the pivot pintle so as to reduce the secondary frictional torque.

A vehicle interior component comprising a cover rotatably coupled to a base is disclosed. The component may comprise a mechanism comprising a feature on the base and a feature on the cover. When the cover is closed, the feature on the cover may axially align with the feature on the base. The feature on the base may disengage the feature on the cover when the cover opens and may engage the feature on the cover when the cover closes. The mechanism may comprise a cam mechanism comprising a cam surface and a follower. The mechanism may comprise a pivot joint. The pivot joint may comprise a set of projections to provide an axis of cover rotation. The pivot joint may comprise a projection and a ramp. The component may comprise a console, center stack/console, floor console, overhead console, instrument panel, door panel, etc.

A damper device includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder disposed inside the outer cylinder and having an inner chamber, a lower open end, and an upper closed end wall with a vent hole, a piston disposed in the inner chamber and having a passageway, a check valve coupled to the passageway to permit only upward flowing of a working fluid in the inner chamber through the passageway, and a piston rod having a lower rod end disposed outwardly of the outer cylinder, and an upper rod mounted to permit the piston to slide with the piston rod. The sliding of the piston rod is dampened by sliding of the piston in the inner chamber. A hinge assembly including the damper device is also disclosed.