An exemplary closure assembly includes a rail assembly and a door assembly movably mounted to the rail assembly. The door assembly includes a rotary damper having a pinion, and the rail assembly includes a rack member operable to engage the pinion. As the door moves from first position to a second position, the rack member engages the pinion, thereby causing the pinion to rotate in a first rotational direction. The rotary damper resists rotation of the pinion in the first direction, thereby slowing movement of the door toward the second position. The rotary damper may be a one-way damper that does not resist rotation of the pinion in a second rotational direction such that the rotary damper does not resist movement of the door from the second position toward the first position.

An urging structure for a lid includes a spring member having one spring end linked to a supply-port-forming member and the other spring end linked to a lid, and provided so as to be most elastically deformed at an intermediate position between a closed position and a maximum open position of the lid to urge the lid. The spring member is linked to the lid in such a way so as to vary a distance between the other spring end and a turning center of the lid, and the distance stays constant when the lid is in the closed position and in the intermediate position, increases in a process of moving from the intermediate position to the maximum open position, and becomes maximum when the lid is in the maximum open position.

An actuator for presenting a handless door of a vehicle. The actuator including: an extendable extension bar supporting a pawl/catch system, the pawl/catch system having an actuator catch that cooperates with a dedicated striker; an actuator housing for housing a motor and a gear train operatively coupled to the motor, the gear train comprising a gear that has an integrated wormscrew; a nut located on the integrated wormscrew that translates linearly on the wormscrew as it is rotated by the motor, wherein movement of the nut causes the extendable extension bar to be moved outwardly and inwardly from the housing.

A hinge structure is adapted to connect two objects for the two objects rotating with respect to each other. The hinge structure includes a first member, a second member, a third member, and an elastic assembly. The first and the third members are respectively assembled to the two objects. The second member pivoted to the first member rotates about an axis relative to the first member. The third member pivoted to the second member rotates about the axis relative to the second member. In a first state, the second member is accommodated in a recess of the first member. In a second state, the second member moves with the third member and at least a portion of the second member is moved out of the recess. The elastic assembly connected between the first and the third members constantly moves the second member into the recess to maintain the first state.

A hinge structure is adapted to connect two objects for the two objects rotating with respect to each other. The hinge structure includes a first member, a second member, a third member, and an elastic assembly. The first and the third members are respectively assembled to the two objects. The second member pivoted to the first member rotates about an axis relative to the first member. The third member pivoted to the second member rotates about the axis relative to the second member. In a first state, the second member is accommodated in a recess of the first member. In a second state, the second member moves with the third member and at least a portion of the second member is moved out of the recess. The elastic assembly connected between the first and the third members constantly moves the second member into the recess to maintain the first state.

Method of operating a lid of a robotic vehicle. The lid is operable by a motor between an opened and a closed positions. When the lid is between the opened position and a first intermediary position, a first electric current having a first value is provided to the motor for exerting a first force on the lid. When the lid is between the first intermediary position and a second intermediary position, a second electric current, having a second value whose sign is opposite to a sign of the first value, is provided to the motor for exerting a second force on the lid. The second force is applied in an opposite direction of the first force. When the lid is between the second intermediary position and the closed position, a third electric current having a third value having a same sign than the first value is provided to the motor.

A luggage case, more particularly for a powered two-wheeled vehicle, has a lid which is movably mounted relative to a body of the luggage case by at least one hinge. In the vicinity of the hinge there is provided a damping element which, when the lid is closed, comes into contact with a component that moves with the lid, thereby damping the closing movement.