Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Glare screen or visor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-28
2001-07-24
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Glare screen or visor
C403S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264264
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The invention relates to a rotary damper device and a sun visor attaching apparatus using the same, in particular, a rotary damper device wherein a damping force works in one way.
Heretofore, sun visor attaching apparatuses have been known, wherein rotary damper devices are not provided, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patents No. 2535188 and No. 2535189.
However, in the conventional attaching apparatuses as described above, in case a sun visor is closed toward a roof of a vehicle, there has been such a problem that the sun visor strikes the roof to generate an offensive or uncomfortable sound. Especially, in case a spring is used to close the sun visor, a large sound is generated to thereby impair an atmosphere in the vehicle.
In view of the above defects, the present invention has been made, and an object of the invention is to provide a one-way rotary damper device having a relatively simple structure.
Another object of the invention is to provide a one-way rotary damper device as stated above, wherein a damping force can be varied according to a rotation of a shaft.
A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary damper device suitable for a sun visor attaching structure.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been made in order to attain the above objects, and characteristics of the invention are explained below.
The invention according to the first aspect has two characteristics. First, a rotary damper device is formed of a case, a rotor, and a viscous fluid. The rotor is rotatably held in the case and connected to a shaft. The viscous fluid is sealed in the case.
Second, the rotor includes a rotary vane, a through-hole and a valve. The rotary vane is used for agitating the viscous fluid. The through-hole passes through the rotary vane from a front surface to a rear surface. The valve opens the through-hole when the shaft rotates in one direction. On the other hand, the valve closes the through-hole when the shaft rotates in the other direction.
The invention according to the second aspect has the following characteristics in addition to the characteristics described in the first aspect. Namely, a space and a blocking device, i.e. higher portion on the side of the rotor, are provided between the case and the rotor. The viscous fluid passes through the space in a direction perpendicular to a rotating direction of the rotor.
The blocking device, i.e. the higher portion on the side of the rotor, makes the space for a predetermined rotating angle of the shaft. On the other hand, the blocking device blocks the space for a rotating angle except for the predetermined rotating angle of the shaft.
Incidentally, although the higher portion on the side of rotor is mentioned as the blocking device, the blocking device is not limited thereto, and the blocking device may be disposed on the side of the case or the cap thereof.
The invention according to the third aspect has the following three characteristics.
First, an attaching apparatus of a sun visor includes a shaft; a bearing member; a rest or holding device, for example a spring; a rotating force generating device, for example the spring and projections of the shaft; and the rotary damper device.
The shaft is attached to the roof of a vehicle at one end thereof. The bearing member is fixed to the sun visor and rotatably supports the other end of the shaft.
The rest or holding device, i.e. spring, allows the sun visor to rest at a desired rotating angle on the other end of the shaft. Incidentally, although the spring is exemplified as the rest device, the rest device is not limited thereto.
The rotating force generating device, i.e. the spring and projections of the shaft, functions to provide at least a rotating force right before the sun visor rotates toward the roof and is stored thereat. Incidentally, although the spring and projections are exemplified as the rotating force generating device, the rotating force generating device is not limited thereto. The rotary damper device is connected to the other end of the shaft to attenuate the rotating force in one way.
Incidentally, although the bearing member and the damping device are formed separately, they may be integrally formed.
Second, the rotary damper device is formed of the case, rotor and viscous fluid. The case is fixed to the sun visor. The rotor is rotatably held in the case and is connected to the other end of the shaft. The viscous fluid is sealed in the case.
Third, the rotor includes the rotary vane, the through-hole and the valve. The rotary vane is used for agitating the viscous fluid. The through-hole passes through the rotary vane. The valve usually opens the through-hole, but, the valve closes the through-hole when the rotating force is applied.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5338083 (1994-08-01), Gute
patent: 5383700 (1995-01-01), Argo et al.
patent: 5454617 (1995-10-01), Welter
patent: 5556155 (1996-09-01), Welter
patent: 5564772 (1996-10-01), Miller
patent: 5697122 (1997-12-01), Okabe et al.
patent: 5720370 (1998-02-01), Takahashi
patent: 5769188 (1998-06-01), Okabe et al.
patent: 5924748 (1999-07-01), Zapinski
patent: 6019415 (2000-01-01), Viertel et al.
patent: 6059348 (2000-05-01), Viertel et al.
Harada Akinori
Kato Shin-ichi
Coletta Lori L.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Nifco Inc.
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