U.S. patent application number 11/405923 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-18 for damper.
Invention is credited to Robert Tsai.
Application Number | 20070241314 11/405923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38603986 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070241314 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsai; Robert |
October 18, 2007 |
Damper
Abstract
A damper has a body, a spindle and multiple beads. The body has
a base with a through hole, a top cap with a through hole and a
cavity defined in the body. The spindle is mounted inside the body
and has a spindle body and a transverse post formed on the spindle
body. The multiple beads are received inside the cavity in the body
and abut the transverse post. The damper provides a friction by the
transverse post abutting and moving over the beads, therefore, when
the damper is mounted on a retractable device, the retracting rate
of the retractable device may be adjusted conveniently by changing
the amount of the beads.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Robert; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENTTM.US
P. O. BOX 82788
PORTLAND
OR
97282-0788
US
|
Family ID: |
38603986 |
Appl. No.: |
11/405923 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
256/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01B 3/1046 20200101;
E01F 13/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
256/024 |
International
Class: |
E04H 17/16 20060101
E04H017/16 |
Claims
1. A damper comprising: a body having a base having a through hole,
a top cap mounted on the base and having a through hole
corresponding to the through hole in the base, and a cavity defined
in the body between the base and the top cap, a spindle mounted
inside the body and having a spindle body mounted inside the body
having a top end mounted inside the through hole in the top cap,
and a bottom post mounted through the through hole in the base, a
transverse post formed on the spindle body and received inside the
cavity in the body, and multiple beads received inside the cavity
in the body and abutting with the transverse post.
2. The damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple beads are
made of steel.
3. The damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple beads are
made of plastic.
4. A retractable railing device with a damper comprising a post
body having a top, a mounting hole defined in the top of the post
body, and a central cavity defined in the post body, a spindle
mounted inside the central cavity in the post body and having a top
mounted with and through the spiral spring, held inside the
mounting hole in the post body and having a non-circular hole, and
a spiral spring mounted on the top of the spindle for providing a
retractable force, a railing rolled around the spindle, and a
damper mounted on the post body and having a body having a base
mounted on the top of the post body and having a through hole, a
top cap mounted on the base and having a through hole corresponding
to the through hole in the base, and a cavity defined in the body
between the base and the top cap, a spindle mounted inside the body
and having a spindle body having a top end mounted inside the
through hole in the top cap, a bottom post being a non-circular
post, mounted through the through hole in the base, mounted in the
non-circular hole in the top of the spindle, a transverse post
formed on the spindle body and received inside the cavity in the
body, and multiple beads received inside the cavity in the body and
abutting the transverse post.
5. The retractable railing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the multiple beads are made of steel.
6. The retractable railing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the multiple beads are made of plastic.
7. A retractable railing device with a damper comprising a post
body having a top, and a central cavity defined in the post body, a
spindle mounted inside the central cavity in the post body and
having a top end, and a non-circular hole defined in the top end of
the spindle, a spiral spring mounted inside the post body for
providing a retractable force, a railing rolled around the spindle,
and a damper mounted inside the post body and having a base mounted
on the top of the post body and having a through hole, a top cap
mounted on the base and having a through hole corresponding to the
through hole in the base, a cavity defined between the top cap and
the base, a spindle mounted on the spindle in side the post body
and passing through the spiral spring, having a top end mounted
inside the through hole in the top cap, a bottom post being a
non-circular post and mounted through the through hole in the base,
mounted in the non-circular hole in the top end of the spindle, and
a transverse post formed on the spindle received inside the cavity
in the body, and multiple beads received inside the cavity in the
body and abutting the transverse post.
8. The retractable railing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein
the multiple beads are made of steel.
9. The retractable railing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein
the multiple beads are made of plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a damper, and more
particularly to a damper adapted for a retractable device.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Many devices have retractable devices mounted inside, the
devices, such as electric wire retractor, retractable tape, window
curtains or seat belt of the car, provide a retractable force for
pulling a string or a belt back. The retractable device has a
spiral spring mounted inside, when a foreign force pulls the spiral
spring out, the spiral spring will return back automatically when
the force is released.
[0005] The spiral spring provides a retractable force for the
string or the belt, and has the following advantages. First, the
spiral spring provides a constant resilience. Second, the distance
for retracting the spiral spring is short. Therefore, the volume of
the spiral spring is small, and such spring is very convenient for
use.
[0006] However, the coefficient of elasticity k value of the spiral
spring relates to the rate for retracting a string or a belt, i.e.
the coefficient of elasticity k value of the spiral spring relates
to the retractable force of the spiral spring and whether the
spiral spring retracts smoothly. When the coefficient of elasticity
k value is small, the retractable force is small so that a string
or a belt may not be retracted completely. When the k value is
large, the force for retracting a string or a belt will be large
and a string or a belt may wind around or make somebody get hurt
caused by a fast retracting movement.
[0007] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to
provide a damper to mitigate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a damper that is applied to a retractable device and improves the
safety of using the retractable device.
[0009] The damper has a body, a spindle and multiple beads. The
body has a base with a through hole, a top cap with a through hole
and a cavity defined in the body. The spindle is mounted inside the
body and has a spindle body and a transverse post formed on the
spindle body. The multiple beads are received inside the cavity in
the body and abut the transverse post.
[0010] The damper provides a friction by the transverse post
abutting and moving over the beads, therefore, when the damper is
mounted on a retractable device, the retracting rate of the
retractable device may be adjusted conveniently by changing the
amount of the beads.
[0011] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment
of a damper in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view in partial section of the damper in
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of a retractable
railing device with the damper in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the retractable railing
device with the damper in accordance with the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a retractable tape with the
damper in accordance with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electric appliance with
the damper in accordance with the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side view in partial section of a retractable
railing device with a second embodiment of a damper in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a
damper (A) in accordance with the present invention has a body
(10), a spindle (20) and multiple beads (30).
[0020] The body (10) has a base (11), a top cap (12) and a cavity
(13). The base (11) has a through hole (111) defined therein. The
top cap (12) is mounted on the base (11) and has a through hole
(121) corresponding to the through hole (111) in the base (11). The
cavity (13) is defined between the base (11) and the top cap
(12).
[0021] The spindle (20) is mounted inside the body (10) and has a
spindle body (200) and a transverse post (21). The spindle body
(200) has a top end, a bottom post and a sidewall. The top end of
the spindle body (200) is mounted inside the through hole (121) in
the top cap (12), and the bottom post of the spindle body (200) is
mounted through the through hole (111) in the base (11). In a
preferred embodiment, the bottom post is a non-circular post and
may be a hexagonal post. The transverse post (21) is formed on the
sidewall of the spindle body (200) and is received inside the
cavity (13) in the body (10).
[0022] The bead (30) are received inside the cavity (13) in the
body (10) and abut the transverse post (21). The beads (30) may be
made of steel, plastic, or any material.
[0023] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when a damper (A) is used
for a retractable railing device (40), the retractable railing
device (40) has a post body (400), a spiral spring (41), a railing
(42) and a spindle (43). The post body (400) has a top, a mounting
hole (401) and a central cavity. The mounting hole (401) is defined
in the top of the post body (400). The central cavity is defined in
the post body (400). The spiral spring (41) is mounted on the post
body (400) for providing a retractable force to the railing (42).
The spindle (43) is mounted inside the central cavity in the post
body (400) and has a top. The top of the spindle (43) is mounted
with and through the spiral spring (41) and is held inside the
mounting hole (401) in the post body (400). The top of the spindle
(43) has a non-circular hole. In a preferred embodiment, the hole
in the top of the spindle (43) is non-circular and may be a
hexagonal hole for receiving the bottom post of the spindle (20).
The railing (42) is rolled around the spindle (43). The damper (A)
is mounted on the top of the post body (400). The bottom post of
the spindle body (200) is partially mounted inside the mounting
hole (401) and aligned with the spindle (43).
[0024] When the retractable railing device (40) is used, and the
spindle (43) is driven to rotate by the spiral spring (41) to pull
the railing (42) back. The spindle (20) of the damper (A) is then
driven by the spindle (43) of the retractable railing device (40)
with the engagement between the bottom post on the spindle (20) and
the hole in the spindle (43).
[0025] When the spindle (20) rotates, the beads (30) will block the
rotation of the transverse post (21) so as to provide a drag effect
to the spindle (20). Therefore, the speed of retracting the railing
(42) is reduced, and the retracting rate provided by the spiral
spring (41) is effectively damped. In addition, the amount of the
beads (30) and the retracting rate of the retractable railing
device (40) are in an inverse proportion. When the amount of the
beads (30) is decreased, the damper (A) provides a less drag effect
to the retractable railing device (40). When the amount of the
beads (30) is increased, the damper (A) provides a large drag
effect to the retractable railing device (40). Therefore, the
damper (A) may control the retractable rate effectively by changing
the amount of the beads (30) inside the damper (A).
[0026] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the damper (A) may be
applied to different retractable devices, such as a retractable
tape (70), an electric appliance (80) with electric wire retractor
or any retractable device like window curtains or seat belt in a
vehicle. Each retractable device has a spindle for holding the
spindle (20) of the damper (A). A person skilled in the art will
understand how to employee the invention on a retractable
device.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 7, a second embodiment of a damper
(B) is adapted for a retractable railing device (60). The
retractable railing device (60) has a post body (600), a spiral
spring (61), a railing, a spindle (63) and a damper (B). The post
body (600) has a top and a central cavity. The central cavity is
defined in the post body (600). The spindle (63) is mounted inside
the central cavity in the post body (600) and has a top end and a
non-circular hole defined in the top end of the spindle. The
railing is rolled around on the spindle (63). The spiral spring
(61) is mounted inside the central cavity in the post body (600).
The damper (B) is mounted on the post body (600) and has a base
(62), a top cap (621), a cavity (622), a spindle (20) and multiple
beads (30). The base (62) is mounted on the top of the post body
(600). The top cap (621) is mounted on the base (62). The cavity
(621) is defined between the top cap (621) and the base (622). The
spindle (20) is mounted on the spindle (63) inside the post body
(600) and passes through the spiral spring (61) and has a
transverse post (21) and a bottom post both formed on the spindle
(20) as described above. The bottom post is a non-circular post
mounted on the spindle inside the central cavity in the post body
(600). The multiple beads (30) are received inside the cavity
(622). Therefore, when the railing is pulled back by the spiral
spring (61), the transverse post (21) abutting the beads (30) and
limits the rotating rate of the spindle (20), so the retractable
rate of the railing driven by the spindle (63) will be limited by
the damper (B).
[0028] The advantages of the damper of the present invention
describe as follows.
[0029] 1. The damper (A, B) provides a friction by means of the
transverse post (21) abutting and moving over the beads (30),
therefore, the retracting rate of the retractable railing device
will be reduced.
[0030] 2. When the damper (A, B) is applied for a coefficient of
elasticity k value device, the device may retract a heavy cord at a
lower speed and smoothly.
[0031] 3. When the retracting rate is reduced, a retractable device
will be used safer and prevents a person from getting hurt. In
addition, if the coefficient of elasticity k value of the spiral
spring (61) is kept at a constant, the retracting force provided by
the spiral spring (61) for retracting an object will not be changed
even when the damper (A, B) is applied. Therefore, whether the
transverse post (21) stops abutting the beads (30) or not, the
retracting force provided by the spiral spring is constant.
[0032] 4. The retracting rate is adjusted by changing the amount of
the beads, so it is convenient for adjusting the friction providing
by the damper (A, B).
[0033] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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