Opening-closing mechanism and opening-closing device using same

• US 20030080131A1
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Fukuo, Michihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,063,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/264
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/32 for console boxes, e.g. between passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/022 Released by pushing in the closing direction
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/10 with piston brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/232 by automatically acting means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/254 Fluid or viscous friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/256 with pistons or vanes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/264 linear
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/11 Manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids

Abstract

In an opening-closing mechanism of a door member for shifting the door member from a closed position for closing an opening portion of a base member to an open position and vice versa, the door member includes a pair of arm portions. Each arm portion includes a circular arc shape gear and a rotary gear disposed in a center of the circular arc of the gear. The base member includes a first fixed gear portion with internal teeth engaging the circular arc shape gear portion, and a second fixed gear portion disposed inside the first fixed gear engaging the rotary gear. The arm portion is held to move vertically through engagements between the first fixed gear portion and the circular arc shape gear portion and between the rotary gear and the second fixed gear portion, so that the door member is shifted along a path corresponding to the first fixed gear portion.

Claims

1. An opening-closing mechanism for rotating a door member between a closed position for closing an opening portion of a box-shape base member and an open position for opening the opening portion, comprising:

a first fixed internal gear portion to be disposed on the box-shape base member,

a second fixed gear portion to be disposed on the box-shape base member and located inside the first fixed internal gear portion, and

a pair of arm portions to be fixed to the door member, each of said arm portions having a circular arc shape gear portion engaging the first fixed internal gear portion, and a rotary gear disposed at a center of the circular arc shape gear portion and engaging the second fixed gear portion, said pair of the arm portions being supported to be vertically movable through the engagements between the first fixed internal gear portion and the circular arc gear portion and between the second fixed gear portion and the rotary gear to allow the door member to be moved through the pair of the arm portions along a path corresponding to the first fixed internal gear portion.

2. An opening-closing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said circular arc shape gear portion is integrally formed at a free end of the arm portion, and said first fixed internal gear portion and said second fixed gear portion are adapted to be integrally formed on a sidewall portion of the base member.

3. An opening-closing mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a damper device attached between the arm and the rotary gear for damping the same.

4. An opening-closing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said rotary gear is always located between the first fixed internal gear portion and the second fixed gear portion so that the arm is moved vertically based on a location of the rotary gear.

5. An opening-closing device having said opening-closing mechanism according to claim 1, comprising:

an urging device for urging the door member toward the open portion,

a locking device for locking the door member at the closed position against the urging device, and

a damper device for damping the door member.

6. An opening-closing device according to claim 5, wherein said damper device is a rotary type damper, and said rotary gear in the opening-closing mechanism is mounted on an output shaft of the rotary type damper.

7. An opening-closing device according to claim 5, wherein said base member includes sidewall portions, and step portions at the sidewall portions, each of said step portions having a window portion communicating between an interior and an exterior, said arm portion of the door member extending through the window portion.

8. A box with an opening-closing mechanism, comprising:

a box-shaped base member having an opening portion and sidewalls, and a door member rotatably attached to the box-shaped base member to move between a closed position for closing the opening portion and an open position for opening the opening portion,

at least one first fixed internal gear portion disposed on one of the sidewalls of the box-shape base member,

at least one second fixed gear portion disposed on the sidewall inside the first fixed internal gear portion, and

a pair of arm portions fixed to the door member, at least one of said arm portions having a circular arc shape gear portion engaging the first fixed internal gear portion, and a rotary gear disposed at a center of the circular arc shape gear portion and engaging the second fixed gear portion, said at least one of the arm portions being supported to be vertically movable through the engagements between the first fixed internal gear portion and the circular arc gear portion and between the second fixed gear portion and the rotary gear to allow the door member to be moved through the pair of the arm portions along a path corresponding to the first fixed internal gear portion.

9. A box according to claim 8, further comprising an urging device for urging the door member toward the open portion, a locking device attached to the base member and the door member for locking the door member at the closed position against the urging device, and a damper device disposed between the base member and the door member for damping the door member.

10. A box according to claim 9, wherein said rotary gear is always located between the first fixed internal gear portion and the second fixed gear portion so that the arm is moved vertically based on a location of the rotary gear.