Patent ID: 6568514
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A single use damping mechanism, comprising, in combination:(a) a piston having a first end and a second end; (b) a housing defining an internal chamber for receiving said piston, said housing having: (i) a first end defining an opening through which the first end of said piston may advance into said internal chamber; (ii) a second end defining at least first and second passages which are disposed in fluidic series between said internal chamber and the ambient air, and through which a fluid disposed in said internal chamber may escape from the damping mechanism as said piston advances into said internal chamber; (iii) said first passage having a first cross-sectional area dependent upon the magnitude of the damping to be provided by said damping mechanism, and said second passage having a second cross-sectional area larger than said first cross-sectional area; (c) means for maintaining a slidable seal between said piston and said chamber; (d) a sealing member disposed within said second passage for preventing said fluid from escaping from said chamber through said first passage; and (e) a retaining member disposed within said second passage for retaining said sealing member in sealing relationship to said first passage unless when a force acting on the second end of said piston exceeds a predetermined magnitude.