Spring And Lever Patents (Class 16/80)
  • Patent number: 11702319
    Abstract: A door lintel assembly for an elevator, and an elevator system. The door lintel assembly includes: a door lintel panel having an opening thereon; a display device, which is installed on the door lintel panel via the opening, and which has a display screen on a first side of the door lintel panel, and electronic components on a second side of the door lintel panel; and a rotation device, which includes a first bracket installed on both sides of the door lintel panel, a second bracket fixedly installed, and a rotation mechanism connecting the first bracket and the second bracket, wherein the rotation mechanism drives the first bracket and the door lintel panel to rotate relative to the second bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jianyong Guo
  • Patent number: 11441346
    Abstract: A device for moving folding door leaves that open completely and are adapted for wardrobes or pieces of furniture in general include a single door leaf or one pair of door leaves hinged to each other, configured to be rotated from a completely closed configuration to a completely open configuration. The door leaves include a guiding device, the action of which is damped during the opening and closing movement by magnetic devices and damping systems that counteract their attraction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Maurizio Caccaro
  • Patent number: 11382263
    Abstract: An articulating mower deck system. The system is adapted to disable power to a blade associated with the wing deck section before the wing deck section begins to lift—from an operating position toward a folded position—yet does not interfere with blade operation when the wing deck section floats relative to a center deck section during normal operation of the deck. Articulating decks of modular construction are also provided, allowing assembly of multiple deck widths with a minimum of modular deck sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Exmark Manufacturing Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Tate, Michael E. Allen
  • Patent number: 10995534
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a concealed or hidden door closer that is installed in a drip cap of a door assembly. In some embodiments, the door frame and door closer components are configured to allow the door assembly to be readily installed as either a left or a right hand hinged door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Larson Manufacturing Company of South Dakota, LLC
    Inventors: Alan M. Dixon, Michael W. Kondratuk, Allen E. Lee, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Jordan A. Richter, Todd N. Stratmoen, Bryan P. Zacher
  • Patent number: 10801241
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a concealed or hidden door closer that is installed in a rail of a door assembly. In some embodiments, the door frame and door closer components are configured to allow the door assembly to be readily installed as either a left or a right hand hinged door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Larson Manufacturing Company of South Dakota, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan M. Dixon, Michael W. Kondratuk, Allen E. Lee, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Jordan A. Richter, Todd N. Stratmoen, Bryan P. Zacher
  • Patent number: 10711498
    Abstract: A door closer (10) includes an exterior housing (11), a spring assembly (12), a ratchet assembly (13), and a clutch assembly (14). The housing has a central tube (17), drive collar (23), a top end cap (52), and a bottom end cap (65). The drive collar includes an indexing pin channel (41) and indexing pin (42) which includes a pawl (45) having a contact surface (47) and a curved bearing surface (48). The spring assembly includes a shaft (73), a spring stop (80), and a helical torsion spring (106) positioned upon the shaft. The ratchet assembly resides within drive collar and includes ratchet wheel (111) having an annular array of ratchet teeth (112) configured to mesh with the pawl of the indexing pin. Each tooth has an undercut contact surface (113) and a curved bearing surface (114). The clutch assembly includes a bottom disc (120) and a top disc (121).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Kason Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Grewe, Brett A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10442623
    Abstract: A movable rail is retracted even when positions of an upstream rail and a downstream rail fluctuate, and an increase in distance between the upstream rail or the downstream rail and the movable rail is reduced or prevented. The movable rail is movable between a first position and a second position, and an extendable rail is provided on the upstream rail. The extendable rail includes one end coupled with the upstream rail and the other end defining a free end, and extending and contracting with an elastic member. The extendable rail contracts while leaving room for the other end of the extendable rail to be pushed by the movable rail moving toward the first position and further contract. When the movable rail moves to the second position, a space through which a fire shutter provided in the building is able to pass is provided between the other end and the downstream rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takanori Izumi
  • Patent number: 10358856
    Abstract: A damping system comprises a door panel operably connected to a rail for movement along the rail. An apparatus is mounted to the rail for damping movement of the door along the rail at an end position. The damping apparatus comprises a base defining a chamber having a closed end and an open end, the base configured for securing the damping apparatus to the rail. A piston is slidably mounted in the chamber and extends from the open end of the base in a first position. The piston includes a cylinder, a piston head moveable within said cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston head, and a compression spring disposed on the piston rod between the cylinder and closed end of the chamber. The damping apparatus is secured to the rail for engaging and slowing movement of the door panel in a direction along the rail at the position as the piston is moved in the direction from the first position to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc.
    Inventor: William Holland Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 10280669
    Abstract: A door closer (10) includes an exterior housing (11), a spring assembly (12), a ratchet assembly (13), and a clutch assembly (14). The housing has a central tube (17), drive collar (23), a top end cap (52), and a bottom end cap (65). The drive collar includes an indexing pin channel (41) and indexing pin (42) which includes a pawl (45) having a contact surface (47) and a curved bearing surface (48). The spring assembly includes a shaft (73), a spring stop (80), and a helical torsion spring (106) positioned upon the shaft. The ratchet assembly resides within drive collar and includes ratchet wheel (111) having an annular array of ratchet teeth (112) configured to mesh with the pawl of the indexing pin. Each tooth has an undercut contact surface (113) and a curved bearing surface (114). The clutch assembly includes a bottom disc (120) and a top disc (121).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KASON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Grewe, Brett A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10180023
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the force in a door operator or closer comprises an elongated housing and a spring therein connected to the door operator or closer. A spring collar is non-rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the housing and adapted to move linearly within the housing. A fixed adjusting screw extends along a longitudinal axis of the housing and the spring collar is slidable linearly along an outer surface of the adjusting screw. A nut is threadably engaged at a distal end of the adjusting screw and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the screw, the nut bearing on the spring collar during rotation. The spring collar bears on a distal end of the spring to vary the spring compression and thereby vary force applied by the door operator or closer. The housing has an opening in a sidewall through which the spring is visible, and the housing exterior surface includes markings indicating the degree of spring compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Zasowski, Dustin Lawhon
  • Patent number: 10172460
    Abstract: A retraction device includes an entrainment member to be releasably coupled to a movable furniture part and supported displaceably along a linear displacement path, a spring device for applying a force to the entrainment member, the spring device configured to be tensioned by a spring holder separate from the entrainment member, and a coupling device for motionally coupling a movement between the entrainment member and the spring holder. The fastening location of the spring device on the spring holder falls back relative to the position of the entrainment member along a control curve by the coupling device as the entrainment member is being pulled out in an opening direction. The coupling device includes a two-armed lever pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis on the spring holder. A first lever end of the two-armed lever is motionally coupled to the entrainment member and the second lever end includes a guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventor: Ingo Gasser
  • Patent number: 9500017
    Abstract: The inner surface of one side section of a frame has the base-end section of a rotation arm of a rotation-biasing element that is rotatable. A roller is provided on the tip-end section of the rotation arm. The roller is pressed against and contacts the rear surface of a door as a result of the biasing by the rotation-biasing element. The rear surface of the door is equipped with a damper element. The damper element has a contact member for pressing against and contacting the roller when the door is in the closed position or in a prescribed intermediate position. The contact member minimizes the speed at which the roller moves forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SUGATSUNE KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20150135478
    Abstract: A door closer is provided to automatically pull a storm or screen door to a fully closed position without user action. The door closer includes a bracket housing with a cam switch movable along a track as the door opens and closes. The closer cylinder rod is engaged with the cam switch until the door is fully opened. The cam switch biases the closer cylinder and rod as the door approaches the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Wei Jin Chao
  • Publication number: 20150128379
    Abstract: An overhead door closer comprising including a housing, an output shaft with a cam disc, which shaft is rotatably movable supported in the housing, a link-plate carriage with two rotatably movable pressure rollers supported in the link-plate carriage, wherein the pressure rollers roll on the cam disc, a piston which is linearly guided in the housing, a piston rod which with one end is connected to the link-plate carriage, and with the other end is connected to the piston, and a closer spring, which, on the side of the piston facing the link-plate carriage, abuts at the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Volker BIENEK, Stephan Gosch
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140189979
    Abstract: Self-closure device for sliding mobile parts, comprising an integrator element with three active areas—one front area that forms the first area or activator latch area, which swings, a second area or flexion area, which, given the elasticity of the material, enables the activator latch to swing and a third area or guide area, which guides the translation of the device and links it to the energy accumulator and the dampener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAS AUXILIARES, S.A. (INDAUX)
    Inventor: Miguel Angel Rioja Calvo
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 8430089
    Abstract: Provided is a heating cooker which allows a door on a cooking chamber to be opened without direct handling of the door by a user. The heating cooker includes a body having a cooking chamber defined therein, a door hingably mounted to the body to open and close the cooking chamber, a door holder positioned in the body to hold the door and keep the cooking chamber closed by the door, and a hinge part connected between the door and the body to guide rotation of the door such that when the door is released from the door holder, the door is automatically opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Kwang Kim, Dae Sung Han, Yong Hyun Kwon, Seok Weon Hong, Tae Uk Lee, Pung Yeun Cho, Han Seong Kang, Sung Soo Park, Han Jun Sung, Tae Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 8286306
    Abstract: Described is a hinge for wings or doors, in particular for electrical household appliances, comprising a first body (5), a second body (6) and a connecting lever (7) between the first and the second body (5, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: NUOVA STAR S.p.A.
    Inventor: Angelo Vanini
  • Patent number: 8261427
    Abstract: Crystal devices are disclosed, of which an exemplary device includes a crystal frame comprising a crystal vibrating piece having an electrode pattern and an outer frame supporting the crystal vibrating piece. The device also includes a crystal package base including at least one connection electrode formed on a first main surface and at least one external electrode formed on a second main surface, wherein the second main surface is opposite the first main surface. The crystal frame and crystal base are layered together with a lid wafer to form a 3-layer sandwich. The layers of the sandwich are bonded together by siloxane bonding, which results in the connection electrodes contacting the electrode pattern on the crystal vibrating piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Inose, Toshiaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7921511
    Abstract: A door closer comprises a spindle journaled in a housing and connected to turn with a door. Upon rotation of the spindle, a cam carried by the spindle effects linear movement of a slide assembly relative to the housing. A piston is connected with the slide assembly. Passages are provided in the housing to permit flow of fluid in the housing in response to movement of the piston. A spring assembly disposed outside of the housing is connected to the piston. Rotation of the spindle and cam during door opening moves the slide assembly, thereby compressing the spring assembly for storing energy for urging the piston and the slide assembly in the opposite door closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventor: Loring M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7788767
    Abstract: An automatic door shutter includes a stationary plate and a pressing plate pivotally combined together and with a resilient body located therebetween. Additionally, a pivot of the stationary plate has a sliding notch accepting an S-shaped resilient sheet abutting the pressing plate. By attaching the stationary plate and the sliding base to a door frame and a door respectively, the resilient body pushes the pressing plate to shut the door automatically. When the door is pushing to fully open, the pressing plate pivots to the stationary plate, and the S-shaped resilient sheet slides in the sliding recess and is compressed to deform to become U-shape. Until the door is fully open, the resilient sheet which is U-shaped causes an outward pushing force to the pressing plate to keep the door open constantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Chun-Ju Chen
  • Patent number: 7779508
    Abstract: A door closer to adapt a storage device having a body and a swinging door for automatic closing includes a hinge having first and second hinge elements. Each of the hinge elements include a length dimension and a height dimension parallel the axis of the hinge and are configured to rotate about the axis. A panel is provided which is coupled with the second hinge element and has a length dimension greater than a length dimension of the first hinge element. The door closer is configured via a spring force of a biasing device to bias a swinging door of a storage device toward a closed position against the body of the storage device, at least in part via an interaction between one of the hinge elements and the door, and an interaction between the other of the hinge elements and the body via the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Bryan A. Hardesty
  • Publication number: 20100064472
    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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Dorma GmbH + Co.KG
    Inventor: Sven Busch
  • Publication number: 20090113668
    Abstract: An automatic door shutter is composed of a stationary plate and a pressing plate pivotally combined together to make a resilient body located therebetween. Additionally, a pivot of the stationary plate has a sliding notch accepting an S-shaped resilient sheet abutting the pressing plate. By attaching the stationary plate and sliding base to a door frame and a door board respectively, the resilient body pushes the pressing plate to shut the door board automatically. When the door board is pushing to fully open, the pressing plate pivots to the stationary plate and then the S-shaped resilient sheet slides in the sliding recess and is compressed to deform to become U-shaped one. Until the door board is fully open, the U-shaped resilient sheet causes an outward pushing force to the pressing plate to keep the door board open constantly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Chun-Ju Chen
  • Patent number: 7421761
    Abstract: A door closer comprises a spindle journaled in a housing and connected to turn with a door. Upon rotation of the spindle, a cam carried by the spindle effects linear movement of a slide assembly relative to the housing. A piston is connected with the slide assembly. Passages are provided in the housing to permit flow of fluid in the housing in response to movement of the piston. A spring assembly disposed outside of the housing is connected to the piston. Rotation of the spindle and cam during door opening moves the slide assembly, thereby compressing the spring assembly for storing energy for urging the piston and the slide assembly in the opposite door closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Inventor: Loring M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7185398
    Abstract: A mechanical door closer (10) that includes a spring (20) mounted in a track (13) to urge the door (11) to a closed position. A brake assembly (24) controls that rate at which the door (11) closes. The brake assembly (24) includes a brake hub (25) that has ramp slots (32) that receive balls (33) that engage a braking shell (34) to cause the braking assembly (24) to frictionally engage the track (13) to thereby control movement of the door (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Kral
  • Patent number: 7134168
    Abstract: A door closer comprises a cylinder with an extensible and retractable rod. The cylinder has a first end adapted to be secured to a door frame, while the rod has an outer end adapted to be connected to the door. The rod has a series of grooves along the length. A pawl is mounted in a housing on one end of the cylinder and is adapted for movement between an engaged position engaging one of the grooves of the rod and a disengaged position. A button on the housing is adapted to be depressed to move the pawl to the engaged position, whereby the pawl holds the door open in a selected position. The pawl can be disengaged from the rod merely by opening the door slightly, after which the spring-biased rod automatically pulls the door to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Betteli, Inc. Hong Kong
    Inventor: Wu Feng Qing
  • Patent number: 6615449
    Abstract: A releasable locking assembly for a door control cylinder is disclosed. The assembly fits over the rod of the door control cylinder and includes a locking flange member maintained in a confined space within a pair of concentric closed end cup members. The locking flange member engages the rod to hold the door control cylinder in an extended position by gently pushing on the outer cup member and disengages the locking flange member by further opening the door, allowing the cylinder rod to retract in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Arthur Alvarez
  • Patent number: 5737805
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self rising cover assembly for use on a machine housing which includes a frame and a plurality of panels connected to the frame to define the machine housing. The cover assembly includes a flat body member which is pivotally connected to a portion of the frame to pivot from a closed horizontal position to an open nearly vertical position to provide operator access to the interior of the machine housing. A spring loaded actuator is interconnected between the body member and the frame which exerts sufficient upward torque on the body member to overcome the downward torque on the body member from the force of gravity to urge the body member upwardly after it has been manually lifted through a relatively short distance, after which the actuator moves the body member to the fully open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Ming Xiao
  • Patent number: 5666692
    Abstract: A door closer having a spindle and cam arrangement for driving a cam plate longitudinally within a housing filled with oil, and dual rods connected to the cam plate at one end and to two pistons respectively at an opposite end. The pistons are reciprocal within cylinders having speed valves in flow communication to opposite sides of the pistons. Dual springs are arranged, one around each rod and compressed between the pistons and a fixed compression plate within the housing. A single adjusting screw extends from a front end of the housing to a threaded central aperture of the compression plate. Rotation of the adjusting screw sets the initial spring compression force of the return springs which influences the rate of closure of the door and the preload force of the door to the door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Jackson Corporation
    Inventor: George F. Toledo
  • Patent number: 5560079
    Abstract: A door closer of the door check type includes a housing (10) for assembly with a door and supporting a pivotally mounted lever (21) and driving spring member (32) arranged to drive the lever (21) in an operative direction, and keep member (40) for assembly with a door frame to be engaged by said lever (21) and cooperate therewith to pull the door towards the door frame. The housing (10) includes an elongate body (15) which houses the driving spring (32) and a mounting plate (11) at one end of the body (15) whereby the housing body (15) may be mounted within the thickness of the door with the mounting plate (11) secured at an edge face thereof. The keep member (40) includes a keep body (44) which defines a recess (43) adapted to receive the lever (21) and a mounting flange (41) whereby the keep body (44) may be recessed into the door frame with the mounting flange (41) secured at an edge face of the door frame which is presented towards the edge face of the door at which the housing body (15) is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Samuel Heath & Sons PLC
    Inventor: Roger H. Jeynes
  • Patent number: 5517720
    Abstract: A door closer assembly provides a closing force to a door swingably mounted on a door jamb by a pair of arms pivotally attached to the door and the door frame. The door closer assembly has a housing and a spring for providing a closing force on the arm which closes the door when it is an open position. The improvement of the present invention includes a spring cushion device mounted on the housing of the door closer assembly for stopping the opening movement of the door as it reaches a predetermined angle of rotation. The cushion device provides a resilient counteracting force on the arm as the door reaches its predetermined angle of rotation which lessens the wear and tear exerted on the assembly by the opening force of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Anderson, George S. Nimee, Jon C. Nye
  • 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: 5271652
    Abstract: A device in which an auxiliary force is applied to a loading deck side plate of a truck to reduce the force required for opening and closing the side plate. A spring is provided on the underside of the loading deck to pull a rod substantially horizontally. A swing link is provided below a side end portion of the loading deck, and the tip of the swing link and an outer surface of the side plate are connected together through a connecting link in such a manner that the tip of the swing link points obliquely upward or downward when the side plate is closed or fully open, respectively. The tip of the rod and an intermediate portion of the swing link are connected together through an intermediate link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Chuo-Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosio Watanabe, Masayoshi Ohishi
  • Patent number: 5235723
    Abstract: The invention provides a biasing device for biasing a movable first structure to a position relative to a second structure, said biasing device includes aconnection mechanism for interconnecting said first and second structures, said connection mechanism including at least one motion reducing mechanism; andextensible and/or compressible biasing means for providing a biasing force;the biasing means is connected between said first or second structure and said motion reducing mechanism so that the length of extension or compression of said biasing means is less than the movement of said first structure relative to said second structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Erica Gem Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shirley D. Wallis
  • Patent number: 5088152
    Abstract: A tamper proof security door track and position means such as a door closer or door position indicator wherein the track is fully enclosed in the door closed position and protected by a slide closure in the open position to prevent debris from entering the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: William L. Downey
  • Patent number: 5027473
    Abstract: A door closer assembly for a household refrigerator of the type having a door frame with a front faced surface and a door having a confronting surface, the assembly including a hinge plate mounted on the door frame and having a pivot pin mounted on the hinge plate in a spaced relation to the front faced surface, a door plate mounted on the door and having an aperture spaced from the confronting surface of the door and a pivot post spaced from the aperature, the door plate being mounted on the hinge plate with the pivot pin aligned with the aperature, and an offset arm connected to the pivot post and biased by a spring in a door closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip F. Hottmann
  • Patent number: 5020868
    Abstract: On each side of a drawer is provided a pull-out rail fastened to the drawer and a supporting rail fastened to a furniture body side wall. A closing device pulls the drawer inwardly during a rearward portion of a push-in movement of the drawer into the body of the piece of furniture. The closing device includes a roller mounted on a pivotable lever which is acted upon by a spring. The roller is guided under pressure along a guide path that partly includes double tracks, the roller being guided in one track during an extracting motion and in the other track during the push-in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Julius Blum Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Eberhard Brunnert
  • Patent number: 4858272
    Abstract: An improved door closing device has a door closer main body for exerting a closing force on a door, a guide rail for guiding a slider, a tension spring provided in the guide rail and a releasably connecting device for releasably connecting the tension spring with the slider at a certain angular position of the door whereby a closing force can be additionally exerted near a position where the door is completely opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Ryobi Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Ogawa, Miyoshi Shiramasa
  • Patent number: 4639969
    Abstract: This is an improved door closer mechanism for attachment to, or incorporation into, a standard spring type door closer, or for use with a standard spring type door closer. It is particularly useful for screen or storm doors. The unique feature is a reversible pawl and ratchet assembly operating on a rod between the door and door casing, which allows the door to ratchet open freely to any desired position where it is held by the pawl until a slight closing pull or push on the door reverses action of the pawl and allows the door to close freely. While the door is closing or is fully closed, reopening of the door resets the pawl for again holding the door open as desired. Reversing of the pawl is fully automatic, and nothing has to be manually touched except the door itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Inventor: D. Noel Obenshain
  • Patent number: 4483044
    Abstract: Door speed is controlled by a pneumatic dashpot including a spring-loaded piston having a piston rod which extends through an elastomeric silicone rubber braking sleeve which is longitudinally compressed as the door opens to increase the friction between the piston rod and the sleeve. One or more enlargements on the piston rod provide increased friction as the rod moves through the braking sleeve to control closing speed and to provide greater wind resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: National Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: James R. Johnston, Cordell E. Meiste
  • Patent number: 4471575
    Abstract: An externally mounted device for automatically closing sliding panels such as screen door panels with a spring and a pneumatic cylinder mounted between the frame surrounding the panel and a pivot arm with a wheel which rides within a track installed on the panel itself, so that opening the panel extends the spring, biasing the pivot arm and the panel associated therewith towards the closed position. Upon release of the panel the pneumatic cylinder controls the rate at which the panel closes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Inventor: Gerald T. Stout
  • Patent number: 4430770
    Abstract: A door-operating mechanism is disclosed which is particularly suited for use with hingedly mounted swinging glass doors of a refrigerated display cabinet. The door operating mechanism includes an extensible gas spring biased toward an extended condition, and a linkage arrangement operatively interconnecting the gas spring with the door. A portion of the gas spring is movably disposed within a slot defined by the linkage arrangement such that in one position of the gas spring the door is biased toward its closed position, and in another position of the gas spring the door may be maintained in an opened position such as for stocking or maintenance of the display cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Ardco, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Niekrasz, Matthew Rolek
  • Patent number: 4422213
    Abstract: An axially extending closer shaft for a door closer is made up of an axially extending first section mounted in a door closer housing and an axially extending second section aligned with and connected to the first section and located outside of the housing. A plurality of annular grooves are formed in the second section extending perpendicularly of the shaft axis and spaced apart in the direction of the shaft axis. The second section can be cut to the desired length in the plane of one of the grooves. The first and second sections can be connected together by a plurality of bolts extending in the axial direction of the shaft or by a single shaft and coupling balls positioned within recesses in the first shaft and in bores in the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Casma di Vi Marinoni & Figli
    Inventor: Mario Marinoni
  • Patent number: 4419787
    Abstract: A control linkage for use with a door closer, wherein the linkage is provided with a spring which resiliently biases against relative rotation of a pair of arms as the arms approach a door-open limit position, and which aids the door closer in moving the door from the door-open limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Dorma Door Controls Inc.
    Inventor: Sidney Lieberman
  • Patent number: 4348069
    Abstract: A door for a cupboard and more especially a corner cupboard comprising a planar closure member formed in two sections of different width with one hingedly connected to the other, a first of said section being adapted for hinged mounted to an aperture in which in use the closure member is to be located. In order to control throughout the opening and closing operations of the door the outer or second section an arm is provided. The arm is pivotally coupled adjacent to the free edge of the second section of the door this edge being opposite to the edge of second section which is hinged to the first section. The arm is adapted at its other end to be pivotally attached to a fixture from said aperture. The fixture is in a plane which is parallel to that of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Assignee: Lynwood Products Limited
    Inventor: John A. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 4295245
    Abstract: A semi-concealed door hinge having leaf parts connected by a pintle. Each leaf part includes a connector plate which is attached to either the door or its supporting frame at the rear face thereof. These connector plates form a supporting part of the overcenter closure with the closure extending between leafs of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Inventor: George E. Malcom
  • Patent number: 4263978
    Abstract: A compartment closure tilt assist mechanism that, independently of the operation of any counterbalance means in the compartment hinges, is effective to reduce the opening or lift effort for raising the closure to provide access to the compartment therebeneath. The assist mechanism comprises a lift arm 17 supported on a support strut 13 extending longitudinally of the compartment. Interposed between the lift arm and support strut are lift arm support links that are swingable about a pivot axis located below the strut. The links extend from the pivot axis angularly upwardly above the strut and support the lift arm between the closure and the strut in closed position of the closure. Over-center biasing means 33, coupled to the support strut and to the lift arm, are operative to reduce the lift effort to raise the compartment closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Mark H. Jackson