Spring And Gear Patents (Class 16/79)
  • Patent number: 11149483
    Abstract: A furniture hinge includes a body-side main element and a hinge cup, which is pivotally guided relative to the base element and which can be secured to a movable furniture part. The main element and the hinge cup are connected together via a lever mechanism. The furniture hinge is configured so that the lever mechanism has at least two levers, each of which is mounted on the hinge cup in a pivotal manner about a pivot axis that is aligned perpendicularly to the pivot axis of the hinge cup and each of which is provided with a toothing that meshes with another toothing arranged in the hinge cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Hettich-ONI GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Frye, Felix Sander
  • Patent number: 11098515
    Abstract: Mechanism for opening of a flap door of an item of furniture, including a part extensible telescopically under the action of a spring, hinged to a lateral side of an item of furniture and acting on a door by way of a thrust fulcrum, wherein a unit is provided, apt to move continuously the thrust fulcrum during the phases of opening and closure of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: EFFEGI BREVETTI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Antonio Giovannetti
  • Patent number: 11053723
    Abstract: A flap fitting for furniture having a housing secured to a body. A support lever is rotatably mounted on the housing about a first axis of rotation. The support lever is connected to a flap about a second axis of rotation using a connection. A control lever is connected via the connection to the flap about a third axis of rotation. The control lever is articulatedly connected about a fourth axis of rotation to a control element and to the housing. The flap is pivotable via a gripping element. A center of rotation of the flap when in a closed position is located below the gripping element and when in a maximum open position is located above the gripping element. As a result the flap can be smoothly opened and closed by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HETTICH-ONI GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Sobolewski, Stefan Andschus, Michael Tasche, Oliver Schael
  • Patent number: 10597924
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of spring hinges, and to a silent spring hinge, which addresses the technical shortcoming that relatively high noise is generated when an existing spring hinge used in a household appliance drives a cabinet door to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: UNIND (SHENZHEN) CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Nengjun Hu, Meiyuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 10501976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of spring hinges, and to a gear structure spring hinge, which addresses the technical shortcoming that a closing speed is excessively high when an existing spring hinge used in a household appliance drives a cabinet door to close. The gear structure spring hinge comprises a fixing base and a hinge arm, the fixing base being connected to a first gear through a first gear shaft, a crank shaft being provided on a gear surface of the first gear, the crank shaft being movably connected to a pull rod, a spring assembly being sleeved on the pull rod, a front end of the spring assembly being mated with and snap-fitted to the fixing base; and the hinge arm includes a connecting arm and a second gear, the second gear being provided on an end of the connecting arm, the second gear and the connecting arm forming an integral structure, the second gear being connected to the fixing base through a second gear shaft, the second gear being meshed with the first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: UNIND (SHENZHEN) CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Nengjun Hu, Meiyuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 10253539
    Abstract: A pivoting fitting for pivoting a flap hinged on a furniture body, comprising an energy accumulator fastened to a connecting part which can be connected to a body wall, and a lever arrangement which is operatively connected to the energy accumulator and has at least one articulated lever, is configured such that the energy accumulator is connected to a control element comprising a cam disc which is fixed but rotatable with respect to the connecting part, which control element is connected in a movement-dependent manner to the articulated lever which is held on the one side on the connecting part and can be held on the other side on the flap, and is rotated when the articulated lever is pivoted, wherein in one pivoted end position, the energy accumulator is clamped, and in the other end position is unclamped relative thereto, and wherein the cam disc has a control contour with varying radius of curvature, on which cam disc the energy accumulator is held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: HETTICH HOLDING GMBH & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Andre Kaiser, Andreas Montecchio
  • Patent number: 10024088
    Abstract: A hinge assembly provided for pivotally connecting a door to a main body of a refrigerator. The hinge assembly is configured such that the door is translationally moved with respect to the main body in response to a pivot motion of the door. The hinge assembly comprises a housing having a first slot, a second slot, and a protrusion. A primary gear is attached to the door and slidably positioned within the first slot of the housing such that a pivot motion of the door rotates the primary gear in a first rotational direction. Additionally, a secondary gear, rotationally engaging the primary gear, is slidably positioned within the second slot of the housing. The secondary gear further comprises a cam profile adjacent to the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dubina, Kunal Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 9364132
    Abstract: A balanced hinge device with a brake has a first connector (3) adapted to be fixed to a structure or frame and connected via at least a kinematic element (8) to a second connector (5) adapted to be fixed to a door or a shutter. The device (1) has at least one friction part (9) fixed to at least one among the first connector (3), the second connector (5) and the kinematic element (8). Each friction part (9) slidably contacts, at least at a predetermined rotation arc of one connector (3, 5) with respect to the other connector, a portion of at least one among the first connector (3), the second connector (5) and the kinematic element (8) and with at least a contact (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Cerniere Meccaniche Industrial S.r.l.
    Inventor: Eros Gherardi
  • Patent number: 8966712
    Abstract: A door operator includes an installation box, an operating mechanism, a pneumatic apparatus and a moveable sleeve. The installation box has a housing and a lid. The housing has an assembling space and an opening communicating with the assembling space; the lid is mounted in the opening and covers the assembling space. The operating mechanism is rotatably mounted in the installation box and has a gear. The pneumatic apparatus is installed in the assembling space and has a cylinder and a piston rod. The moveable sleeve is movably mounted on the cylinder and connected with the piston rod and engaged with the gear of the operating mechanism. Because a rotation axis of the gear and a central axis of the moveable sleeve are perpendicular to each other, the volume of the installation box can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Chia-Chu Yu
  • Patent number: 8944487
    Abstract: A door opening/closing apparatus automatically opens and closes a door, and the door is supported by a vehicle body such that the door can open and close in a vertical direction. A plurality of link members connect the door and the vehicle body, and at least one of the link members is driven by the drive motor. A drive motor is provided integrally on or within at least one of the link members, and a connection shaft connects the link member having the drive motor and another link member that is adjacent to the former link member. The connection shaft is rotated by the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Yuge
  • Patent number: 8600567
    Abstract: A door closer assembly is provided, including a valve regulating an amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the valve. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve controls a force generated by the door closer assembly on a door. A first sensor measures an angular position of the door, and a second sensor measures an angular position of the valve. The angular position of the valve determines the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve. A controller controls the adjustment of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventors: David James Copeland, II, Keith James Weepie, Robert L. Tadlock, Jr., Charles E. Burris, John J. White, Jr., Jason Scott Gurley, Steven Michael Faes, Joseph Ralph McGinty, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8527101
    Abstract: A door closer comprises a piston cooperating with a rotating pinion. Upon rotation of the pinion in the door opening direction, the piston moves toward the second end of the housing forcing fluid from a second variable volume chamber through a passage to a first variable volume chamber and compressing a spring assembly for storing energy. The spring assembly urges the piston toward the first end of the housing for forcing fluid from the first variable volume chamber to the second variable volume chamber and rotating the pinion in the door closing direction. A controller controls the position of a valve in the passage based on the sensed angular position of a door and the position of the valve for determining the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Burris, Robert L. Tadlock, Jr., John White, Jason Scott Gurley, Steven Michael Faes, Joseph McGinty, Wade Patterson
  • Patent number: 8510912
    Abstract: A self-closing device is for sliding doors of the type including at least one sliding leaf (2) which is hung from an upper profile (3). The device (1) includes a drive belt (10) configured to be joined to the sliding leaf (2); a closing pulley (20), provided with an elastic device (30), which is arranged on a first rotation axis (4) integral to the upper profile (3) and which engages with a first end (11) of the drive belt (10); and a brake pulley (40), provided with a stop (50), which is arranged on a second rotation axis (5) integral to the upper profile (3) and which engages with a second end (12) of the drive belt (10) opposite to the first end (11). The rotation movement of both pulleys (20, 40) is connected by the drive belt (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Klein Iberica, S.A.
    Inventor: Miguel Angel Tarrega Lloret
  • Patent number: 8415902
    Abstract: A door closer with an automated calibration mode is disclosed. The door closer that can be self powered and includes a control unit to intelligently control a valve within the door closer to vary the operating characteristics of the door closer as needed. The control unit includes a calibration mode that can be invoked to match the control unit to the mechanical door closer assembly. A plurality of positional values being output encoders coupled to an arm of the door closer and the motor for the valve can be determined. The positional values from the encoders and the positions that they indicate can then be stored in a memory within the controller for use during normal operation of the door closer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Burris, Robert L. Tadlock, Jr., John White, Jason Scott Gurley, Steven Michael Faes, Joseph McGinty, Wade Patterson
  • Patent number: 8186010
    Abstract: A catcher (2) provided in a door frame H? for capturing a striker body 1 moved from a near front side F when a door D? is rotated toward a reference position; a braking device (5); and a linkage device (3) for both are provided. The catcher (2) is provided to be reciprocatingly rotatable between a standby position and a rotated position, captures the striker body (1) at the standby position, and rotates forward to the rotated position. Braking of the braking device (5) is applied to a rotation toward the rotated position of the catcher (2) through the linkage gear member (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuyasu Tomiji, Kazuyuki Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20110231023
    Abstract: A door closer assembly is provided, including a valve regulating an amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the valve. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve controls a force generated by the door closer assembly on a door. A first sensor measures an angular position of the door, and a second sensor measures an angular position of the valve. The angular position of the valve determines the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve. A controller controls the adjustment of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicants: YALE SECURITY INC., SYNAPSE
    Inventors: David James Copeland, II, Keith James Weepie, Robert L. Tadlock, JR., Charles E. Burris, John J. White, JR., Jason Scott Gurley, Steven Michael Faes, Joseph Ralph McGinty, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7971316
    Abstract: A door closer assembly is provided, including a valve regulating an amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the valve. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve controls a force generated by the door closer assembly on a door. A first sensor measures an angular position of the door, and a second sensor measures an angular position of the valve. The angular position of the valve determines the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve. A controller controls the adjustment of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventors: David James Copeland, II, Keith James Weepie, Robert L. Tadlock, Jr., Charles E. Burris, John J. White, Jr., Jason Scott Gurley, Steven Michael Faes, Joseph Ralph McGinty, Wade C. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20110101839
    Abstract: A closing device that includes a latching member that when moved a given distance utilizes a gear to affect a mechanical advantage that results in an end of a biasing member being moved less than the given distance. The biasing member is used in moving a first drawer slide member to a closed position relative to a second drawer slide member, and use of the gear and the resulting mechanical advantage provide a smoother transition when the first drawer slide member is engaged or disengaged from the closing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: KNAPE & VOGT MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael J. Boks
  • Patent number: 7788768
    Abstract: A door closer that integrally incorporates a door-opening-assistance device, and that therefore eliminates the need for unnecessary troublesome adjustment between parts, and whose number of parts is reduced, making said door closer compact. The door closer 1 includes a closer 1a that includes a pinion 5 that rotates in the forward and reverse directions when the door is opened or closed, respectively. A cylinder 9 is meshed with the pinion 5 and moves forward and backward. A closing spring 14 energizes the door in the closing direction via the cylinder 9 and the pinion 5. A opening-assistance device 1b that includes an opening spring 22 that stores an opening force in the door-opening direction due to the movement of the cylinder 9 when the door is opened. Locking mechanisms 27, 28, and 29, that—when the door is opened—lock the opening spring 22 under an opening-force-storing condition. An unlocking mechanisms 23 and 24 that—when the door is closed—unlock the locking mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Yamamuro
  • Patent number: 7624476
    Abstract: An automatic closing assembly for a sliding door has a base, an adjusting device and a housing. The base is mounted on the sliding door and has a mounting bracket and a connecting frame. The connecting frame is mounted on the mounting bracket and has a damper barrel. The adjusting device is connected to the base and has a handle, a screw shaft, and a resilient device. The handle is rotatably connected to the base and rotates the screw shaft. The resilient device moveably engages the screw shaft and is selectively retracted by rotation thereof. The housing is telescopically connected to the base, is mounted around the adjusting device and comprises two tubes connected respectively to ends of the resilient device to transmit a returning force to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Kun-Long Lin
  • Patent number: 7571515
    Abstract: A drive system for a moveable wing, especially for a door or a window, is described. The drive system includes at least one energy storage device by whose discharge of energy the wing is moved. The energy storage device is hereby controllable in its energy discharge by means of a control system. The control system has an electrically controllable control element. The motion of the wing is directly or indirectly detected by a sensor, whose output signal is fed into a regulating device, which controls the control element. The regulating device is realized in a way, that the influence of the control element, dependent on the motion of the wing, can change the energy discharge of the energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: GEZE GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Fischbach, Matthias Hucker, Guenter Andraschko, Joachim Augenstein
  • Patent number: 7571877
    Abstract: An operation mechanism adapted for activating a deceleration device for decelerating an opening movement of a door. The operation mechanism features a first mode of operation and an second operation mode. In the first mode of operation the operation mechanism allows free rotation of the door, when the operation mechanism is loaded by an impulse of the door below a predetermined threshold value. In the second mode of operation when the operation mechanism is loaded by an impulse of the door above the predetermined threshold value the operation mechanism decelerates free rotation of the door by connecting the door to the deceleration device which will then decelerate the acceleration of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Clive French, Nick Chignell-Stapleton
  • Publication number: 20090093913
    Abstract: A door closer assembly is provided, including a valve regulating an amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the valve. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve controls a force generated by the door closer assembly on a door. A first sensor measures an angular position of the door, and a second sensor measures an angular position of the valve. The angular position of the valve determines the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve. A controller controls the adjustment of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: David James Copeland, II, Keith James Weepie, Robert L. Tadlock, JR., Charles E. Burris
  • Patent number: 7464437
    Abstract: The apparatus for closing the door slowly and automatically can directly get the door closed by the piston rod without passing through a gear, so that the energy loss is little, and a small amount of air is contained in the hydraulic oil in order for the piston and the piston rod to be moved to the left and right hand side. The closing speed of the door can be adjustable by turning a speed adjustment bolt and for the installation, it is very easy to install the present invention since the function of the invention works with a force adjustment by turning the force adjustment nut when the invention is fixed to the door and doorframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Jang-Woo Song
  • Publication number: 20070251051
    Abstract: A door closer is used for energizing a door in the direction closing the door, and the door closer has a door-closer main body installed on the door. The door-closer main body includes a hydraulic cylinder. A piston is placed within the hydraulic cylinder for being energized by an elastic body and which has a gear portion formed around its periphery. A gear body is pivoted by the hydraulic cylinder and which engages the gear portion of the piston to cause the piston to slide. A restricting mechanism temporarily restricts the rotation of the gear body when the door is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventor: Sugaya Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7234201
    Abstract: A door closer power adjusting device for a door closer having a spindle driven by a compressed spring with a movable plate for adjusting spring compression, or with a screw for adjusting spring compression, between a high and low level of compression. A powered unit moves the plate in a first direction to achieve the low level of compression and in a second direction to achieve the high level of compression. A switch activates the powered unit in the first direction and a first switch is engaged when the spring is compressed to the low level of compression to deactivate the powered unit. A timing circuit activates the powered unit in a second direction after passage of a predetermined time. A second switch is engaged when the spring is compressed to the high level of compression to deactivate the powered unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Jackson Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Edward Brown, George Toledo
  • Patent number: 7124469
    Abstract: An automatic sliding door closure device for use with a sliding door on a track. The device comprises a housing attached to the door having a connecting arm attached to the housing. A pulley rotatably mounted within the housing guides a cable having an exterior end attached to the doorframe and an interior end connected to the gear, rotating the gear when the sliding door is slid along the track. A spring engaged with the gear tensions rotation of the gear as the door is moved. An airtight cylinder parallel with the track has a plunger arm connected to the connecting arm that is drawn within the cylinder as the door is moved. A flexible member connected to the plunger arm creates an air cushion within the cylinder. An airflow control valve controls intake and outlet of air into the airtight cylinder controlling the closure speed of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventors: Alex Tsekhanovsky, Todd J. Mattson
  • Patent number: 7051403
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical swing leaf operator having a door closer (1) with an eccentrically supported pinion (6) that presents a circular rolling curve and meshes with a toothed rack (5) being disposed at a piston (4), whereby a particular execution of the rolling curve and of the teeth (9) of the toothed rack (5) in adaptation to a toothing of the pinion (6) is achieved. With the intention to realize an optimized moving course of the piston (4) in the housing (2) of the door closer (1) an improved execution of the delayed closing operation is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Homberg
  • Patent number: 7024725
    Abstract: This invention relates to an overhead door closer with slide arm assembly having a toothed pinion that is eccentrically supported and presents a circular rolling curve, which pinion meshes with a toothed rack arranged at a piston. The invention concentrates on a particular embodiment of the rolling curve and of the teeth of the toothed rack in adaptation to a toothing of the pinion. Furthermore, the invention concentrates on an improved embodiment of the delayed closing operation in order to achieve an optimized movement pattern of the piston within the housing of the overhead door closer with slide arm assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Homberg
  • Patent number: 7007342
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a door closer, in a housing of which is received a sliding cylinder, the sliding cylinder is provided with teeth on an outer periphery thereof for meshing with a gear wheel of a door shaft, a sliding cylinder interiorly formed with inner wall serves to move relative to a piston of a piston shaft. At an end of the piston shaft is provided with an oil-replenishing cylinder that serves to replenish hydraulic oil to the sliding cylinder via a one-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventor: Tan-Cheng Huang
  • Publication number: 20040205931
    Abstract: A door closer structure includes a door shaft, a housing, a sliding member, a door-closing spring, a claw, an abutting member and a door-opening spring. The door shaft is utilized to drive a sliding member in a housing, between an end of the sliding member and the housing the door-closing spring is tensioned, and another end of the sliding member is engaged with the abutting member and a sliding board respectively in turn, between the sliding board and the housing a door-opening spring and a claw are disposed respectively, the claw is position-locked on the sliding board, and which can be locked and fastened to the adjustable rod of the housing. The abutting member may be driven by the sliding member so as to unlock and release the claw from the inner side of it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Tan-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 6618899
    Abstract: A door closer assembly and method of making the assembly, in which the closing force is exerted by at least one closing spring. The door closer assembly comprises a housing, a rotor journalled in said housing to deliver torque, and at least one piston apparatus, wherein said housing, said rotor, and said at least one piston apparatus are comprised of the same material of construction and exhibit at least substantially the same thermal expansion coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Lothar Ginzel, Horst Tillmann, Günter Gollnick
  • Patent number: 6510586
    Abstract: Door closer with a spring system that must be stretched when the door is open and supplies the closing moment necessary to close the door. There is provided a gear train between the spring system and the door to influence the force curve which varies over the opening angle of the door, whereby the gear train that varies in its translation ratio over the opening angle of the door has a first and a second gear wheel that mesh with each other and are each formed by a circular gear rim and are mounted eccentrically with respect to their centers while retaining the axial distance between them. The first gear wheel is connected with an output shaft and the second gear wheel is connected coaxially with respect to its center of motion with a gear wheel that is engaged in a rack that is coupled with the spring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Lothar Ginzel
  • Patent number: 6421876
    Abstract: A door closer with an oblong, one-piece body such to achieve a compact and aesthetic unit which can be produced with a minimum material consumption. The door closer has lateral faces which each have a curvature and/or bevel that shapes towards each other, which curvature or bevel starts at the lower surface and ends at the upper surface of the door closer. The door closer also has bearing blocks that are built between their fronts and the lateral faces ascending from the body's lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Ginzel, Rainer Fengler, Lars Parzanka, Roger Migchielsen
  • Patent number: 6282750
    Abstract: A gear driven dial indicator is used to indicate the door closer size for a door closer having an adjustable closing force. A drive gear is attached to the door closer adjustment screw. In the preferred embodiment, this drive gear engages a ring gear which is formed as part of the dial indicator. As the door closer adjustment screw is turned to change the door closer size, the drive gear turns with the adjustment screw. The drive gear then turns the planetary gear which turns the dial indicator, thereby changing the indicated size of the door closer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Architectural Hardware Group Limited
    Inventors: Arthur Bishop, Mark Braunlich, Thomas H. Blanford, Michael Wasielewski
  • Patent number: 6266847
    Abstract: A door closer assembly and a method for operating a door closer assembly. The door closer assembly includes a housing and a door piston guided in the housing. The door piston is operably connected to move a door. A spring piston is guided in the housing and is operable to assist movement of the door piston toward a door closing position. The spring piston is situated in the housing and is acted upon by a spring. The door closer assembly also includes a hydraulic control circuit containing hydraulic fluid which is operable to selectively eliminate a coupling of the door piston and the spring piston from one another during a portion of the travel path of the door piston in the housing. The door closer of the present invention improves the comfort of passing through a door by providing different transmission ratios and therefore, different moment curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: GEZE GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Krumhauer
  • Patent number: 6189181
    Abstract: A door retaining structure is provided for limiting the path of a door pivotably mounted on a door frame. The door retaining structure includes a connection structure for interconnecting the door and the door frame. An inertial locking device is operatively connected to the connection structure for preventing movement of the door toward the open position in response to the predetermined force on the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Kevin J. Bissett
  • Patent number: 6151753
    Abstract: A door closer with a door piston, which door piston is acted on by a driven shaft during the opening of a door. The door piston has an extension attached to it. The door closer also can have a pressure piston and an energy storage mechanism which acts on the pressure piston. The pistons can be axially guided and can interact with hydraulically connected pressure chambers to connect and disconnect the pistons during the opening and closing of the door closer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Salutzki
  • Patent number: 6047440
    Abstract: A non-rotatable pinion cap for use on a non-handed door closer where both ends of the drive pinion extend beyond the cylinder body. The pinion cap has one exposed edge for engaging the door or door frame surface and includes a christmas tree plug for attaching the pinion cap to a threaded hole in one end of the drive pinion. The plug can either be free to rotate with the pinion or it can be fixed to the cap. The slippage of the plug permits the drive pinion to rotate while the pinion cap does not rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: James E. Jensen, Andy Current
  • Patent number: 5943736
    Abstract: A door closer includes a casing-like body enclosing a piston member, which is movable back and forth according to the movements of a door and is in cooperation with at least one closer spring, and a closer shaft and a pinion member connected thereto for transmitting the force of the movement of the door to the piston member. The pinion member is mounted on the closer shaft eccentrically with respect to its rolling curve. The piston member is casing-like and is provided with a toothing arranged at its inner surface. The rolling curve of the piston's toothing is at least substantially linear and is inclined relative to the axis of movement of the piston member. The pinion member is located inside the piston member in cooperation with the toothing of the piston member so that the force transmission moment of the pinion member is at its maximum in a position corresponding to the closed position of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Abloy Oy
    Inventors: Vesa Karkkainen, Jaakko Junttila
  • Patent number: 5864920
    Abstract: A door control device for use on a non-fire side of a fire-door mounted in a door frame in a fire-door safety installation has a door closer assembly filled with a hydraulic damping fluid and attached to a non-fire side of the fire-door by at least one fastener; a door control arm pivotally connected to the door frame at a first end and to the door closer assembly at a second end; and the hydraulic damping fluid is one of a group of fire resistant hydraulic fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Rex H. Lasson, William L. Downey, Roderick A. L. Ross
  • Patent number: 5850671
    Abstract: A hydraulically damped door closer is described which has a relatively weak closer spring (3c) and stronger back-up closer springs (3a, 3b). If, after a predetermined time period, the door does not arrive in the closed position under the effect of the closer spring (3c), the back-up closer springs (3a, 3b) are connected for the closing. Their connection is therefore controlled by way of a time function element, which represents a simple and, at the same time, reliable control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: GEZE GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Uwe Kaser
  • Patent number: 5802670
    Abstract: A door closer with an adjustable springiness has an adjusting screw located inside the pressure chamber and at the same time inside the pressure spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH +Co. KG
    Inventor: Volker Bienek
  • Patent number: 5709009
    Abstract: A door control device for use on a non-fire side of a fire-door mounted in a door frame in a fire-door safety installation has a door closer assembly filled with a hydraulic damping fluid and attached to a non-fire side of the fire-door by at least one fastener; a door control arm pivotally connected to the door frame at a first end and to the door closer assembly at a second end; and the hydraulic damping fluid is one of a group of fire resistant hydraulic fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Rex H. Lasson, William L. Downey, Roderick A. L. Ross
  • Patent number: 5676222
    Abstract: A device for generating a rotary return force includes a casing unit, driving and driven gear units disposed in the casing unit, and a torsion spring. The driving gear unit includes a driving axle mounted rotatably to the casing unit and a driving gear wheel mounted fixedly on the driving axle. The driving axle is adapted to be driven rotatably by a rotatable unit. The driven gear unit includes a driven axle mounted rotatably to the casing unit and a driven gear wheel mounted on the driven axle. The driven gear wheel meshes with the driving gear wheel. One of the driven and driving gear wheels is larger than the other one of the driven and driving gear wheels. The torsion spring has a first retaining end secured to the driven gear unit and a second retaining end secured to the casing unit. Rotation of the driving gear wheel in a first direction by the rotatable unit causes corresponding rotation of the driven gear wheel and winding of the torsion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Chia-Tien Wu
  • Patent number: 5622006
    Abstract: A bi-directional door for the elderly and handicapped which comprises a support assembly mounted to a floor, a swing gate pivotally mounted about a support shaft in the support assembly, and a controller assembly located within the support assembly. A first bevel gear at the base of the swing gate is positioned for rotation about the support shaft. A second bevel gear, which is controlled by the controller assembly, is coupled to the first bevel gear at a 90 degree angle. Accordingly, when the swing gate is opened and released, the controller assembly controls the rotation of the first and second bevel gears such that the swing gate returns back to a home position at a predetermined rate. In addition, the support assembly includes various ways for adjusting and fine tuning the angular position of the bi-directional door in the support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Terence J. Collins
  • Patent number: 5553353
    Abstract: A door damping system includes a base fixed to a wall, a fixing element fixed to the door and a rod connected between the base and the fixing element, the base having a pinion rotatably disposed in the base and the pinion coupled to the rod and a coil spring, a cylinder having a slidable piston rod which has a first end with a rack which is slidably received in the base for an engagement with the pinion and a second end with a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder in which oil is filled, the piston having a first and a second flanges, the first flange having a gap defined between the first flange and an inner periphery of the cylinder, the second flange having a plurality of fifth holes defined therein and a first clearance being defined between the piston and the piston rod, a ring movably disposed between the first and the second flanges so as to seal the gap when the door is returned and oil can only flow through the first clearance so as to slow down the speed of returning of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Wu-shoun Lin
  • Patent number: 5495639
    Abstract: A door closing apparatus for closing a hinged door in which a door closer is attached to a spring unit which in turn is mounted on the door frame by a bracket. The spring unit has a torsion spring within a housing which rotates on the bracket. One end of the spring is affixed to the housing and the other end of the spring is held from rotating by a ratchet type mechanism. The ratchet mechanism may be rotated to adjust the spring. The door closer is capable of adjustment by rotating the closer cylinder. In order to rotate the cylinder, it must be disconnected from the door. A stop on the bracket engages an abutment on the housing to prevent the closer from snapping back when it is disconnected from the door. The stop and abutment are also of assistance when adjusting the tension of the spring on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Inventor: George Wartian
  • Patent number: 5206971
    Abstract: A door closer has a fluid conduit connecting the high pressure portion of the cylinder in front of the piston with a cavity between the surfaces of the cylinder wall and the piston. This cavity is located at the intermediate lateral surface of the piston at the back side of a gear rack formed on the piston. The variable lateral bias provided by the pressurized cavity counteracts separating forces between the gear rack and a gear pinion caused by the tapered teeth. This decreases friction between the piston and the cylinder and reduces wear throughout the closer mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Lynn A. Schmelzer, Thomas R. Lasier
  • Patent number: 5015048
    Abstract: A closing device is provided for a drawer having a pull-out rail fastened to the drawer and a supporting rail fastened to the body of an article of furniture. An energy storing member is arranged between the drawer and the furniture body, preferably between the pull-out rail and the supporting rail. Such energy storing member stores part of kinematic energy imported thereto during opening of the drawer and releases such energy to the drawer during an end portion of movement of the drawer during closing thereof. The energy storing member includes a holding member which is pivotally mounted at a body side wall and includes a zone of contact having the shape of a circular arc for engagement with a tension pinion that is stationarily mounted with respect to the body side wall. The tension pinion has a frictional connection with the pull-out rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Julius Blum Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Eberhard Brunnert