Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A hinge damper comprising: a housing formed of a cylindrical wall, a rotor rotatably within said cylindrical wall, a gap being formed between said cylindrical wall and said rotor, said rotor further including first complementary surfaces on an end of said rotor; viscous fluid within said gap; a clutch rotatably within said cylindrical wall and including second complementary surfaces on an end of said clutch; means for biasing said end of said rotor against said end of said clutch, wherein in a first direction of rotation of said clutch, said first complementary surfaces engage said second complementary surfaces thereby rotating said rotor in response to rotation of said clutch and wherein in a second direction of rotation of said clutch, said first complementary surfaces disengage from said second complementary surfaces whereby said clutch rotates substantially free of engagement with said rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A hinge damper comprising: a housing formed of a cylindrical wall, a rotor rotatably within said cylindrical wall, a gap being formed between said cylindrical wall and said rotor, said rotor further including first complementary surfaces on an end of said rotor; viscous fluid within said gap; a clutch rotatably within said cylindrical wall and including second complementary surfaces on an end of said clutch; means for biasing said end of said rotor against said end of said clutch, wherein in a first direction of rotation of said clutch, said first complementary surfaces engage said second complementary surfaces thereby rotating said rotor in response to rotation of said clutch and wherein in a second direction of rotation of said clutch, said first complementary surfaces disengage from said second complementary surfaces whereby said clutch rotates substantially free of engagement with said rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hinge damper of claim 1 further including an output shaft which is integral with and turns in unison with said clutch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hinge damper of claim 2 further including a spring for biasing said end of said rotor against said end of said clutch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hinge damper of claim 3 wherein said first complementary surfaces and said second complementary surfaces comprise ramped surfaces which terminate on one side thereof in radially extending walls, and wherein said radially extending walls of said first complementary surfaces engage radially extending walls of said second complementary surfaces in said first direction of rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The hinge damper of claim 4 wherein in said second direction of rotation, said radially extending walls of said ramped surfaces of said first complementary surfaces slide over said ramped surfaces of said second complementary surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hinge damper of claim 5 wherein said ramped surfaces of said first complementary surfaces and said second complementary surfaces rotationally alternate with longitudinally level surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hinge damper of claim 6 wherein uneven surfaces are formed on an interior of said cylindrical walls and on an exterior of said rotor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The hinge damper of claim 7 wherein said uneven surfaces are longitudinal grooves on said interior of said cylindrical walls and longitudinal passageways on said exterior of said rotor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The hinge damper of claim 8 wherein said spring is a wave spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The hinge damper of claim 9 wherein said output shaft passes through said wave spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The hinge damper of claim 10 wherein a cap is formed on an end of said housing, said output shaft passing through said cap, and said cap urging said wave spring against said clutch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The hinge damper of claim 11 wherein said viscous damping fluid is silicone.