A cap for mounting on a hinge is described. The cap includes: a body defining a first attaching portion for attaching the body to a hinge at a first location; a second attaching portion defined by the body for attaching the body to the hinge at a second location; and a channel defined by the body wherein the body is configured to secure a rod to the hinge by trapping the rod in the channel between the body and the hinge and the channel is located between the first and second attaching portions.

A door operator having an automatic roller closes and opens a door attached to a doorjamb by a door hinge. The roller is actuated by a motor and housed within a protective roller casing affixed to the bottom of a door. The door operator may be integrated with a smart home, thereby allowing a user to close and open a door by voice command. The door operator may be retrofitted to existing doors. A door may also be modified such that only a magnet holds the door closed and a closed position such that the smart home door closing apparatus may be used to open a door. The roller may translate between an extended position engaging the floor below a door and a retracted position above the floor, either inside or adjacent to the door itself.

A system for exerting torque on a shaft includes: a spring assembly having; a spring; a companion member to the spring, wherein at least one of the spring and the companion member is in compression and the other of the spring and companion member is in tension; connecting structure for transmitting a force associated with the spring outside of the gear assembly; and a gear train for connecting the connecting structure to the shaft to apply torque to the shaft. A method of exerting torque on a shaft includes: arranging a plurality of spring assemblies arranged in an array around the shaft, each spring assembly having; a spring; connecting structure for transmitting a force associated with the spring; attaching a gear train to the connecting structure; and configuring the gear train to apply the force associated with the spring to the shaft in the form of torque on the shaft.

A spindle drive assembly for opening and/or closing a vehicle hatch is described. This comprises a spindle extending along a spindle drive axis and a spindle drive motor coupled to the spindle in terms of drive, the motor shaft of which is arranged substantially coaxially with respect to the spindle drive axis. The spindle drive motor is coupled to the spindle via a two-stage epicyclic gearing. Furthermore, a vehicle hatch with such a spindle drive assembly is presented. A method for installing an epicyclic gearing of such a spindle drive assembly is additionally specified.

A user interface unit for an automatic door drive comprises a display unit for outputting output information and a control element arrangement for capturing input information. The user interface unit, together with the door drive, is mountable in a first spatial position and in a second spatial position on a door that is drivable by the door drive. The control element arrangement comprises a first control element and a second control element, wherein the first control element is arranged in the first spatial position of the user interface unit on the same spatial side of the control element arrangement as the second control element in the second spatial position. The display unit is designed to display the displayed output information in the same spatial orientation in both the first spatial position and the second spatial position of the user interface unit. In addition, the user interface unit is designed to capture the same input information in the first spatial position with the first control element as with the second control element in the second spatial position.

To provide a holder-equipped window glass capable of increasing the quality and productivity and capable of preventing breakage of the window glass to be caused by attachment of the holder, and a process for its production. A holder main body 18 is an integrally molded product comprising an inner layer portion 26 and an outer layer portion 28. The inner layer portion 26 is constructed to be U-shaped in cross section to clamp a part of a lower edge 12B of a window glass 12 in the thickness direction of the lower edge 12B. Further, the outer layer portion 28 is located outside the inner layer portion 26, is made of a material harder than the inner layer portion 26 and is constructed to be U-shaped in cross section. This outer layer portion 28 is provided with a connecting portion 16. This connection portion 16 is projecting in a direction departing form the lower edge 12B of the window glass 12.

An automotive hinge assembly adapted to facilitate motion of a closure panel relative to a fixed body structure comprises a door component constructed from two press formed angle brackets structurally connected via a pivot pin and adapted to be mounted to a vehicle closure panel, a body component constructed from two press formed angle brackets structurally connected via a simple formed feature and the pivot pin and adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body structure, such that the pivot pin structurally assembles the two hinge components, facilitates relative rotary motion between them and structurally connects the multiple press formed angle brackets so that the resulting assembly achieves a much higher material efficiency than the prior art with an associated significant cost reduction.

Example hinges for an electronic device and electronic devices utilizing the hinges are disclosed. In an example, the electronic device includes a first housing member, a second housing member, and a hinge coupled between the first housing member and the second housing member. The hinge includes a first end coupled to the first housing member, a second end coupled to the second housing member, and a hinge length extending along the hinge from the first end to the second end. The hinge length is to increase as the first housing member is rotated about the hinge toward the second housing member.

Example hinges for an electronic device and electronic devices utilizing the hinges are disclosed. In an example, the electronic device includes a first housing member, a second housing member, and a hinge coupled between the first housing member and the second housing member. The hinge includes a first end coupled to the first housing member, a second end coupled to the second housing member, and a hinge length extending along the hinge from the first end to the second end. The hinge length is to increase as the first housing member is rotated about the hinge toward the second housing member.

A module for a modular, motorized drive system, in particular for doors, wherein the modular system is designed such that a number of modules arranged linearly one behind the other along a longitudinal axis of the modular system form a functional group of the drive system is provided. The modular system includes at least one of a number of latching elements on a front side of the module orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and a number of receiving elements, which are complementary to the latching elements, on a rear side of the module orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and opposite the front side, wherein the receiving elements are designed to form a mechanical connection to the latching elements of a further module which is arranged with its front side parallel to the rear side of the module.