Abstract: A hinge assembly including a hinge cup, a hinge arm and a hinge lever pivotally connected to both the hinge cup and the hinge arm so as to connect the two together. The assembly further including a damping device and an actuator assembly operable to activate the damping device as the hinge assembly moves from an open position to a closed position. The actuator assembly is operable to move from a second position to a first position to actuate the damping device, where the hinge arm engages with the actuator assembly to cause said movement from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: A hinge assembly including a first fitment portion, a second fitment portion, and a link assembly including at least seven hinge axes. The linkage assembly includes two levers directly pivotally mounted to the first fitment portion. The hinge assembly further includes a damping device pivotally mounted between the said two levers.

Abstract: A movement control device comprising a housing with an elongate push rod mounted therein for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis between first and second positions, wherein the push rod extends out of said housing in both the first and second positions. A spring comprising a primary axis operable to provide a biasing force on the push rod is further provided in the housing. A damping device comprising a primary axis is located in the housing, wherein the damping device is in continuous engagement with the push rod through its reciprocating movement. The primary axis of the spring and the primary axis of the damping device are not coaxial.

Abstract: A piston and cylinder type damper with a cylinder containing damping fluid. The damper is operable to perform a compression stroke and a return stroke. A piston rod that can engage with both a piston assembly and a return means. A sealing element is movable axially with respect to said piston rod such that said sealing means is operable to engage with both said piston assembly and said return means, such that, in said compression stroke the sealing means engages solely with said piston assembly, and in said return stroke engages solely with said return means.

Abstract: A device controls closing movement of a drawer in a drawer cabinet. The device includes an actuator driven by a spring for imparting a biassing force to the drawer as it closes. The actuator is mounted on a housing, which is itself mounted on the cabinet, and is movable back and forth in the direction of movement of the drawer. A damper is mounted on the housing and is operable on the actuator to impart a damping force on it in a sense to resist the closing movement of the drawer. The actuator is triggered by a catch mounted on the drawer. The housing and catch are mountable without need of pre-drilling and include locating members for determining their relative positions on the cabinet and drawer respectively.

Abstract: A damper assembly is provided for a toggle type hinge with a mounting flange (13) and an arm assembly (11) pivotally connected thereto. The assembly comprises a damping device (16) that is actuable along a linear axis and a housing (20) mounted on the mounting flange to retain the damping device. The assembly further comprises means for converting pivotal movement of the hinge into linear actuation of the damping device. This comprises an actuating lever (21) connected to the damping device and engageable with the hinge arm assembly via a first camming mechanism causing the actuating lever to rotate in response to pivotal movement of the hinge arm assembly. A second camming mechanism causes linear displacement of the actuating lever in response to its rotational movement.

Abstract: A piston and cylinder type damper has a cylinder (12) with a longitudinal axis (x) containing damping fluid. A piston assembly (10) is mounted in the cylinder (12) for reciprocal movement along the axis (x). The piston assembly (10) divides the interior of the cylinder (12) into two chambers (A, B), and provides a pathway for flow of damping fluid between them. The pathway includes a control passage (24) for restricting flow of damping fluid across the piston assembly (10). A sealing element (21) is provided for selectively sealing the piston assembly (10) against the cylinder (12). The control passage (24) and the sealing element (21) are arranged to be positioned at axially spaced apart locations.

Abstract: A device is provided for forming a joint between two panels. The device comprises a fastening element in the form of an elongate dowel (14) within a sleeve (15), and a tightening element in the form of a rotatable cam (10). The dowel (14) has a head (16) at one end for engagement by the cam (10). At its other end, the dowel (14) engages with an expandable section (19) of the sleeve (15) for anchoring the fastening element in a hole in one of the panels. The sleeve (15) is provided with a reduced diameter end section (22), which is arranged to engage in a rebate (27) on the cam (10), with the arrangement thus serving to block lateral movement of the fastening element in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A damped hinge assembly for mounting a first member for rotational movement relative to a base member about a hinge axis is provided. The assembly includes a first linearly acting damping device, and first camming means for converting rotational movement of the first member in a first direction into linear actuation of the first damping device to cause it to impart a damped resistive force to the first member over at least part of its movement in said first direction. The first damping device is mounted with its linear axis coincident with the hinge axis, with the first damping device acting as a fulcrum for said rotational movement of the first member.

Abstract: A damper assembly is provided for a toggle-type hinge (41). The assembly comprises a linear damping device (10?), which is mounted via a radiussed groove (44) on a flange (43) of the hinge and held in place by a housing (45). A wing (16?) on the damping device is contactable by an arm (42) of the hinge in its closing movement. A mechanism converts closing movement of the hinge into linear actuation of the damping device. This mechanism includes two camming surfaces (19?, 25?) on the flange. A first one of these normally engages with the damping device, with the second one also engaging if the transmitted force exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a hinge includes a damper unit (10) with a piston arranged to be moveable over a working stroke within a cylinder (15) containing damping fluid. The damper unit (10) is mounted on a bracket (11) and retained in position by a housing (12). A mechanism is provided for converting rotational movement of the hinge in at least part of one direction into actuation of the damper unit (10) on its working stroke. The movement converting mechanism is arranged to act on the cylinder (15) at a position substantially outside the range of movement of the piston on its working stroke. The arrangement minimises the transmission of radial forces from the movement of the door to the cylinder (15).

Abstract: A hinge assembly has first and second parts pivotally connected together. One of the parts has a hinge cup (13) and is connectable to a first element such as a cupboard door. The other part is connectable to a second element such as the cupboard carcase. The assembly includes a linear damping device (17), which is actuable to provide a damped resistive force over at least part of the range of relative pivotal movement between the two hinge elements. The linear damping device (17) is conveniently mounted within the hinge cup (13).

Abstract: A piston and cylinder type damper is provided, with a cylinder (11) having a piston assembly (15) mounted for reciprocal movement therein. The piston assembly (15) divides the cylinder (11) into two separate chambers (12a, 12b), with a restricted flow path (30, 31) for passage therebetween of damping fluid contained within the cylinder. A piston rod (13) is mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to the cylinder (11) and acts via a first one of the chambers (12a) on the piston assembly (15) in a first direction. A seal assembly (17) is provided for sealing between the piston rod (13) and the cylinder (11) in order to retain damping fluid in the first chamber (12a). The seal assembly (17) is movable axially with respect to the cylinder (11), with the cylinder further including a centering device (24) for assisting alignment of the seal assembly (17).

Abstract: A damper assembly is provided for a toggle type hinge with a mounting flange (13) and an arm assembly (11) pivotally connected thereto. The assembly comprises a damping device (16) that is actuable along a linear axis and a housing (20) mounted on the mounting flange to retain the damping device. The assembly further comprises means for converting pivotal movement of the hinge into linear actuation of the damping device. This comprises an actuating lever (21) connected to the damping device and engageable with the hinge arm assembly via a first camming mechanism causing the actuating lever to rotate in response to pivotal movement of the hinge arm assembly. A second camming mechanism causes linear displacement of the actuating lever in response to its rotational movement.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a cylinder (10) having a piston assembly (14) mounted for reciprocal movement therein. The piston assembly (14) divides the cylinder (10) into separate chambers with a restricted flow path therebetween for passage of damping fluid contained within the cylinder. The restricted flow path is defined between elements whose shape and/or relative position is designed to vary with temperature.

Abstract: A hinge assembly in the form of a toggle type hinge includes an arm assembly (11) anchorable in use to a first member and a cup flange (13) pivotally connected thereto and anchorable in use to a second member. The assembly includes a linear damping device (15) and a mechanism for converting pivotal movement of the hinge into actuation of the damping device, at least over part of the range of this pivotal movement. The movement converting mechanism is arranged to produce the actuation of the damping device (15) through rotational movement about its linear axis via transmission of at least two equal and opposite forces acting symmetrically about this axis.

Abstract: A piston and cylinder type damper is provided, with a cylinder (11) having a piston assembly (15) mounted for reciprocal movement therein. The piston assembly (15) divides the cylinder (11) into two separate chambers (12a, 12b), with a restricted flow path (30, 31) for passage therebetween of damping fluid contained within the cylinder. A piston rod (13) is mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to the cylinder (11) and acts via a first one of the chambers (12a) on the piston assembly (15) in a first direction. A seal assembly (17) is provided for sealing between the piston rod (13) and the cylinder (11) in order to retain damping fluid in the first chamber (12a). The seal assembly (17) is movable axially with respect to the cylinder (11), with the cylinder further including a centering device (24) for assisting alignment of the seal assembly (17).

Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a toggle type hinge mechanism (10) with a linear damper (13) arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of movement of the hinge mechanism. First and second wings (19, 30) operate the damper. First and second striker plates and an arm assembly (20, 32, 55) activate the first and second wings in response to movement of the hinge mechanism.

Abstract: A damper assembly is provided for a hinge, which comprises a damping device (10) with a piston arranged to be moveable over a working stroke within a cylinder (15) containing damping fluid. The damping device (10) is mounted on a bracket (11) and retained in position by a housing (12). A mechanism (18, 19) is provided for converting rotational movement of the hinge in at least part of one direction into actuation of the damping device (10) on its working stroke. The movement converting mechanism (18, 19) is arranged to act on the cylinder (15) at a position substantially outside the range of movement of the piston on its working stroke. The arrangement minimises the transmission of radial forces from the movement of the door to the cylinder (15).

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a piston and cylinder type damper with a piston (14) mounted for reciprocal movement in a cylinder (10) containing damping fluid. The piston (14) is acted on by a piston rod (11) which includes a reaction surface for engaging the piston. The cross-sectional area of the reaction surface is designed to be significantly greater than the cross-sectional area of the piston rod (11) in order to spread the load exerted on the piston (14). Also, the piston (14) is designed to engage the piston rod (11) at its inner end in a manner that provides lateral guidance for the inner end of the piston rod in its movement in the cylinder (10).