An emergency door closing device that can be installed upon existing doors and hinges to automatically close doors in the response to smoke and fire. The improvements incorporated therein include a hinge cam pivot member that attaches to an existing hinge member of a door and produces a moment force about the existing hinge member allowing a reduced force necessary to pivot the door into a closed position. Further, a novel spring, cam, and lever system is incorporated to activate the moment force to close the door.

A washing machine having a structure to electrically connect electronic parts inside a door of the washing machine to different electronic parts inside a cabinet of the washing machine. The washing machine includes: the cabinet which is equipped with a first electronic part therein, the cabinet having an opening to put in laundry; the door which is equipped with a second electronic part therein and is configured to open or close the opening of the cabinet; a hinge assembly configured to pivotally connect the door with the cabinet; and a wire configured to be inserted through the hinge assembly to electrically connect the electronic parts of the cabinet and the electronic parts of the door.

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 for a door of a storage unit and a method of repairing a storage unit that includes a pivotable door. The hinge including a first bracket and a second bracket. The hinge further including a linking mechanism for coupling the second bracket to the first bracket so that the second bracket is able to translate and rotate relative to the first bracket, wherein a maximum amount of rotation of the second bracket relative to the first bracket is not determined solely by operation of the linking mechanism.

A dampened hinge assembly has a male leaf and a female leaf. The female leaf has spaced apart first and second end barrels coaxially rotating with respect to a central barrel of the male leaf therebetween. An axial shaft is fixed to the second end barrel of the female leaf at a proximal end of the axial shaft. The axial shaft has a distal helicoidally threaded spindle. A compression gear having a helicoidally threaded bore matching the helicoidal thread of the spindle displaces towards the first end barrel when the leaves move into alignment and towards the second end barrel when the leaves move out of alignment. The dampened hinge assembly may be reconfigured to provide soft closure, end-of-range soft closure and/or backcheck damping.

A cable-operated drive mechanism for a powered motor vehicle sliding closure panel and method of construction of the cable-operated drive mechanism is provided. The cable-operated drive mechanism includes a cable drum mechanism having a first cable drum supported for rotation about a first drum axis and a second cable drum supported for rotation about a second drum axis. A first cable winds and unwinds about the first cable drum in response to rotation of the first cable drum in opposite directions and a second cable unwinds and winds about the second cable drum in response to rotation of the second cable drum in opposite directions. A drive member is operably coupled to at least one of the first cable drum and second cable drum to drive the first and second cable drums in unison with one another.

A power strut includes anisotropic damping device that provides different frictional torque on a rotatable member in response to rotation in opposite rotational directions. The anisotropic damping device includes a shell, the rotatable member, and a torsion spring. The shell includes a through hole, and the rotatable member extends through the through hole and is rotatably connected to the shell. The torsion spring is sleeved on the rotatable member and is in interference fit with the rotatable member, and the torsion spring is provided with a first leg fixedly connected to the shell. The rotatable member may include a shaft sleeve fixed to a rotating shaft, with the torsion spring in interference fit with the shaft sleeve.

A switch hinge structure used for a charging door or a fuel door of a vehicle includes: a structure housing having an inner wall on which a first boss is disposed; a guide member concentrically installed in the structure housing, and having a groove track on an outer wall thereof; a first spring installed in the structure housing to provide thrust to the guide member in a direction toward an outside of the vehicle; a rotation member installed on an end of the structure housing, having an annular shape, and having a second boss on an interior circumference thereof; and a second spring providing torque to the guide member through the second boss. The first and second bosses are accommodated in the groove track, and guide movement of the guide member when the guide member moves out of the vehicle by an action of the first and second springs.

The present invention relates to a symmetrical and reversible-clutch mortise lock comprising a central follower, a pair of symmetrical lateral followers, each one located on one side of the central follower to be activated by square bars of handles, a spacer which makes the movement of the two lateral followers independent and a motor, which connects to an actuation lever and which is activated when an access code is validated. The lock further comprises a clutch housed and guided in an accumulator arm able to move linearly to be housed in both lateral followers such that the corresponding lateral follower, when activated by the motion of the door handle, pushes the clutch until it makes contact with the central follower and activates the latch of the lock.

An actuating apparatus for a flap which is mounted on a component for movement has a first actuating element, fastenable fixedly to the flap so as to rotate with it, and a second actuating element, fastenable to the component, and rotatable about a first rotational axis, the second actuating element has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to interact with a drive, the second end has a first locking or release geometry, the first actuating element has a second locking or release geometry, the second actuating element can be rotated between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the first and second locking or release geometry are configured to interact such that, in the first orientation, the first actuating element is locked to the second actuating element and, in the second orientation, the first actuating element is released from the second actuating element.