Patent Publication Number: US-2007108676-A1

Title: Viscous strand damper assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present regular United States Patent Application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/736,236 filed on Nov. 14, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to dampers for controlling movement of things, and, more particularly, the invention pertains to viscous dampers that use a tether for attachment between the device to be controlled and the damper.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      It is known to use movement dampers in a wide variety of assemblies to control the movement of assembly components. In some situations, dampers are used to control movements of components that would otherwise move more suddenly and forcefully than desired. The damper may control movement caused by gravitational forces or movement induced by springs or other actuators. Doors, drawers and pullouts in furniture are known applications for dampers. In automobiles, dampers are known for use on glove box doors, console covers, sunglass bins, retractable cup holders and other storage bins or areas.  
      Various types of dampers are known, including different types of both one-way and two-way dampers. As the names imply, a one-way damper controls movement in only one direction while applying minimal resistance to movement in a return direction, and a two-way damper provides resistance or control of movement in both directions.  
      Viscous dampers are known. In a viscous damper a rotor is rotatable within a housing that contains a viscous damping fluid. Internal structures of the rotor and/or housing establish ports for relative movement of the damping fluid and rotor, thereby providing a desired degree of resistance or “damping”.  
      The various damper types have worked effectively in many applications. However, there are ever increasing demands necessitating new and improved damper designs. For example, in automobiles space is at a premium. It is desirable to maximize interior passenger space as well as storage space. Accordingly, it is desirable that dampers be small or operate within areas that do not detract from otherwise usable cabin space.  
      Some prior damping systems, especially pneumatic dampers, do not start smoothly. The damping performance may begin some time after movement has started. In some situations it is desirable for damping to begin immediately without delay.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a conventional viscous damper moveable along a path and fastened by a tether to the item the movement of which is being controlled.  
      In one aspect thereof, the present invention provides a damper assembly with a fixed base having a rack gear, a carriage movable relative to the base and a rotary damper carried by the carriage. The damper has a rotor and a damper gear rotatable with the rotor. The damper gear is engaged with the rack gear on the base. A tether is connected to the carriage.  
      In another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a damper assembly with a fixed rack gear; a rotary damper having a rotor and a damper gear rotatable with the rotor, the damper being movable along the rack gear; and a tether substantially connected for movement with movement of the damper relative to the rack gear  
      In a still further aspect thereof, the present invention provides a damper assembly with a fixed track, a fixed rack gear, a carriage having a follower slidingly engaged with the track, a rotary damper having a damper gear engaged with the rack gear, the damper being movable with the carriage, and a tether connected to the carriage at one end and having a second end attachable to a movable object to be controlled by the damper assembly  
      An advantage of the present invention is providing a damper that can be mounted remotely from the item to be controlled in an area otherwise unused, and which does not detract from usable space in the item or the environment around it.  
      Another advantage of the present invention is providing a damper that operates smoothly without startup variances.  
      Still another advantage of the present invention is providing a damper system that can be used with different types of dampers, including both one-way and two-way dampers.  
      Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a viscous strand damper assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the viscous strand damper assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the damper shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , but illustrating the side opposite the side shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the carriage shown in  FIG. 2 , but again illustrating the side opposite the side shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a viscous strand damper assembly in accordance with the present invention shown installed for controlling opening of an automobile glove box, with the glove box being illustrated in a closed condition; and  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 5 , but illustrating the glove box in an open condition.  
      Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in particular, numeral  10  designates a viscous strand damper assembly in accordance with the present invention. Damper assembly  10  includes a base  12  by which damper assembly  10  is positioned and mounted for use. A carriage  14  moves is engaged with base  12 , and moves back and forth along base  12  via the interrelationship of a damper  16  carried within carriage  14  and operable along base  12 . In the exemplary embodiment, a spring  18  is provided for moving carriage  14  in one direction; however, it should be understood that other return structures can be used. A tether  20  is connected to carriage  14  at one end thereof and to the item to be controlled at another end thereof.  
      Base  12  includes a base plate  30  for mounting assembly  10  in the vicinity of the article the movement of which is to be controlled. Accordingly, base plate  30  can be provided with suitable structures (not shown) such as holes for fasteners, integral snap connectors or the like by which fastening of base plate  30  to another object can be achieved. Base  12  defines a rack gear  32  for engaging damper  16  as will be described more fully hereinafter. Rack gear  32  extends from near one end of base  12  to near the opposite end of base  12 . A first track  34  along one edge of base plate  30 , and a second track  36  along an edge of base plate  30  opposite to the edge having track  34  are provided for engaging carriage  14 . At one end thereof, base  12  further defines a slot  38  and a guide  40  for guiding and directing tether  20 . At an opposite end, base  12  defines spring mounts  42 ,  44 .  
      Carriage  14  is shaped to contain damper  16  and operate therewith while slidingly engaging base  12  and traversing along base  12 . Accordingly, carriage  14  includes a main body  50  having a well  52  for operating with damper  16 . A first follower  54  on a first edge of body  50  rides along first track  34  of base  12 . A second follower  56  on an edge of body  50  opposite the edge having follower  54  rides along second track  36  of base  12 . Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various structures can be used for providing a physical engagement, yet sliding relationship between carriage  14  and base  12  via tracks  34 ,  36  and followers  54 ,  56 . For example, overlapping lips can be used, allowing carriage  14  to be snap connected on to base  12 , yet being slidable along base  12  after being engaged therewith.  
      Well  52  is a hollow depression or pocket for receiving damper  16  therein. Well  52  includes on the inside thereof ( FIG. 4 ) locking ribs  58  and free running ribs  60 , the operation of which will be described more fully hereinafter. Carriage  14  further includes spring mounts  62 ,  64  and an arm  66 .  
      Damper  16  is a rotary gear damper having an outer shell or housing  70 , which may be multiple components fastened one to another by, for example, ultrasonic welding. Housing  70  defines ribs  72 , which in the exemplary embodiment surround housing  70  at one end of damper  16 . Ribs  72  are fixed elements with respect to housing  70  and can be integral formations in housing  70 .  
      Damper  16  further includes a rotor  74  which is rotatable in housing  70  and extends outwardly of housing  70 . A damper gear  76  is mounted on rotor  74  for rotation therewith. Damper  16  is a viscous rotary gear damper containing a damping fluid (not shown) within housing  70  and associated structures (not shown) of housing  72  and/or rotor  74  to provide resistance to relative rotation between housing  70  and rotor  74 . Those skilled in the art will understand readily the nature of and internal structures for the operation of damper  16 , which in some applications and uses of the present invention can be a one-way or a two-way damper.  
      Spring  18  has a spring body  80 , a first spring end  82  securable to spring mounts  42 ,  44  and a second spring end  84  securable to spring mounts  62 ,  64 . In the exemplary embodiment, spring body  80  is a helical coil spring; however, those skilled in the art will understand that retraction elements or structures other than a spring also can be used, such as, for example, an elastic member.  
      Tether  20  is a string, wire, cable, strap or the like with a first end  90  connected to arm  66  and a second end  92  connected to the item, device or thing, the movement of which is to be influenced by damper  16 . In the exemplary embodiment ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ), second end  92  of tether  20  is connected to a bin  94  such as a vehicle glove box rotatably connected via a hinge  96  to fixed structure  98 .  
      In the assembled form of damper assembly  10 , followers  54 ,  56  engage tracks  34 ,  36  to secure carriage  14  on base  12  while allowing axial translation of carriage  14  along base  12 . Damper  16  is contained between well  52  and base plate  30 , with gear  76  of damper  16  engaged with rack gear  32 . Spring  18  is interconnected between base  12  and carriage  14  via spring ends  82 ,  84  secured between spring mount pairs  42 ,  44  and  62 ,  64 , respectively. Tether  20  is connected to arm  66  of carriage  14  and extends along base  12  to slot  38  and guide  40 , where it is routed or directed to the item to be controlled, bin  94  in the example shown, to which second end  92  is attached.  
      In the exemplary embodiment, a one-way damper installation is shown. As glove box or bin  94  is opened, string  20  is pulled, pulling on carriage  14  via the connection of tether  20  and arm  66 . Carriage  14  begins moving along base  12 , and the slight relative movement between carriage  14  and damper  16  causes locking ribs  58  on carriage  14  to engage some of ribs  72  on damper housing  70 . Accordingly, housing  70  is restrained from rotation within well  52 , and as gear  76  is pulled along rack gear  32  rotor  74  is caused to rotate in housing  70 . The damping effect of damper  16  is transmitted to the pivotal movement of glove box/bin  94  about hinge  96  via the rotational resistance of rotor  74  in housing  70 , which resists rotation of gear  76  and thereby the movement of gear  76  along rack gear  32 . In turn, resistance is applied to the movement of carriage  14  along base  12 , which is transferred to the opening of bin  94  via tether  20 .  
      When glove box/bin  94  is moved to close, tension on tether  20  from bin  94  is released. Spring  18  pulls carriage  14  in the opposite direction from that described previously. Slight relative movement between carriage  14  and damper  16  as carriage  14  is urged by spring  18  causes locking ribs  58  on carriage  14  to disengage from ribs  72  on damper housing  70 . Ribs  72  of housing  70  may confront free running ribs  60  in well  52 , but do not engage free running ribs  60 . Ribs  72  can move relative to free running ribs  60 . Accordingly, minimal resistance is applied to rotation of housing  70  within well  52 . The rotation of rotor  74  within housing  70  is subjected to greater resistance via than the resistance to rotation of housing  70  within well  52 , and as spring  18  pulls carriage  14  and gear  76  moves along rack gear  32  little or no relative rotation occurs between rotor  74  and housing  70 . Instead, housing  70  rotates within well  52 . As a result, no damping effect is applied to the return of carriage  14 .  
      It should be understood that two-way damping can be provided by the use of a two-way damper and restraint of relative rotation between the damper housing and the carriage as the carriage moves in either direction on base  12 . For example, the two-way damper housing can be permanently fixed to the carriage via fastening, adhesion or rigid engagement.  
      Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.  
      Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.