Actuator with time delay

• US 10,111,540 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brej, Thaddeus
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Rakesh
• Application Number:
  US15/460,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20170265653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 221258, 221 15, 221 3, 221151
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/128 for article hangers or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0861 Anti-theft means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 27/08 with driving toothed gears with interrupted toothing

Abstract

A product-dispensing device includes a housing, an actuator, and a time delay mechanism. The actuator is supported by the housing for rotation about a first axis. The time delay mechanism is operably coupled to the actuator and includes a first gear, a second gear, a damper, and a biasing member. The first gear is fixed for rotation with the actuator. The second gear is supported by the housing for rotation about a second axis and configured to engage the first gear. The first gear is operable to rotate the second gear in a first direction about the second axis. The biasing member is operable to rotate the second gear in a second direction about the second axis. The damper is operable to control a rate of rotation of the second gear in the second direction about the second axis. The second direction is opposite the first direction.

Claims

1. A product-dispensing device comprising:

a housing;

an actuator supported by the housing for rotation about a first axis; and

a time delay mechanism operably coupled to the actuator, the time delay mechanism including a first gear, a second gear, a damper, and a biasing member, the first gear fixed for rotation with the actuator, the second gear supported by the housing for rotation about a second axis and configured to engage the first gear,

wherein the first gear is operable to rotate the second gear in a first direction about the second axis, the biasing member is operable to rotate the second gear in a second direction about the second axis, and the damper is operable to control a rate of rotation of the second gear in the second direction about the second axis, the second direction being opposite the first direction, and

wherein the time delay mechanism includes a signaling wheel fixed for rotation with the second gear about the second axis, the signaling wheel having a circular outer wall defining a recessed area offset from the second axis, the actuator having a protrusion operably received by the recessed area in a first mode of operation.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an outer knob supported by the actuator, the outer knob operable to rotate with the actuator in the second direction about the first axis and operable to rotate independently of the actuator in the first direction about the first axis.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a product dispensing coil coupled to the outer knob for rotation therewith.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the outer knob includes a first ratcheting feature, and the actuator includes a second ratcheting feature configured to engage the first ratcheting feature upon rotation of the outer knob about the first axis.

5. The device claim 1, wherein the second gear includes a rim having an opening aligned with the recessed area, the protrusion operable to engage the rim in a second mode of operation.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the rim is operable to prevent rotation of the actuator about the first axis in the second mode of operation.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the housing includes a first side defining an annular recess operable to translatably receive the protrusion, and a second side defining a recessed housing area operable to rotatably receive the signaling wheel, and wherein the annular recess defines a slot aligned with the opening of the second gear and the recessed area of the signaling wheel.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is operable to store potential energy upon rotation of the second gear in the first direction about the second axis.

9. A product-dispensing device comprising:

a housing;

a first gear supported by the housing for rotation about a first axis;

a product dispensing coil operably coupled to the first gear for rotation about the first axis;

a second gear operable to engage the first gear, the second gear supported by the housing for rotation about a second axis offset from the first axis;

a biasing member operable to bias the second gear in a first direction about the second axis;

a damper operable to control a rate of rotation of the second gear in the first direction about the second axis;

an actuator coupled to the first gear for rotation about the first axis, the actuator including a protrusion offset from the first axis; and

a signaling wheel fixed for rotation with the second gear about the second axis, the signaling wheel having a circular outer wall defining a recessed area offset from the second axis, the recessed area configured to receive the protrusion.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the biasing member is operable to store potential energy upon rotation of the second gear in the second direction about the second axis.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the first gear is operable to rotate the second gear in a second direction about the second axis.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising an outer knob operable to rotate with the first gear in the first direction about the first axis and operable to rotate independently of the first gear in the second direction about the first axis.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the second gear includes a rim having an opening aligned with the recessed area, the protrusion operable to engage the rim to prevent rotation of the actuator about the first axis.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a first side defining an annular recess operable to translatably receive the protrusion, and a second side defining a recessed housing area operable to rotatably receive the signaling wheel, and wherein the annular recess defines a slot aligned with the recessed area of the signaling wheel.

15. A product-dispensing device comprising:

a housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side defining an annular recess, the second side defining a recessed housing area, the housing further including an opening aligned with the annular recess and the recessed housing area;

an actuator supported by the housing for rotation about a first axis, the actuator including a protrusion translatably received by the annular recess;

a first gear coupled to the actuator for rotation about the first axis;

a second gear operably coupled to the first gear and disposed within the recessed housing area for rotation about a second axis, the second gear including a peripheral wall defining an opening configured to receive the protrusion;

a biasing member operably coupled to the second gear and configured to rotate the second gear in a first direction about the second axis; and

a damper operably coupled to the second gear and configured to control a rate of rotation of the second gear in the first direction about the second axis.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a product dispensing coil operably coupled to the first gear for rotation about the first axis.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the first gear includes a first arcuate peripheral wall extending between a first pair of gear teeth, and the second gear includes a second arcuate peripheral wall extending between a second pair of gear teeth, and wherein the second gear is operable to rotate independently of the first gear when the first arcuate peripheral wall is aligned with the second arcuate peripheral wall.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising an outer knob supported by the actuator, the outer knob operable to rotate with the actuator in a second direction about the first axis and operable to rotate independently of the actuator in the first direction about the first axis.