A device for the contactless actuation of an adjustable vehicle part. The device has a capacitive proximity sensor with at least one elongated sensor electrode, and a body part to which the proximity sensor is indirectly or directly fastened. The body part in turn is or can be mounted on the vehicle in a specific mounting position. The sensor electrode extends obliquely relative to a lower edge of the body part in such a way that it is in an exact or at least approximately horizontal position with respect to its longitudinal extension when in the mounting position.

A device for contactless actuation of an adjustable vehicle part. The device has a capacitive proximity sensor having a first elongated sensor electrode and a second elongated sensor electrode, as well as a carrier component for fastening the proximity sensor. The carrier component has a curved mounting surface on which the sensor electrodes are placed in such a way that the horizontal distance between the two sensor electrodes over the length of the sensor electrodes is exactly or at least approximately constant, the vertical distance between the sensor electrodes varying over the length of the sensor electrodes.

A bracing device, for use with a lift support body and a piston rod connected to the lift support body, comprises a piston rod fastener configured to be selectively attachable to an outer surface of the piston rod so as to extend between the lift support body and the coupling device when attached to the piston rod. The bracing device additionally includes a lift support body fastener coupled to the piston rod fastener and configured to be selectively attachable to an outer surface of the lift support body. The piston rod fastener is disconnected from the piston rod when the lift support body fastener is attached to the outer surface of the lift support body.

An access control system for a vehicle includes a rear closure and a system that controls movement of the rear closure between closed and open positions. The control system including a controller and a wireless communication module having a wireless interface configured for short range wireless communication. The controller receives an actuation signal requesting transition of the rear closure to an open position from a mobile communication device carried by a vehicle user. The controller then determines when the user enters authentication and actuation zones proximate the vehicle via communication between the wireless communication module and a short range wireless communication device carried by the user. One the user is within the actuation zone, the controller generates a rear closure control signal configured to cause the rear closure to move from the closed position to the open position.

Tubular drive apparatus for a panel of a vehicle, preferably a tailgate or door, comprising two tubes which are inserted into one another in a telescopic manner, the free ends of which are each hinged to the panel of the vehicle and to the vehicle itself, the tubes being capable of being separated from one another and brought together by means of a spindle which is driven by an electric motor and comprises a spindle nut arranged thereon, in order to thus open and close the panel, the electric motor, the spindle, the spindle nut and an electronic circuit board comprising sensor elements being arranged within the tubular drive apparatus, and a power electronics unit for actuating the electric motor also being arranged on the electronic circuit board.

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

The invention relates to a concealed pivot hinge assembly [10] suitable for hingedly mounting a door [12] to a frame, particularly, although not exclusively, for connecting doors of storage, shipping and cargo containers, such as those which may be used on ships, rail lines and trucks, to a container in order to protect against theft. The concealed pivot hinge assembly [10] is characterised therein that it comprises a continuous, elongate hinge extending between and pivotably secured at two opposing ends thereof to the frame such that the hinge assembly [10] also constitutes a door post about which the door [12] is swiveled. The hinge assembly [10] comprises an internal axle shaft [18] which is secured at two opposing ends thereof to the frame; and an external load-bearing shaft [20] which extends coaxially with the internal shaft [18] and is pivotally secured at two opposing ends thereof to the frame such that the external shaft [20] is pivotable relative to the internal shaft [18], the arrangement being such that the door [12] is secured to the external shaft [20] so that pivoting of the external shaft [20] swivels the door [12] between a closed and an open position. The invention extends to a door [12] and a container [44] including such a concealed hinge assembly [10]. The invention also includes a remotely operable locking mechanism [56] for use in connection with such doors [12].

The disclosure provides a method for controlling a drive arrangement for a flap of a vehicle by a control arrangement, wherein in a measuring routine a measured movement value is measured by a movement measuring system. It is proposed that in an estimation routine an estimated movement value is estimated, in a movement routine the estimated movement value is determined via the estimation routine and the flap is adjusted according to a set movement value, in a correction routine the estimated movement value is determined from the estimation routine and an estimation error is determined and from the estimated movement value and according to a correction specification the set of model parameters is corrected based on the estimation error and supplied to the estimation routine and in the correction routine the correction of the set of model parameters is performed for a part section of the motorized movement cycle.

A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle flap including a gas pressure element, the gas pressure element has an outwardly sealed cylinder and a piston moveable in the cylinder interior along the cylinder axis and subdivides the cylinder interior into two sub-chambers, the gas pressure element has a first drive connection connected to the cylinder, and a second drive connection connected to the piston, the cylinder filled with a fluid and the piston has an overflow channel arrangement to create a balancing flow between the two sub-chambers to balance a pressure drop between the two sub-chambers. The piston is assigned a switchable valve arrangement which, depending on the pressure drop between the two sub-chambers, to create different through-flow states differing the cross section of the overflow channel arrangement. Upon exceeding a predetermined threshold for the pressure drop, the valve arrangement switches to change the cross section of the overflow channel arrangement.

A latch assembly for a closure panel of a motor vehicle and corresponding method of operation are provided. The latch assembly includes a latch housing for attachment to the closure panel and contains an actuation group to latch and unlatch the closure panel. An electronic control circuit that has a latch controller is disposed within the latch housing and is coupled to the at least one actuation group. The electronic control circuit includes a motor voltage and current sensing circuit for sensing a motor current and a motor voltage of a remote electric motor disposed remotely from the latch housing. The latch controller monitors and controls the actuation group and determine at least one of a motor rotational position and a motor speed of the remote electric motor based on at least one of the motor current signal and the motor voltage signal and controls the remote electric motor accordingly.