This is a hinge that simultaneously articulates two substantially planar surfaces forward, outward and downward, in an arc, relative to one another. The hinge can be attached to, and move, any two substantially planar surfaces. It is especially useful when attaching a door to a car with side exhaust pipes. When I choose a door that curves inwardly toward the interior of the car, and attach the inventive hinge, the curve of the door physically covers the exhaust pipe and exhaust gas.

Self-closing door hinges with vertical adjustment, door systems incorporating the hinges, and related methods are described herein.

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 method of pivoting an aircraft storage bin that includes a bucket that pivots with respect to an upper housing. The method includes pivoting the bucket from a closed position to an intermediate position and placing weight that exceeds a predetermined weight threshold in the bucket, thereby causing the bucket to move to an open position. Movement of the bucket to the open position causes a lift assist unit to activate. A first end of the lift assist unit is connected to the bucket and a second end of the lift assist unit is connected to the upper housing. The method also includes pivoting the bucket from the open position to the closed position. The lift assist unit provides assistance as the bucket is pivoting from the open position to the closed position.

A viscous damper includes a damper housing and a shaft extending through the damper housing. The shaft includes a first exposed end and a second exposed end. A gear is mated to the first exposed end of the shaft. A spring is connected to the second exposed end of the shaft. A storage bin is also disclosed.

An opening and closing mechanism includes a dead-center spring element for, for example, a swivel compartment, and proposes that a control curve be provided on a side wall of the swivel compartment, at which the dead-center spring element engages via a swivelable control lever. The opening and closing force progression can be controlled 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.

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 door assembly for a vehicle includes a door and a check strap pivotally coupled to the door. An engagement member is releasably engageable with the check strap. A spring is positioned to bias the check strap toward the engagement member. When the engagement member is engaged with the check strap, the check strap maintains the door in an open position. When the engagement member is disengaged with the check strap, the door is swung to the closed position under the bias of the spring.

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.