Patent ID: 6910557
Filing Date: 2005-06-28
Classification: E05F,E05Y,F16F

Abstract:
1. A slide damper for use with an associated sliding object that is movable between a first position and a second position, comprising: a housing having a track; a gear on the housing; a cover configured for movement along the housing, the cover having a recessed region and an opening formed therein, the cover further including a truck engaging element for engaging the housing track as the cover moves along the housing and an engaging element for engaging the associated sliding object; a biasing element operably connecting the cover and the housing to bias the cover to the second position; a damper assembly disposed within the cover recessed region, the damper assembly including a damper housing having a geared outer periphery, a damping material disposed in the damper housing and a rotatable element disposed at least in part within the damper housing for cooperating with the damping material, the rotatable element having a shaft and being rotatable relative to the damper housing, the rotatable element shaft extending through the cover opening, the damper assembly being selectively engaged in which the rotatable element rotates relative to the damper housing when the cover is moved toward the second position and disengaged in which the rotatable element is stationary relative to the damper housing when the cover is moved toward the first position; and a gear operably connecting the damper shaft and the housing gear for rotating the damper shaft as the cover is moved along the housing, wherein movement of the gear along the housing gear is dampened when the damper assembly is engaged and wherein movement of the gear along the housing gear is unimpeded by the damper when the damper is disengaged.