Motion dampener

• US 5,713,623 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mattingly, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/584,554
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 296/37.9, 296/37.12, 296/37.13, 188/83, 188/268, 49/138, 16/337, 16/341, 267/134, 267/153, 428/343
• US Class Current: 296/37.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/08 with friction surfaces rectilinearly movable along each other F16F7/01 takes precedence ; one of the members being a spring F16F13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/306 of the constrained layer type, i.e. comprising one or more constrained viscoelastic layers

Abstract

A generally planar resilient polymeric member having a viscous film is positioned between a fixed and movable element of the vehicle accessory and provides controlled friction between the two. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed member is a housing for a vehicle storage compartment and the movable member is a pivoted door. The dampening device has one side secured to either the door or the housing and an opposite surface including a viscous material. The device is compressibly fitted between the fixed and movable member for providing a frictional interface therebetween.

Claims

1. A vehicle accessory and dampening device comprising:

a first member having a surface;

a second member movably mounted to said first member and including a surface facing said surface of said first member; and

a dampening device comprising a substantially planar member of resilient polymeric material compressively extending between said surfaces of said first and second members and having a first surface adhesively secured to one of said surfaces of said first and second members and an opposite surface having a lubricous film engaging the other of said surfaces of said first and second member to dampen the motion between said first and second members.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lubricous film comprises a high density urethane film adhesively secured to said resilient polymeric material.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said lubricous film further includes a lubricant.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said lubricant is a silicon-based grease having a viscosity of from about 35,000 centistokes to about 45,000 centistokes at 20°

C.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said resilient polymeric material includes a self-sticking adhesive film on a side opposite said lubricous film.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first member comprises a storage housing and said second member comprises a cover for said storage housing and wherein said dampening device is interposed between said housing and said cover.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said cover is pivotally mounted to said housing.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said dampening device includes an aperture surrounding a pivot axle coupling said cover to said housing.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said resilient polymeric material comprises a thermoformed elastomer.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said resilient polymeric material comprises Poron®

.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lubricous film includes a plurality of receptacles for a lubricant and further including a lubricant applied to said lubricous film.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said lubricous film further includes an outer layer of polymeric film and said receptacles comprise a plurality of spaced apertures formed in said outer layer.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said apertures have a diameter of about 3.5 mm and are spaced at intervals of about 8 mm.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said lubricant is a silicon-based grease having a viscosity of from about 35,000 centistokes to about 45,000 centistokes at 20°

C.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said receptacles comprise a plurality of spaced dimples formed in said lubricous film.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said dimples are generally hemispherical.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said lubricant is a silicon-based grease having a viscosity of from about 35,000 centistokes to about 45,000 centistokes at 20°

C.

18. A vehicle storage compartment and dampening device comprising:

a housing having a pair of spaced sidewalls with substantially flat surface sections;

a cover pivotally mounted to said housing with a pivot axle extending between said housing and said cover adjacent said flat surface sections; and

at least one dampening device comprising a substantially planar member extending between said housing and cover and having an aperture surrounding a pivot axle wherein one side of said planar member is adhesively secured to said cover and an opposite side has a lubricous film engaging said flat surface section of said housing to provide dampening of the motion between said cover and said housing.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said planar member comprises a resilient polymeric material which is compressibly fitted between said cover and housing.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said lubricous film comprises a high density urethane film adhesively secured to said resilient polymeric material.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said lubricous film further includes a lubricant.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said lubricant is a silicon-based grease having a viscosity of from about 35,000 centistokes to about 45,000 centistokes at 20°

C.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said resilient polymeric material includes a self-sticking adhesive film on a side opposite said lubricous film.

24. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 and further including a dampening device mounted to said cover on a side opposite said first named dampening device.

25. A vehicle dampening device comprising:

a substantially planar member of resilient polymeric material having a thickness selected to be compressively extended between surfaces of first and second members which move in relation to one another, wherein said planar member has a first surface with a self-sticking adhesive layer and an opposite surface having a polymeric film having receptacles for receiving a lubricant; and

a lubricant applied to said opposite surface.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said resilient polymeric material comprises a thermoformed elastomer.

27. The apparatus as defined in claim 25 and further including a second layer of polymeric film attached to said first layer and wherein said receptacles comprise a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed through said second layer of polymeric film.

28. The apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said receptacles comprise a plurality of spaced dimples formed in said polymeric film.

29. The apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said lubricant is a silicon-based grease having a viscosity of from about 35,000 centistokes to about 45,000 centistokes at 20°

C.

30. The apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein said resilient polymeric material comprises a thermoformed elastomer.

31. The apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said resilient polymeric material comprises Poron®

.