Air damper used in glove box of automobile

• US 6,669,178 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Piolax Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Piolax Incorporated
• Inventors: Ookawara, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burch, Melody M.
• Application Number:
  US09/811,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 188/283, 267/71, 267/34, 267/70, 267/72, 267/73, 267/74, 267/69, 267/64.11, 267/221, 267/226, 267/291
• US Class Current: 267/71
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/02 using gas only or vacuum F16F9/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3214 of pistons F16F9/0227 and F16F9/36 take precedence; throttling passages in or on piston body F16F9/3405
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/58 Stroke limiting stops, e.g. arranged on the piston rod outside the cylinder F16F9/49 takes precedence

Abstract

An air damper suitably used in the glove box of an automobile comprises a cylinder having a first open end and a second end, a guide cap covering the first open end, and a piston moveable in the cylinder. A compression coil spring is inserted into the cylinder between the piston and the guide cap. The coil spring forces the piston toward the second end of the cylinder in the free state. The piston has a hook piece, which is threaded with a string. At least one end of the string is taken out of the cylinder via the guide cap, and connected to the glove box. The guide cap has a stopper means projecting inside the coil spring and toward the piston. When the glove box is opened and the string is pulled out of the cylinder, the piston moves toward the guide cap. The piston then strikes the stopper means of the guide cap before the coil spring is fully compressed.

Claims

1. An air damper comprising:

a cylinder having a first open end an a second end;

a guide cap covering the first open end, the guide cap having a stopper means projecting into the cylinder;

a piston moveable in the cylinder;

a compression coil spring inserted in the cylinder between the piston and the guide cap and for forcing the piston toward the second end of the cylinder; and

a string coupled with a piston and extending out of the cylinder via the guide cap;

wherein the piston strikes the stopper means of the guide cap before the compression coil spring is fully compressed when the string is pulled by an external force.

2. The air damper of claim 1, wherein the piston has a hook piece that is threaded with the string and at least one end of the string is taken out of the cylinder.

3. An air damper comprising:

a cylinder having a first open end and a second end;

a guide cap covering the first open end;

a piston moveable in the cylinder and having a stopper means projecting toward the guide cap;

a compression coil spring inserted in the cylinder between the piston and the guide cap and for forcing the piston toward the second end of the cylinder; and

a string coupled with the piston and extending out of the cylinder wherein the stopper means of the piston strikes the guide cap before the compression coil spring is fully compressed when the string is pulled by an external force.

4. The air damper of claim 3, wherein the piston has a hook piece that is threaded with the string and at least one end of the string is taken out of the cylinder.

5. An air damper comprising:

a cylinder having a first open end and a second end;

a guide portion covering the first open end, the guide portion having an extended stopper projecting into the cylinder and an end piece;

a piston movable in the cylinder;

a compression coil spring inserted in the cylinder between the piston and the guide portion, the compression coil spring forcing the piston toward the second end of the cylinder; and

a string coupled with the piston and extending out of the cylinder via the guide portion;

wherein the piston strikes the extended stopper of the guide portion before the compression coil spring is fully compressed when the string is pulled to cause the piston to move toward the guide portion.

6. The air damper of claim 5, wherein the piston has a hook piece, the string is movably threaded thereto to be doubled and at least one end of the doubled string is taken out of the cylinder via the guide portion.