Spring devices – Vehicle – Comprising compressible fluid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-04-10
Butler, Douglas C. (Department: 3613)
Spring devices
Vehicle
Comprising compressible fluid
C188S300000, C267S034000, C267S221000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213454
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a damper, particularly for an automotive applications, such as cupholders and ashtrays, which includes a reverse air damper and a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism has been adapted for structural flexibility and can compensate for improper operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, it is known to use a damper for automotive applications, such as cupholders and ashtrays. Latches similar to a “push-push” mechanism, configured to be pulled instead of pushed, have not been satisfactory for such applications as the latch diamond has been likely to shear and destroy the latch mechanism if the latch was forced the wrong way during operation. While secondary springs have been used to compensate for improper operation of the latch, this has increased the cost and complexity of the latch, and has not been satisfactory.
Additionally, current latch mechanisms of this type have required an excessive amount of over-travel to activate. Similarly, current latch mechanisms of this type have required excessive latch diamond travel during the activation and deactivation cycle.
Current latch mechanisms of this type have not had sufficient structural flexibility.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a damper with a “push-push”-type latch, particularly for automotive applications, which can compensate for improper operation, that is, being forced in the wrong direction, without damage to the latch.
It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a damper with a “push-push”-type latch, particularly for automotive applications, which does not require the use of secondary springs to compensate for improper operation.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a damper with a “push-push”-type latch, particularly for automotive applications, which reduces the amount of over-travel required for operation.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a damper with a “push-push”-type latch, particularly for automotive applications, which reduces the travel of the latch diamond during operation.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a damper with a “push-push”-type latch, particularly for automotive applications, which has increased structural flexibility.
These and other objects are provided by a damper with a damper housing and a piston assembly which travels within the damper housing. The piston assembly includes directionally-dependent damping so that the piston assembly movement is damped during retraction, but is substantially undamped during extension (that is, “reverse damping”). The damper housing includes a transverse channel through which a latch diamond travels. The piston assembly includes a “push-push” latching cam sub-assembly which is engaged by the latch diamond when the piston assembly is in an extended position. The latch diamond is disengaged from the latching cam sub-assembly by further extension of the piston assembly followed by release of the piston assembly.
A coil spring within the damper housing urges the piston assembly to a retracted position after the latch diamond is disengaged from the latching cam sub-assembly.
The latching cam sub-assembly includes a detent section which has been chamfered in the longitudinal direction to allow the latch diamond to travel over the detent section without damage in the event that the damper is forced in the wrong direction when the “push-push” latch mechanism is engaged.
The latching cam sub-assembly further includes cored out section in order to increase the flexibility of the detent section and of the piston assembly.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3055204 (1962-09-01), Pelcin
patent: 3869159 (1975-03-01), Eads
patent: 3918754 (1975-11-01), Isbister
patent: 4527821 (1985-07-01), Tanaka
patent: 5031942 (1991-07-01), Harrod
patent: 5157953 (1992-10-01), Hung
patent: 5516163 (1996-05-01), Baker
patent: 5518223 (1996-05-01), Bivens
patent: 5577780 (1996-11-01), Justice
patent: 5647578 (1997-07-01), Bivens
patent: 5657969 (1997-08-01), Bivens
patent: 6056333 (2000-05-01), Wach
Bivens Steven L.
Derr Calvin
Wach Joseph
Butler Douglas C.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
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