# US 2014/0150207 A1 · Vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus and vehicle opening/closing member stopper apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150207 A1 - Document ID: US20140150207A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/232,231 - Filed: 2012-06-22 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-11 - Assignees: Piolax, Inc. - Inventors: Ryu Hattori; Kenji Morita; Nobuya Shinzaki; Akira Sakata; Tomoya Yabu; Hisashi Yamamoto; Hirokuni Kumekawa; Toshifumi Gocho - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150207A1 ## CPC - E05F 5/025: {specially adapted for vehicle doors} - E05F 5/022: {specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks} - E05F 5/10: with piston brakes - E05F 7/04: Arrangements affording protection against rattling (with buffering action E05F5/00) - F16F 9/20: with the piston-rod extending through both ends of the cylinder {, e.g. constant-volume dampers} - F16F 9/38: Covers for protection or appearance - E05Y 2900/536: Hoods - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A damper apparatus includes a piston having a flange-shaped piston main body and piston rods which project from both ends of the piston main body, a cylinder having a cylinder main body which accommodates the piston main body slidably and cylindrical portions which support slidably the piston rods, respectively, a fastener which is attached to the one cylindrical portion so as to secure the cylinder to an opening/closing member, and a coil spring which biases the one piston rod to project from the other cylindrical portion such that a distal end portion of the piston rod abuts a circumferential edge of an opening portion of a vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus which is disposed between an opening portion provided in a vehicle and an opening/closing member attached to the opening portion for preventing a vibration of the opening/closing member upon its closure, including: a piston having a flange-shaped piston main body and a pair of piston rods which project respectively from both end faces of the piston main body; a cylinder having a cylinder main body which accommodates the piston main body slidably and cylindrical portions which support respectively the pair of piston rods slidably, an interior of the cylinder being filled with a viscous fluid; a fastener which is attached to one of the cylindrical portions to secure the cylinder to one of a circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member; and an elastic member which biases the piston so that one of the piston rods projects from the other of the cylindrical portions and a distal end portion of the piston rod abuts the other of the circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastener has an accommodating cylindrical portion which accommodates and fixes the one of the cylindrical portions and which is inserted into an attachment hole provided in the circumferential edge of the opening portion or the opening/closing member and a fixing member which is provided on an outer circumference of the accommodating cylindrical portion and which engages with the attachment hole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 2, wherein an air releasing hole is formed in a bottom portion of the one of the cylindrical portions which is accommodated in the accommodating cylindrical portion of the fastener. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 2, wherein plural elongated projections project from an inner circumference of the accommodating cylindrical portion of the fastener so as to extend in an axial direction at plural portions in a circumferential direction, wherein plural engagement claws are provided on an outer circumference of the accommodating cylindrical portion via slits at portions situated between the plural elongated projections, so as to be engaged with a circumferential edge on a rear side of the attachment hole, and wherein the engagement claws make up the fixing member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastener has a flange portion which is engaged with a circumferential edge on a front side of an attachment hole provided in the circumferential edge of the opening portion or the opening/closing member and an insertion portion which is inserted into the attachment hole and engaged with a circumferential edge on a rear side of the attachment hole, and wherein there is provided an expandable/contractable cover which covers a portion of the cylinder projecting from the front side of the attachment hole and which is joined to the flange portion of the fastener, so that air inside the cover member is allowed to communicate from the insertion portion to an exterior of the fastener on the rear side of the attachment hole through a gap between the cylinder and the fastener when the cover member is expanded or contracted. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 5, wherein, when the one of the cylindrical portions is fixed to the fastener, a gap is defined between the flange portion and a portion of the cylinder facing the flange portion, and an air releasing groove is provided between an inner circumference of the cover member and the cylinder, so that air inside the cover member is allowed to communicate with the exterior through the air releasing groove and the gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 4, wherein through holes are formed respectively in a bottom portion of the accommodating cylindrical portion and the bottom portion of the one of the cylindrical portions, and a fixing device is inserted into the through holes to thereby couple the fastener and the cylinder, wherein a projecting portion is formed on the bottom portion of the accommodating cylindrical portion of the fastener so as to abut the bottom portion of the one of the cylindrical portions, and wherein a gap is defined between the bottom portion of the one of the cylindrical portions and the bottom portion of the accommodating cylindrical portion of the fastener. ### Claim 8 A vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus which is disposed between an opening portion provided in a vehicle and an opening/closing member attached to the opening portion for preventing a vibration of the opening/closing member upon its closure, including: a piston having a flange-shaped piston main body and a pair of piston rods which project respectively from both end faces of the piston main body; a cylinder having a first body having a first cylindrical portion which accommodates the piston main body slidably and a second cylindrical portion which extends continuously from one end portion of the first cylindrical portion while being reduced in diameter and which accommodates one of the piston rods being inserted therethrough and a second body which accommodates the other of the piston rods therethrough, which is connected to the other end portion of the first cylindrical portion of the first body and which is secured to one of the circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member, an interior of the cylinder being filled with a viscous fluid; and an elastic member which biases the piston so that the one of the piston rods projects from the second cylindrical portion of the first body and a distal end portion of the piston rod abuts the other of the circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member, wherein, when the piston moves towards the second body against the elastic member, the piston main body directly or indirectly abuts the second body so as to restrict a further movement of the piston. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first body has a first flange portion extends from a circumferential edge of the other end portion of the first cylindrical portion which is opposite to the one end portion corresponding to second cylindrical portion, wherein the second body has a second flange portion which extends from a circumferential edge thereof and which is joined to the first flange portion, and wherein, when the piston moves towards the second body against the elastic member, the piston main body directly or indirectly abuts the second flange portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 9, wherein a diameter of one of the first flange portion and the second flange portion is larger than that of the other of the first flange portion and the second flange portion, wherein an annular gasket is disposed between the first flange portion and the second flange portion, wherein the first body and the second body are coupled together by crimping a circumferential edge of the one of the first flange portion and the second flange portion having the larger diameter, and wherein the gasket extends so that an inner circumference thereof abuts an outer circumference of the piston. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second flange portion of the second body directly or indirectly abuts a circumferential edge of an attachment hole provided in the circumferential edge of the opening portion or the opening/closing member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 9, wherein a washer plate is attached to an end portion of the one of the piston rods projecting from the second cylindrical portion of the first body so as to abut the other of the circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member, and wherein the elastic member is a coil spring one end of which is supported by the washer plate and the other end of which is supported by the first flange portion of the first body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 12, wherein the washer plate does not abut the second cylindrical portion of the first body even when the piston main body abuts the second body via the gasket. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second body has a third cylindrical portion which supports the other of the piston rods slidably. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 14, further including: a fastener which is attached to the second body of the cylinder so as to secure the cylinder to the circumferential edge of the opening portion or the opening/closing member, and wherein the third cylindrical portion extends longer than the other of the piston rods to define a space portion into which the other of the piston rods is not inserted at a distal end portion thereof, and wherein the fastener is secured to an end face of the third cylindrical portion via a fixing device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 15, wherein a gap is defined between the other of the piston rods projecting from the other end face of the piston main body and the fixing device even when the piston main body directly or indirectly abuts the second body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first body has a connection wall which connects the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion and which is inclined so as to project further in an axial direction as the connection wall extends towards the second cylindrical portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first body has a connection wall which connects the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion and which is inclined so as to be depressed further in an axial direction as the connection wall extends towards the second cylindrical portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 8, further including: a fastener which is attached to the second body of the cylinder so as to secure the cylinder to the circumferential edge of the opening portion or the opening/closing member, and wherein the fastener has an engagement claw which engages with a circumferential edge on a rear side of an attachment hole provided in the circumferential edge of the opening portion or the opening/closing member and a flange portion which engages with the circumferential edge on a front side of the attachment hole, and wherein a portion of the second body abutted by the piston main body abuts the flange portion of the fastener. ### Claim 20 A vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus which is disposed between an opening portion provided in a vehicle and an opening/closing member attached to the opening portion for preventing a vibration of the opening/closing member upon its closure, including: a piston having a flange-shaped piston main body and a pair of piston rods which project respectively from both end faces of the piston main body; a cylinder having a first body having a first cylindrical portion which accommodates the piston main body slidably, a second cylindrical portion which extends continuously from one end portion of the first cylindrical portion while being reduced in diameter and which supports one of the piston rods being inserted therethrough and a first flange portion which extends from a circumferential edge of the other end portion of the first cylindrical portion and a second body having a third cylindrical portion which supports the other of the piston rods being inserted therethrough and a second flange portion which extends from a circumferential edge of one end portion of the third cylindrical portion to be joined to the first flange portion and which is secured to one of the circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member, an interior of the cylinder being filled with a viscous fluid; and a coil spring which biases the piston so that the one of the piston rods projects from the second cylindrical portion of the first body and a distal end portion of the piston rod abuts the other of the circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member, wherein the coil spring is disposed on an outer circumference of the cylinder such that one end of the coil spring is supported by abutting a joint portion of the first flange portion and the second flange portion while the other end of the coil spring is supported on a distal end portion side of the piston rod projecting from the second cylindrical portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first flange portion and the second flange portion of the cylinder are crimped to be joined together. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 21, wherein a diameter of the first flange portion is larger than that of the second flange portion, and wherein the first flange portion and the second flange portion are joined together by crimping a circumferential edge portion of the first flange portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first body has a connection wall which connects the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion, and the connection wall has an inclined shape. ### Claim 24 A vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus which is disposed between an opening portion provided in a vehicle and an opening/closing member attached to the opening portion for restricting a rotation of the opening/closing member and for preventing a vibration of the opening/closing member upon its closure, including: an expandable/contractable stopper main body including a piston having a flange-shaped piston main body and a pair of piston rods which project respectively from both end faces of the piston main body and a cylinder having a cylinder main body which accommodates the piston main body slidably and cylindrical portions which support respectively the pair of piston rods slidably, an interior of the cylinder being filled with a viscous fluid; a fastener which secures a proximal end portion of the stopper main body to one of a circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member such that a distal end portion of the stopper main body is directed towards the other of the circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member; and an elastic member which biases the piston so that one of the piston rods projects from the other of the cylindrical portions and a distal end portion of the piston rod abuts the other of the circumferential edge of the opening portion and the opening/closing member, wherein a flange portion which engages with a circumferential edge on a front side of an attachment hole which is provided in the circumferential edge of the opening portion or the opening/closing member and an insertion portion which is inserted into the attachment hole so as to be engaged with a circumferential edge on a rear side of the attachment hole are provided on the fastener, and wherein there is provided an expandable/contractable cover member which covers a portion of the stopper main body projecting from the front side of the attachment hole and which is joined to the flange portion of the fastener, so that air inside the cover member is allowed to communicate from the insertion portion to an exterior of the fastener on the rear side of the attachment hole through a gap between the stopper main body and the fastener when the cover member is expanded or contracted. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 24, wherein a seal member is disposed on a rear surface side of the flange portion, and wherein an end edge portion of the cover member is joined while being held between the flange portion and the seal member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 25, wherein the seal member is made of a foamed material and is made larger than an outside diameter of a joint portion where the cover member is joined to the flange portion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 24, wherein the insertion portion has a cylindrical portion which accommodates the proximal end portion of the stopper main body and which is inserted into the attachment hole, wherein the flange portion is formed at an opening portion of one end of the cylindrical portion, wherein an engagement claw is provided on a side wall of the cylindrical portion via a slit, so as to be engaged with the circumferential edge on the rear side of the attachment hole, and wherein a gap is defined between the stopper main body and the cylindrical portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The vehicle opening/closing member damper apparatus of claim 27, wherein the proximal end portion of the stopper main body is fixed to a bottom surface of the cylindrical portion of the fastener by a fixing device.