Opening and closing type interior device

Details Opening and closing type interior device Opening and closing type interior device

1999-10-14

2001-10-02

Herrmann, Allan D. (Department: 3682)

Machine element or mechanism

Mechanical movements

Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary

C074S409000, C074S411500, C188S083000, C188S290000, C296S037120, C361S689000, C361S689000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06295883

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an opening and closing type interior device which is disposed, for example, in an automobile, and more particularly relates to an opening and closing type interior device which can suppress generation of noise.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical conventional opening and closing interior device includes a display device for an automobile. The display device includes a fixed member, a movable member rotated about a rotational axis relative to the fixed member so as to be opened and closed, and an actuator for driving the movable member to rotate so as to be opened and closed. The actuator includes a driving source, and at least one gear (generally, a plurality of gears) disposed in a driving force transmission path.
A backlash is provided in each engaging portion of gears. The backlash absorbs dimensional deviations between the gears, thermal expansion in the gears and the like, thereby securing an appropriate engagement between the gears.
However, there is the following problem with the conventional device.
When the movable member is opened and closed, a center of gravity of a movable assembly, which includes the movable member and a member or members rotatable together with the movable member, crosses above the rotational axis of the movable member and produces a moment. The moment caused about the rotational axis is due to the weight of the movable assembly and changes as the center of gravity of the movable assembly crosses above the rotational axis, so that the load imposed on the actuator for opening and closing the movable member reverses between a positive load and a negative load. As a result, the engagement of a driving side gear of the actuator with a driven side gear of the actuator is reversed, causing hammering in the gears due to the backlash of the gears thereby generating noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an opening and closing type interior device which can suppress noise generated due to backlash in gears.
The above object can be achieved by the present invention, as follows.
An opening and closing type interior device includes a fixed member, a movable member capable of being opened and closed and being movable relative to the fixed member, an actuator for driving the movable member to be opened and closed, and a damper coupled to one of the movable member and the fixed member. The actuator includes a driving source for driving the movable member and at least one gear mechanism disposed in a path transmitting a driving force from the driving source to the movable member.
The movable member includes a rotational axis, and is rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the fixed member between a fully-opened and fully-closed position. The movable member, in cooperation with a member or members rotatable together with the movable member, constitutes a movable assembly having a center of gravity. The center of gravity of the movable assembly is located on one side of a vertical line passing through the rotational axis when the movable member is located at the fully-opened position, and is located on the other side of the vertical line passing through the rotational axis when the movable member is located at the fully-closed position, and the center of gravity crosses the vertical fine passing through the rotational axis when the movable member is opened and closed.
In the above-described opening and closing type interior device, when the movable assembly, including the movable member and members rotatable together with the movable member, is opened and closed, the damper applies a load to the movable assembly in a direction suppressing the opening and closing motion thereby preventing the load imposed on the actuator from being reversed between positive and negative when the center of gravity of the movable assembly crosses the vertical line passing through the rotational axis of the movable member. As a result, the engagement of the driving side gear with the driven side gear of the actuator is prevented from being reversed, so that the noise generated due to the backlash of the gears is suppressed.


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patent: 57-102179 (1982-06-01), None
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