Abstract: Disclosed is a front-mounted hinge for mounting a door to a vehicle structure. The hinge includes a housing, a translating base, a hinge strap, and a cover assembly. The housing mounts to the exterior surface of the vehicle structure, and the hinge strap mounts to the exterior face of the door. The translating base is slidably mounted to the interior surface of the housing. The translating base moves relative to the housing between an abutting position, in which the translating base abuts a mounting plate of the housing, and an elevated position, in which the translating base is moved away from the mounting plate. The hinge strap is pivotally connected to the translating base so that when the hinge strap is pivoted, the translating base is caused to move between the abutting and elevated positions and the door moves between closed and open positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an increased strength dogging mechanism operable by a handle for releasably securing a door on each side of the door to a structure. The dogging mechanism includes a plurality of dog keepers each having a ramp portion and a seating portion mounted to each side of the door. A dog having a roller is rotatably mounted to engage a cooperatively associated dog keeper. A mounting bolt extends through the structure and through the approximate center of each dog. A drive assembly which is movable by the handle between open and closed positions moves each dog, simultaneously, between unlocked and locked positions. As the dog is rotated to the locked position, the roller of each dog engages the ramp portion of its associated dog keeper and rolls upon the ramp and into the seating portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a translating handle assembly that actuates a latch mechanism to releasably secure a door to a structure. The handle assembly includes an interior handle, an exterior handle, and a translating shaft. The translating shaft is connected between the interior handle and the exterior handle. The interior handle is rotatable between closed and open positions and the exterior handle rotates in unison with the interior handle between closed and open positions. In the closed position, the exterior handle is disposed within the recess of an exterior handle housing. Rotation of the interior handle between closed and open positions causes the translating shaft to move axially between non-extended and extended positions displacing the exterior handle axially out of the recess of the exterior handle housing.