Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6536860
-
Patent Number
6,536,860
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, November 28, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 25, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 312 3191
- 312 3192
- 312 3194
- 312 245
- 312 322
- 312 323
- 312 325
- 312 326
- 312 327
- 312 328
- 312 329
- 312 315
- 049 40
- 049 203
- 049 204
- 049 205
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A storage bin includes a door pivoted to the storage bin for movement between open and closed positions, and a biasing device operably connected to the storage bin and the door for biasing the door as the door nears the open and closed positions. The biasing device includes a spring and a T-shaped shifting anchor connected to the spring that translates and changes a torque arm of a linear spring as the door is moved so that the spring creates a force sufficient to close the door during a last portion of door closure movement and so that the spring creates a force sufficient to open the door during a last portion of door opening movement.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to door mechanisms on storage units, such as for partition-mounted binder bins. However, it should be understood that a scope of the present invention is not limited to only partition-mounted storage units.
It is desirable to counterbalance a weight of doors on binder bins so that the doors do not swing closed with a hard action. Further, it is desirable to bias a door into a fully open or fully closed position for aesthetic and ergonomic reasons and also so that the door does not accidentally fall from the open position toward the closed position. However, such biasing devices are generally not available or are undesirably complex. One reason is because an operative weight of the door changes as the door moves between its opened and closed positions, such that it is difficult for a single mechanism to satisfy the force requirements near the open position and at the same time near the closed position. For example, in a door pivoted to a sidewall of a binder bin, the operative weight of the door is at its maximum when the door is near the closed position, because the center of gravity of the door is farthest forward of the pivot point. Contrastingly, when the door is near its opened position, the operative weight is relatively low because the center of gravity of the door is closest to the pivot point.
Accordingly, an apparatus is desired having the aforementioned advantages and that solves the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes a storage bin and a door pivoted to the storage bin for movement between open and closed positions. A biasing device is operably connected to the storage bin and to the door for biasing the door toward both the open position and closed positions. The biasing device includes a shifting anchor member that translates toward a first position where the biasing device creates a first biasing force sufficient to close the door during a last portion of door closure movement and that translates toward a second position where the biasing device creates a second biasing force sufficient to open the door during a last portion of door opening movement.
In another aspect of the present invention, a closable storage apparatus includes a storage bin with an opening therein. The apparatus also includes a door pivoted to the storage bin for movement between open and closed positions along a path that includes a near-to-open path segment near the open position, a near-to-closed path segment near the closed position, and an intermediate path segment between the near-to-open and near-to-closed path segments. A moment-arm-shift biasing device is operably coupled to the storage bin that is configured to translatingly shift to a first position when the door is in the near-to-open path segment, and is configured to translatingly shift to a second position when the door is in the near-to-closed path segment, and is configured not to shift when the door is in the intermediate path segment.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of biasing a cover member of a furniture unit includes steps of attaching a biasing element to the cover member at a first attachment point, and attaching the biasing element to an anchorage member at a second attachment point, the anchorage member being operably coupled to the furniture unit. The method still further includes translatingly moving one of the first and second attachment points from a first position to a second position as the closure member is moved from an open position to a closed position and translatingly moving the one attachment point from the second position to the first position as the closure member is moved from the closed position to the open position. The biasing element biases the closure member with a first biasing force when the one attachment point is in the second position to positively close the cover member. The biasing element biases the closure member with a second biasing force when the one attachment point is in the first position to positively open the cover member.
These and other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill upon reading the following description and claims together with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a binder bin embodying the present invention, including a door in a closed position; and
FIG. 2
is a perspective view similar to
FIG. 1
, but with the door in an open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT
A storage bin
10
(
FIG. 1
) includes a door
11
(sometimes called a “cover member” herein) having a pair of door-supporting arms
12
pivoted to a sidewall
13
of the storage bin for movement between an open position (
FIG. 1
) and a closed position (
FIG. 2
) for closing a front opening of the bin
10
. A biasing device
14
is operably connected to at least one of the door-supporting arms
12
for biasing the door
11
as the door
11
nears its open and closed positions. The biasing device
14
includes a spring
15
and a T-shaped shifting anchor
16
connected to the spring
15
that translates and changes a torque arm of a linear spring
15
as the door
11
is moved so that the spring
15
, in combination with a weight of the door
11
, creates a force sufficient to safely close the door
11
during a last portion of door closure movement and so that the spring
15
creates a force sufficient to safely open the door
11
during a last portion of door opening movement.
The illustrated door-supporting arm
12
includes a first end
17
pivoted at a main pivot
18
to the sidewall
13
, and includes a second end fixed to a bottom portion of the door
11
. It is contemplated that different door-supporting arrangements can be made and still be used with the present inventive concepts.
A dampening device, such as the illustrated silicone pot dampener
20
, is attached to the sidewall
13
. The dampener
20
includes a rack
21
pivoted to the door-supporting arm
12
, and a pot
22
of viscous material. A pinion gear
23
engages the rack
21
and causes a disk to rotate within the pot
22
as the door-supporting arm
12
moves while opening and closing the door
11
. It is contemplated that a variety of different dampening devices can be used and still be within a scope of the present inventive concepts.
The spring
15
is extends parallel the door-supporting arm
12
, and includes a first end
25
hooked into a hole
26
to create a pivotable connection. The anchor
16
of the biasing device
14
is T-shaped, and includes a stem
27
that extends parallel the spring
15
, with a second end
28
of the spring being hooked into a hole
29
in an end of the stem
27
. A pair of wheel bearings
30
and
31
engage arms
32
and
32
A of the T-shaped anchor
16
, and support the anchor
16
for linear movement on the bin sidewall
13
. It is noted that a variety of different bearings and engaging members can be used to linearly support a translatable anchor. For example, slots and sliding tabs can be used, linear bearings and telescoping rods can be used, grooves and followers can be used, guide rods and riding pads can be used. The anchor
16
is movable between a first position (
FIG. 1
) where the stem
27
abuts the bottom wheel bearing
30
, and a second position (
FIG. 2
) where the stem
27
abuts the top wheel bearing
31
.
In the first position (FIG.
1
), the position of the hole
29
is relatively close to the main pivot
18
. This position is calculated to create a predetermined small torque arm
35
that operates through the anchor
16
, so that the linear force generated by the spring
15
causes a torsional force that, in combination with a weight of the door
11
and door-supporting arm
12
, causes the door
11
to close with a positive but safe action when the door
11
is within the lower half of its path of movement.
In the second position (FIG.
2
), the position of the hole
29
is spaced somewhat from the main pivot
18
. This position is calculated to create a predetermined larger torque arm
36
that operates through the anchor
16
, so that the linear force generated by the spring
15
causes a torsional force that, despite a weight of the door
11
and door-supporting arm
12
, causes the door
11
to open with a positive but safe action when the door
11
is within the upper half of its path of movement.
Notably, when the door
11
is in the lowered position shown in
FIG. 1
, the spring
15
moves the anchor
16
to the lowered second position shown in FIG.
1
. As the door
11
is moved upwardly through the initial half of door movement, the anchor
16
does not shift. As the door
11
is further moved upwardly into the upper portion of its path of movement, the anchor
16
begins to receive an increasing lateral force that tends to bias the anchor
16
toward its “up” position, but it still does not shift. Depending on the frictional and other operating characteristics of the biasing device
14
, the anchor
16
has at least some hysteresis effect where the anchor
16
does not shift until past a mid-point of movement of the door movement. Further, the anchor
16
can have grease or other material that will slow its movement to prevent accelerated harsh movement of the anchor
16
as it moves from one position to another. In the upper portion of the door movement, the anchor
16
shifts (or has shifted) to its “up” position (FIG.
2
), where the torsional force is calculated to cause the door
11
to move positively but safely to an opened position.
When the door
11
is closed, the above effects are reversed. Without repeating all details, the anchor
16
remains in an “up” position (
FIG. 2
) during a first half of the downward movement of the door
11
. At some time during the middle or intermediate position of the door
11
, the anchor
16
shifts to its lower position. During the lower third of door movement, the anchor
16
along with a weight of the door
11
biases the door
11
to a closed position. The speed and timing of the shifting of the anchor
16
depends on the frictional characteristics of the biasing device
14
, and upon the speed at which the door
11
is opened or closed.
The method includes steps of attaching the biasing element
15
to the cover member
11
at a first attachment point, attaching the biasing element
15
to an anchorage member
16
at a second attachment point, with the anchorage member
16
being operably translatably coupled to the furniture unit
10
. The method further includes linearly translatingly moving the anchorage member
16
from a first position to a second position as the cover member
11
is moved from an open position to a closed position and translatingly moving the one attachment point from the second position to the first position as the cover member
11
is moved from the closed position to the open position. The biasing element
15
biases the cover member
11
with a first biasing force when the one attachment point is in the second position to positively but safely close the cover member
11
, and the biasing element
15
biases the cover member
11
with a second biasing force when the one attachment point is in the first position to positively but safely open the cover member
11
.
It is noted that the present door arrangement will open or close when released, regardless of the door position. In other words, there is no “dead” zone for the door, when the bearings
30
and
31
are low friction.
In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that the transition point or “switch-over” point can be changed by design to occur anywhere along the door opening path or door closing path to meet specific user desires or requirements. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims, by their language, expressly state otherwise.
Claims
- 1. An apparatus comprising:a storage bin; a door pivoted to the storage bin for movement between open and closed positions; and a biasing device operably connected to the storage bin and to the door for biasing the door toward the open position and also for biasing the door toward the closed position, the biasing device including a shifting anchor member that translates toward a first position where the biasing device creates a first biasing force sufficient to close the door during a last portion of door closure movement and that translates toward a second position where the biasing device creates a second biasing force sufficient to open the door during a last portion of door opening movement, the anchor member being independently movable and being configured to have a hysteresis effect where the anchor member does not shift until the door is pivoted past a midpoint of movement of the door when opening or closing the door.
- 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the biasing device is configured to automatically bias the anchor member toward the first position and toward the second position depending upon a position of the door.
- 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the biasing device is configured to shift during a middle portion of a path of movement of the door.
- 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein the biasing device includes a linearly extensible spring.
- 5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein the spring includes a coiled wire spring that is linearly stretchable.
- 6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein the anchor member is T-shaped.
- 7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the anchor member includes a body that operably engages mating structure on the storage bin for linear sliding translational movement.
- 8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the door has door-supporting arms defining a main pivot, and wherein the biasing device includes a linearly extensible spring attached to one of the door-supporting arms, and further wherein the anchor member is slidably coupled to the storage bin and to the spring, with the spring being offset from the main pivot to create a changing torque arm as the anchor member moves.
- 9. An apparatus comprising:a storage bin; a door pivoted to the storage bin for movement between open and closed positions; and a biasing device operably connected to the storage bin and to the door for biasing the door toward the open position and also for biasing the door toward the closed position, the biasing device including a shifting anchor member that translates toward a first position where the biasing device creates a first biasing force sufficient to close the door during a last portion of door closure movement and that translates toward a second position where the biasing device creates a second biasing force sufficient to open the door during a last portion of door opening movement, wherein the anchor member includes a body that operably engages mating structure on the storage bin for linear sliding translational movement, and wherein the mating structure on the storage bin includes a pair of spaced-apart bearing members, and the anchor member is T-shaped and includes a stem that shifts between the bearing members in a manner causing the anchor member to change a length of a torque arm defined by the biasing device relative to a pivot of the door.
- 10. An apparatus comprising:a storage bin; a door pivoted to the storage bin for movement between open and closed positions; and a biasing device operably connected to the storage bin and to the door for biasing the door toward the open position and also for biasing the door toward the closed position, the biasing device including a shifting anchor member that translates toward a first position where the biasing device creates a first biasing force sufficient to close the door during a last portion of door closure movement and that translates toward a second position where the biasing device creates a second biasing force sufficient to open the door during a last portion of door opening movement, wherein the door has door-supporting arms defining a main pivot, and wherein the biasing device includes a linearly extensible spring attached to one of the door-supporting arms, and further wherein the anchor member is slidably coupled to the storage bin and to the spring, with the spring being offset from the main pivot to create a changing torque arm as the anchor member moves, and including a dampener attached to one of the door-supporting arms.
- 11. A closable storage apparatus comprising:a storage bin with an opening therein; a door pivoted to the storage bin for movement between open and closed positions along a path that includes a near-to-open path segment near the open position, a near-to-closed path segment near the closed position, and an intermediate path segment between the near-to-open and near-to-closed path segments; and a moment-arm-shift biasing device with a shifting anchor operably coupled to the storage bin that is configured to translatingly shift, while the door is in an intermediate position between the open and closed positions, to a first position when the door approaches the near-to-open path segment, and that is configured to translatingly shift, while the door is in an intermediate position between the open and closed positions, to a second position when the door approaches the near-to-closed path segment, and that is configured not to shift when the door is in the intermediate path segment, the shifting of the anchor being relatively sudden and having the effect of changing an effective length of a torque arm defined by the biasing device.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
430783 |
Aug 1967 |
CH |
1121697 |
Aug 1956 |
FR |