Cabinet having door braking assembly

• US 4,657,318 A
• Filed: 06/20/1986
• Issued: 04/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Strange, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Falk, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US06/877,703
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 312/297, 160/201
• US Class Current: 312/297
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/115 specially adapted for furniture

Abstract

A cabinet comprising an enclosure with a front surface in which there is an opening. A tambour door is slidably attached to the enclosure. The tambour door is movable between an open position, in which the opening provides direct access to the enclosure interior, and a closed position in which the opening is closed by the door. The cabinet further includes a rear brake means for exerting a force opposing the movement of the tambour door from the open to the closed position when engaged by the tambour door. The tambour door engages the rear brake means at a first selected distance from the closed position that is sufficiently great so that the rear brake means can exert an adequate opposing force on the tambour door so that the tambour door gently closes.

Claims

1. A cabinet comprising:

an enclosure having an opening therein;

a tambour door slidably attached to said enclosure, said door slidable between an open position in which access to the interior of the enclosure is provided through the opening and a closed position in which said door closes the opening; and

a brake means for restraining the movement of said door as it travels from the open to the closed position, said brake means comprising a spring means connected to one of said door and enclosure, and a projection means on the other of said door and enclosure for contacting said spring means and resiliently stretching said spring means during a later portion of the travel of said door from the open position to the closed position, said spring means exerting a braking force on said door as the door is closed, said projection means being out of contact with said spring means during an earlier free travel portion of the travel of the door from the open toward the closed position.

2. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein said projection means is connected to said door, and said spring means comprises two springs connected to said enclosure and an elongate member connected to and extending between said springs, said elongate member being contacted by said door projection means.

3. The cabinet of claim 2 wherein said door includes a rear slat and said projection means is mounted on said rear slat and projects outwardly therefrom.

4. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein said projection means continues to stretch said spring means when the door is in the fully closed position.

5. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein said spring means is connected to said enclosure and said projection means is connected to said door, said spring means being in the path of movement of said projection means as the door moves between the open and closed positions.

6. The cabinet of claim 5 including a second projection means on said door for contacting and stretching said spring means during a selected portion of travel as the door moves from the closed to the open position, both said projection means being completely out of contact with said spring means during an intermediate free travel portion of the travel of the door.

7. The cabinet of claim 6 wherein said spring means comprises a first spring contacted by said first mentioned projection means and a second spring contacted by said second projection means, said springs being spaced apart in said enclosure.

8. The cabinet of claim 7 wherein said door has a front slat, said second projection means being connected to said front slat.