Importance

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Abstract

A rotary friction damper in a device for connecting a door to an adjacent structure such that the door pivots about an axis during opening and closing of the same and including a torsion spring operatively connected to the door and to the structure for movement about the pivot axis to store energy during opening of the door and to release energy to provide closing during closing of the door. The rotary friction damper is operatively associated with the torsion spring and has an axis of rotation disposed substantially parallel to the pivot axis for controlling the door closing speed. The rotary friction damper is adjustable and variable. A mechanism operatively associated with the damper varies the resistance of the damper to movement of the torsion spring to produce a controlled uniform closing speed of the door and for reducing the resistance of the damper to movement of the torsion spring when the door nears the closed position to allow the torsion spring to close the door in an unrestricted manner. The mechanism for varying the resistance of the damper is responsive to movement of the torsion spring so that maximum resistance of the damper to movement of the torsion spring occurs when maximum closing power is applied by the torsion spring when the door is fully open, and the resistance of the damper to movement of the torsion spring is reduced as the door closes.

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First Claim