Rotary damper

• US 7,717,009 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Young Kyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley; Richard W L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson; Matthew A
• Application Number:
  US11/687,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20080121479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.12, 296/37.8, 296/37.9, 188/82.1, 188/290, 744/22, 74/29, 224/282, 16/82, 162/31
• US Class Current: 74/422
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/083 Ash-trays
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/00 Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1967 Rack and pinion

Abstract

A rotary damper includes an operating part mounted in an interior in a vehicle in such a manner that the operating part can be introduced or withdrawn, an operating part case that guides a path of the operating part, a pinion gear mounted to one side of the operating part and a guide rail rotatably mounted to the operating part case such that the pinion gear can be engaged with the guide rail. Further, a separation preventing protrusion is provided at a portion of the guide rail, where the pinion gear starts to move in a curvilinear form, the separation preventing protrusion configured to support an outside surface of the pinion gear.

Claims

1. A rotary damper, comprising:

an operating part having front protrusions and rear protrusions mounted in an interior of a vehicle in such a manner that the operating part can be introduced or withdrawn;

an operating part case that guides a path of the operating part, the operating part case having protrusion guide grooves engaging the front protrusions and the rear protrusions of the operating part, each protrusion guide groove comprising a continuous groove having first and second branches;

a pinion gear mounted to one side of the operating part, the pinion gear moves in a linear path and a curvilinear path; and

a guide rail rotatably mounted to the operating part case such that the pinion gear is engaged with the guide rail,

wherein a separation preventing protrusion is fixedly provided on the guide rail at a portion of the guide rail where the pinion gear starts to move in the curvilinear path while the operating part is being introduced or withdrawn, the separation preventing protrusion supports an outer surface of the pinion gear as the pinion gear starts moving in the curvilinear path,

wherein when the operating part is withdrawn, the front protrusions and rear protrusions linearly move along the first branch of the continuous groove, and as the operating part is rotated about the front protrusions, the rear protrusions curvilinearly move along the second branch of the continuous groove, and

wherein as the rear protrusions curvilinearly move, the pinion gear drives the rotatably mounted guide rail upward in the curvilinear path.

2. The rotary damper according to claim 1, wherein the operating part is provided with a guide protrusion that guides the guide rail such that the guide rail cannot be separated from the pinion gear.

3. The rotary damper according to claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic member that provides an elastic force in the direction in which the guide rail is brought into tight contact with the pinion gear.

4. The rotary damper according to claim 1, wherein the operating part case is provided with a rotary shaft, and the guide rail is provided with a rotary shaft hole, the rotary shaft being rotatably inserted through the rotary shaft hole.

5. The rotary damper according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail is provided with a frictional protrusion protruding toward the operating part case.