Patent ID: 7798556

Claim:
An opening device for a flap of a vehicle body having an opening with an upper edge, said flap being pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis on the upper edge from a downwardly directed closed position to an upwardly directed open position, said device comprising: a gas-filled spring having a pressure tube with a piston connected to a piston rod, said piston rod having one end extending from said piston tube and coupled to one of said flap and said body at a distance from the pivot axis, said pressure tube being coupled to the other of said flap and said body at a distance from the pivot axis, said gas filled spring applying a force to the flap in the opening direction; an energy accumulator which is in a loaded position when the flap is in the closed position and applies force to the flap during an opening stroke from said closed position toward said open position until a relaxed position of said accumulator is reached; and a loading device which can move the energy accumulator back to said loaded position after the relaxed position is reached.