Source: {"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"}

The invention relates to a damper for controlling the displacement of a movable member, and more specifically the invention relates to a surface effect damper that produces surface effect damping forces as the damper rod and damping elements are displaced through the damper housing.
Frequently it is desirable to accurately control the relative motion between a stationary member and a movable member. Overhead storage bins represent a structure that would benefit from such motion control between the stationary storage bin and the movable overhead door. In typical overhead storage bins, the doors are rotatable relative to the bin and open easily so that when the door is fully raised it may be stored above the storage bin until it is necessary to again close the door. When it is necessary to close the door, the door is removed from above the storage bin and is rotated downward to a vertical position in front of the bin. In order to allow the door to come to rest against the bin, it is hand released by the person closing the door and as a result, the door may close with a slam against the storage bin.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present overhead storage bin doors. Thus, in order to overcome the specific shortcomings in present bin door closing set forth above, and also generally to overcome shortcomings in relative movement between stationary and movable members, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide a damper that provides controlled motion to the moveable member as the member is moved in a first direction relative to the stationary member and provides little or no damping when the movable member is moved in a second direction relative to the stationary member. Accordingly, a suitable alternative damper is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
The present invention is a surface effect damper that provides controlled motion between movable and stationary members. The surface effect damper of the present invention comprising a housing having a wall that defines a chamber, the housing having first and second ends and defining an axis. The surface effect damper further comprises at least one contact element movable through the chamber between the housing ends in a first direction and in a second direction; and at least two damping elements substantially surrounding each contact element, each of the at least two damping elements being movable away from the axis and into frictional engagement with the housing wall as the at least one contact element is moved in a first direction and each of the at least two damping elements being movable toward the axis as the at least one contact element is moved in a second direction. In the damper of the present invention the contact element is the driving member and the damping elements are the driven members.
In one embodiment of the surface effect damper of the present invention the damping elements comprise discrete inner members with a single resilient layer made integral along the outer periphery of each of the inner members. In an alternate embodiment surface effect damper of the present invention the resilient layer is comprised of a unitary member located between the housing and the inner members.
In another embodiment of the surface effect damper of the present invention the surface effect damper, the damper housing comprises a closed first housing end and spring means located in the housing chamber between the closed first end and the contact element. The spring means may be any suitable spring such as a metal coil spring for example.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.