A spindle drive for an adjustable element of a motor vehicle is provided with a drive unit having a drive unit housing formed in a materially uniform manner, the spindle drive having two drive portions which run in opposition to one another, the spindle-side drive portion having a torsion tube formed in a materially uniform manner with an engagement portion, and the spindle nut being in rotationally fixed but axially displaceable engagement with the engagement portion to form a torque support. The torsion tube has a fastening portion which is fastened to the drive unit housing in a rotationally fixed and axially fixed manner.

A hinge is coupled to a first component and a second component. The hinge supports the second component for movement relative to the first component between a closed position covering an opening through the first component and an opened position displaced from the opening. The hinge includes a first bracket coupled to the second component, a second bracket coupled to the first component, a support link coupled to the first and second brackets, and a control link coupled to the first and second brackets. Rotation of the support link relative to the first bracket causes rotation of the first component relative to the second component and relative to the support link.

A hinge apparatus can include a frame component of an aircraft interior component; a door component coupled to an aircraft door assembly; and a hinge assembly coupled to the frame component and the door component. The hinge assembly can be operable between an open configuration, an intermediate configuration, and a closed configuration. The hinge assembly may include a first hinge body, and a second hinge body coupled to the door component, the second hinge body pivotably moving the door component about a first pivot point when the hinge assembly moves from the closed configuration to the intermediate configuration, and the second hinge body moving the door component about a second pivot point that is different from the first pivot point when the hinge assembly moves from the intermediate configuration to the open configuration. Related methods are also provided.

A truck bed assembly that is fuel efficient, aesthetically pleasing and unique.

Trunk lid stopper mechanism and method for controlling rotational speed of a trunk lid to slow down and halt its movement, and to hold the trunk lid at the halted position. The stopper mechanism comprises hinge arms for supporting the lid, torsion bars for applying biasing force to the lid, and link arms for transmitting biasing force from torsion bars to the hinge arms. Either each hinge arm or link arm is equipped with a stopper member that brakes the rotation movement of the trunk lid and halts the trunk lid fully-open. The stopper member has tapered surfaces for reducing relative rotational speed between the hinge and link arms by being forced therebetween during their relative rotational movement, and a stopper surface(s) for abutting against the other arm and halting the arms' relative rotational movement at the fully open position of the trunk lid.

An obstacle detection sensor system for a movable panel of a motor vehicle includes an obstacle detection sensor disposed on an articulating mount, the obstacle detection sensor and articulating mount being hidden from view by an exterior surface of the motor vehicle in a first position, and the articulating mount providing the obstacle detection sensor with a sensor detection range including an exterior surface of the movable panel in a second position. Movement of the articulating mount from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position is coupled to movement of the movable panel.

A hood hinge includes a hinge stay and a hinge arm. The hinge stay includes a horizontal plate portion that is fixed to a vehicle body and a vertical plate portion that supports a second end of the hinge arm. The vertical plate portion is erected and extends in a vehicle height direction from a first end of the horizontal plate portion in a vehicle width direction. The hinge arm of the hood hinge is provided with an arm reinforcing bead and the vertical plate portion of the hinge stay is provided with a stay reinforcing bead that extends in the vehicle height direction. The stay reinforcing bead is not provided on a ridge of a connection portion between the vertical plate portion and the horizontal plate portion.

A flip cover actuation structure for actuating a flip cover includes a locking device, a rocker, and a driving device. The locking device locks and releases the flip cover. The rocker drives the flip cover to open and close. The driving device comprises a gear and an eccentric device. The driving device is configured to rotate the gear and the eccentric device. The gear drives the rocker. The eccentric device drives the locking device.

A rear vehicle assembly includes a body structure, a moveable tailgate, and an opening and closing device. The opening and closing device includes connecting rods fixing the tailgate to the body structure. The connecting rods are hinged at a first end to the body structure and at a second end to a lateral edge of the tailgate. One of the connecting rods includes first and second rectilinear sections and a curved section. The first and second rectilinear sections are located on respective concave and convex sides of the curved section.

A truck bed assembly that is fuel efficient, aesthetically pleasing and unique.