Patent ID: 6931693

Claim:
A damper mechanism comprising: a cylinder which is open at a first end and closed at a second end and which describes an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature; an arcuate plunger of the same radius of curvature as the cylinder, a first end of said plunger mates slidably with the cylinder in such a manner as to trace an arched path corresponding to said predetermined radius of curvature; a means for urging the plunger in one sliding direction relative to the cylinder, wherein the urging means has a torsion coil spring having a first end engaging a pair of notches formed on the cylinder having a separation of 180 degrees at the first end of the cylinder, and a second end coupled to one end of the plunger; a passage provided at the first and of the plunger, the passage connecting the interior of the cylinder that is sectioned by the first end of the plunger to the exterior; and a pressure-regulating valve provided in the passage, said valve reduces a cross-sectional area of the passage when the plunger moves in said one sliding direction and increases the cross-sectional area of the passage when the plunger moves in the opposite direction.