Abstract: A housing having a first cross-sectional shape includes an elongate passageway disposed between a sealed bottom end of the housing and a top opening thereof. Liquid is disposed in the elongate passageway. A pulley is mounted substantially above the top opening. A weight adapted to fit in the housing has a second cross-sectional shape that differs substantially from the first cross-sectional shape. A cable having a first end and a second end is entrained on the pulley, and a valve member is movably mounted with respect to the weight for directionally regulating a damping force associated with the movement of the weight through the liquid. The cable is attached to the weight at the first end of the cable. One of the housing and the second end of the cable is attached at a fixed location with respect to the door and the other of the housing and the second end of the cable is attached to the door.