Damper device

• US 20020003993A1
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Ichimaru, Takahide
• Granted Patent: US 6,507,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/325
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/075 the socket having resilient parts on its inside and outside
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/076 the socket having a resilient part on its outside F16B21/075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/042 locking by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0258 using resiliently deformable sleeves, grommets or inserts F16B43/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0657 at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate

Abstract

A damper device includes a damper main body, and a grommet fixed to a fixing member. The damper main body includes a shaft portion having a plurality of engagement projection portions extending along a peripheral direction at predetermined intervals in an axial direction thereof. The grommet has a tube portion, an engaging device to be fixed to the fixing member formed outside the tube portion, and an elastic anchor piece disposed inside the tube portion to engage the engagement projection portions of the shaft portion pressed into the tube portion. When a stopper is formed outside the shaft portion and tightened to the grommet, the damper main body can be securely fixed to the grommet.

Claims

1. A damper device comprising:

a damper main body including a shaft portion having a plurality of engagement projection portions extending along a peripheral direction at predetermined intervals in an axial direction thereof; and

a grommet having a tube portion, engaging means to be fixed to a fixing member formed outside the tube portion, and an elastic anchor piece disposed inside the tube portion to engage the engagement projection portions of the shaft portion pressed into the tube portion.

2. A damper device according to claim 1, wherein said engaging means includes an outwardly-extending flange provided at one end of the tube portion, and an elastic nipping piece formed outside the tube portion for nipping the fixing member together with the flange.

3. A damper device according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper engaging the shaft to move in the axial direction, said stopper fixing the shaft to the grommet.

4. A damper device according to claim 3, wherein said damper main body includes a male screw on the shaft portion, said engagement projection portions being provided at one end portion of the shaft portion, and the stopper includes a female screw engaging the male screw so that when the stopper abuts against the grommet while engaging the shaft, a projecting length of the damper main body projecting from the grommet is fixed.

5. A damper device according to claim 3, further comprising an abutment projection formed on the shaft to extend in an axial direction at a portion where the engagement projection portions are provided, said abutment projection abutting against the elastic anchor piece when the shaft is rotated.

6. A damper device comprising:

a damper main body having a male screw to be fixed to a fixing member with a female screw so as to change a screwed length with respect to the female screw of the fixing member, and

indicating means for indicating a change amount of the screwed length provided at at least one of the damper main body and the fixing member, said indicating means indicating a rate by which the screwed length of the damper main body changes due to a rotation of the damper main body such that a projection length of the male screw with respect to the fixing member is changed.

7. A damper device according to claim 6, further comprising a grommet to be fixed to the fixing member, said grommet having a female screw engaging the male screw and said indicating means.

8. A damper device according to claim 7, wherein said damper main body has a sign cooperating with the indicating means to show an angular position of the damper main body.