Damper for a covering for an architectural opening
AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.
InventorJoseph M. DOWNEY
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A damper providing varying damping force is provided. The damper may include a housing and a rotary member rotatably received the housing. The rotary member may rotate within the housing between defined end points of travel to define an angular range of travel of the rotary member. An outermost surface of the rotary member may be spaced inwardly from an inner surface of the housing defined between the end points of travel to define a gap between the outermost surface of the rotary member and the inner surface of the housing throughout the angular range of travel. The gap may vary in dimension depending on a rotational position of the rotary member to provide varying damping rates within the angular range of travel of the rotary member.
Claims23
A damper comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a rotary member rotatably received in said housing, wherein:
- said rotary member rotates within said housing between defined end points of travel to define an angular range of travel of said rotary member;
- an outermost surface of said rotary member is spaced inwardly from an inner surface of said housing defined between said end points of travel to define a gap between said outermost surface of said rotary member and said inner surface of said housing throughout said angular range of travel;
- and
- said gap varies in dimension depending on a rotational position of said rotary member.
A shutter panel for an architectural opening, comprising:
- a frame;
- a louver rotatably coupled to said frame by at least one louver pin;
- and
- a damper operably associated with said louver and configured to variably resist rotation of said louver, said damper comprising:
- a housing defining a fluid-filled cavity;
- and
- a rotary member rotatably received at least partially in said cavity and rotatable between defined end points of travel, said rotary member including an outermost surface spaced inwardly from an inner surface of said housing defined between said end points of travel to define a gap therebetween for an entire range of travel of said rotary member, said gap varying in dimension depending on a rotational position of said rotary member, wherein fluid is disposed between said outermost surface of said rotary member and said inner surface of said housing.
A method of damping rotational movement, the method comprising:
- positioning a rotary member within a fluid-filled housing having an inner surface such that an outermost surface of the rotary member is spaced inwardly from the inner surface of the housing to define a gap therebetween for an entire range of travel of the rotary member, the gap varying in dimension depending on a rotational position of the rotary member;
- and
- providing a stop in the housing such that the stop prevents full circular movement of the rotary member within the housing, the stop projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the housing.
A method of damping rotational movement, the method comprising:
- rotating a rotary member within a fluid-filled housing in a first direction between end points of travel defining an angular range of travel of the rotary member;
- and
- flowing fluid in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction and through a gap defined between an outermost surface of the rotary member and an inner surface of the housing, the fluid flowing through the gap throughout the angular range of travel, the gap varying in dimension depending on a rotational position of the rotary member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.