Patent ID: 8408629

Claim:
A variable torque rotary damper for a vehicle seat having a seat base, comprising: a housing defining a non-uniform chamber for retaining therein a viscous fluid; a rotor having an axial portion extending at least partially into the chamber and a resistive portion extending radially from the axial portion for moving through the viscous fluid within the chamber, when the seat base is moved between a seated position and a stowed position torque is applied to the rotor resulting in rotation of the resistive portion through the viscous fluid, a resistant force being applied by the viscous fluid on the resistive portion increases or decreases proportionally relative to a position of the resistive portion within the non-uniform chamber; and the housing including a stationary ramp positioned within the chamber, the ramp providing for both a high torque resistance and a low torque resistance to the rotor as the resistive portion rotates within the chamber.