Patent US3917245A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3917245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Upstroke -cushioning expansible strut
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-06-03
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-06-03
Abstract
Abstract This upstroke-cushioning expansible strut consists of a springpressed hollow upper inner arm having on its lower end a piston head reciprocable within a roughly cylindrical hollow lower outer arm, the formed being pivoted to an automobile rear hatch while the latter is pivoted to the lower part of the automobile body. Mounted between the lower arm and the upper arm is an elongated hollow spool-shaped internal seal which also guides the upper arm as it is propelled upward by the lifting force applied by the operator, assisted by internal springs. The air is allowed to escape gradually through bleed orifices until the upper arm nears its fully extended position, whereupon the release of the air is halted by the covering up of the orifices by the internal seal when said orifices reach said seal, thereby cushioning the impact which would otherwise occur between the piston head on the lower end of the upper inner arm and the upper end of the lower outer arm. The internal seal also acts as a resilient stop.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner H Fengler
- 👤 Richard R Fengler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:57
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F9/00; F16F9/02; F16F9/0209; F16F9/0227; F16F9/0236; F16F9/32; F16F9/58; F16F9/585
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut adapted bo be pivotally connected between an upwardly-swingable closure structure and an enclosed structure to which the closure structure is hingedly attached, said expansible strut comprising an elongated tubular outer arm having a closed end and an open end and an outer spring abutment disposed remote from said open end and having a pivotal connector disposed adjacent said closed end and adapted to be pivotally connected to one of said structures, an elongated tubular inner arm disposed in telescoping relationship to said outer arm for relative reciprocation therebetween and having a closed end and an inner spring abutment disposed remote from the closed end of said outer arm and also having a pivotal connector disposed adjacent said closed end of said inner arm and adapted to be pivotally connected to the other of said structures, elongated counterbalancing spring means disposed between and in substantially continuous engagement with said outer and inner spring abutments and normally urging said arms away from one another and adapted to counterbalance the weight of the closure structure, an outer sealing element disposed between the open end of said outer arm and said inner arm in sealing engagement with said inner arm during relative sliding motion therebetween, said outer arm having a longitudinal bore and a pneumatic cushioning chamber with a normally-open air outlet therefrom and said inner arm having piston means thereon disposed in relative sliding engagement with said bore and movable toward and away from said cushioning chamber, means responsive to a predetermined relative travel of said arms away from one another for closing said outlet and for consequently causing said piston means to compress the thusentrapped air in said cushioning chamber to cushioningly halt the remaining relative travel of said arms away from one another subsequent to said closing of said outlet, and unidirectional-flow valve means responsive to relative motion of said arms away from one another to prevent air flow between opposite sides of said piston means and responsive to relative motion of said arms toward one another to permit such air flow between opposite sides of said piston means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut adapted bo be pivotally connected between an upwardly-swingable closure structure and an enclosed structure to which the closure structure is hingedly attached, said expansible strut comprising an elongated tubular outer arm having a closed end and an open end and an outer spring abutment disposed remote from said open end and having a pivotal connector disposed adjacent said closed end and adapted to be pivotally connected to one of said structures, an elongated tubular inner arm disposed in telescoping relationship to said outer arm for relative reciprocation therebetween and having a closed end and an inner spring abutment disposed remote from the closed end of said outer arm and also having a pivotal connector disposed adjacent said closed end of said inner arm and adapted to be pivotally connected to the other of said structures, elongated counterbalancing spring means disposed between and in substantially continuous engagement with said outer and inner spring abutments and normally urging said arms away from one another and adapted to counterbalance the weight of the closure structure, an outer sealing element disposed between the open end of said outer arm and said inner arm in sealing engagement with said inner arm during relative sliding motion therebetween, said outer arm having a longitudinal bore and a pneumatic cushioning chamber with a normally-open air outlet therefrom and said inner arm having piston means thereon disposed in relative sliding engagement with said bore and movable toward and away from said cushioning chamber, means responsive to a predetermined relative travel of said arms away from one another for closing said outlet and for consequently causing said piston means to compress the thusentrapped air in said cushioning chamber to cushioningly halt the remaining relative travel of said arms away from one another subsequent to said closing of said outlet, and unidirectional-flow valve means responsive to relative motion of said arms away from one another to prevent air flow between opposite sides of said piston means and responsive to relative motion of said arms toward one another to permit such air flow between opposite sides of said piston means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Anupstroke-cushioning expansible strut, according to claim 1, wherein said valve means is mounted in said piston means for travel therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut, according to claim 1, wherein said piston means includes a piston head mounted on said inner arm and having an air passageway therethrough and wherein said valve means is mounted in said piston head in unidirectional flow control of air through said passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut, according to claim 1, wherein said inner arm has a tapered mouth adjacent and extending through said piston means, and wherein said spring means is disposed within said inner arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut, according to claim 1, wherein a tubular inner sealing element of resilient material is disposed within said outer arm remote from said outer sealing element and in sealing guiding engagement with said inner arm during relative sliding motion between said arms, said inner sealing element in cooperation with said piston means defining said cushioning chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut, according to claim 5, wherein said air outlet is disposed in said tubular inner arm in spaced relationship with said piston means, and wherein said inner sealing element effects closing of said outlet in response to a predetermined travel of said piston means toward said inner sealing element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut, according to claim 5, wherein said tubular outer arm bore adjacent said inner sealing element includes an elongated constricted portion, and wherein said inner sealing element has a reduced-diameter intermediate portion matingly engaging said constricted portion and has axially-spaced enlarged heads at opposite ends of said reduced-diameter portion disposed in mating engagement with said bore at opposite ends of said constricted portion, and also has a central bore therethrough relatively slidably receiving and sealinglyengaging said tubular inner arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut, according to claim 7, wherein one of said heads has circumferentially-spaced longitudinally and transversely-extending slots therein defining longitudinally and transversely extending portions between said slots.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
An upstroke-cushioning expansible strut, according to claim 1, wherein said tubular outer arm bore has an approximately spool-shaped constricted internal chamber therein and wherein said sealing element is also approximately spool-shaped and disposed in sealing mating engagement with said spool-shaped chamber and has a central bore therethrough relatively slidably receiving and engaging said inner tubular arm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |