Damper

• US 20030192750A1
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Bivens, Steven L., Doornbos, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/82.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/473 Braking devices, e.g. linear or rotational dampers or friction brakes; Buffers; End stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/14 with double-acting springs, e.g. for closing and opening or checking and closing no material
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/14 with fluid brakes of the rotary type
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/00 Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids

Abstract

A damper includes a frame, a main gear mounted to the frame for rotation about an axis of rotation, and a spring operably connecting the main gear and the frame such that rotation of the main gear tensions the spring. The main gear has a circumferential recess formed therein that defines a circumferential channel or reel. An elongated flexible member is wrapped around the main gear, disposed within the circumferential channel. A gear damper is mounted to the frame and is operably engaged with the main gear to dampen rotational movement of the main gear. The damper can be configured for one-way and two-way damping.

Claims

1. A damper, comprising:

a frame;

a main gear mounted to the frame for rotation, the gear having a circumferential recess formed thereon defining a circumferential channel, the gear having an axis of rotation;

a spring operably connecting the main gear and the frame such that rotation of the main gear tensions the spring;

an elongated flexible member wrapped around the main gear and disposed within the circumferential channel; and

a gear damper mounted to the frame and operably engaged with the main gear to dampen rotational movement of the main gear, the gear damper having an axis of rotation.

2. The damper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gear damper is operably engaged with the main gear to dampen rotational movement of the main gear in two directions of rotational movement of the main gear.

3. The damper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gear damper is operably engaged with the main gear to dampen rotational movement of the main gear in one direction of rotation and to permit free rotational movement of the main gear in an opposite direction of rotational movement.

4. The damper in accordance with claim 3 wherein the gear damper maintains operable engagement with the main gear when the main gear rotates in either direction of rotational movement.

5. The damper in accordance with claim 2 wherein the gear damper is mounted to the frame to maintain its axis of rotation fixed relative to the axis of rotation of the main gear.

6. The damper in accordance with claim 4 wherein the main gear axis of rotation is fixed relative to the housing.

7. The damper in accordance with claim 5 wherein the gear damper is removably mounted to the frame.

8. The damper in accordance with claim 3 wherein the gear damper is mounted to the frame to permit movement of the gear damper axis of rotation relative to the main gear axis of rotation.

9. The damper in accordance with claim 8 wherein the gear damper is disposed in a non-circular opening in the frame and wherein when in a first position within the opening the gear damper dampens rotational movement of the main gear and when in a second position within the opening the gear damper permits free rotational movement of the main gear.

10. The damper in accordance with claim 9 wherein the gear damper is mounted to a housing, the housing being disposed within the frame opening and wherein in the first position the housing is fixedly disposed within the opening to resist rotational movement of the housing and wherein in the second position the housing is disposed in the opening to permit rotational movement thereof.

11. The damper in accordance with claim 10 wherein the frame includes one or more teeth and the housing includes one or more teeth, and wherein when in the first position, the housing one or more teeth engage the frame one or more teeth to secure the housing in the opening.

12. The damper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the main gear is mounted to a post extending from the frame and wherein a first end of the spring is secured to the frame and a second end of the spring is mounted to the main gear.

13. The damper in accordance with claim 12 wherein the main gear is mounted to the post by outwardly extending locking elements extending from the post.

14. The damper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flexible elongated member is a tether.

15. A damper, comprising:

a rotatable main gear, the gear having teeth and having an axis of rotation;

a biasing element operably connected to the main gear such that rotation of the main gear biases the biasing element;

an elongated flexible member wrapped around the main gear coaxial with the main gear axis of rotation; and

a gear damper having a gear having teeth thereon, the gear damper teeth operably engaged with the main gear teeth to dampen rotational movement of the main gear in at lest one direction of rotation, the gear damper having an axis of rotation and being enmeshed with the main gear regardless of the direction of rotation of the main gear and the gear damper.

16. The damper in accordance with claim 15 wherein the gear damper is engaged to dampen rotational movement of the main gear when the main gear rotates in a first direction.

17. The damper in accordance with claim 16 wherein the gear damper is further engaged to dampen rotational movement of the main gear when the main gear rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction.

18. The damper in accordance with claim 16 wherein the gear damper axis of rotation is moveable relative to the main gear axis of rotation.

19. The damper in accordance with claim 16 wherein the gear damper axis of rotation is fixed relative to the main gear axis of rotation.

20. The damper in accordance with claim 15 wherein the main gear includes a reel formed therein adjacent the teeth, and wherein the elongated flexible member wraps around the main gear within the reel.