A hinge assembly that includes a closure member such as a door and a torsion bar that extends between hinge assemblies about which the door pivots so that the torsion bar becomes twisted when the door is moved between a closed position and an open position. The twisting of the torsion bar creates potential energy in the torsion which can be used to open or close the door. A force adjustment mechanism is provided which releases built-up potential energy in the torsion bar in a controlled manner so as to close open the door in a controlled manner.

A holding and opening mechanism for a pivoting element which is mounted to be pivotable relative to a supporting element about a first axle via a joint, with a pivoting arm acting between the pivoting element and the supporting element is provided. The pivoting arm is pivotally mounted about a second axle wherein the free end of the pivoting arm acts on a control surface of a guide element. A torsion spring is provided which acts on the pivoting arm in the direction around the second axle, a fixed part and a part pivotable relative thereto likewise provided, with the one part including the guide element and the other part including the pivoting arm. The pivotable part is adapted to be pivotable relative to the fixed part about the joint and the first axle, the pivotable part is connected to the pivoting arm and the pivoting element and the fixed part is connected to the supporting element, the control surface in cooperation with the torsion spring and the pivoting arm determines the holding and opening force via the pivot angle of the pivoting element.

A power trunk device includes a hinge arm coupled to a trunk lid and configured to be rotatably coupled to a vehicle body panel to define a trunk space, the hinge arm being configured to open and close the trunk lid, a torsion bar link rotatably coupled to a middle of the hinge arm, a torsion bar connected between the torsion bar link and the vehicle body panel in front of the hinge arm, the torsion bar being configured to provide elastic force in a direction in which the trunk lid is opened, and an electric drive unit connected between the hinge arm and the torsion bar, the electric drive unit being configured to be moved together with the hinge arm while providing rotational force to the hinge arm.

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.

The invention relates to a holding and opening mechanism for a pivoting element, such as a lid, a cover, a door or the like, which is mounted to be pivotable relative to a supporting element such as a housing, a frame or the like about a first axle via a joint, with a pivoting arm acting between the pivoting element and the supporting element, which arm is pivotally mounted about a second axle that is not the same as the first axle, wherein the free end of the pivoting arm acts, preferably via a roller, on a control surface of a guide element, wherein a torsion spring is provided which acts on the pivoting arm in the direction around the second axle, in order to generate a holding and opening force on the pivoting arm and the control surface, comprising a fixed part and a part pivotable relative thereto, with the one part including the guide element and the other part including the pivoting arm, wherein the pivotable part is adapted to be pivotable relative to the fixed part about the joint and the first axle, the pivotable part is connected to the pivoting arm and the pivoting element and the fixed part is connected to the supporting element, wherein the control surface in cooperation with the torsion spring and the pivoting arm determines the holding and opening force via the pivot angle of the pivoting element. The invention is characterized in that a plurality of pivoting arms, guide elements, joints and fixed and pivotable parts are provided, with the pivoting arms being coupled together by a common torsion spring Spin the second axle.

A door is provided for restricting access through a doorway aperture. The door is defined at one or more peripheral faces, and is movable between a closed position in which the door is substantially aligned with the doorway aperture and an open position in which the door is pivoted from alignment with the doorway aperture to either side of the doorway aperture. The door has a door member defining a pair of major faces and at least one minor face at a peripheral edge of the major faces where a cross-section of at least one of the minor faces of the door member is configured to be substantially curved, so that in operation when the door is moved between its open position and closed position from either side of the doorway aperture, the minor faces remain proximate to at least one peripheral face of the doorway aperture.

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.

A one-piece hinge assembly (1) with a resilient torsion bar is provided. The one-piece hinge assembly (1) comprises a first hinge element (2A), a second hinge element (3A), and a torsion bar (6) that extends axially between the first hinge element (2A) and the second hinge element (3A). The second hinge element (3A) presents two load arms (8) that are constrained to pivot with the torsion bar. The first hinge element (2A) comprises a bearing body (9) that extends between the two load arms (8) and through which a middle portion of the torsion bar (6) passes.

A one-piece hinge assembly (1) with a resilient torsion bar is provided. The one-piece hinge assembly (1) comprises a first hinge element (2A), a second hinge element (3A), and a torsion bar (6) that extends axially between the first hinge element (2A) and the second hinge element (3A). The second hinge element (3A) presents two load arms (8) that are constrained to pivot with the torsion bar. The first hinge element (2A) comprises a bearing body (9) that extends between the two load arms (8) and through which a middle portion of the torsion bar (6) passes.

A hinge assembly that includes a closure member such as a door and a torsion bar that extends between hinge assemblies about which the door pivots so that the torsion bar becomes twisted when the door is moved between a closed position and an open position. The twisting of the torsion bar creates potential energy in the torsion which can be used to open or close the door. A force adjustment mechanism is provided which releases built-up potential energy in the torsion bar in a controlled manner so as to close open the door in a controlled manner.