A combination jar or bottle cap remover and bag opener. This kitchen tool consists essentially of two side bars and a base. One side bar contains a gripping blade for removing caps and the other side bar contains a bag opening device.

The present invention is a swing and fold down tailgate mechanism which includes an inner panel, a first handle supported by the inner panel operably associated with a first latch and a second latch, a second handle supported by the inner panel operably associated with the first handle and a third latch. The present invention also includes a hinge member operably associated with the first handle and the second handle for providing hinged support of the tailgate such that the tailgate pivots in a drop down direction and alternatively in a swing open direction. When the first handle is actuated, the first and second latch will release and the second handle will be deactivated, allowing the tailgate to pivot using the third latch and hinge. When the second handle is actuated, the second and latch will release and the first handle will be deactivated, allowing the tailgate to pivot about the first latch and hinge.

According to the invention, a closure panel, such as a tailgate, is removably connected to a vehicle body for pivotal movement about a hinge axis. The panel may be removably lifted from the vehicle body when the panel is pivoted to a panel removal position. A torque rod counterbalance spring is carried by the panel and includes an elongated portion extending between a crank end anchored to the panel for pivotal movement therewith and a stationary end. A support device is anchored to the vehicle body and captures the stationary end of the torque rod to restrain its pivotal movement so that the torque rod is torsionally wound when the panel is pivoted away from the panel removal position to provide a counterbalance force for continuously urging the panel towards the panel removal position. The torque rod is completely unwound when the panel is pivoted to the panel removal position. The support device captures the stationary end by a releasable slip-fitted connection therewith so that the stationary end is released from the support means when the panel is removably lifted from the vehicle body. The torque rod and support device cooperatively provide a counterbalance effort to assist with pivotal movement of the panel and to permit facile removal of the panel and the torque rod from the vehicle body.

A convertible cargo box for transporting cargo on a vehicle is provided with first and second opposite side walls pivotably mounted about generally horizontal axes located adjacent the floor. The first and second side walls are each pivotable between a closed position generally perpendicular to the floor and an open position generally parallel to and aligned with floor to form an extension thereof. A sidewall support assembly is provided for releasably latching one of the first and second side walls in its open and closed positions. The sidewall support assembly includes a slide latch having a first end pivotably mounted to the one of the first and second side walls. The slide latch has an elongated slot with a stop corresponding to the open position of the one of the side walls. A slot follower is fixed between the first and second opposite side walls and slidably captured in the slot. The slot follower is engageable with the stop for preventing further pivoting of the one of the first and second side walls past its open position when the slot follower engages the stop.

A torsion device for facilitating opening and closing a gate attached to a support. The device broadly includes a first section, a second section, and a coupling section. The second section includes an angled portion and a contact portion. The angled portion is operable to be substantially inserted into the gate such that the contact portion generally abuts an interior surface of the gate when the gate is substantially opened. The coupling section couples the first section and the second section such that opening of the gate causes a torsional force to be applied by the device to facilitate opening and closing of the gate. The abutting of the contact portion improves functionality and reduces damage to the gate caused by the torsional force.