A stake post having a locking hinge that enables selective movement of a gate unit between a first position in which the gate unit forms a portion of a retaining wall in cooperation with other gate units, and a second position in which the gate unit is removed from alignment with one or more adjacent gate units to thereby provide an opening through a retaining wall otherwise formed by the stake post when in the first position.

A hinge assembly for use on a grill that permits the selective removal of the lid from the bowl, the hinge assembly including a stationary bowl bracket affixed to the bowl, a pivotable middle bracket pivotably mounted to the bowl bracket and a removable lid bracket affixed to the lid and removably secured to the middle bracket.

A plug cover hinge of a charging connection of an electric vehicle includes a cover or cover flap for selectively covering a socket or plug of the charging connection, and a four-joint hinge. The four-joint hinge defines two flap-side joints attached to the cover flap, and two fastening-side joints attachable to a frame. The four-joint hinge includes two joint elements, with each joint element connecting one of the flap-side joints to one of the fastening-side joints.

The invention relates to a hinge for releasably connecting a door to a frame, including: a frame part for fastening to the frame, a door part for fastening to the door, a hinge pin having a pin axis and a locking element. The frame part and the door part are movable relative to one another along the pin axis between a pivoted position and an installed position; in the pivoted position the frame part and the door part are connected to one another in such a way that the frame part and the door part are pivotable relative to one another about the pin axis between an open position and a closed position. The locking element is adjustable between a locking position and a release position, and the movement of the frame part and of the door part relative to one another along the pin axis from the pivoted position into the installed position is positively inhibited by the locking element the locking position and is freed by the locking element in the release position, the locking element being retained on the frame part or on the door part so as to be adjustable between the locking position and the release position.

A hinge assembly for assisting in moving a pivotal closure member from a closed position toward an open position relative to a motor vehicle body and for releasably holding the closure member in the open position, and method of construction thereof are provided. The hinge assembly has a first mount member configured for operable connection to one of the closure member and the motor vehicle body; a second mount member configured for operable connection to the other of the closure member and the motor vehicle body; at least one linkage operably coupling the first mount member to the second mount member; and at least one elastically deformable joint coupling the at least one linkage to at least one of the first mount member and the second mount member.

An apparatus for automatically opening and closing a trunk lid includes an actuator having a first end configured to be coupled to a vehicle body and a second end configured to be coupled to a hinge arm coupled to the trunk lid, a closing trigger link having a first end rotatably coupled to the actuator, an opening trigger link rotatably coupled to the closing trigger link, a spring assembling pin having a first end coupled to the closing trigger link and the opening trigger link, and a spring having a first end coupled to a second end of the spring assembling pin, and a second end configured to be coupled to the vehicle body or a panel configured to be mounted on the vehicle body.

A lock mechanism within a slot of a computer chassis is disclosed. The lock mechanism includes a gear wheel, a gear rack body, a push rod latch, a push rod body, and a chassis latch. The gear wheel, the gear rack body, the push rod latch, the push rod body, and the chassis latch cooperate to restrict a flap in the slot from opening when the flap is in the closed position, and the chassis latch is engaged with a cutout on the push rod body.

A lock assembly includes a plug with a keyway, primary pins aligned with the keyway for controlling rotation of the plug, a sidebar for controlling rotation of the plug, secondary pins adjacent the keyway for controlling movement of the sidebar, and at least one supplemental sidebar control element for controlling movement of the sidebar. The lock assembly is operated by simultaneously manipulating the primary pins, the secondary pins, and the supplemental sidebar control element to place each in a respective position and/or orientation to permit rotation of the plug and to permit sufficient movement of the sidebar to permit rotation of the plug and then applying torque to the plug.

An improved linear actuator designed as an opening and closing apparatus. The improved linear actuator includes an enclosure containing first and second cavities. A rail is designed to fit within the first cavity of the enclosure. A damper is mounted to the enclosure. First and second pegs support a tray secured to slots within the rail, and a tension spring within the second cavity of the enclosure and secured to a gear track of the rail to engage the rotary damping device whereby the first and second pegs control the movement of the tray.

A lock assembly includes a plug with a keyway, primary pins aligned with the keyway for controlling rotation of the plug, a sidebar for controlling rotation of the plug, secondary pins adjacent the keyway for controlling movement of the sidebar, and at least one supplemental sidebar control element for controlling movement of the sidebar. The lock assembly is operated by simultaneously manipulating the primary pins, the secondary pins, and the supplemental sidebar control element to place each in a respective position and/or orientation to permit rotation of the plug and to permit sufficient movement of the sidebar to permit rotation of the plug and then applying torque to the plug.