Brake mechanism

• US 7,257,860 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reell Precision Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Reell Precision Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Billings, Philip A., Manzella, Mark N., Jankovich, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah; Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/900,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 16/82, 16/85, 16/86.R, 16/86.A, 16/86.B, 16/86.C, 109/63.5, 109/60, 292/341.12, 292/340, 292/302, 292/306
• US Class Current: 16/82
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/203 concealed, e.g. for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A brake mechanism includes an input, a chassis, a lock and a release mechanism. The input is an axially extending input having first and second ends. The chassis interfaces with the input such that the input is movable relative to the chassis. The lock is coupled to the chassis for constraining movement of the input relative to the lock. The release mechanism is coupled to the lock and is responsive to a force applied relative to the input and the chassis such that when the force is greater than a release force level the release mechanism allows the lock to disengage the input and such that when the force is less than the release force level the release mechanism does not allow the lock to disengage the input.

Claims

1. A brake mechanism comprising:

an axially extending input having first and second ends;

a chassis interfacing with the input such that the input moves relative to the chassis upon application of an external force on the input;

a lock holder coupled to the chassis;

a lock configured within the lock holder for constraining movement of the input relative to the lock; and

a release mechanism coupled between the lock holder and the chassis that provides a compression force on the lock holder, the release mechanism responsive to the external force applied to the input;

wherein the lock holder is in communication with the compression force such that when the external force applied to the input is greater than the compression force, the lock holder and lock move with the input and such that when the external force applied to the input is less than the compression force, the lock holder and lock are prevented from moving with the input; and

wherein the lock holder and lock are configured such that when the lock holder and the lock move with the input as the external force is applied, the lock engages the chassis such that the lock releases its constraint of the input thereby allowing relative movement of the input and lock.

2. The brake mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first end of the input is coupled to a first body, the chassis is coupled to a second body that is movable relative to the first body, and wherein the applied force is applied to the second body.

3. The brake mechanism of claim 2, wherein the first body is an automobile door frame, the second body is an automobile door hinged to the door frame, and wherein the applied force is applied to the automobile door.

4. The brake mechanism of claim 3 configured such that the automobile door is held and braked at any location relative to the door frame.

5. The brake mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lock includes first and second locking plates, each having an opening through which the input extends, and wherein constraining movement of the input relative to the lock is caused by contact between the locking plates and the input.

6. The brake mechanism of claim 5, wherein the release mechanism includes a spring that provides the compression force and wherein the external force must be greater than the compression force to disengage the lock.

7. The brake mechanism of claim 6, wherein the lock holder is configured with slots for holding the first and second locking plates.

8. The brake mechanism of claim 7 further configured such that when the lock holder and plates move with the input, the external force is applied to the first or second locking plate thereby causing it to slip relative to the input.

9. The brake mechanism of claim 7 further configured such that when the lock holder and plates move with the input the first or second locking plate will impact the chassis thereby causing it to slip relative to the input.

10. The brake mechanism of claim 7 further configured such that, dependant on the direction of the applied force, one of the first or second locking plates is a leading lock gripping the input and the other is a trailing lock.

11. The brake mechanism of claim 8 further configured such that when the applied force is greater than the compression force, application of an external force to the leading lock will cause the plates to release the input.

12. A brake mechanism for controllably regulating relative motion between a first body and a second body, the brake mechanism comprising:

an axially extending input having first and second ends, the first end being coupled to one of the first and second bodies;

a chassis coupled to the other of the first and second bodies, the chassis configured to interface with the input and configured such that the input and the chassis are movable relative to each other upon application of a force to one of the first and second bodies;

a lock holder coupled to the chassis;

a lock configured within the lock holder, the lock having a first state in which the lock constrains movement of the input relative to the lock and the lock having a second state in which the lock allows movement of the input relative to the lock; and

a release mechanism coupled between the lock holder and the chassis that provides a compression force on the lock holder, the release mechanism responsive to the force applied to the first body such that when the applied force is greater than the compression force the release mechanism causes the lock to be in the second state and such that when the applied force is less than the release force the release mechanism causes the lock to be in the first state.

13. The brake mechanism of claim 12, wherein the first body is a door frame, the second body is a door hinged to the door frame, and wherein the applied force is applied to the door.

14. The brake mechanism of claim 12, wherein the second body is a door frame, the first body is a door hinged to the door frame, and wherein the applied force is applied to the door.

15. The brake mechanism of claim 12, wherein the release mechanism includes a spring that provides a compression force and wherein the applied input force must be greater than the compression force to disengage the lock.

16. A brake mechanism for controllably regulating relative motion between a first body and a second body, the brake mechanism comprising:

an axially extending input having first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the first body;

a chassis coupled to the second body, the chassis configured to interface with the input and configured such that the input and chassis are movable relative to each other upon application of a force relative to the first and second bodies;

a lock holder configured adjacent the chassis and having a first recess;

a force mechanism configured between the chassis and the lock holder and applying a compression force on the lock holder;

a first locking plate received within the recess of the lock holder and configured to engage the input when the force applied relative to the first and second bodies is less than the compression force.

17. The brake mechanism of claim 16, further including a second recess configured within the lock holder and a second locking plate received within the second recess of the lock holder, wherein the first locking plate is configured to variably engage the input dependant upon the force applied relative to the first and second bodies when the force is applied in a first direction and wherein the second locking plate is configured to variably engage the input dependant upon the force applied relative to the first and second bodies when the force is applied in a second direction.

18. The brake mechanism of claim 16, wherein the first body is a door frame, the second body is a door hinged to the door frame, and wherein the applied force is applied to the door.

19. The brake mechanism of claim 16, further including a pivoting control bracket supported on the input and relative to the chassis and the lock holder such that the pivoting control bracket can pivot relative to the chassis upon relative motion of the first and second bodies.

20. The brake mechanism of claim 16, wherein the input is a shaft and wherein the force mechanism is a spring.

21. The brake mechanism of claim 20, wherein the lock holder includes a ramped surface with a detent.

22. The brake mechanism of claim 21, wherein the lock holder and the ramped surface with detent is contained within the spring such that the spring generates the compression force inward toward, and acting upon, the lock holder and ramped surface with detent.

23. The brake mechanism of claim 22, wherein a component of the compression force, a holding force, acts in an axis that is generally in the same direction as the force applied relative to the first and second bodies.

24. The brake mechanism of claim 23, wherein the plate engages the input when the holding force is greater than the force applied relative to the first and second bodies, and wherein the plate engages the chassis and thereby slips relative to the input when the holding force is greater than the force applied relative to the first and second bodies.

25. A brake mechanism for controllably regulating relative motion between a first body and a second body, the brake mechanism comprising:

an axially extending shaft having first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the first body;

a chassis coupled to the second body, the chassis configured to interface with the shaft and configured such that the shaft is movable relative to the chassis upon application of an external force;

a force generator that generates a compression force, the force generator configured for engagement with the chassis;

a lock holder configured to receive the compression force from the force generator, the lock holder having a first and a second recess;

first and second locking plates received within the first and second recesses of the lock holder that are each configured with openings through which the shaft extends;

a detent feature in the lock holder that is in communication with the force generator such that the compression force acts on the detent feature preventing relative movement of the lock holder and chassis until the external force overcomes the compression force acting on the detent feature thereby causing relative movement of the lock holder and chassis, which in turn allows the plates to release the shaft when the plates impact the chassis.

26. A brake mechanism comprising:

an axially extending input having first and second ends;

a chassis interfacing with the input such that the input moves relative to the chassis upon application of an external force on the input;

lock holder coupled to the chassis;

a lock configured within the lock holder for variably constraining movement of the input relative to the lock holder; and

a release mechanism coupled between the chassis and the lock holder, the release mechanism configured to provide a compression force on the lock holder such that the lock holder is held relative to the chassis by the compression force until the external force on the input exceeds the compression force, in which case the lock holder moves relative to the chassis;

wherein the movement of the lock holder relative to the chassis causes the lock to engage the chassis and release from the input.