Spring Patents (Class 16/85)
  • Publication number: 20110273065
    Abstract: A merchandiser including a case defining a product display area for supporting and displaying food product. The case includes a case frame that has at least one mullion defining an opening into the product display area, a door that is positioned over the opening and pivotably coupled to the case frame for movement between a closed position and an open position, and a door hold open mechanism attached to either the mullion or the door. The other of the mullion and the door defines a channel, and the door hold open mechanism includes an engagement member that is outwardly biased from the mullion or the door to which the door hold open mechanism is attached such that the engagement member is engageable with the other of the mullion and the door within the channel to hold the door in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: HUSSMANN CORPORATION
    Inventors: David W. Dickey, Paul D. Fogarty, Garrick N. McFarland, Denise Slatton, Raymond P. Twohy
  • Patent number: 8052233
    Abstract: A spring buffer for a furniture item has a furniture body and a furniture part movable from a closed position in or on the furniture body. The spring buffer can be arranged relative to the furniture body and the furniture part such that the movable furniture part in its closed end position can be moved against the force of the spring buffer towards the direction of the furniture body. The spring buffer includes a buffer element for the movable furniture part and the buffer element is acted upon by a spring. The buffer element is movably arranged such that the distance covered by the buffer element against the force of the spring can be changeably adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventors: Emanuel Netzer, Ingo Gasser, Markus Bodingbauer
  • Publication number: 20110187255
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator body, a door to open and close the front of the refrigerator body, the door having an opening, a home bar door to open and close the opening, and a hinge device provided at the home bar door, wherein the hinge device includes a hinge shaft, a damper including a case, a first rotation member rotatably disposed in the case, a second rotation member configured to be rotated together with the first rotation member, and a fluid contained in the case to apply rotational resistance to the first rotation member, and an elastic member coupled to the damper to apply force in the direction in which the door is opened, the second rotation member including a fixing part to fix the hinge shaft, a receiving part to receive the elastic member, and a coupling part coupled to the first rotation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Chul Ryu, Yea Jong Bong
  • Publication number: 20110179599
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door retaining device comprising a housing and a retaining rod which traverses it, the device furthermore comprising brake means housed in the housing which comprise at least one brake body stressed by a corresponding compression spring towards the retaining rod, the housing being formed by several parts assembled to one another, including a guide body molded in plastic for guiding the rod, provided with a through hole which is traversed by said rod and with at least one side hole in communication with the through hole; and a receptacle, detachably plugged to the side hole of the guide body, which houses and guides the movement of the brake body towards the retaining rod through the mentioned side hole, and in which the compression spring is supported to exert its thrusting action on the brake body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: FLEXNGATE AUTOMOTIVE IBERICA, S.A.
    Inventors: Joaquin NICOLAS DOMINGO, Aitor AGELL MERINO
  • Publication number: 20110167590
    Abstract: For receiving and stopping movement of a movable member approaching to a fixed member in order to absorb impacts, a cushion clip includes a clip body capable of being mounted by inserting into a mounting hole formed in one of the fixed member and the movable member, and a cushion body capable of absorbing impacts by resilient deformation. The clip body made of rigid resin material and the cushion body made of soft resin material are integrally joined to each other at a mutual joint portion by a two-material molding process. At the mutual joint portion, the clip body includes a base portion entering into inside of the cushion body, and a concave-convex configuration, such as ribs, is provided to the base portion for increasing a contact area with the cushion body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: DAIWA KASEI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jyunya Ukai, Toshio Iwahara
  • Publication number: 20110167589
    Abstract: Various apparatus and method embodiments directed to a safety stop mechanism for a robotic accessor are provided. In one such embodiment, a connector has first and second ends. The first end is configured to contact a door of the automated storage library when the door is in at least a first position. A safety stop is connected to the second end of the connector and adapted to move from a down position to an up position. The safety stop is in the down position when the door is in the first position. The connector is adapted to travel in a lateral direction corresponding to a similar movement of the door as the door is opened between the first position and a second position, causing the safety stop to move from the down position to an up position to prevent travel of the robotic accessor beyond the safety stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas A. HARTL, Shawn M. NAVE
  • Publication number: 20110131883
    Abstract: A sliding door for a motor vehicle includes a guide rail and a sliding carriage which is longitudinally displaceably journaled at the guide rail and which is connected to the vehicle body by a multijoint. The sliding door furthermore includes a centering (42) at its end remote from the multijoint which is releasably connectable to a counter-bearing (48) at the body side. To improve such a sliding door, a damper (63) is provided for damping the movement of the sliding door (41) on the connection of the centering (42) to the counter-bearing (48).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: DURA Automotive Body & Glass Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Heuel, Michael Krehmke, Ralf Rottmann
  • Patent number: 7937807
    Abstract: Universal impact-hinder device, comprising a body (1); a guiding pin (4) arranged at the closed first end of an inside cylindrical cavity of the body (1), a spring (7) on the guiding pin (4); a ring (5) at the opposite end of the cavity; and a piston having a T-shaped head and an inside cavity in which the spring (7) is supported, which piston can move until the ring (5), while the guiding pin (4) is within the inside cavity of the piston. The T-shaped head is provided with a groove and a movable O-ring (6) within that, having two end positions in the groove. In first end position a surface of the groove having artificial damages (31) and the contacting O-ring (6) determine a first flow-through capacity, in second end position an orifice (21) between the cavity of the body and the groove determines a greater second flow-through capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Jozsef Bereznai
  • Publication number: 20110016665
    Abstract: A door check apparatus for an automobile comprises a unitary check body containing a pair of compliant leaves and a guidance arrangement which is adapted to be rigidly mounted to a vehicle door. It also comprises a check arm containing cam surfaces and detent features which is pivotally connected to a vehicle body structure and is configured to slideably interface with the guidance arrangement of the unitary check body. The unitary check body is manufactured from a resilient material so that the compliant leaves are capable of storing and releasing energy in response to the movement of the cam surfaces and detent features of the check arm relative to the guidance arrangement. Rotary motion of the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body structure is checked with predetermined forces generated from the energy stored and released by the compliant leaves at positions determined by the relationship between the detent features of the check arm relative to the guidance arrangement of the unitary check body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Multimatic Inc.
    Inventor: Billy Chean Wang Ng
  • Patent number: 7870641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support housing comprising a housing part for an active component of a door stay, the housing part having at a first end an opening for receiving the active component. The problem of developing a support housing which can be produced on an industrial scale easily and flexibly in line with changing requirements is solved by the invention in that the housing part comprises a cut-off extruded profile. The invention also relates to a door stay comprising a stay bar with a first side, a first active component, which co-operates with the first side of the stay bar, and a support housing with a first housing part, the first end of which is open, and with an opening for the first active component, the first housing part comprising a cut-off extruded profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Edscha AG
    Inventors: Peter Hoffmann, Gundolf Heinrichs, Torsten Meissner
  • Patent number: 7870643
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge arrangement, in particular for a tailgate of a motor vehicle, having a first hinge part, in particular firmly connected to the body, which is knuckle-jointed with a second hinge part, and having an energy accumulator, the force application points of which are positioned in relation to both hinge parts in such a way that the force released upon its discharge supports the rotation of the two hinge parts around the hinge axis from a first rotation position, which corresponds in particular to a closed position of the tailgate, to a second rotation position, which corresponds in particular to the open position of the tailgate. To obtain useful improvements, a transposition device is proposed for transposing at least one force application point in one of the two rotation positions, so that after a transposition onto the hinge parts a force acts in the opposite rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Witte-Velbert GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Krueger, Christian Kaczmarczyk
  • Patent number: 7865999
    Abstract: A track and arm type door controller assembly. A channel member and a gripping member each having a toothed surface are provided, with the gripping member slidably disposed in the channel member. When the pin is retracted, the gripping member teeth are spaced from the channel member teeth, and the gripping member may freely slide along the track. When the pin is advanced, the teeth engage and the gripping member is in a fixed, non-sliding position. An elongated spring and a spring clip or a latch may be provided that releasably engage to hold the door open. A set screw may adjust the tightness of the engagement of the elongated spring and spring clip of latch. A friction assembly may be provided to slow the motion of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Hilger
  • Patent number: 7861371
    Abstract: Disclosed is a door damper, in which a safety check valve is installed in consideration of the case in which an impact exceeding a design pressure will be applied, thereby absorbing the impact to enable a door to be closed safely and smoothly. In the door damper, a safety check valve is installed in a piston, and thus is opened in cooperation with another check valve installed between a spring holder and the piston when the pressure exceeding a design pressure is applied. Thereby, when the impact exceeding the design pressure occurs, the safety check valve can absorb the impact to prevent damage. A channel can be adjusted by only ridges formed on an outer circumference of the check valve, so that productivity can be improved thanks to easy tolerance management. Further, an oil seal is not contracted or deformed in spite of long-term use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Moonju Hardware Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jaehong Kim
  • Patent number: 7849561
    Abstract: A temporary checking device is provided that works in conjunction with elements of a vehicle hinge that remain in the vehicle's final configuration. The hinge includes a hinge pin rotatably connecting a door hinge bracket to a pillar hinge bracket. The checking device includes a spring portion that is disposed between the door hinge bracket and the pillar hinge bracket. The spring portion is compressed during movement of the door hinge bracket relative to the pillar hinge bracket from either of two rest positions. The spring portion urges the vehicle door affixed thereto back into one of the rest positions, thus allowing manufacturing operations such as painting, etc., to be performed on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Brown, Marc Iman, Cindy Tran, James Ritchie, Ohno Takahiro, Ogawa Takashi, Ishikawa Takeshi
  • Patent number: 7845050
    Abstract: A device for buffering the closing impact of furniture doors is disclosed. A valve (40) is mounted around a piston rob (23) of a piston (20) in such a fashion that an oil gap (41) is defined between the outer peripheral surface of the valve (40) and the inner peripheral surface of a cylinder (10), the valve having a recessed oil passageway (47) formed on an axial end surface. A protrusion element (50) has a plurality of oil grooves (51) A check valve (60) slides reciprocally along the compression direction of oil. When an external load is exerted to the piston (20), a check valve (60) moves along with the protrusion element (50) and simultaneously oil contained in the oil chamber (11) flows through the recessed oil passageway (47) via the oil grooves (51) defined between the protrusion element (50) to absorb an impact generated during the closing of the furniture door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Precision Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul Soo Pyo
  • Publication number: 20100293746
    Abstract: Device for securing a soft ending of the opening movement of a drawer as the latter is drawn towards an outer limit stop (10), the drawer being mounted in a (not-shown) furniture body and capable of being pulled out from said body, and in which there may be one or more rails (1, 3) between the drawer and the furniture body. The device comprises a damper (6) filled with a fluid medium attached to the furniture body—or to a rail of the furniture body—and a piston with a piston rod (7) being reciprocable in said damper (6), the free end of the piston rod (7) being attached to a tilt-able rocker (9). Whenever the piston rod (7) close to its outermost position is moved in and out in the damper (6), the rocker can be moved on a guide portion (17)—mounted at the damper (6)—between a first end position (FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Tobias Johansson, Tomas Karlsson
  • Patent number: 7832051
    Abstract: A door check mechanism which provides infinite stable retaining positions for a motor vehicle includes an articulated guided arm mounted to one of the vehicle body or the door and a mechanism mounted on the other of the vehicle body or the door such that the guiding arm penetrates the mechanism with a relative displacement between the two parts. A wedging function results from a blocking of the guiding arm by the mechanism. The mechanism includes a carriage device with a braking roller held in contact with the guiding arm and a braking element to ensure the wedging function. When a load greater than a predetermined value is exerted on the door, an axle of the roller slides along lateral guiding slots until the roller is released from the braking element, thus allowing free rotation of the roller and releases the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Andre Prieur
  • Publication number: 20100270900
    Abstract: A refrigerator with a door opening device. The door opening device includes a first rotating frame and a second rotating frame rotatably hinged to an upper end and a lower end of the door, a handle extended in the longitudinal direction of the door, and provided with one end connected to one end of the first rotating frame and the other end connected to one end of the second rotating frame, and a stopper unit to selectively restrict rotation of at least one of the first rotating frame and the second rotating frame relative to the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu Su Cho, Jae Sek Oh, Dong In Shin
  • Publication number: 20100237653
    Abstract: The disclosure includes, among other things, a trailer including a base, a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base, a cargo door displaceable between an open position and a closed position, a motorized spool, and a cable having a first end attached proximate the spool and a second end attached to the cargo door, wherein the door can be moved between the open position and the closed position by operating the motorized spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: James D. Rydberg
  • Publication number: 20100212109
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hinge damper and, more particularly, to a hinge damper that is configured to be adhered to a door hinge of the furniture having a door to attenuate impact and is designed in a small size but to attenuate a large amount of impact. In a hinge damper of the present invention, first and second seals are formed in an oil seal to prevent air from being introduced. A cross rib is formed on a piston to absorb a larger amount of impact with a small size. According to the present invention, the hinge damper can be small-sized while attenuating impact the present invention has been made. In addition, the hinge damper does not affect on the size of the hinge. Further, since the hinge damper can be identically sized to a screw used for fixing the hinge, it is not exposed to an external side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: MOONJU HARDWARE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jae Hong Kim
  • Publication number: 20100192327
    Abstract: A damping device furniture door leaves includes a damper housing with a base plate whose base area rests against and is fastened to an effective bearing area of the door opening of the furniture door leaf. The base plate includes a screw bore through which a fastening screw can be screwed into the effective bearing area. A spring projection extending from the base area of the base plate can be pushed behind the base area against spring resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Horst Lautenschläger
  • Publication number: 20100176700
    Abstract: A slide assembly with a self-closing mechanism that includes a dampening mechanism. In one arrangement, the slide assembly includes an inner slide segment slidably coupled to an outer slide segment. The self-closing mechanism is configured to move the inner slide segment towards a retracted position when the inner segment is moved to within a predetermined distance from the retracted position. The slide assembly can also include a latch which is engaged during the closing process and functions to trigger the self-closing and dampening. In an arrangement, the slide assembly has a maximum width dimension of about 0.4 inches or less, taking into account normal manufacturing variations. In an arrangement, a movable portion of the self-closing mechanism slidably engages a bearing race of the outer segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: JONATHAN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION dba JONATHAN ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Ramiro A. Perez, Ronald J. Judge, Patty J. Brock
  • Patent number: 7743464
    Abstract: A withdrawing mechanism includes a catcher 2 disposed on a main body with a swingable member D swingably assembled thereto and configured to capture a striker 1 moving from a front side when the swingable member D is swung toward a reference position; and a load response type damper 6. The catcher 2 is configured to be turnable forward and backward throughout between a standby position and a turned position and to capture the striker 1 in the standby position and turn forward up to the turned position. The damper 6 is configured to apply a damping force to a turning operation of the catcher 2 toward the turned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Tomioka, Katsuyasu Tomiji
  • Publication number: 20100154163
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door holder, comprising a housing (12) that can be fastened to one door and door frame, a stay bar (11), which penetrates an opening (14) in the housing (12) and can be pivotally fastened to the other door and door frame, and at least one braking member (15), which interacts with a flat side (20) of the stay bar (11) and is disposed in the housing (12), wherein the flat side (20) and the braking element (15) are biased toward each other at least in regions of the extension of the stay bar (11), wherein a retaining force can be produced, which acts at least in one of the displacement directions of the stay bar (11) as a function of the local surface property of the flat side (20) and of the braking member (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7735195
    Abstract: A temporary checking device is provided that works in conjunction with elements of a vehicle hinge that remain in the vehicle's final configuration. The hinge includes a hinge pin rotatably connecting a door hinge bracket to a pillar hinge bracket. The checking device includes a spring portion that is disposed between the door hinge bracket and the pillar hinge bracket. The spring portion is compressed during movement of the door hinge bracket relative to the pillar hinge bracket from either of two rest positions. The spring portion urges the vehicle door affixed thereto back into one of the rest positions, thus allowing manufacturing operations such as painting, etc., to be performed on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Brown, Marc Iman, Cindy Tran, James Ritchie, Takahiro Ohno, Takashi Ogawa, Takeshi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100141106
    Abstract: A cabinet slide assembly permits the soft-close action and/or a soft-open action of a drawer. The cabinet slide assembly includes a cabinet, a drawer, and at least one slide mechanism coupling the drawer to the cabinet to permit movement of the drawer between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A gas spring is also included in the assembly having a first end coupled to a portion of the cabinet assembly and a second end coupled to a portion of the drawer assembly. The gas spring is permitted to swing through an arc along a vertical plane as the drawer moves between the fully open position and the fully closed position. An adjustable bracket can also be included in the assembly and is configured for a top mount drawer assembly having a concealed drawer slide mechanism. The bracket is also configured for face frame or frameless cabinet construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Paul F. Chambers, Kevin M. Ward, David P. Noe
  • Publication number: 20100084955
    Abstract: Disclosed are a door apparatus for a refrigerator and a damping apparatus for the same. The door apparatus for the refrigerator comprises: a main door for opening/closing the interior of a refrigerator, a sub-door for opening/closing the interior of the refrigerator through a portion of the main door, a sub-door frame disposed on the main door and supporting the sub-door, and a damper disposed at the sub-door frame to reduce an impact due to the pivotal movement of the sub-door. With a damping force required when the door is opened/closed and a more simplified structure of the door, a door design of higher tightness can be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Chang-Bong Choi
  • Publication number: 20100071154
    Abstract: A cushioning device for opening and closing of sliding shutters, particularly of sliding shutters for furniture, to be applied as a single item to each shutter or sliding partition, in order to be able to cushion an end part of their opening and closing movement. The cushioning device includes a cushioning box applied with brackets for support and sliding of the individual shutter; this box being equipped with two opposing braking devices of a rotary type, whose toothed hub directly meshes with a rack fixed to the box, each braking device being joined to its own slider guided by the box and being joined at one end by an elastic device with its opposite end joined to the other slider, both sliders being equipped with a hook for activating and deactivating the corresponding action of the final section of travel to be cushioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Guido Bortoluzzi
  • Publication number: 20100050377
    Abstract: A door check device to be mounted to a door for selectively maintaining a gap when door closing is attempted. This prevents injuries to children's fingers and the like. The door check includes a base with a journal having action arm pivoted at its proximal end. The arm has a distal end extending outwardly to engage a doorstop. Indexing sockets are formed along the arm's proximal end. Each socket collaborates with the nose of a spring-biased detent to retain the action arm in a preselected position. The arm may be set in a first position to directly engage the doorstop to form a gap. Set in a second position the arm allows door closing but, upon next opening, the arm automatically reverts to door checking position. In a third position the arm is fully lowered to disable the check device. This device may find application to a variety of closures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Roman Ritachka
  • Patent number: 7657970
    Abstract: A device for preventing door slamming including a housing that has a bore formed therein, a control element that slides in the bore, the control element having a bore formed therein, a plunger that slides in and out of the bore of the control element, the plunger being biased against a distal end of the bore of the control element by a biasing device, and a stopper element received in the plunger and extending into the control element, wherein a slamming force applied on the plunger dislodges the stopper element from the plunger so that the stopper element becomes lodged in the control element and the housing, thereby preventing the control element from sliding in the bore of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Rav Bariach Security Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Eyal Artsiely
  • Publication number: 20100005621
    Abstract: A withdrawing mechanism includes a striker disposed on one of a swingable member and a main body, a catcher disposed on the other of the swingable member and the main body, and a damper for applying a damping force to a turning operation of the catcher toward a turned position. The catcher includes a casing, a rotational plate having a hooking groove for catching the striker therein, and a spring attached between an attaching portion of the rotational plate and a fixing portion of the casing to pull and rotate the rotational plate. When the rotation plate catches the striker, the rotational plate rotates in a direction to pull the spring, and when the attaching portion passes a position on a linear line extending the attaching portion, rotational center of the rotational plate and fixing portion, the rotational plate is pulled to move the rotational plate to the turned position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Tomioka, Katsuyasu Tomiji
  • Publication number: 20090307869
    Abstract: A magnetic fitted ratchet device assembled in rapid, safe and cost-effective manner. Advantageously, the device according to the invention is provided with suitable elastic protrusions and corresponding slots, provided on the surface of some of its components having a tubular shape, preferably cylindrical, which allow its rapid and safe assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Publication number: 20090295262
    Abstract: A soft-close cabinet slide assembly permits the soft-close action and/or a soft-open action of a drawer, and thus the reduction of effort by an operator, when the drawer is opening or closing. The cabinet slide assembly includes a cabinet, a drawer, and at least one slide mechanism coupling the drawer to the cabinet to permit movement of the drawer between a fully open position and a fully closed position A forcing means for exerting an extension force, preferably a gas spring, is also be included in the soft-close cabinet slide assembly having a first end coupled to the cabinet and a second end coupled to the drawer. Preferably, the soft-close cabinet slide assembly also includes a first and second pivotal coupling, which permit the gas spring to swing through an arc as the drawer moves between the fully open position and the fully closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin M. Ward, Michael G. Dobrick
  • Patent number: 7600295
    Abstract: In an arrangement for damping the pivot movement of a furniture component which is supported by a pivot joint on a stationary furniture part and which includes a damping element for slowing the movement of the furniture component near one of its end positions, the damping element includes a cylinder and piston unit forming part of a hinge, which includes a hinge housing in which a piston operating member is slidably supported and operatively connected to the piston, and a hinge lever extends between the movable component and the stationary furniture part in such a way that it engages the piston operating member in the hinge housing when the movable component approaches one of its end positions so as to slow down the movable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventor: Herbert Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20090211056
    Abstract: An automobile door checker includes a case secured to a door, a check plate that runs movably through the case and has its base end pivotably supported on a body, a detent member fitted into and retained by the case and working in cooperation with a detent face of the check plate, and a resilient member that is formed from a resilient material and is provided in a compressed state in a housing chamber defined between an outer end face of the detent member and an inner end face of the case, wherein the resilient member substantially and tightly fills the housing chamber, thus preventing rainwater from infiltrating into the housing chamber. In this way, it is possible to prevent infiltration of rainwater into a housing chamber of a case housing a resilient member by a simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuujiro Tashima, Hidetoshi Ijuin, Yasuhiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7562416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a damping device for parts of furniture which are joined together by means of hinges and which can be pivoted in relation to each other. The housing contains a damping fluid in the cavity thereof and a resistance element which can be displaced relative to the damping fluid and connected to an actuating element protruding from the housing. During at least one part of the pivoting movement of both pieces of furniture, said actuating element is drivingly connected to the second piece of furniture and transfers the movement distributed to the second piece of furniture to the resistance element. The damping device is arranged in the region of at least one of the hinges which pivotally couples both pieces of furniture, and whereby either the damping housing and/or the actuating element engages with one of the mounting element of the corresponding hinges, at least during the damping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventors: Gerhard Wilhelm Lautenschläger, Harald Helmut Ulrich, Markus Herper
  • Publication number: 20090119876
    Abstract: A furniture hinge with equipment comprises a toggle-type hinge (H) and a shock absorber (B). The latter is either a rotary (a first approach) or a line (a second approach) shock absorber. Irrespective of the approach, said shock absorber (B) is arranged transversely to a major longitudinal axis of the toggle-type hinge (H) and bound to a hinge pot. Thus, the invention concerns a new use of a rotary shock absorber, a new incorporation of a line shock absorber into a toggle-type furniture hinge, and a new combination of said toggle-type hinge and said rotary and line shock absorbers, respectively, said combination concerning the above two objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: David Pecar, Franc Banko, Valter Svara, Klavdij Metlika, Gordon Rush
  • Publication number: 20090094789
    Abstract: Universal impact-hinder device, comprising a body (1); a guiding pin (4) arranged at the closed first end of an inside cylindrical cavity of the body (1), a spring (7) on the guiding pin (4); a ring (5) at the opposite end of the cavity; and a piston having T-shaped head and an inside cavity in which the spring (7) is supported, which piston can move until the ring (5), while the guiding pin (4) is within the inside cavity of the piston. The T-shaped head is provided with a groove and a movable O-ring (6) within that, having two end positions in the groove. In first end position a surface of the groove having artificial damages (31) and the contacting O-ring (6) determine a first flow-through capacity, in second end position an orifice (21) between the cavity of the body and the groove determines a greater second flow-through capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Jozsef Bereznai
  • Publication number: 20090083939
    Abstract: A damper device for retarding pivotal advancement of a hinged wall piece towards a hinging wall piece includes a tubular housing adapted to be mounted on one of the hinged and hinging wall pieces, a resisting seat with a resisting end, a position shifting mechanism disposed to couple the resisting seat to the housing such that the resisting seat is retainingly shiftable relative to the housing to permit movement of the resisting end, and a damper unit which has impacted and abutment ends and which is compressible such that, upon being pushed by an impact force, the impacted end is thrust towards the abutment end so as to acquire a damping force to counteract the impact force. The abutment end is engaged and moved with the resisting end for adjustment of the damping force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: Chung-Hsin WU
  • Publication number: 20080271286
    Abstract: A door braking device for the door of a vehicle, in particular a truck, includes a bar movable between an extended position in which the door is fully opened, and a retracted position in which the door is closed, and a brake surface being biased towards the movable bar by a spring member providing a recoil force being proportional to a recoil length of the spring member, such that the brake surface exerts a brake force on the movable bar for braking a movement of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventor: Carl Stalhammar
  • Patent number: 7444714
    Abstract: A ranch gate arm assembly which incorporates a gate arm that is mounted to allow swivelling about a longitudinal pivot when an external man or machine force is applied to either side of the gate arm thereby inducing the gate arm to swing out, and two torsion springs, one assembled on each side of the ranch gate arm which push against correlating sides of the gate and push the gate back to a center position after the external force has passed completely through the opening. This gate arm assembly is equipped with a smoothing release assembly, which eliminates the jolt force caused by the quick returning of the gate assembly to the center position that the gate was originally in before the external force was applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Prairie Valley Mfg Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Lenz
  • Patent number: 7430785
    Abstract: A temporary checking device is provided that works in conjunction with elements of a vehicle hinge that remain in the vehicle's final configuration. The hinge includes a hinge pin rotatably connecting a door hinge bracket to a pillar hinge bracket. The checking device includes a spring portion that is disposed between the door hinge bracket and the pillar hinge bracket. The spring portion is compressed during movement of the door hinge bracket relative to the pillar hinge bracket from either of two rest positions. The spring portion urges the vehicle door affixed thereto back into one of the rest positions, thus allowing manufacturing operations such as painting, etc., to be performed on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Brown, Marc Iman, Cindy Tran, James Ritchie, Ohno Takahiro, Ogawa Takashi, Ishikawa Takeshi
  • Patent number: 7433629
    Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism that attaches a cover body to a main body in a manner that the cover body is pivotably opened and closed, includes: a pin provided in one of the main body and the cover body; a link member pivotably provided in the other of the main body and the cover body, the link member having a first guide groove in which the pin is inserted and the pin slides during closing and opening of the cover body with respect to the main body; and a close motion braking member that is a separate member from the pin and the link member and is connected to the link member. The close motion braking member applies an external force to the link member to brake sliding of the pin in the first guide groove during closing of the cover body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiya Tomatsu
  • Publication number: 20080209675
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a door lock device for a motor vehicle door, comprising: a door retaining bar mounted on the door or the body to be pivotable, and including one first side and a profiled section formed on the first side; a first braking element arranged respectively on the other part (door or body), which is applied by sections on the first side of the door retaining bar under the effect of a preload, and which, with the profiled section of the first side, defines retaining positions. The inventive door lock devices which enables the door to be selectively opened via defined retaining positions, in particular by a specific stop, is produced according to the present invention such that an actuating device is associated with the first braking element, and so that the actuating device enables the first braking elements to be moved against the preload to be no longer in contact with the first side of the door retaining bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Edscha AG
    Inventors: Frank Sempert, Juan-Emilio Molina-Alvarez, Katja Kottsieper
  • Patent number: 7412751
    Abstract: A doorstop comprises a unitary body made of a resilient material including an elongate shank having a longitudinal axis, a tip at one end of said elongate shank, and a base at the opposite end of said elongate shank. A flexible wall connects said elongate shank to said base and is designed to flex in response to impact by a door along the longitudinal axis to absorb the impact of said door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventor: Paul Bradley Forrest
  • Publication number: 20080184525
    Abstract: A check link assembly is operatively connectable to a door to provide resistance to the rotation of the door. The amount of resistance varies with the position of the door to provide at least one detent position. The check link assembly stores energy when the door is latched in its closed position, and is configured to release the energy when the door is unlatched so that the door moves toward its open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Roberto Cruz, Luis Miguel Del Pozo Gonzalez, Jose Carlos Murillo Marquez, Richard J. Lange
  • Publication number: 20080168620
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a hinge, in particular a furniture hinge, and a damper (7). The damper (7) or damper housing (5), which supports the damper (7), is placed on the hinge by means of at least one securing device (11) which is elastic in places. The securing device (11) comprises at least one first supporting part (12) which is essentially rigid and at least one second supporting part (13) which is essentially springy or spring-loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Claus Hammerle
  • Patent number: 7383614
    Abstract: A door checker includes: a check lever 6 formed, at the proximal end thereof, with a boss 10 connected to a bracket 7 via a shaft 8; a case 1 having through holes 4, 5 through which the check lever 6 passes; and shoes 19 which are in sliding contact with detent surfaces 9 of the check lever 6 in the case 1. The check lever 6 is provided, at the distal end thereof, with a full open stopper 12 which comes into contact with an outside surface of the case 1 to define a full open position of a door D. The full open stopper 12 is formed integrally with the check lever 6. The boss 10 is formed so as to be capable of passing through the through holes 4, 5 in the case 1 and between the pair of shoes 19. Therefore, the door checker for an automobile can be assembled while eliminating a process of installing the full open stopper to the check lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Rikenkaki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20080115319
    Abstract: In a door panel with an integrated door stopper disposed in a door rabbet wherein the door stopper comprises a stopper bolt movably disposed in the rabbet and a compression spring for biasing the door stopper in frictional contact with an underlying floor and an operating mechanism disposed in the door panel and including an operating member movable between two rest positions and connected to the stopper bolt for moving the stopper bolt out of contact with the under laying floor against the force of the compression spring, the operating structure for the stopper bolt extends from a housing accommodating the operating structure in such a way that no space is needed adjacent the side walls of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Hermann Schumm
  • Patent number: 7367086
    Abstract: A string type air damper includes a cylinder formed in a tubular shape, defining a guide hole at one end portion thereof, a piston, which moves in the cylinder, a helical spring for biasing the piston toward the other end portion of the cylinder, and a string member guided from inside of the cylinder to outside thereof through the guide hole. The piston and the string member are integrally formed. Since the string member is formed integrally with the piston, unlike a method according to a related art, it becomes unnecessary to form a loop at the base end portion of the string member with a complicated work and form a hook portion at the piston and hook the base end portion of the string member at the hook portion of the piston. Therefore, the string type air damper can be very easily assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventor: Kiichiro Ito