MXPA00005588A - Plastics air damper - Google Patents

Abstract

An air damper, in particular but not exclusively for use with a glove box door in a vehicle. The clamper comprises a cylindrical housing (20, 46), a piston (12), a strand element (24), en attachment element l(26) and a coil spring (44). The strand element (24) is integrally moulded with the piston (12) on one end and integrally moulded with the attachment element (26) on the other end. The strand element (24) passes through the coil spring (44) and is arranged to bias the damper into a retracted position. A portion of the cylindrical passageway (18) through which the piston (12) traverses when the damper is in its retracted position has a reduced diameter to reduce any initial jump of the damper while extending.

Description

POCKET SHOCK ABSORBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation in part of the application, serial No. 09 / 153,276 entitled "Adjustable Shock Absorber", filed on September 14, 1998. ~: Field of Invention _ _ This invention relates to a shock absorber, as it is used with a glove box of an automobile. The shock absorber includes an integral assembly of a piston, a plastic cord and a fastener, and further includes a cushion box forming a cylinder with an area of "decreased internal diameter." Description of Prior Art _ _ _ The use of a device air cylinder cushion, in combination with a monofilament element oriented by means of a spring for use with a storage cabinet, such as an automobile glove compartment, is well known as illustrated by the United States Patent No. 5,333,845, entitled "Buffer Device" and issued to Seiichi on August 2, 1994. Similarly, an air damper is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 5,104,098 entitled "Cylinder-type Air Damper". and that it is broadcast for Kaneko, on April 14, 1992.

However, the designs of the prior art have various disadvantages. First, prior art designs often require secondary fasteners to attach the shock absorber to the panel. Second, the prior art designs have frequently used a monofilament element with rings formed at each end. The metal clips are applied under pressure to the monofilament element at each end to form rings. One ring is attached to the piston and the other ring is attached to the glove box. In this design, the rope should be cut lengthwise and then the loops are added. In addition, the length of the rope will change or the ring will come off completely if the rope loops are loosened. Additionally, the designs of the prior art commonly have an initial jump when the glove box is released. OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a shock absorber, such as that of applications in automobile gloveboxes, which can be installed with minimum or non-secondary fasteners. Therefore, it is a further object of this invention to provide a shock absorber, such as that of automotive glovebox applications, which has a reduced number of components. Therefore, it is still a further object of this invention to provide a shock absorber such as that of the applications in automobile glove compartments, wherein the length of the integral assembly, including the piston, the cord and the fastener, can be molded to a single length. Therefore, it is still a further object of this invention to provide a shock absorber, such as that of automotive glovebox applications, which provides a reliable fit between the piston, the cord and the door, such as that of a car glove box. It is therefore still a further objective of this invention to provide a shock absorber, such as that of the automobile glove compartment applications, which minimizes or eliminates the initial jump when the door, such as that of an automobile glove box, is open initially These and other objectives are achieved by providing an air cushion with a box, a cover, a spring and an integral assembly of a piston, a plastic rope and a joining element. The integral assembly is commonly molded from the material "nylon 6". The box forms a cylinder through which the piston travels, and further includes an integral fastener with opposite scythe hook structures to allow the box to be introduced by oscillation in the panel without the use of secondary fasteners separately.

As the piston, the cord and the connecting element are molded as one piece, this eliminates any need for a secondary monofilament element with rings and clips that can fail. When the cord is molded to a fixed length, it fixes the distance from the piston to the joint element. The link element is also attached to the glove box or to an associated element. The diameter of the cylinder formed within the cushion case decreases near the closed end of the case to increase the friction between the piston discs and the case when the air cushion is in a closed or almost closed position. This additional friction eliminates the initial jump that is otherwise associated with air cushions. * BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and from the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 in a schematic view, partly in silhouette, of the shock absorber of the present invention. Figure 2 is a side plan view of the integral piston of the rope and fastener element of the present invention. Figure 3 is a side plan view of the piston of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side plan view of the shock absorber of the present invention with the extended rope element. Figure 5 is a side plan view of the shock absorber of the present invention with the rope element contracted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FORM OF EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein as the numerals refer to like elements throughout various views, one can observe that Figure 1 is a schematic view, partially a silhouette, of the shock absorber 10 of the present invention. The shock absorber includes a cylindrical piston 12 with circular peripheral discs 14, 16 which adjust the passage of the cylinder 18 of the lower shock absorber housing 20. The seal 13 extends from the cylindrical piston 12. The piston 12 travels within the passage of the piston 12. cylinder 18 while the damper 10 extends or contracts as shown in Figures 4 and 5, respectively. As shown in Figure 1, the passage of the cylinder 18 of the box of the lower cushion 20, includes a smaller portion 22 of reduced diameter, this reduction in diameter is exaggerated in Figure 1. The reduction in the diameter of the portion lower 22, provides an adjustment of the increased tension between the piston 12 and the passage of the cylinder 18 when the piston is fully inserted in the passage of the cylinder 18, such as in the contraction position shown in Figure 5. This eliminates or minimizes the initial jump, which is associated with air dampers. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rope element 24 has a first 23 and second end. The first end 23 is integral with the piston 12 while the second end 25 is integral with the disc-shaped joining element 26. The connecting element 26 illustrated, shows a disk shape with a circular shape that is created at approximately one axis of rotation that is collinearly formed with the cord 24, but other shapes are contemplated, as determined by the application and the device (not shown) to which the link element 26 has to be attached. Rope 24 and disc-shaped bonding element 26 are integrally molded, commonly using "nylon 6" material, although those skilled in the art can recognize that other materials are suitable. However, the material chosen must be resistant to breakage and have minimum or zero elongation, particularly inelastic elongation, under operating loads, which means that many plastic resins are not suitable. As shown in Figure 1, the spiral spring 44 is wrapped around the rope element 24.

A first end of the spiral spring 44 abuts the piston 12 and a second end of the spiral spring 44 abuts the upper shock absorber housing 46, whereby the piston 12 and the rope member 24 are pushed towards a contraction position. , as illustrated in Figure 5. The upper shock absorber case 46 includes a ring -48 at the open end 50 thereof, which spring closure fits into the lower shock absorber case 20. Upper shock absorber case 46 , further includes a closed end 52 with a central opening 54 through which the rope element 24 reciprocates. The central opening 54 is formed so that a longitudinal axis of the shock absorber 10 passes through the central opening 54. The cylindrical wall 56 of the upper shock absorber housing 46 further includes a fastener 58 with opposite scythe-type hooks 60, 62. The lower shock box "20 likewise includes a fastener 63. The configuration of the fastener 58 allows the shock absorber 10 to be installed by means of an oscillating entry movement with the alignment and subsequent adjustment of the fastener 63 without the need for secondary fasteners. To use the shock absorber 10, the installer commonly chooses an integral assembly of the piston 12, the cord 24 and the connecting element 26 with the piston 12 which is suitable for the case of the shock absorber 20, the cord 24 of a suitable length and the attachment element 26 which are of form and characteristics appropriate for the specific application. This integral assembly, coil spring 44 and top shock box 46 are assembled with respect to the shock absorber housing 20. Then the installer attaches the fastener 58 to the corresponding door or panel (not shown) by means of an oscillating input movement. and similarly links the link element 26 to the corresponding door, panel or associated element (not shown). The choice of the dimensions of the particular elements and the adjustment thereof must be provided so that the piston 12 is pushed into the lower portion 22 of the reduced diameter of the passage of the cylinder 18 when the associated door (not shown) is closed, and to allow the piston 12 to pass through the passage of the cylinder 18 during the opening of the associated door. The sequence of steps may vary according to the application and the user's preferences. Therefore, the various objectives and advantages mentioned above are effectively achieved. Although a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention in no sense will be limited thereby and its extent will be "determined by that of the appended claims. spiral spring, is close to said opening. The shock absorber of Claim 1 wherein the piston passes through a first portion of the cylindrical passage when the rope member is in a relatively contracted position and the piston passes through a second portion of the "cylindrical" passage when the rope member is in position relatively stretched, and wherein a diameter of the first portion of the cylindrical passage is reduced from a diameter of the second portion of the cylindrical passage 8. The cushion of Claim 7 wherein the reduced diameter of the first portion of the cylindrical passage minimizes any initial shock of the shock absorber 9. The shock absorber of claim 8 wherein a longitudinal axis of the box passes through said opening and wherein the opening is formed proximate the second portion of the cylindrical passage 10. The shock absorber of the claim 9 wherein said box is formed by means of a first part and a second part, the first pair the second part joins you along a peripheral section of the box. The shock absorber of Claim 10, wherein the first-part of the spring closure of the box fits the second part of the box. ""

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. A cushion that includes: A box with a cylindrical passage that is formed inside it, which also includes an opening in said box that leads to the cylindrical passage; A piston that crosses the cylindrical passage; and A string element including a first end and a second end, such a first end is formed integrally with the piston and the second end is integrally formed with a joining element, the rope element reciprocally passing through such an opening.
2. 2. The shock absorber of Claim 1 wherein said rope member, piston and connecting element are integrally molded from a plastic.
3. 3. The shock absorber of Claim 2 wherein the plastic is a nylon 6 plastic.
4. 4. The shock absorber of Claim 3 further includes a coil spring through which the rope member passes.
5. 5. The shock absorber of Claim 4 wherein the coil spring includes a first and second end, the first end abuts the piston and the second end abuts one end of the cylindrical passage.
6. 6. The cushion of Claim 5 wherein the end of the cylindrical passage that meets the second end of the