A retractable arm device, system, and method with a locking mechanism for preventing items placed in a device or receptacle from getting stuck, damaged, or torn. The retractable arm includes an inner tube, a pawl, and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The inner tube slides within the outer tube and the pawl preventing the retractable arm from moving into an extended position under particular conditions. The retractable arm may be placed in a receptacle for items to prevent the door from being reopened before the door is fully closed.

A hinge (100) including a first hinge leaf assembly, a second hinge leaf assembly pivotally coupled to the first hinge leaf assembly (101), a spring (138) operatively connected to the first and second hinge leaf assemblies, and a spring tensioning mechanism to adjust the bias of the spring (138). The first hinge leaf assembly includes a first hinge component (101) having a first mounting surface for securing to a first structure and a plurality of first knuckles (114, 115). The second hinge leaf assembly includes a second hinge component having a second mounting surface for securing to a second structure and a second knuckle (123). The spring biases the first hinge leaf assembly and the second hinge leaf assembly toward a closed position, wherein the spring is located with a hollow defined by coaxial alignment of the plurality of first knuckles (114, 115) and the second knuckle (123).

A large diameter portion is provided on one side of a closing side drum in an axial direction, a small diameter portion having a diameter gradually decreasing from the large diameter portion to the other side of the closing side drum is provided on the other side of the closing side drum, a partition wall disposed between adjacent small diameter cable grooves in the axial direction of the closing side drum to prevent a closing side cable from slipping out of the small diameter cable grooves is provided in the small diameter portion. Accordingly, the thick partition wall provided in the small diameter portion can reliably prevent the closing side cable from slipping out (derailing) from the small diameter cable grooves even when a winding position of the closing side cable on the closing side drum is changed and transferred from the large diameter portion to the small diameter portion.

A drive device for a vehicle flap, and includes a first actuator for opening and closing the vehicle flap. The first actuator has a first end. The drive device also includes a first connection element for connecting the first end of the first actuator to one of the vehicle door and the vehicle body, and a coupling device having at least one first coupling member for coupling the first connection element to the first actuator. The coupling device comprises a second coupling element which is displaceable relative to the first coupling element between a first end position and a second end position.

A window includes a sash which is pivotally connected at a top end by a top pivot to a perimeter frame so that a bottom end of the sash is pivotal upwardly through an arc of approximately 90 degrees from a closed position to an open position of the window. A linkage arm is pivotally coupled at a first end of the arm by a first pivot at an intermediate location along a side member of the sash and at a second end of the arm by a second pivot at an intermediate location along a side member of the perimeter frame. One of the top pivot of the sash or the second pivot of the linkage arm is a sliding pivot that is longitudinally slidable along the side member of the frame. A biasing member exert a biasing force on the sliding pivot which retains the sash open.

A cover system for covering a vehicle tow hitch connector includes at least a first retention member including a first retention slot, and a first door support coupled to the first retention member. A second door support is positioned opposite the first door support. A door is rotatably coupled to the first and second door supports. The door includes a first retention projection structured to be received in the first retention slot to position the door in a closed orientation.

A hinge comprises a hinge part, which can be secured on a door of the shutter and is mounted on a side part such that it can be pivoted via a carrying lever and a guide lever, also comprises at least one spring, by means of which the hinge part, in a self-retracting region of the hinge, is prestressed into a closed position, and further comprises a linear damper with a piston rod, which can be moved relative to a damper housing and is intended for damping a closing and/or opening movement of the hinge part, wherein a deflecting element is provided, said deflecting element being mounted on the side part such that it can be rotated about an axis and being arranged between the damper and the guide lever so that, during a closing movement of the hinge part, it moves the damper in order to generate a damping force, wherein, during an opening movement of the hinge part, the deflecting element moves the damper in order to generate a damping force before the fully open position of the hinge part has been reached. This makes it possible to avoid hard impact of a door in the opening direction.

An opening and closing mechanism includes a dead-center spring element for a swivelable part, and a control curve is provided on a side wall of the swivelable part, and the dead-center spring element engages the control curve via a swivelable control lever to control an opening and closing force progression with the aid of the control curve.

A door closer comprises a housing mountable to one of a door or a door frame, an arm having a first end pivotally attached to the housing and a second end connected to the other of the door or door frame, the arm being movable between a neutral door position and first and second open door positions up to 180 degrees from the neutral position in opposite directions, and opposing first and second racks movable relative to each other and relative to the housing. Each of the first and second racks has a first end adapted to engage a piston within the housing. The door closer further comprises a pinion within the housing pivotally connected to the arm first end and engaging teeth of the first and second racks, a piston having a first end adapted to engage the first end of the first and second racks, and a spring compressible by an opposite end of the piston. Movement of the arm from the neutral position to one of the first or second door open positions rotates the pinion and urges the first end of the first or second rack into engagement with the piston first end, the piston compressing the spring until the door reaches one of the first or second door open positions, and movement of the arm from the neutral position to the other of the first or second door open position rotates the pinion in an opposite direction and urges the first end of the other of the first or second rack into engagement with the piston first end, the piston compressing the spring until the door reaches the other of the first or second door open position.

Described are hatch assemblies comprising a frame having sidewalls, a pivotally connected cover, and a number of easily repairable and replaceable torsion-spring-assisted hinge assemblies. Hinge assemblies may comprise a torsion spring having a coiled body along the center axis of which a carriage bolt is inserted. Once one end of the torsion spring that extends vertically from the center axis is engaged by a support member, such as a semi-open enclosure that is mounted on a hinge plate, the spring is rotated and supports the torque generated by the weight of the cover when operated by a user. Advantageously, this provides for a controlled and almost effortless opening and closing of a heavy door or covers of hatch assemblies.