A weather resistant pin lock with an elongated body, defining a longitudinal axis includes a shell housing a rotatable core having a keyway. An elevated pinway projects upwardly from the shell to define a linear array of pin slots containing a set of lock pins. A hood is fastened to the pinway to hold the lock pins in the pin slots and to provide a water resistant barrier. A drainway provides a channel for water to flow outwardly from the interior of the shell, the rotatable core and the keyway within the core, to a drain below the pin lock. At the proximate end, an access door rotates adjacent the keyway at an elevated position, to provide a gap along the bottom edge of the access door.

A handle assembly for an access panel is described and includes a handle connected to a support structure integrated into and covered by a skin of the access panel, the handle comprising a grip portion and upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion and having first ends connected to the grip portion and second ends connected to the support structure; and a cover disposed over an opening in the access panel skin and selectively transitionable between a closed position and an open position, the opening situated relative to the handle such that the handle is concealed when the cover is in a closed position and accessible via the opening when the cover is in an open position.

An actuating apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) for moving covers (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702), in particular flush covers, for vehicles, wherein the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) is reversibly movable, and in particular pivotable, between a closed position and an open position in which the cover is arranged behind an outer skin of the vehicle, wherein the actuating apparatus (100) comprises the following: a kinematics for reversibly moving, in particular pivoting, the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) between the open position and the closed position; and a first sensor apparatus (112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712) for detecting the open position and/or the closed position of the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702).

A handle assembly for an access panel is described and includes a handle connected to a support structure integrated into and covered by a skin of the access panel, the handle comprising a grip portion and upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion and having first ends connected to the grip portion and second ends connected to the support structure; and a cover disposed over an opening in the access panel skin and selectively transitionable between a closed position and an open position, the opening situated relative to the handle such that the handle is concealed when the cover is in a closed position and accessible via the opening when the cover is in an open position.

A weather resistant tumbler lock has an elongated body, and defines a longitudinal axis. The lock is interchangeable with another lock having a corresponding asymmetrical perimeter profile with an opening in a top surface sealed with a cap, the other lock having a different rotatable core and a different configuration of tumblers. A drainway provides a channel for water to flow outwardly from the interior of a shell housing, a rotatable core and a keyway within the core, to a drain below the lock. The drain connects to a channel through a lower edge. The core provides an arcuate gap in a lower quadrant adjacent the interior surface of the shell for fluid communication with the drainway. A method includes identifying a substitute tumbler lock with an impermeable outer wall for replacing another lock having an identical outer perimeter profile and a permeable closed opening on its top surface.

A weather resistant tumbler lock has an elongated body, and defines a longitudinal axis. The lock is interchangeable with another lock having a corresponding asymmetrical perimeter profile with an opening in a top surface sealed with a cap, the other lock having a different rotatable core and a different configuration of tumblers. A drainway provides a channel for water to flow outwardly from the interior of a shell housing, a rotatable core and a keyway within the core, to a drain below the lock. The drain connects to a channel through a lower edge. The core provides an arcuate gap in a lower quadrant adjacent the interior surface of the shell for fluid communication with the drainway. A method includes identifying a substitute tumbler lock with an impermeable outer wall for replacing another lock having an identical outer perimeter profile and a permeable closed opening on its top surface.

A motor vehicle door is provided. That door includes a door body that carries a door handle and a decorative trim feature remote from the door handle. A key cylinder is carried on the door body behind an access door in the decorative trim feature. The positioning of a hidden key cylinder at a position remote from the door handle frees designers to provide a motor vehicle door with a cleaner and more aesthetically appealing appearance.

A motor vehicle door is provided. That door includes a door body that carries a door handle and a decorative trim feature remote from the door handle. A key cylinder is carried on the door body behind an access door in the decorative trim feature. The positioning of a hidden key cylinder at a position remote from the door handle frees designers to provide a motor vehicle door with a cleaner and more aesthetically appealing appearance.