Description HINGE DAMPER

Technical Field

[I] The present invention relates to a hinge damper. More particularly, the present invention relates to a damper which can be attached to a hinge of furniture equipped with a door to absorb strong impact even if the damper has a small size.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, a door is installed in furniture or a sink table to be opened or closed by a spring hinge. However, when the door is opened or closed, the door collides with a frame of the furniture to cause a great amount of noise. In particular, when children carelessly close the door, not only be a great amount of noise caused, but also an accident may occur or the furniture may be damaged.

[4] In order to solve the above problems, a damper is mounted on a frame of furniture to damp an impact when a door of the furniture is closed. Accordingly, noise may be reduced or the furniture may not be damaged.

[5] Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8, a cylindrical damper 1 of furniture is inserted into a hole formed at a position away from the installation position of a hinge or an additional holder 2 is mounted on the furniture to install the cylindrical damper 1.

[6] However, the conventional damper 1 protrudes to an exterior, so that the fine view of furniture may be spoiled. In addition, the holder 2 or the damper 1 may be damaged due to impact that may be directly exerted on a lateral side of the damper 1.

[7] In order to solve the above problem, applicant of the prevent invention has developed a hinge damper 3, which is attached to a hinge 5 mounted on furniture 11 to rotate a door 10 as shown in FIG. 9. The hinge damper 3 is filed in Korean Intellectual Property Office and registered as Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0402134.

[8]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[9] However, since the conventional hinge damper 3 requires an additional device attached onto the hinge 5 to increase the size of the hinge 5, the installation of the hinge damper 3 may be restricted, and a fine view of furniture may be spoiled.

[10]

Technical Solution

[I I] In order to solve the problems, the present invention is suggested for the following objects.

[12] (1) Providing a hinge damper capable of damping an impact even in a small size.

[13] (2) Providing a hinge damper that does not exert a great influence on the size of a hinge. [14] (3) Providing a hinge damper having a size corresponding to the size of a screw fixing a hinge. [15]

Advantageous Effects

[16] The hinge damper according to the present invention has the following effects.

[17] (1) The hinge damper can damp a strong impact even in a small size.

[18] (2) The hinge damper cannot exert any influence on the size of a hinge.

[19] (3) The hinge damper has a size corresponding to the size of a screw fixing the hinge, so that the hinge damper is not exposed to an exterior. [20]

Brief Description of the Drawings [21] FIG. 1 is an assembled view showing a hinge damper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [22] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a housing of a hinge damper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [23] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a piston of a hinge damper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [24] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a back-up ring of a hinge damper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [25] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a cushion ring of a hinge damper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [26] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an oil seal of a hinge damper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [27] FIG. 7 is a view showing the use of a hinge damper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[28] FIG. 8 is a view showing a conventional door damper; and

[29] FIG. 9 is a view showing a conventional hinge damper.

[30]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [31] In order to accomplish the objects, the present invention suggests a hinge damper including a housing which has a cylindrical shape with one open side, in which the housing is filled with oil, provided at an end thereof with an external step, and provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a protrusion band; a check valve which controls flow of the oil; a spring which is inserted into the housing to return the

check valve to an initial position thereof; a spring holder which is provided at one side of the spring to fix the spring; a piston which is provided at one side of the spring holder and having a fluid passage, a back-up ring which is interposed between the spring holder and the piston; a rod connected to the check valve, in which the rod has an end fixed to the piston and protrudes out of the housing; an oil seal which is formed at one side of the piston, and formed at a central portion thereof with a hole; a seal supporter which supports the oil seal; and a cover receiving a cushion ring supporting the seal supporter.

[32]

Mode for the Invention

[33] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.

[34] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a damper according to the present invention includes: a housing 100 which has a cylindrical shape with one open side, in which the housing 100 is filled with oil, provided at an end thereof with an external step 110, and provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a protrusion band 112; a check valve which controls flow of the oil; a spring 200 which is inserted into the housing 100 to return the check valve to an initial position thereof; a spring holder 210 which is provided at one side of the spring 200 to fix the spring 200; a piston 300 which is provided at one side of the spring holder 210 and having a fluid passage; a back-up ring 310 which is interposed between the spring holder 210 and the piston 300; a rod 500 connected to the check valve, in which the rod 500 has an end fixed to the piston 300 and protrudes out of the housing 100; an oil seal 400 which is formed at one side of the piston 300, and formed at a central portion thereof with a hole; a seal supporter 410 which supports the oil seal 400; and a cover 120 receiving a cushion ring 330 supporting the seal supporter 410.

[35] The housing 100 has an outer peripheral surface capable of being press-fitted into a damper insertion hole 600 of a doorframe 11 shown in FIG. 7. In order to prevent the housing 100 from being separating from the damper insertion hole 600 after being press-fitted into the damper insertion hole 600, the external step 110 and the protrusion band 112 are provided.

[36] The housing 100 is provided therein with an internal step 111 to fix the oil seal 400.

[37] Since the housing 100 must have a size capable of being inserted into the doorframe

11, the housing 100 must have a height in a range of 15 mm to 18mm.

[38] The rod 500, which has been retreated to the housing 100 when the door 10 is closed, is returned to its initial position by the spring 200 when the door 10 is open.

[39] The spring 200 is fixed by the spring holder 210. The spring holder 210 is provided

at the central portion thereof with a hole. The spring holder 210 includes a spring fastening part and a flat part. The spring fastening part has an outer peripheral surface inserted into the end of the spring 200. The flat part has a diameter greater than that of the spring fastening part, and makes contact with an inner wall of the housing 100.

[40] The piston 300 includes a lower disc plate 301, an upper disc plate 305, and a cross- type rib 307. The lower disc plate 301 has an outer peripheral surface sticking to the inner wall of the housing 100. The lower disc plate 301 is formed with a plurality of lower passage grooves 302. The upper disc plate 305 has a diameter smaller than that of the lower disc plate 301, and is formed with a plurality of upper passage grooves 306 at one side of the lower disc plate 301. The cross-type rib 307 is provided with a step 308 on the upper disc plate 305.

[41] Three or eight lower passage grooves 302 are preferable. The speed of returning the damper can be controlled by adjusting the number of the lower passage grooves 302.

[42] Since the number of the upper passage grooves 306 is smaller than the number of the lower passage grooves 302 by 1/2 times, the lower passage grooves 302 are closed by the back-up ring 310, and oil flows into the upper passage grooves 306 when an impact is exerted.

[43] The back-up ring 310 is provided at the central portion thereof with a hole and provided at an inner side surface thereof with a plurality of protruding ribs 311. The back-up ring 310 includes an elastic material.

[44] When the number of the protruding ribs 311 is increased, the damper can endure a more strong impact. Typically, eight protruding ribs 311 are preferable.

[45] The back-up ring 310 is provided between one side of the spring holder 210 and the lower disc plate 301 of the piston 300.

[46] If the door exerts an impact on the rod 500, the rod 500 instantaneously pushes the piston 300, and the back-up ring 310, which has stopped due to inertia, is expanded by internal oil to close the lower passage groove 302.

[47] The seal supporter 410 and the oil seal 400 are fixed by the internal step 111 of the housing 100 and the cover 120. The seal supporter 410 is provided at the central portion thereof with a hole, and inserted into one side of the oil seal 400.

[48] The oil seal 400 is formed at an outer peripheral surface of an end thereof with a tension part 401 having a diameter greater than an inner diameter of the housing 100. The oil seal 400 is formed at the central portion thereof with a rod insertion hole 403. The oil seal 400 includes an inclined sealing part 405 protruding while forming a space part 402.

[49] The oil seal 400 is inserted into the housing 100 by applying stress to the tension part

401 such that the oil seal 400 can stably adhere to the inner peripheral surface of the housing 100 even if the housing 100 is expanded due to an impact.

[50] The rod 500 is inserted into the rod insertion hole 403 such that oil is prevented from leaking by the sealing part 405. [51] The sealing part 405 is provided at an inner peripheral surface thereof with a first seal

405a and a second seal 405b. The first seal 405a is inclined and protruded. The second seal 405b has the same shape as that of the first seal 405b, and is spaced apart from the first seal 405a by a predetermined distance. [52] The first seal 405a can prevent external air from being introduced when the rod 500 is inserted. [53] The cushion ring 330 is inserted into the cover 120. Since the damper has a small size, an oil absorbing member such as a sponge may not be provided in a recess space of the damper. Thus, the cushion ring 330 is tapered such that the cushion ring 330 can be elastically fitted in the recess space.