Abstract: A door hinge device for a vehicle is capable of facilitating two doors to be simultaneously or independently opened or closed in a state in which rotation trajectories of the doors are ensured as a hinge bar connected to a carrier of a speed reduction unit through a hinge shaft and a rack and a pinion connected to a rotation shaft of a sun gear set a rotation amount of the doors during a process in which a hinge unit of the door moves along a rail in a diagonal direction toward the outside of a vehicle body in a vehicle including no B pillar.

Abstract: A door opening and closing device for a vehicle includes a door for opening and closing a door opening formed in a vehicle body, a spindle mounted in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and configured to rotate, and a worm wheel gear engaged to the spindle and configured to rotate according to a rotation of the spindle, a first door arm engaged to the worm wheel gear and configured to rotate together with the worm wheel gear, and a second door arm interlocking with the worm wheel gear, selectively moving from or to the first door arm, and configured to slide.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to hinge apparatus for supporting an aperture closure member. The hinge apparatus is configurable in at least first and second configurations. The hinge apparatus includes a first hinge bracket and a second hinge bracket. A first hinge linkage member is pivotally mounted to each of the first and second hinge brackets. A second hinge linkage member is pivotally mounted to each of the first and second hinge brackets. A latching mechanism is provided for selectively latching the hinge apparatus. The latching mechanism is operable to inhibit movement of the first and second hinge linkage members relative to each other to latch the hinge apparatus. The present invention also relates to a carrier assembly for carrying an aperture closure member; and a vehicle having a carrier assembly.

Abstract: A door connection structure includes a door guide for guiding a door in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, a door hinge arm mounted on the vehicle body, and including a hinge rotation shaft and a door rotation shaft, the door hinge arm rotating around the hinge rotation shaft when the door is sliding, a door hinge rotatably mounted around the door rotation shaft and connected to the door, a first catcher rotatably mounted on the door hinge arm and of which a center striker guide is formed thereto, and a center striker which is inserted into the center striker guide to rotate the first catcher and limits rotation of the first catcher when the door swings so that the door swings around the door rotation shaft.

Abstract: A door hinge device for a vehicle is disclosed. In the door hinge device for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the vehicle without the B pillar, as the hinge slider connected to the hinge part of the door slides and moves in the outer diagonal direction of the vehicle body along the rails inside the case to secure the rotation trajectory of the door, and then the slide latch part configured in the hinge slider restrains the striker fixed to the case by the linked operation of the link arm connected to the door hinge bracket, thereby the slide movement position of the hinge slider is fixed, and then the opening/closing operation of the door is stably achieved.

Abstract: Provided is a wire assembly for an anti-pinch sensor for a vehicle electrically connecting the anti-pinch sensor installed on one side of a door for the vehicle to detect the pinch between the door and a vehicle body with a controller configured to control an opening or closing of the door. The wire assembly includes: a lead wire unit connected to the anti-pinch sensor; a center wire unit having one end connected to the lead wire unit and installed on a folded portion of the door; and a connection wire unit having one end connected to the other end of the center wire unit, having the other end connected to the controller, and drawn out to the outside from the inside of the door through the door.

Abstract: A side structure for a passenger vehicle has a side element, which at least partially delimits a lateral window opening, and a transparent side window, which is movable relative to the side element between a closed position closing at least a partial region of the window opening and at least one open position opening up the partial region of the window opening. The side structure has a strut which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and on which the side window is held via a hinge device so as to be movable relative to the side element and relative to the strut in such a manner that the side window is movable outwards in the transverse direction of the vehicle and downwards in the vertical direction of the vehicle from the closed position into the open position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a body, and a door assembly. The body is supported by the chassis, and defines a driver compartment and a cargo compartment. The driver compartment has a cab opening and the cargo compartment has a cargo opening. The door assembly is coupled to the body and provides selective access into the driver compartment and into the cargo compartment through the cab opening and cargo opening, respectively. The door assembly includes a first door and a second door. The first door is movable between a first position extending across the cab opening and a second position extending across a portion of the cab opening. The second door is movable between a third position extending across the cargo opening and a fourth position extending across a portion of the cab opening.

Abstract: A furniture hinge includes a first fitting portion to be fixed to a furniture part or a carrier movably-supported relative to a furniture carcass, a second fitting portion to be fixed to a movably-supported furniture part, and a hinge mechanism connecting the fitting portions. The hinge mechanism has a least five hinge axis members, and includes a supporting lever directly connecting the fitting portions. The hinge mechanism includes a control mechanism for controlling a motion sequence between the first and second fitting portions. The control mechanism is separate from (i.e., is not constructed as one piece with) the supporting lever and has at least three control levers hingedly connected together. A first control lever is connected to the first fitting portion via a hinge axis member, a second control lever is connected to the second fitting portion via a hinge axis member, and a third control lever connects the first control lever and the second control lever.

Abstract: An autonomous tilting three-wheeled vehicle comprises a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis by a mechanical linkage, such that the pair of wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis. An electronic controller of the autonomous vehicle controls a tilt actuator to selectively tilt the chassis. Optionally, a steering actuator is coupled to the front wheels and controlled by the electronic controller to selectively steer the wheels. A sensor configured to measure orientation-dependent information may be coupled to the chassis by a gimbal configured to compensate for vehicle tilt. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle comprises an autonomous delivery robot.

Abstract: An autonomous can include one or more configurable passenger seats to accommodate a plurality of different seating configurations. For instance, the one or more passenger seats can include a passenger seat defining a seating orientation. The passenger seat can be configurable in a first configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a forward end of the autonomous vehicle and a second configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a rear end of the autonomous vehicle. The passenger seat can include a seatback rotatable about a pivot point on a base of the passenger seat to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration. Alternatively, or additionally, the autonomous vehicle can include a door assembly pivotably fixed to a vehicle body of the autonomous vehicle such that a swept path of the door assembly when moving between an open position and a closed position is reduced.

Abstract: An embodiment door mounting unit for a vehicle includes a body hinge shaft and first mounting portions disposed at both ends of the body hinge shaft, wherein the body hinge shaft is configured to be elongated in a door opening of a vehicle body along a pillar in a height direction of the vehicle body and is configured to be mounted on the vehicle body by the first mounting portions.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a power door control unit that: when a getting-off-intention of a user is recognized by a getting-off-intention recognizing unit, determines whether a door-opening-prohibition condition of a predetermined door is satisfied based on a surrounding situation of a vehicle recognized by a vehicle-surrounding-situation recognizing unit; and executes power-door-automatic-opening control, the power-door-automatic-opening control causing a power door to perform an opening operation when the door-opening-prohibition condition is not satisfied, the power-door-automatic-opening control prohibiting the opening operation of the power door when the door-opening-prohibition condition is satisfied.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a vehicle having a passenger assistance system for facilitating ingress and egress of passengers. The vehicle may include a plurality of wheels. The vehicle may include a body including at least one doorway supported on the plurality of wheels via a suspension. The vehicle may include a door movable between an open position and a closed position covering the at least one doorway. The vehicle may include a first platform movable between a horizontal position beneath a bottom of the doorway and a stowed position parallel to the door. The vehicle may include an occupant compartment within the body. The occupant compartment may include a seat rotatable to face the doorway in an ingress or egress mode. The occupant compartment may include a robotic arm configured to extend along an ingress or egress path through the doorway.

Abstract: A link mechanism for a vehicle door is provided. The link mechanism includes a body having a first end portion facing a vehicle body and a second end portion facing a vehicle door and a first mounting member that is mounted on the vehicle body, and rotatably connected to the first end portion of the body through a first shaft. A second mounting member is mounted on the vehicle door, and is rotatably connected to the second end portion of the body through a second shaft. A rotation restricting unit selectively restricts a rotation of the second mounting member.

Abstract: A non-contact obstacle and gesture detection system and method are disclosed. The system includes first and second electronic control units in communication with one another and obstacle and gesture sensors coupled to the first electronic control unit. First and second power actuators are coupled to the first and second electronic control units for moving first and second closure members, respectively. The first electronic control unit detects the obstacle or gesture using the obstacle and gesture sensors, communicates the detection of the obstacle or gesture to the second electronic control unit, and controls movement of the first closure member using the first power actuator. The second electronic control unit is configured to request the detection of the obstacle or gesture adjacent the motor vehicle from the first electronic control unit and control movement of the second closure member using the second power actuator accordingly.

Abstract: A door opening/closing apparatus is provided which can expand storage space in a main body. A door opening/closing apparatus includes at least two hinges, and a connecting bar that is connected to the at least two hinges. Each hinge includes a main body-side member, a door-side member, a main arm, a first link, and a second link, and causes a door to move parallel to itself between a closed position and an open position. The main arm includes a bent portion. The connecting bar is mounted on a door side of the main arm. A center of the connecting bar in a width direction thereof is placed on a second shaft side relative to a center between a first shaft and the second shaft of the main arm in a front view of the door in a state where the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: An automatic door system for a vehicle may comprise a hinged door in connection with the vehicle configured to selectively enclose a continuous opening formed between a first and a second pillar of the vehicle, wherein the sliding door and the hinged door are configured to enclose the continuous opening without an intermediate support pillar. The system may also comprise the hinged door in a hinged position and controlled by a first power actuator. The system may also comprise the sliding door in connection with the vehicle configured to selectively enclose the continuous opening, wherein a second power actuator controls a sliding position of the sliding door. The system may further comprise proximity sensors and interference sensors to detect interfering obstructions, objects, and/or persons located within the interference zone.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a connection member coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. The assembly further includes a door sub-assembly disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening that extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.

Abstract: A door opening system for a rear door of a motor vehicle in which a rear door first moves backwards and outwardly away from the car shell prior to the rear door then swinging outwardly away from the front of the car. The car shell does not have a B-pillar so that a large, convenient opening is provide with the front door opening forwardly and the rear door opening rearwardly. The door opening system includes: a car shell; a rear slider rail attached to the car shell; a rear door hinge assembly configured to move along the rear slider rail; with the rear door mounted onto the rear door hinge assembly, wherein the rear door hinge assembly moves along the rear slider rail in a direction rearwardly and away from the car shell prior to the rear door being outwardly rotatable on the rear door hinge assembly.

Abstract: A door device for a vehicle includes a latch drive device configured to unlatch a swing door by driving a latch mechanism, a door hold-open device configured to hold the swing door at an opened angle by applying a braking force to the swing door, a door open switch issuing an operation request of the latch drive device to open the swing door; a door stop switch issuing an operation request of the door hold-open device, and a grip portion including the door open switch and the door stop switch to issue the operation requests of the door open switch and the door stop switch in a state where an occupant of the vehicle holds the grip portion.

Abstract: A rear vehicle assembly includes a body structure, a moveable tailgate, and an opening and closing device. The opening and closing device includes connecting rods fixing the tailgate to the body structure. The connecting rods are hinged at a first end to the body structure and at a second end to a lateral edge of the tailgate. One of the connecting rods includes first and second rectilinear sections and a curved section. The first and second rectilinear sections are located on respective concave and convex sides of the curved section.

Abstract: A door system is provided for a passenger vehicle having at least two seat rows. The door system includes a front side door of a corresponding vehicle side, which can be brought into an open position from a closed position in order to take a seat in the rear seat row or to leave the rear seat row. In order to create a door system by which easier and more comfortable closing of the front side door is enabled, the front side door can be moved from the open position into the closed position by a door drive.

Abstract: A weightless articulating door mount for a gaming machine is disclosed. The weightless articulating door mount has a four link mechanism and a cam. A biasing mechanism interacts with the weightless articulating door mount through the cam and provides a uniform force counteracting the weight of the door/monitor. With the door/monitor effectively weightless, the door may be opened and will remain in place absent any further disturbance.

Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, folding in an exterior mirror of a motor vehicle having a door with a rear-mounted hinge. The exterior mirror is folded in when the door is opened and when at least one of the following conditions is met: (1) an obstacle is detected adjacent the door or (2) a speed at which the door is opened is less than a predefined threshold value. A motor vehicle configured to perform the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An articulating mechanism for opening and closing a vehicle door utilizes a first mechanism having a first motion profile and a second mechanism having a second motion profile. To open the door, the first mechanism begins the first motion profile before the second mechanism begins the second motion profile. To close the door, the second mechanism completes the second motion profile before the first mechanism completes the first motion profile.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes a door panel slidably operable between a secured position within a door aperture and a staging position partially distal from the door aperture. A latch is engaged with a striker path during operation of the door panel between the secured and staging positions, and is selectively disengaged from the striker path to define open and closed positions of the door panel when the door panel is in the staging position.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle including a body defining a door opening for a front door and a rear door. The doors are attached to the body a track that guides the doors between an open position and a closed position. A rocker assembly includes an outer rocker panel defining a slot, an inner rocker panel attached to the outer rocker panel, and an insert including an upper tube and a lower tube disposed between the outer rocker panel and the inner rocker panel. The tubes extend between a front end and a rear end of the rocker assembly, a track is assembled between the upper and lower tubes, and the slot in the outer rocker panel provides access to the track for brackets that have rollers that engage the track. The brackets are attached to the doors.

Abstract: A cutaway bus is provided with a monocoque body attached to an OEM cab frame having the chassis removed. The bus body includes a horizontal frame to which panels are attached to define a continuous, non-stepped floor for the passenger area of the bus. The floor resides at a lower level than the OEM cab frame. The bus entryway is sloped and includes a deployable ramp for wheelchair ingress and egress.

Abstract: A mechanism for deploying and aligning a ramp relative to a platform includes a main bearing operatively associated with the platform and rotatable about a main pivot axis; a drive member disposed on the main bearing, the drive member being adapted to drive the main bearing to rotate about the main pivot axis; a rotating member disposed on the main bearing and rotatable about the main pivot axis with the main bearing; and a ramp member rotatably connected to the rotating member at a pivot point eccentric to the main pivot axis. Rotation of the rotating member causes the ramp member to move between a stowed position and a deployed position in an arcuate path about the main pivot axis.

Abstract: A vehicle such as an automobile includes: a vehicle body having an opening; an opening-closing member that closes the opening; a drive member that drives the opening-closing member so as to open and/or close the opening; a controller that controls the drive member to control the opening-closing member between a fully open position and a fully closed position; and an elastic member provided at a mating portion of the closed opening-closing member and the vehicle body and inserted between the closed opening-closing member and the vehicle body. The controller controls the drive member in a stopping state of the vehicle and opens the opening-closing member from the fully closed position so as to reduce a pressure acting upon the elastic member.

Abstract: A door assembly for a motorized vehicle includes a door configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a first member defining a first axis, and a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis. A linkage assembly includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot. A cross member has a first end and a second end. The first end has a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member. The door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.

Abstract: A vehicle door arrangement having a vehicle door for closing a door opening in a bodywork of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and having a pivoting device, which comprises a carrier arm bearing the weight of the vehicle door and at least one guide arm controlling the movement of the vehicle door, wherein the carrier arm and the guide arm are of the same length and are arranged pivotally mounted on the vehicle door and the bodywork in such a way that the arms form a parallelogram. The support arm is pivotally mounted level with a horizontal bodywork section defining a lower limit of the door opening.

Abstract: A vehicle door check link mechanism comprises a vehicle mounting member, a vehicle door mounting member, a link member and a latch member. The vehicle mounting member and vehicle door mounting member can be mounted to a vehicle and vehicle door, respectively. The link member can be pivotally coupled to the vehicle mounting member and slidably coupled to the vehicle door mounting member, or vice-versa, to pivot through a pivotal movement range. The latch and link members can prevent the latch member from moving from a latched position that retains the link member to a released position that releases the link member while the link member is disposed within a first pivotal movement range angle, and permit the latch member to move to the released position while the link member is disposed within a second pivotal movement range angle that does not overlap the first pivotal movement range angle.

Abstract: A closure assembly for a vehicle includes rails secured to a vehicle body, first joints secured to one of the rails and able to pivot about an axis through a first angle between a first reference position and a second reference position, a panel, and second joints secured to one of the rails, supporting the panel and able to pivot about a second axis through a second angle between a first reference position and a third reference position.

Abstract: A dual hinged door assembly for a vehicle is provided, the assembly including an upper door portion and a lower door portion. The upper door portion, which may include a window, pivots about a primary axis formed by its juncture with a structural member in the roof. The lower door portion, which may include a window, pivots about a secondary axis formed by its juncture with the upper door portion. Primary and secondary drive systems may be used to provide independent powered motion of the upper and lower door portions. Each drive system may include a powered strut, e.g., a hydraulic strut, and a non-powered strut, e.g., a gas strut.

Abstract: A control system for use with a vehicle's dual hinged door assembly is provided, the control system including a door switch, upper and lower door portions, primary and secondary door drive systems and a controller. The upper door portion pivots about a primary axis formed by its juncture with a structural member in the roof while the lower door portion pivots about a secondary axis formed by its juncture with the upper door portion. Primary and secondary drive systems provide independent powered motion of the upper and lower door portions. The controller monitors door switch activation and determines whether activation corresponds to a door open or door closed command; performs preset door opening and closing sequences using the drive systems; and modifies the preset door opening and closing sequences based on data from proximity sensors, pinch sensors, latch sensors, drive system motor speed and the current draw by the drive systems.

Abstract: An improved sliding door for a vehicle comprises a guide rail (5) and a sliding carriage (6) which is mounted on the guide rail (5) in a longitudinally movable manner. The sliding door furthermore comprises a hinge stirrup (7), which is rotatably (8, 9) mounted on the sliding carriage (6) and on a body flange (4), a control lever (11) which is rotatably (12, 13) mounted on the sliding carriage (6) and on a body flange (4), a first intermediate lever (10) which is rotatably (17) mounted on the control lever (11), and a second intermediate lever (18) which is rotatably (19, 20) mounted on the first intermediate lever (10) and on the sliding carriage (6).

Abstract: A long door, particularly for a four-passenger cope vehicle, is provided to allow passengers in the back seat to get in or out while the passengers in the front seat remain seated. An intermediate member stands between a door and a car body. A first connection member in which the door and the intermediate member are connected to enable rotational or horizontal motion, and a second connection member in which the intermediate member and the car body are detachably connected are provided. A control drives the second connection member located at the front or back end of the door when the front or back part of the door is opened, so that the connection between the intermediate member and the car body is released and the remaining second connection member, the intermediate member connected to that member, and the first connection member cooperate to support the weight of the door.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a vehicle's dual hinged door assembly is provided, where the dual hinged door assembly includes a first door portion hingeably coupled to a structural member within the vehicle's roof such that it pivots about a primary axis formed by its juncture with the structural roof member, a second door portion hingeably coupled to the first door portion such that it pivots about a secondary axis formed by its juncture with the first door portion, a primary drive system providing powered motion for the first door portion about the primary axis, a secondary drive system providing powered motion for the second door portion about the secondary axis, and a controller coupled to the drive systems that provides independent motion control of the first and second door portions via the primary and secondary drive systems.

Abstract: A vehicle hinge assembly including a first hinge member mounted to a vehicle body or a vehicle closure panel and a second hinge member mounted to the other of the vehicle body or the vehicle closure panel. A first contact member is fixed to the first hinge member and a second contact member is fixed to the second hinge member. The first contact member and the second contact member have first and second surfaces, respectively, that frictionally engage each other. The first contact member and the second contact member are arranged between the first hinge member and the second hinge member such that relative motion of the vehicle closure panel between an open position and a closed position causes relative frictional motion between the first contact member and the second contact member to provide a resistance for controlling the movement of the vehicle closure member.

Abstract: A vehicle sliding door mechanism is arranged to move a door from a door opening provided in a vehicle side body structure from a closed position to an open position. The sliding door mechanism comprises an upper slide rail and a lower slide rail fixed to the vehicle side body structure. An upper slider is associated with the upper rail and is movable along the upper rail, and a lower slider is associated with the lower rail and is movable along the lower rail. An upper link assembly operatively connected to the vehicle door and the upper slider, and a lower link assembly is operatively connected to the vehicle door and the lower slider. At least one link assembly of the upper link assembly and lower link assembly is configured to control a moment of force about a pivot axis while moving the vehicle door between the closed position and the open position.

Abstract: A sliding door mechanism includes an upper slide rail and a lower slide rail fixed to a vehicle side body structure. An upper slider is associated with the upper rail, and a lower slider is associated with the lower rail. An upper link includes a control arm pivotally connected to both the upper slider and a vehicle door. A lower link includes a control arm pivotally connected to both the lower slider and the vehicle door. A control mechanism is operatively associated with a selected one of the upper link and the lower link. The control mechanism includes a first control fixed to the vehicle side body structure and a second control fixed to the control arm of the selected link. Movement of the second control is based on predetermined structural constraints associated with the first control. The control mechanism controls rotation and translation of the upper and lower links.

Abstract: A tailgate for the bed of a pickup truck has a generally U-shaped tailgate frame that is adapted to be coupled to the bed of the pickup truck and is pivotable about a first axis between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position. A door assembly is coupled to the tailgate frame and is pivotable about a second axis generally normal relative to the first axis for movement between a closed position proximate the tailgate frame and an open position away from the tailgate frame.

Abstract: A vehicle door hinge assembly includes a first hinge supported to pivot about a first axis, a guide surface, a door located at a side of the vehicle, a bracket to which the door is secured, supported to pivot about the first axis and a second axis and including a follower engaged with the guild surface, and a strut secured to the bracket that extends as the bracket pivots toward an open position and retracts as the bracket pivots toward a closed position.

Abstract: In a four-seat coupe, it is inconvenient for a rear-seat occupant to get in/out of the vehicle while a front-seat occupant is seated. In the present invention, the length of each door of the four-seat coupe is set, so that the rear-seat occupant can get off/on the vehicle while the front-seat occupant is seated. The door is provided with detachable first opening/closing mechanisms at its front and rear end portions. The first opening/closing mechanism at the front end portion of the door is adapted to be released when the front-seat occupant gets off/on the vehicle to allow the first opening/closing mechanism at the rear end portion of the door to support the door so that opening/closing motion can be performed.

Abstract: A vehicle door hinge includes a base, a main link having first and second arms, a first end of the main link being pivotally mounted to the base at a first pivot, a drive link pivotally connected to an end of a control link, the drive link passing through a slot in the main link, a mounting plate having open ended slots opening at a first end of the plate, at least one closed end slot wherein an end of the drive link is pivotally secured in one of the open ended slots, an idle link pivotally secured in a closed end slot of the main link and an open ended slot of the door mounting plate, a kicker link having a first end thereof pivotally secured in the open ended slot of the main link and a second end pivotally secured in a closed end slot of the door mounting plate wherein the kicker link is longer than the idle link.

Abstract: An entry assembly includes a frame and a gate. The frame has a first side and a second side. The gate is connected to the frame. The gate defines a demarcation between the first side and the second side of the frame. The gate is pivotable about the frame along at least two axes of rotation. Each axis of rotation intersects at least one of the at least two axes of rotation.

Abstract: This rear-end element (2) for motor vehicle includes a carrier structural element (6) forming an energy-absorbing element after impact, and a carrier structural frame (8). At least the carrier structural element (6) has a cellular structure formed of cells (30, 32) extending longitudinally through the carrier structural element (6) between a back face and a front face of the carrier structural element (6) and opening onto the back and/or front face of the carrier structural element (6). A rear end (44) which includes the rear-end element (2).

Abstract: A hinge mechanism having a vehicle bracket that includes a pawl engagement member extending therefrom. A horizontally-rotating swing arm is rotatably coupled with the vehicle bracket. The hinge mechanism includes a pawl with an engagement portion and an abutment portion. The pawl is connected with the swing arm and operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A door bracket is rotatably coupled with the swing arm. A lever actuation member extends from the door bracket and is aligned to engage the abutment portion of the pawl.