A motorized hinge device (1) has a first connection means (3) assigned to be fixed to a structure or framework of an appliance, and connected, at least by means of a connecting rod means (5), to a second connection means (7) assigned to be fixed to a door of the appliance. This second connection means (7) is hinged to the first connection means (3) by means of a hinge pin means (11). An actuator (13) has a body (15) fixed to the first connection means (3) and a movable member (17) which is movable with respect to the body (15) and is connected to the connecting rod means (5). In an operative condition, the actuator means (13) is operated to move, by means of the connecting rod means (5), the door around the hinge pin means (11) between extreme opening (A) and closing (C) conditions, and vice versa.

An exemplary armature assembly is configured for use with a door closer comprising a pinion, and generally includes a first arm configured for rotational coupling with the pinion, a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm at a pivot joint, and a hold-open mechanism. The hold-open mechanism generally includes a clutch having a decoupling and a coupling state, and an electromechanical driver operable to transition the clutch between the coupling state and the decoupling state. With the clutch in the decoupling state, a first torque is operable to cause relative pivoting of the arms. With the clutch in the coupling state, the first torque is inoperable to cause relative pivoting of the arms, and a second torque greater than the first torque is operable to cause relative pivoting of the arms.

An operable panel for an appliance includes a top panel that defines a hinge receptacle. A lid includes a hinge housing. A hinge is disposed within the hinge housing and extends between the lid and the top panel. A retainer includes a cap and a resilient portion. The retainer partially surrounds the hinge and the cap encloses the hinge housing. The resilient portion of the retainer biases the hinge toward the cap and the hinge receptacle.

A sliding door assembly includes an upper track assembly; a lower track assembly; a sliding door laterally slidable along each of the upper track assembly and the lower track assembly, the sliding door comprising a door body, an upper locking pin, and a lower locking pin, the sliding door configurable in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration; and an actuator operatively connected to each of the upper locking pin and the lower locking pin; wherein, in the locked configuration, the actuator simultaneously engages the upper locking pin with the upper track assembly and the lower locking pin with the lower track assembly to prohibit the sliding door from opening, and in the unlocked configuration, the actuator simultaneously retracts the upper locking pin from the upper track assembly and the lower locking pin from the lower track assembly to allow the sliding door to open.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a door frame defining a door aperture, a vehicle door, a rail mounted on the vehicle body, a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door and configured to move along the rail and allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode and a swing mode, a center rail extending from an edge of the door aperture, and a center roller unit including rollers configured to be guided along the center rail, a roller bracket having the rollers mounted thereon, a roller-side hinge element connected to the roller bracket, and a door-side hinge element rotatably connected to the roller-side hinge element, wherein the roller-side hinge element and the door-side hinge element are releasably connected.

A sliding door system includes an upper track; a lower track; a first sliding door comprising a first upper locking pin, a first lower locking assembly, and a first pivot assembly, the first pivot assembly engaging the upper track and the lower track, the first upper locking pin removably engaging the upper track, and the first lower locking assembly removably engaging the lower track; and a second sliding door comprising a second upper locking pin, a second lower locking assembly, and a second pivot assembly, the second pivot assembly engaging the upper track and the lower track, the second upper locking pin removably engaging the upper track, and the second lower locking assembly removably engaging the lower track.

A hinge mechanism includes at least two hinge modules and at least one switching assembly disposed between the adjacent two hinge modules and including a first and second rotating members rotating coaxially with respect to each other. The first rotating member is coaxially disposed at one of the adjacent hinge modules to rotate synchronously. The second rotating member is coaxially disposed at the other one of the adjacent hinge modules to rotate synchronously. The first rotating member has a first driving portion, and the second rotating member has a second driving portion. The first and second driving portions are located on rotating paths of each other, and an idle stroke is provided between the first and second driving portions along the rotating paths. When the first driving portion and the second driving portion pass through the idle stroke, torque forces generated by the adjacent two hinge modules are disconnected.

Described are passenger door assemblies including emergency passage feature assemblies. For example, a door assembly may include a latching block configurable to retain a latching spigot of a carriage assembly responsive to a first opening force. The door assembly may also be configurable to release the latching spigot to enable sliding movement of the latching block independent of the carriage assembly responsive to a second opening force.

The invention concerns a drive unit for moving a door relative to a door's opening. The drive unit comprises a drive motor and a wheel transmission assembly arranged for transfer of power to a drive wheel configured for engagement with a running surface for moving the door. The wheel transmission comprises a transfer wheel driven by the drive motor. A movable wheel carrier comprises a first running wheel and a second running wheel arranged in in engagement with the transfer wheel. The movable wheel carrier is arranged for displacement between a free wheel position where the first and second running wheel are arranged disengaged from the drive wheel for no power transfer to occur from the drive motor to the drive wheel, at least one running position where either of the first and second running wheel is positioned in engagement with the drive wheel for the transfer of power from the drive motor to the drive wheel.

An embodiment is a vehicle door opening and closing apparatus including a vehicle door configured to be selectively opened and closed in a mode of a sliding mode and a swing mode to uncover and cover a door opening of a vehicle body. The vehicle door opening and closing apparatus further including a rail mounted on the vehicle body, a roller unit including a roller and a hinge element, the roller being configured to be guided along the rail, the hinge element being spaced apart from the roller, a door-side bracket mounted on the vehicle door, the door-side bracket being detachably connected to the roller unit, and a body-side bracket mounted on the vehicle body, the body-side bracket being detachably connected to the roller unit.