Apparatus and method for automatically pivoting a first member relative to a second member
US6182301A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47K13/12
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An apparatus for automatically pivoting a first member relative to a second member comprises a housing connectable to the second member; a shaft connectable to the first member and juxtaposed to rotate about its axis within the housing between a rest position and an open position, the shaft having first and second rates of rotation in a closing direction from the open to the rest position; a torsion spring assembly connected between the housing and the shaft; a dampening assembly connected between the housing and the shaft for exerting a dampening torque upon the shaft during at least one direction of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing; a time delay assembly connected between the housing and the shaft for variably exerting a braking torque on the shaft; a shift assembly connected between the housing and the shaft and operable to enable and disable the time delay assembly; and, a clutch assembly for engaging the shaft with the dampening assembly and the time delay assembly when torque is applied to rotate the shaft in the closing direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.