Abstract:
In the breakdown preventive mechanism of a rotary damper of the invention, when the upper rotor (12) is rotated in one direction, a communication path is formed between the valve body (16) and the lower rotor (15), and the pressure in the pressure chamber is formed between the lower rotor and the lower housing (17) is lowered, and rotation is easily performed. In the breakdown preventive mechanism of a rotary damper, when the upper rotor (12) is rotated in other direction, the viscous fluid does not flow between the valve body and the lower rotor, and the pressure in the pressure chamber formed between the lower rotor and the lower housing is raised. As a result, the viscous fluid pushes down the relief valve (13) and the relief valve (14) by resisting the elastic element (19), and thereby prevents breakdown of the rotary damper.
Abstract:
An acceleration/deceleration mechanism is installed for a lid body rotatably supported on a main body. The mechanism includes a forcing device for forcing the lid body toward an open direction, a locking device for maintaining a closed state of the lid body relative to the main body in opposition to the force of the forcing device, and an acceleration/deceleration device situated between the lid body and the main body. The acceleration/deceleration device increasing a speed of opening of the lid body at less than a prescribed angle of opening of the lid body, and decreasing the speed of opening in excess of the prescribed angle of opening.
Abstract:
A damped hinge module is disclosed and includes a first member, a second member and a torsion spring. The second member is rotationally movable relative to the first member between a first position and a second position. The second member being received at least in part within the first member. The torsion spring is located internally with respect to the first member and biases the second member toward the first position relative to the first member. The spring has a preload with the second member in the first position relative to the first member.
Abstract:
A closure mechanism C comprising a elongated push/pull member 1, a base part 2, a resilient element 4, such as a coil spring, a motion converting means 6, such as a rack-and-pinion gearing, comprising a rotary output element 6o and a rotary braking device 7, such as a centrifugal brake, comprising a rotary input element 7i directly or indirectly coupled to said rotary output element 6o at least during movement of the elongated push/pull member 1 towards said first position, so as to be rotated thereby. The elongated push/pull member 1 and the base part 2 are assembled to each other so that said elongated push/pull member 1 is guided in a translational motion relative to the base part 2 between a first and a second position. The resilient element 4 is placed between said first and base parts 1, 2 so as to urge the elongated push/pull member 1 towards said first position. The motion converting means 6 converts the translational motion of said elongated push/pull member 1 relative to said base part 2 into a rotational motion of said rotary output element 6o, which is transmitted to the rotary input element 7i, and the rotary braking device 7 brakes its rotary input element 7i with a variable braking torque which increases and decreases with the rotational speed of said rotary input element 7i.
Abstract:
An assembly to pivotally connect an external vehicle closure panel to a vehicle body includes a first hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to one of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a second hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to the other of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a shaft that is constructed to pivotally connect the first hinge member to the second hinge member, and a viscous rotary damper. The damper includes a cover, a rotor, and a viscous material. The shaft connects to the rotor such that rotation of the external vehicle closure panel between a closing position and an opening position causes relative motion between the rotor and the cover of the viscous damper to provide a resistance for controlling the velocity of the external vehicle closure member.
Abstract:
A door checker for an automobile includes: a case fixed to one of a body and a door of the automobile; a check lever movably penetrating the case, oscillatably axis-supported by the other of the body and the door, and provided with a rack on one side face; a pinion meshed with the rack and rotatably housed in the case; a movable shoe housed in the case so that the movable shoe can be engaged with and disengaged from a tooth portion of the pinion; and a check spring for biasing the movable shoe in the direction of engagement with the pinion. The door is held at an arbitrary opening degree by an engaging force of the movable shoe with the pinion due to a biasing force of the check spring. Thus, it is possible to easily set a large number of steps in an opening degree for holding the door.
Abstract:
An automatic door opener (10) for opening or closing a door (28) includes a motor (14) driving a drive shaft (50) and an opener arm (18) connected to the door (28) and being responsive to rotation of the drive shaft (50) for moving the door (28) to an open or closed position. A clutch (46) operable to disengage the drive shaft (50) from the opener arm (18) is provided in the event of the door (28) engaging an obstacle, electric power being unavailable, or the door being fully open or fully closed. The door opener (10) may also include a brake (48) for selectively preventing movement of the door (28). Various embodiments of the invention are provided, including an electromagnet (80) and an electromagnetic brake (114).
Abstract:
Furniture hinge with damping and/or braking device in alternative to those already existing and capable of guaranteeing an improved efficiency during the closing or opening operation of the doors, or other furniture parts, thanks to an improvement of the kinematic motion for transmitting motion from one of the rockers to the damping elements. The improved efficiency of this hinge is also obtained by increasing the friction surfaces with a viscous medium present in suitable areas of the hinge and by allowing regulation of the trend of the angular velocity of a circular shaped element, for example a disc, which acts as braking element in contact with the viscous medium.
Abstract:
A container having a controlled-opening lid includes a container body with an open end providing access to an interior space configured and dimensioned for receiving user-supplied contents, and a lid member configured and dimensioned to cover the open end of the container body when in a first position and permit access to the interior space when in a second position. A hinge is configured to move the lid member from the first position to the second position, the hinge including at least one damping mechanism for damping a biasing force provided by the hinge when the lid member moves from the first position to the second position. The container may be a beverage container or a physician's desk container for storing medical implements.
Abstract:
A cover opening and closing device switches a cover body to rotate between a closed position and an open position. The cover opening and closing device includes a single operation button for switching the cover body between the closed position and the open position, a forcing device for forcing the cover body at least toward the closed position from a near closed position when the cover body is closed, and a switching device for releasing the cover body in the open position and allowing the cover body to rotate toward the closed position when the operation button is pushed.