IP Library Patent Application 11652090
Patent Application
App. No. 11/652,090

Opening and closing device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/652,090
Abstract

An opening and closing device includes springs to be held by a fixed body and a movable body which are slidable relative to each other. Each of the springs has a plurality of turns, and an inner turn is smaller in diameter than the outer turns. At least one of the outer turns is overlapped with the inner turn. The plurality of turns enables the springs to produce a predetermined pushing force. The opening and closing device can prevent an increase in its height by the height of the inner turn, thereby being compact and ensuring precise operation.

Claims (31)

1 . An opening and closing device comprising a planer fixed body, a planer movable body movable relative to the fixed body, and a spring,

wherein the spring includes a plurality of turns, a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm extending from both ends of the turns;

the first arm is attached to the movable body;

the second arm is attached to the fixed body;

a direction where the spring pushes the movable body is reversed when the movable body moves relative to the fixed body and

the turns include an inner turn having a smaller diameter than outer turns.

2 . The opening and closing device of claim 1 , wherein the turns includes:

a first turn leading to the first arm;

a second turn leading to the second arm; and

an inner turn between the first turn and the second turn;

the inner turn has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of at least one of the first turn and the second turn; and

the inner turn is overlapped with at least one of the first turn and the second turn in a height direction.

3 . An opening and closing device comprising a nearly planer fixed body, a nearly planer movable body movable relative to the fixed body, and a spring,

wherein the spring includes a plurality of turns, a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm extending from both ends of the turns;

the first arm is attached to the movable body;

the second arm is attached to the fixed body;

a direction where the spring pushes the movable body is reversed when the movable body moves relative to the fixed body and

the opening and closing device further comprising:

an isolation member for keeping at least one of the first arm and the second arm out of contact with one of the movable body and the fixed body.

4 . The opening and closing device of claim 3 , wherein the isolation member is a planer spacer, the spacer being at least one of between the first arm and the movable body and between the second arm and the fixed body.

5 . The opening and closing device of claim 3 , wherein the isolation member is a protective member attached to the turns, the protective member including:

a disk portion covering at least one surface of the turns; and

a cylindrical holding portion protruding from the disk portion, and

the holding portion is held by the turns.

6 . The opening and closing device of claim 3 , wherein the turns include an inner turn having a smaller diameter than outer turns.

7 . The opening and closing device of claim 3 , wherein the turns include:

a first turn leading to the first arm;

a second turn leading to the second arm; and

an inner turn between the first turn and the second turn;

the inner turn has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of one of the first turn and the second turn; and

the inner turn is overlapped with at least one of the first turn and the second turn in a height direction.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 24, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2007
From: MIYAMOTO, MAKOTO
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019281/0370 →