[stomachmonkey]

Been busy today so will sum up a few things.

Just lifting a box over the TV to cover it then uncover when used is not really going to work. The TV will be mounted about 7 ft up the wall. It's built to fit a 70" TV. Not something my wife or even I could do alone, that's a 2 person job and a pain in the ass frankly.

Lift and support with pole similar to car hood. That's already part of the unit, was built that way. In practical application it doesn't work. I thought it would but it just doesn't.

Its a 5x4ft slab of cedar planks that start 5 ft off the ground. It's entirely different body mechanics from lifting a hood. You are lifting something that hinges 5 ft above your head versus something that hinges from waste height. Fully open it'll be 10 ft in the air.

A car hood is rigid, this flexes and you are lifting from one side not the middle. I guess you could raise it from the middle then pop rods in sides but that's even less ideal.

I thought about a winch, I do like that idea.

Something like the Blum servo drives above are exactly what I'd like to source.

I guess part of my problem is the right terminology for the type of spring loaded hinges or motorized units I should be searching for.

Thanks for all the great advice so far. Really appreciate it.