Intergrated door check hinge for automobiles
First Claim
1. A door checking apparatus for an automobile comprising:
- (a) an array of needle bearings held in contact with a bearing surface comprising grooves that are axially oriented with said needle bearings, by means of a cylindrical and radially resilient energy storage device;
(b) a cylindrical cage coaxially adjacent the bearing surface and comprising an axially oriented array of slots arranged to retain the needle bearings;
(c) means to impart rotary motion to the cylindrical cage to cause the needle bearings to move relative to the bearing surface to create a torque reaction in response to deflection of the resilient energy storage device as the needle bearings move into and out of the grooves;
(d) means to transmit the imparted torque from the bearing surface into an appropriate structure for receiving said torque;
such that when the door checking apparatus is mounted between an automobile door and an automobile body, rotary movement of the door is checked with predetermined force at positions determined by the relationship between the needle bearings and the grooves.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A door checking apparatus for an automobile comprising an array of needle bearings held in contact with a bearing surface comprising axially oriented grooves, by means of a resilient energy storage device; a cylindrical cage coaxially adjacent the bearing surface and comprising an axially oriented array of slots arranged to retain the needle bearings; means to impart rotary motion to the cylindrical cage to cause the needle bearings to move relative to the bearing surface to create a torque reaction in response to deflection of the resilient energy storage device as the needle bearings move into and out of the grooves; means to transmit the imparted torque from the bearing surface into an appropriate structure.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A door checking apparatus for an automobile comprising:
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(a) an array of needle bearings held in contact with a bearing surface comprising grooves that are axially oriented with said needle bearings, by means of a cylindrical and radially resilient energy storage device;
(b) a cylindrical cage coaxially adjacent the bearing surface and comprising an axially oriented array of slots arranged to retain the needle bearings;
(c) means to impart rotary motion to the cylindrical cage to cause the needle bearings to move relative to the bearing surface to create a torque reaction in response to deflection of the resilient energy storage device as the needle bearings move into and out of the grooves;
(d) means to transmit the imparted torque from the bearing surface into an appropriate structure for receiving said torque;
such that when the door checking apparatus is mounted between an automobile door and an automobile body, rotary movement of the door is checked with predetermined force at positions determined by the relationship between the needle bearings and the grooves.
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2. A door checking apparatus for an automobile comprising:
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(a) an array of needle bearings held in contact with a shaft containing grooves that are axially oriented with said needle bearings, via a resilient energy storage device;
(b) a cylindrical cage coaxially disposed around the grooved shaft and containing an axially oriented array of slots arranged to retain the needle bearings;
(c) means to impart rotary motion to the cylindrical cage causing the needle bearings to move around the grooved shaft creating a torque reaction in response to the deflection of the resilient energy storage device as the needle bearings move into and out of the shaft grooves;
(d) means to transmit the imparted torque out of the grooved shaft and into an appropriate structure for receiving said torque. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A door checking apparatus for an automobile comprising:
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(a) an array of needle bearings held in contact with the inside cylindrical bore of a housing member containing axially oriented grooves, via a cylindrical and radially resilient energy storage device;
(b) a cylindrical cage coaxially disposed within the cylindrical bore of the housing member and containing an axially oriented array of slots arranged to retain the needle bearings;
(c) means to impart rotary motion to the cylindrical cage causing relative motion between the needle bearings and the grooved inner bore creating a torque reaction in response to the deflection of the resilient energy storage device as the needle bearings move into and out of the grooves;
(d) means to transmit the imparted torque out of the cylindrical cage and into an appropriate structure for receiving said torque. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification