Checks And Closers Patents (Class 16/49)
  • Patent number: 9464423
    Abstract: An emergency flush apparatus for a toilet includes a flush driver module, a battery, and a processing unit operatively connected to the battery and the flush driver module. The emergency flush apparatus further includes a flush switch operatively connected to the battery and the processing unit, and a primary power supply operatively connected to the flush driver module. When the flush switch is activated, the processing unit detects a state of the flush driver module. Power is then supplied to the flush driver module from one of either the primary power supply or the battery in response to the detected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SHANGHAI KOHLER ELECTRONICS, LTD.
    Inventors: Cao Dan, Zhu Minghui, Zhang Jie, Wang Yingfeng
  • Patent number: 9358858
    Abstract: An opening and closing device of an air vent for a vehicle is provided for raising or lowering the air vent so as to open or close a ventilating part. The opening and closing device includes first and second link parts rotatably provided at both sides of the ventilating part, a hydraulic cylinder part having one side fixed to the air vent and the other side connected to the first link part, a piston rod part having one side connected to the second link part and the other side slidably coupled to the hydraulic cylinder part, and an adjusting part fixing the piston rod part to not slide into the hydraulic cylinder part or release the piston rod part to be slidable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Ja Sang Song
  • Patent number: 9267316
    Abstract: A door closer has a fixing set, a bidirectional set and an extending set. The fixing set has an elongated tube. The elongated tube has two opposite sidewalls and an opening. The bidirectional set is connected to the fixing set, is movably mounted in the elongated tube and has a connecting panel formed on and protruding from the bidirectional set and extending out of the opening. The extending set is pivotally connected to the bidirectional set and has a guiding track, an extending arm, a locking board and a connecting panel. The extending arm is movably mounted in the guiding track and has a connecting end extending out of the guiding track. The locking board engages the guiding track and is connected to the extending arm to adjust a total length of the extending set. The connecting panel is connected to the connecting end of the extending arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Joy Chief Hardware Industrial Corp.
    Inventor: Kun-Lin Ding
  • Patent number: 9097051
    Abstract: A door operator includes a base plate with a receiving profile, a shaft housing inserted into the receiving profile, a first cylinder housing inserted into the receiving profile, a driven shaft rotatably bearing-mounted in the shaft housing, and a piston which is linearly movably guided in the first cylinder housing. The piston and the driven shaft cooperate for mutual conversion between a linear movement of the piston and a rotational movement of the driven shaft, and an energy accumulator is arranged in the first cylinder housing and cooperates with the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Dorma Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Hellwig
  • Patent number: 9095214
    Abstract: A door closure device includes a pivot pin adapted to engage an associated appliance hinge, and a channel rotatably connected to the pivot pin and adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door. A cam is non-rotatably engaged with the pivot pin. The cam comprises a lobed edge including a closing portion. A spring rod is slidably engaged with the channel, and a cam follower is operably engaged with the spring rod. A spring is engaged between the spring rod and the channel and biases the cam follower into engagement with the lobed edge of the cam. The follower moves along the lobed edge of the cam when the channel is rotated relative to the cam and the spring induces a door-closing torque on the channel when the follower is engaged with the closing portion of the cam lobed edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian White, James Collene
  • Patent number: 9032978
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a washing compartment, at least one dishware container, and a guide assembly to allow the dishware container to be moved out of the washing compartment and into the washing compartment. The movement of the dishware container in relation to the washing compartment is cushioned by at least one damping device which is arranged inside the washing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Kiechle, Karlheinz Rehm
  • Patent number: 9032587
    Abstract: A strut assembly is provided including a holding and releasing mechanism adapted to be attached to a cylinder-type closer. The mechanism comprises the strut assembly including a strut cylinder, a strut rod, a pivot block, and a locking tube. The strut assembly further comprises a stop tube including a clip at a first end and a collar at a second end. The stop tube further includes a rigid angled ramp connecting the clip and the collar. The clip moves from a first position to a second position while pivoting the locking tube at a first end in order to engage the locking tube at another end with the strut cylinder thereby holding the strut assembly in an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Barnes Group Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Adoline
  • Patent number: 9009918
    Abstract: A carriage, which serves for holding and shifting a separating element in a running direction along a rail, includes a carriage body that holds at least one running element and a mounting body that is slidably connected to the carriage body and is connectable to the separating element. A coupling member includes a first and second coupling element connected via a bridge member, wherein the first coupling element is slidably held in the carriage body and the second is slidably held in the mounting body. The bridge member has a first coupling surface inclined relative to the running direction which supports the carriage body or the mounting body, so that with a movement of the coupling member the carriage and mounting bodies are shifted relative to one another. The shifting device includes two inventive carriages that are guided in a rail and that are connected to a separating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hawa AG
    Inventors: Gregor Haab, Peter Ettmüller, Myrta Kappeler, Felix Meili
  • Patent number: 8959710
    Abstract: A damping device that includes an arm having a longitudinally extending slot and a cylinder cut-out defined therein, and a damping assembly secured in the cylinder cut-out. The damping assembly includes a cylinder housing with a chamber having a piston and fluid disposed therein. The piston includes a rod with a head on a distal end thereof that extends outside the cylinder housing and into the slot. The damping assembly includes a biasing member extending between the cylinder housing and the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Anthony, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Robert Wach, John Michael Roche, Sesha Madireddi, Raghujit Kunapuli
  • Patent number: 8950116
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sliding door arrangement with an attenuation and retraction device facilitating soft-closing of a sliding door. The arrangement includes an attenuation and retraction device, which may be placed in the extension of a rail guiding and retaining the door, and a pin that extends from the door and interacts with the attenuation and retraction device. The pin may optionally be locked in a retracted position during mounting of the door in order to protect the pin from damage resulting from excessive side forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Elfa International AB
    Inventors: Lars Rydén, Peter Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8943652
    Abstract: A hinge for cold rooms, swing gates or the like includes a stationary support structure and at least a door movable between an open door position and a closed door position. The hinge comprises a box-like hinge body and a pin rotatably coupled to rotate about a first axis between the open door position and the closed door position. Closing means are provided for automatically returning the door, as well as a working fluid acting thereon to hydraulically contrast their action. The closing means comprise a cam element unitary with the pin interacting with a plunger element housed in an operating chamber defined within the box-like hinge body. The box-like hinge body has an elongated shape to define a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: IN&TEC S.R.L.
    Inventor: Luciano Bacchetti
  • Patent number: 8931139
    Abstract: A movable device for a movable body has a reception body fixed to a support body or the movable body relatively moving to the support body, and includes a plurality of engagement portions protruding from the support body or the movable body by being separated from each other; a base body provided in the other of the support body or movable body; an abutment body formed to move along a movement direction of the movable body, and engaging one of the engagement portions in a case wherein the movable body moves in a movement completion position thereof; and an urging mechanism formed urgingly between the base body and the abutment body, restricting a movement of the base body or abutment body by urging, and releasing restriction of the movement by engagement of the abutment body with one of engagement portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Norio Saito
  • Patent number: 8931138
    Abstract: A movement assist device includes a retraction tool having a case, a latch switched between a standby position which is locked inside the case and a retraction position which releases the locking so as to be capable of sliding, and an urging device; and a striker switching the latch from the standby position to the retraction position, or vise versa. The retraction tool or the striker is provided in a fixed body, or a moving body movably disposed in the fixed body. When the latch is switched from the standby position to the retraction position, a sliding door moves by an urging force. The case includes a striker leading portion notched such that a width of the case becomes thin to a middle of the other end from one end in a longitudinal direction. Also, one portion of the latch is exposed and disposed in the leading portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yohel Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8875344
    Abstract: A door closer, in particular a hinge door closer, including a locking function or free-swing function, having a door closer housing, an output shaft to be connected to a door, a piston assembly connected to the output shaft and guided in the door closer housing, a closer spring, a piston rod adapted to connect the piston assembly to the closer spring, a hydraulic lock compartment adapted to lock the closer spring, and in particular a free-swing assembly which is adapted to enable a translational motion of the piston assembly decoupled from the closer spring when the closer spring is locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Salutzki, Volker Bienek, Thomas Wildförster, Thomas Pabst, Sabine Wiemann
  • Patent number: 8863357
    Abstract: An adjustable door closer has a hollow pedestal with a first and a second chamber as well as an actuating groove. An actuating device is set into the actuating groove. A first piston assembly is set into the first chamber and a second piston assembly set into the second chamber. A partition wall is formed between the first and second chambers. Due to a laterally configured flow resistance unit, the holes to be set into the first and second chambers are reduced to three, including a connecting hole and first and second backflow bypass holes, all of which are connected only to the second chamber from the partition wall. As such, the flow path structure is simplified compared to the five holes required for typical structures. The adjustable door closer could reduce significantly the manufacturing cost and realize better regulating functions with improved applicability and economic benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Heng Kuo Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hui-Chen Chang
  • Patent number: 8844895
    Abstract: A hold open rod is provided. The hold open rod may include: an outer tube; an inner tube having two ends, at least one end configured to slide within the outer tube; a tube stop located at one end of the inner tube; a groove around the circumference of the tube stop; and a resilient material located in the groove, the resilient material contacting the tube stop and the outer tube. A method of reducing wear on a hold open rod may be provided. The method may include: locating first resilient material between an inner tube and an outer tube; providing a locking mechanism to lock the inner tube with respect to the outer tube; and providing a second resilient material between an isolator and a collar on the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: MarathonNorco Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio Palma, Ryan A. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 8826494
    Abstract: A door closer including a free-swing function, including a door closer housing, an output shaft connected to a door, a piston assembly connected to the output shaft and guided in the door closer housing, a closer spring, a piston rod adapted to connect the piston assembly to the closer spring, a free-swing assembly adapted to enable a translational motion of the piston assembly decoupled from the closer spring when the closer spring is locked, and a hydraulic lock compartment adapted to lock the closer spring. The output shaft is a cam-shaped rolling contour, in particular a cam disc, and the piston assembly includes at least one cam roller abutting on the rolling contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Bienek, Sabine Wiemann, Thomas Pabst
  • Patent number: 8819895
    Abstract: A door closer, in particular a hinge door closer, having a free-swing function, including a door closer housing, an output shaft to be connected to a door, a piston assembly connected to the output shaft and guided in the door closer housing, a closer spring, a piston rod adapted to connect the piston assembly to the closer spring, a free-swing assembly which is adapted to enable a translational motion of the piston assembly decoupled from the closer spring when the closer spring is locked, and which is embodied as a sliding-coupling which exclusively transmits compressive forces between the closer spring and the piston assembly, and a hydraulic lock compartment adapted to lock the closer spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Volker Bienek
  • Patent number: 8806715
    Abstract: A door closer, in particular a hinge door closer, including a locking function or free-swing function, having a door closer housing, an output shaft to be connected to a door, a piston assembly connected to the output shaft and guided in the door closer housing, a closer spring, a piston rod adapted to connect the piston assembly to the closer spring, a hydraulic lock compartment adapted to lock the closer spring, and a spring-loaded check valve arranged between the lock compartment and a space becoming smaller during the opening process of the door, in particular an accommodating space for the closer spring. The spring-loaded check valve locks toward the space becoming smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Bienek, Sabine Wiemann, Thomas Pabst
  • Patent number: 8793837
    Abstract: A pneumatic door closer for closing a door having a controlled rate of closing that is generally uniform, smooth and safe. The door closer includes an elongated cylinder with a displaceable piston defining a vacuum chamber and a pressure chamber within the cylinder. A piston rod connected to the piston has its free end extending through a rod opening that includes an air impervious seal formed about the piston rod. A volume displacer placed within the cylinder adjusts the volume of the cylinder to better controlling door closing. Disposed in communication with the vacuum chamber is a breather arrangement for controlling the level of vacuum being created within the vacuum chamber during the closing stroke of the piston to control the resulting resistance forces acting on the piston such that the closing speed is substantially uniform throughout the closing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 8793839
    Abstract: Provided is a retracting device in which dampers have improved durability and strokes of operation of the dampers are not reduced. A first slider 14-1 for assisting closing, a second slider 14-2 for assisting opening, and a damper base 22 are provided in an elongating base 12 to be slidable in a longitudinal direction of the base 12. The damper base 22 is disposed between the first slider 14-1 and the second slider 14-2. A first damper 24 is provided over between the first slider 14-1 and the damper base 22 and a second damper 25 is provided over between the second slider 14-2 and the damper base 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junpei Iwaki
  • Patent number: 8776315
    Abstract: A damping device that includes an arm having a longitudinally extending slot and a cylinder cut-out defined therein, and a damping assembly secured in the cylinder cut-out. The damping assembly includes a cylinder housing with a chamber having a piston and fluid disposed therein. The piston includes a rod with a head on a distal end thereof that extends outside the cylinder housing and into the slot. The damping assembly includes a biasing member extending between the cylinder housing and the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Anthony, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Robert Wach, John Michael Roche, Sesha Madireddi, Raghujit Kunapuli
  • Patent number: 8773237
    Abstract: A door closer with a teach 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 teach mode that can be invoked at installation time, or any other time, so that appropriate information can be stored in memory regarding an installation configuration, relative jamb position, swing (right or left handed) and other parameters. These values can be accessed by control circuitry in the controller for use in controlling the door closer during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    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: 8769770
    Abstract: A hinge on a cover for a container, has a pivot axis and includes at least one first member fixed against rotation and at least one second member rotatable about the axis, which first and second members are arranged coaxially along the axis. A third member is arranged coaxial with the first and second members. A damper element is provided between the first and the third members in order to dampen the relative rate of rotation between the members. A first spring is arranged between the second and the third tubular members, which first spring is connected to the respective second and third members so that relative rotation between the tubular members is permitted in a first direction, when the cover is pivoted towards a first position, and prevented in a second direction, when the cover is pivoted towards a second position. A container provided with such a hinge is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Marcus Kullman, Robin Sundberg
  • Patent number: 8756759
    Abstract: A door closing device has a door closer and a fastening plate for the door closer, having a receptacle side provided for receiving the door closer and having a support side opposite to the receptacle side, the sides being separated by a peripheral edge. At least one projection which protrudes outward on the edge is implemented on the peripheral edge, the projection being provided for the purpose of engaging in a formfitting manner in a corresponding recess on the door closer to be fastened, to thus cause an alignment of the door closer to be fastened relative to the fastening plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Kaestle, Fritz Feucht
  • Patent number: 8745821
    Abstract: An auto-closing device has a base, a cylinder, a slider, a spring and an adjusting device. The adjusting device is connected to an end of the spring opposite to the slider and has an adjusting frame and an adjusting bolt. The adjusting frame has a first end connected securely to the spring and a second end provided with a threaded hole. The adjusting bolt is mounted rotatably on the base and is screwed into the threaded hole in the adjusting frame. Accordingly, when the adjusting bolt is rotated, the adjusting frame is moved relative to the body so that the pulling force provided by the spring is adjusted to fit with different door panels with different weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Door & Window Hardware Co.
    Inventors: Wei-Hung Chang, Sung-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 8732904
    Abstract: A door closer is described, which has an output shaft, on which a cam disc is torsion-resistantly disposed, and has a pressure roller. By means of an operational connection, a closer spring presses the pressure roller against a running surface of the cam disc. In relation to an axial center of the output shaft, the pressure roller is disposed such that, during opening or closing of a swing leaf coupled to the output shaft, the pressure roller is movable along a path. Due to the fact that the path bypasses the axial center of the output shaft and on account of the configuration of the running surface of the cam disc, at a respective opening angle of the swing leaf, in different modes of operation of the door closer, a very similar or identical torque is respectively applied to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Sven Busch
  • Patent number: 8726574
    Abstract: Provided is a drawing device that is capable of generating a damping force in accordance with the strength of a biasing force of an elastic member without increasing durability. The drawing device has a linear damper 24 of which a rod is extendable relative to a damper main body and a rotary damper 25 of which a rotation axis is rotatable relative to the damper main body. When a slider 14 of a drawing device main body 4 moves relative to a base 12 of the drawing device main body 4 in the longitudinal direction by the biasing force of the elastic member 15, first, the linear damper 24 starts to operate thereby generating the damping force, then, the linear damper 24 is switched with the rotary damper 25 and the rotary damper 25 starts to operate thereby generating the damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junpei Iwaki
  • Patent number: 8713756
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a door closer stopper, comprising a housing mounted around a door closer, a finger press block assembly and a stop assembly disposed in the housing. The housing is provided with a slot and an opening; The finger press block assembly comprises a press block and a rotary press block hinged to the slot of the housing, and a positioning mechanism limiting the rotary press block at a position propping a catch plate; The stop assembly comprises the catch plate with a central through hole to allow the pull rod of the door closer to extend therethrough, the catch plate is perpendicular to the pull rod and has a top end in a scope of movement of the rotary press block, the rotary press block can abut against the top end of the catch plate to make the catch plate incline when the rotary press block rotates to a certain position. The present disclosure is overly compact and reasonable in structure, simple and easy to operate, and practical, safe and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Cmech (Guangzhou) Industrial Ltd.
    Inventor: Fengqing Wu
  • Publication number: 20140109343
    Abstract: An auto-closing device has a base, a cylinder, a slider, a spring and an adjusting device. The adjusting device is connected to an end of the spring opposite to the slider and has an adjusting frame and an adjusting bolt. The adjusting frame has a first end connected securely to the spring and a second end provided with a threaded hole. The adjusting bolt is mounted rotatably on the base and is screwed into the threaded hole in the adjusting frame. Accordingly, when the adjusting bolt is rotated, the adjusting frame is moved relative to the body so that the pulling force provided by the spring is adjusted to fit with different door panels with different weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: DOOR & WINDOW HARDWARE CO.
    Inventors: Wei-Hung CHANG, Sung-Hui LIN
  • Patent number: 8695163
    Abstract: A hold open arm assembly for a door closer to facilitate access to the holding feature by a resiliently biased plunger on a closer arm that is mounted to a soffit plate. A soffit ramp may extend from the soffit plate to provide a sloped surface for engagement by the plunger, leading to the plunger being gradually depressed as the door continues to open and receiving in a recessed area of its free end a rivet head at the soffit plate to hold the door open. When the first arm member pivots relative to the soffit plate and the plunger approaches the head, the plunger engages the sloped surface of the soffit ramp, slides along the sloped surface toward the head, and receives at least a portion of the head in the opening in the free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventor: Edgar E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8683648
    Abstract: A gate holder is normally in an open position. When pulled down, a return mechanism is compressed and a gate holding portion engages a self-closing gate for a period of time sufficient to allow a user to move through the gate, and which automatically returns to its open position allowing the gate to close without further interaction by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Theodore John Halter
  • Patent number: 8677561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic door closer including: a main housing having the shape of a cylinder; a damper housing adapted to divide the interior of the main housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber and having oil charged thereinto and a fixed vane formed at one side of the inner peripheral surface thereof in such a manner as to be projected toward the center thereof; a cover fixedly coupled to the upper periphery of the main housing; an activating shaft having one end extended to the outside through the cover in such a manner as to be rotatably supported and the other end rotatably supported against the bottom surface of the main housing through the damper housing; a rotary vane formed integrally to the outer periphery of the activating shaft so as to divide the interior of the damper housing into first and second chambers, together with the fixed vane; a return spring adapted to provide a returning force of returning the activating shaft to an initial setting position at the time
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Saeng Yoon Woo
  • Patent number: 8677568
    Abstract: A furniture hinge is provided for pivotally connecting at least two parts of a piece of furniture. The furniture hinge includes at least two fastening pieces which can be fixed to one part of the piece of furniture, respectively, and can be hingedly joined to each other via at least one articulated shaft. The inventive furniture hinge further includes at least one motor, preferably an electric motor, for swiveling the fastening pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Sutterlütti
  • Patent number: 8671520
    Abstract: A slide assist device includes a draw-in unit including a case attached to one of a main body or a mobile body, a slider slidably placed on the case, a latch pivotally supported in the slider and switchable between a standby position locking in a corresponding portion of the case and a draw-in position releasing the locking; and an urging device; and an actuating member attached to the other of the main body or the mobile body, switching the latch from the standby position to the draw-in position, or from the draw-in position to the standby position. The latch includes an axis portion having a flat surface and rotatably fits in an axis hole of the slider and forming a positional control surface corresponding to the flat surface. When the latch is switched to the standby position, the flat surface and the positional control surface face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Tanno, Kazuyuki Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20140033475
    Abstract: A movable body assisting apparatus according to an embodiment includes a received body provided on either one of a support body and a movable body that moves relatively against the support body; and a base body. A contact body is provided to be capable of coupling and uncoupling with the received body, to be capable of moving along a course of movement from a first position to a second position on the base body, and to be capable of rocking while moving in a direction retreating from the course of movement. An urging mechanism for urging the contact body is provided on the other of the support body and the movable body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Norio Saito
  • Patent number: 8615846
    Abstract: A hold open rod is provided. The hold open rod includes an outer tube, a lock body connected to the outer tube, an inner tube, slidingly disposed within the outer tube and lock body, the inner tube having an outer surface, and a friction pad captured between the lock body and the outer surface of the inner tube. A method for damping movement of a telescoping rod is also provided. The method includes attaching the locking body to an outer tube, configuring the outer tube and the inner tube to move with respect to each other in a telescoping manner, fitting a damper between an outer diameter of an inner tube and a locking body, and fitting the damper to frictionally engage the outer diameter of the inner tube and the locking body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Marathonnorco Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Wheeler, Julio Palma, Gary McMurtrey
  • Patent number: 8579092
    Abstract: A damper unit which brakes the speed of movement of a moving body by using a piston damper provided with a cylinder and a piston rod which is connected to a piston inside the cylinder, is provided. The damper unit includes a case wherein the above-mentioned piston damper is disposed; a transmitting member slidably provided inside the case and transmitting an external force accompanied by the movement of the above-mentioned moving body; a link member whose one end side is attached to the above-mentioned case so as to become the rotational center, and also whose the other end side is pivotally supported by the above-mentioned transmitting member; and a connecting member connected between both ends of the link member and being in contact with or connected to either the piston rod or the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Patent number: 8547046
    Abstract: A door closer with a self-powered control unit is disclosed. The control unit for the door closer includes a drive gear configured to rotate in response to movement of a door, and a chain arranged to cooperate with the drive gear to produce linear motion in response to rotation of the drive gear. At least one gear creates rotational motion from the linear motion of the chain to turn a generator and generate electricity to power the control unit. In some embodiments, a set of clutch gears is disposed between the chain and the gear creating the rotational motion from the chain so that only one direction of the rotational motion is transferred to the generator in response to movement of the door in any direction. The control unit can additionally include a power management circuit to store energy from the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 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
  • Publication number: 20130219657
    Abstract: Provided is a retracting device in which dampers have improved durability and strokes of operation of the dampers are not reduced. A first slider 14-1 for assisting closing, a second slider 14-2 for assisting opening, and a damper base 22 are provided in an elongating base 12 to be slidable in a longitudinal direction of the base 12. The damper base 22 is disposed between the first slider 14-1 and the second slider 14-2. A first damper 24 is provided over between the first slider 14-1 and the damper base 22 and a second damper 25 is provided over between the second slider 14-2 and the damper base 22.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SUGATSUNE KOGYO CO., LTD
    Inventor: Junpei Iwaki
  • Patent number: 8458857
    Abstract: A device includes a base attachable to a first side of a door; a swing arm coupled to the base, the swing arm including a bracket flange configured to extend across an edge of the door between the first side of the door and a second side of the door opposite the first side of the door; and a biasing member coupled between the swing arm and the base and configured to urge the swing arm from a retracted position in which the bracket flange is adjacent the edge to an extended position in which the bracket flange is apart from the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: ADCO Industries—Technologies, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond E. Davis, Clifton Glenn Hampton
  • Publication number: 20130133157
    Abstract: A retracting device has a retracting main body including a case, a hook disposed in the case, an urging member, and a braking device including a cylinder and a piston rod; and a protruding portion engaging with and disengaging from the hook in a middle of a movement of a moving body relative to an enclosure. The hook is switched between a retracting position allowing the moving body to move in an engaged state with the protruding portion, and a standby position disallowing the moving body to move in a disengaged state. The hook is in the standby position when disengaged from the protruding portion in a state wherein the piston rod is entered with respect to the cylinder, and has reduced a protruding dimension, and is switchable to the retracting position from the standby position when the piston rod increases the protruding dimension relative to the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Patent number: 8443487
    Abstract: A door closer for doors, particularly glass doors, which are supported by a stationary support structure (S) and are movable between an open door position and a closed door position. The door closer comprises a box-like body (10) and a pin (20) reciprocally rotatably coupled to rotate around a first axis (x) between the open door position and the closed door position. Closing means are provided (30) to automatically return the door, as well as a braking means (40) acting thereon to counteract their action. First and second cam elements (31, 41) unitary with the pin (20) and interposed between a first and second plunger elements (32, 42) are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: In & Tec S.r.l.
    Inventor: Luciano Bacchetti
  • Publication number: 20130091665
    Abstract: A door closer for a top hung sliding door has a buffer mechanism and a trolley hanger. The buffer mechanism includes a stationary base, a sliding block, a hook, two buffers and two resilient members. The sliding block is slidably mounted on the stationary base. The hook is pivotally mounted on the sliding block. The buffers are mounted on the stationary base and each buffer has a piston rod secured to the sliding block. The resilient members are mounted on the stationary base and each resilient member has one end secured to the sliding block. The trolley hanger has at least one engaging recess selectively engaging the hook. Therefore, the buffers can provide a buffering force and the resilient members can release a resilient force to reduce a moving speed of a door panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick TSAI
  • Patent number: 8418406
    Abstract: In an acceleration and deceleration device which includes at least one energy storage device and a cylinder with at least one piston movably disposed in the cylinder and moved therein by a carrier element and a sliding door including a slidable door panel provided with an acceleration and deceleration device, a second carrier element is provided guiding either the first piston or the second piston for movement in the cylinder so as to control the movement of pistons and of the sliding door near its end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: Günther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
  • Patent number: 8402606
    Abstract: A door closer for a top hung sliding door has a buffer mechanism and a trolley hanger. The buffer mechanism includes a stationary base, a sliding block, a hook, two buffers and two resilient members. The sliding block is slidably mounted on the stationary base. The hook is pivotally mounted on the sliding block. The buffers are mounted on the stationary base and each buffer has a piston rod secured to the sliding block. The resilient members are mounted on the stationary base and each resilient member has one end secured to the sliding block. The trolley hanger has at least one engaging recess selectively engaging the hook. Therefore, the buffers can provide a buffering force and the resilient members can release a resilient force to reduce a moving speed of a door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick Tsai
  • Publication number: 20130019432
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-closing sliding door assembly operable to allow manual opening and controlled automatic closing of a sliding door. The door assembly comprises storage spools for storing biasing members biased in a wound position around the storage spools. The door assembly further comprises a main spool for winding a cable and the biasing members. When the door is moved towards an open position, the cable is unwound from the main spool, causing the spool to rotate in a first direction. When the main spool is rotated in the first direction, the biasing members are wound onto the main spool and store energy operable to generate a force to cause the main spool to rotate in a second direction. When the door is released, the energy stored in the biasing members rotates the main spool in the second direction, thereby winding the door cable and providing a sufficient force to move the door towards the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventor: Gary R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130014343
    Abstract: A slide assist device includes a draw-in unit including a case attached to one of a main body or a mobile body, a slider slideably placed on the case, a latch supported in the slider and switchable between a standby position locked in a corresponding portion of the case and a draw-in position releasing the locking, and an urging device; and an actuating member attached to the other of the main body or the mobile body, switching the latch from the standby position to the draw-in position, or from the draw-in position to the standby position. By switching the latch from the standby position to the draw-in position, an urging force moves the mobile body from a first position to a second position through the actuating member. At least one of either the slider or the case is disposed in a mutually opposed portion, and protrudes toward a mating side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Akihiko Tanno, Kazuyuki Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20120311817
    Abstract: A door closer for doors, particularly glass doors, which are supported by a stationary support structure (S) and are movable between an open door position and a closed door position. The door closer comprises a box-like body (10) and a pin (20) reciprocally rotatably coupled to rotate around a first axis (x) between the open door position and the closed door position. Closing means are provided (30) to automatically return the door, as well as a braking means (40) acting thereon to counteract their action. First and second cam elements (31, 41) unitary with the pin (20) and interposed between a first and second plunger elements (32, 42) are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Luciano Bacchetti
  • Patent number: 8307497
    Abstract: A soft-closing device has a base, a cylinder, a slider and a resilient member. The base has a track channel and at least one guiding channel. The cylinder is mounted in the base and has a housing and an expansion rod. The slider is mounted slidably in the track channel, is connected pivotally to the expansion rod and has two holding arms, a positioning pin and a holding recess defined between the holding arms. The positioning pin is mounted slidably in the at least one guiding channel. The resilient member has two ends connected respectively with the base and the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Door & Window Hardware Co.
    Inventors: James Chang, Sung-Hui Lin