Support arm

Details Support arm Support arm

2000-01-24

2001-04-10

Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)

Movable or removable closures

With operator for movably mounted closure

Operating lever or link and closure swing about parallel axes

C049S340000, C016S366000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06212827

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to linkages, and more particularly to pivoted linkages suitable for use with biasing elements such as gas struts.
Conventionally, lids or tops such as hoods, trunk lids or large container tops are provided with biasing elements that bias the lid or top to an open position. One such application is that of a lid that covers a pick-up truck bed. It is desirable to provide such a lid with a biasing element that assists the user in lifting the lid from a closed to an open position, and that supports the lid in the open position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,403 discloses a lifting device for a spa cover. The spa cover is hinged along one side, and a gas strut is directly connected between the spa cover at one end and the spa frame at the other.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,015 discloses a device for balancing an automobile deck lid. In the disclosed device, a return lever includes two substantially perpendicular arms that are rigidly joined together. A gas strut connected at one end to the return lever and at the other end to the deck lid facilitates the opening and closing of the lid.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,161 discloses an automatic door closing device. In the disclosed device first and second pivoted links extend between a door frame and a sliding door. The link that is attached to the sliding door includes an extension that protrudes beyond the other link. A spring is mounted between the end of this extension and a bracket attached to the door frame to bias the sliding door closed.
SUMMARY
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be considered to be a limitation on those claims.
By way of introduction, the embodiment described below may be attached between the lid and the enclosed compartment of a truck bed to provide lifting forces tending to open and support the lid. The disclosed linkage includes first and second links that are interconnected at a pivot and are coupled to the lid and the compartment by first and second mounting elements, respectively. A biasing element such as a gas spring is secured to the first link at a first joint and to the second link at a second joint. The first and second joints are disposed on opposite sides of a line extending between the pivot and the second mounting element, and the second joint is disposed on the second link intermediate the pivot and the second mounting element. As described in detail below, by properly selecting the shape of the second link, lifting forces when the lid is closed can be adjusted with respect to lifting forces when the lid is open. Furthermore, the disclosed device is compact, and it allows the use of a relatively compact gas strut.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 5566403 (1996-10-01), Black et al.
patent: 5815984 (1998-10-01), Sheets et al.

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