Bi-directional damper for shower door

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is a bidirectional damper for a shower door, comprising a mounting frame, a tension spring, a damping cylinder, a first coupling member, a second coupling member and two clamping members. The cylinder body of the damping cylinder is a dual-cavity cylinder body; the two cylinder cavities of the dual-cavity cylinder body are arranged in parallel; the axes of the two cylinder cavities are parallel to each other, and the directions of cavity openings are opposite; the two cylinder cavities respectively correspond to a first piston rod and a second piston rod; the first piston rod and the second piston rod are parallel to each other; or the damping cylinder is formed by two separate parallel cylinder bodies arranged side by side with heads being adjacent to tails; the two cylinder bodies respectively correspond to the first piston rod and the second piston rod; the first piston rod and the second piston rod are parallel to each other. Furthermore, a clamping opening is arranged at a lower part of each clamping member, the clamping opening extends into the lower cavity, the lower cavity accommodates a single tension spring, and two ends of the tension spring are respectively connected with the clamping openings of the two clamping members to stretch the tension spring. The disclosed invention overcomes some problems of the prior art where bidirectional dampers are in series taking up excessive space.

Description

Two-way damper for shower doors Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of bathroom appliances, in particular to an automatic buffering door opening and closing damper installed on a shower door with a small width. Background Art

[0002] In existing sliding shower doors, dampers are typically installed on the shower door track to reduce the impact and noise between the movable door panel and the door frame. Furthermore, to effectively cushion the movable door panel in both directions, the existing technology installs two dampers on the shower door track, one for each direction. Because the installation of the dampers requires a certain amount of space, using two dampers necessitates a larger track to accommodate them, which increases the track's structural dimensions and the cost of the shower door. Furthermore, existing bidirectional dampers have a large length because the damping cylinders are connected in series axially. This makes them unsuitable for installation on shower doors with narrow widths, thus compromising the shower door's performance. Technical issues

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a bidirectional damper suitable for being installed on a shower door with a small width. Technical Solutions

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a bidirectional damper for a shower door, comprising a mounting frame, a tension spring, a damping cylinder, a first connecting member, a second connecting member and two engaging members;

[0005] The mounting frame includes a first frame plate and a second frame plate with main surfaces facing each other, the first frame plate and the second frame plate being connected by a connecting plate and two fixing blocks, the first frame plate, the second frame plate and the connecting plate being elongated plates extending along the length direction of the mounting frame, the first frame plate and the second frame plate being spaced apart and parallel to each other along the width direction of the mounting frame, the two fixing blocks being located at both ends of the length direction of the mounting frame, the connecting plate including a substantially horizontal main section and two extending sections, the two extending sections being connected to both ends of the main section along its length direction;

[0006] The first frame plate, the second frame plate and the two fixing blocks form a mounting cavity, the connecting plate divides the mounting cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity, the upper cavity is located above the connecting plate, the lower cavity is located below the connecting plate, and the cylinder body of the damping cylinder is fixed in the upper cavity;

[0007] The connecting plate is provided with two guide grooves penetrating the two extension sections, the two guide grooves extending along the length direction of the mounting frame on the extension section, the two engaging members corresponding to the two guide grooves respectively, and the engaging members are slidably mounted in the corresponding guide grooves;

[0008] The outer ends of the two extension sections are bent downward to form a vertical positioning plate. The guide groove extends from the center of the vertical positioning plate to the main section. A first baffle and a second baffle are respectively provided at both ends of the main section. The damping cylinder is placed in the space defined by the first baffle and the second baffle, and is located in the middle of the upper cavity.

[0009] The cylinder body of the damping cylinder is a double-chamber cylinder body, in which the two cylinder cavities of the double-chamber cylinder body are arranged side by side, the axes of the two cylinder cavities are parallel to each other, and the cylinder ports are in opposite directions. The two cylinder cavities correspond to the first piston rod and the second piston rod respectively, and the first piston rod and the second piston rod are parallel to each other; or, the damping cylinder is composed of two separate parallel cylinder bodies arranged end to end adjacent to each other, and the two cylinder bodies correspond to the first piston rod and the second piston rod respectively, and the first piston rod and the second piston rod are parallel to each other.

[0010] A preferred solution is that the first connecting part has a cylindrical first enclosing portion, a first blind hole is provided in the center of one end of the first enclosing portion, the first blind hole covers the head of the first piston rod of the damping cylinder, and a cylindrical first hinged portion is provided at the other end of the first enclosing portion, the first hinged portion and the axis of the first enclosing portion are located in the same plane and are perpendicular to each other, and the first hinged portion is hinged to the first of the two clamping parts.

[0011] A preferred solution is that the second connecting part has a cylindrical second enclosing portion, a second blind hole is provided in the center of one end of the second enclosing portion, the second blind hole covers the head of the second piston rod of the damping cylinder, and a cylindrical second hinged portion is provided at the other end of the second enclosing portion. The axes of the second hinged portion and the second enclosing portion are vertically staggered in space but are not in the same plane. The second enclosing portion and the second hinged portion are connected by a turning connection portion, and the second hinged portion is hinged to the second engaging member of the two engaging members.

[0012] A preferred solution is that the locking member has a sheet-shaped locking member body, which is placed in the guide groove of the connecting plate; the upper part of the locking member body is provided with a first locking tooth and a second locking tooth, and a bayonet is formed between the first locking tooth and the second locking tooth, which extends to the outside of the mounting bracket; an inclined guide surface is provided on the first locking tooth; the lower part of the locking member body is provided with a first guide member and a second guide member, the first guide member is located above the guide groove, and the second guide member is located below the guide groove, thereby limiting the reciprocating sliding of the locking member along the track formed on the connecting plate; the lower part of the locking member is provided with a clamping opening, which extends into the lower cavity, and the lower cavity accommodates the tension spring, and the two ends of the tension spring are respectively connected to the clamping openings of the two locking members and are stretched.

[0013] A further solution is that the second latching tooth is formed by bending a strip-shaped body, a tail hook is provided at the tail of the strip-shaped body, a notch is opened at the bottom body of the second latching tooth, a limit platform is provided at the outer opening of the notch, the tail of the second latching tooth is bent and extends into the notch, and the limit platform restricts the tail hook to move only inside the notch. Beneficial effects

[0014] The bidirectional damper of the present invention can provide buffering in both positive and negative directions. In a shower door assembly, the bidirectional damper of the present invention cooperates with the limit piece on the mounting base, so that the opening and closing process of a small-sized movable door panel can be effectively buffered, which is conducive to the simple structure of the shower door assembly, wherein the mounting base can be a door frame and a guide rail, etc.

[0015] In the bidirectional damper of the present invention, the damping cylinder, tension spring, connecting parts and locking parts are all hidden between the first frame plate and the second frame plate, which is conducive to the simplicity of the external structure of the bidirectional damper; in addition, a connecting plate is used to separate the tension spring and the damping cylinder to avoid mutual influence between the tension spring and the damping cylinder, which is conducive to improving the reliability of the bidirectional damper.

[0016] In addition, since the guide grooves are in the same plane, the setting of the first guide member and the second guide member is conducive to the stable movement of the engaging member along the corresponding guide groove, and the snap-in mouth of the engaging member is in the same plane, and the left and right installation is not restricted, further improving the reliability of the two-way damper.

[0017] Since the present invention provides an inclined guiding surface on the first latching tooth, when the engaging member reaches the limiting member during the process of opening and closing the movable door panel, even if the first latching tooth interferes with the limiting member, the limiting member can force the first latching tooth to move or deform toward the side of the tension spring under the guidance of the inclined guiding surface, thereby allowing the first latching tooth to pass through the limiting member smoothly, which is conducive to the continuous normal operation of the two-way damper.

[0018] In the present invention, only one tension spring can be provided, which is beneficial to reducing the number of parts of the bidirectional damper, reducing the production difficulty of the bidirectional damper, and contributing to the simplicity of the structure of the bidirectional damper and improving the economy.

[0019] The second latching tooth of the present invention is configured as a bending structure. Thus, even if the engaging member is located in the main section when reaching the limiting member, the limiting member can force the first bending section to bend and deform toward the side of the tension spring by squeezing and deforming the second latching tooth, and then make the second latching tooth pass through the limiting member, thereby ensuring that the limiting member can smoothly reach the bayonet of the engaging member, and ensuring that the engaging member has smoothly returned to the extension section when disengaged from the limiting member, which is conducive to the long-term normal operation of the two-way damper.

[0020] Under the restriction of the limiting structure, in addition to the limited deformation and recovery of the first bending section, the limiting structure limits the deformation of the second bending section in the sliding direction, and limits the deformation range of the first bending section by limiting the third bending section from leaving the limiting cavity, thereby ensuring the stability of the shape of the second tooth and the controllable deformation of the second tooth.

[0021] The connecting plate limits the shape of the engaging member in the guide groove by abutting against the first guide member and the second guide member, thereby preventing the engaging member from flipping over, which is conducive to ensuring the stable state of the engaging member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG1 is an exploded schematic diagram of an embodiment of a bidirectional damper of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the bidirectional damper of the present invention.

[0024] 3a to 3c are schematic diagrams of the outer frame of the bidirectional damper of the present invention.

[0025] 4a to 4c are schematic diagrams of the engaging parts of the bidirectional damper of the present invention.

[0026] 5a and 5b are schematic diagrams of a first connecting member of a bidirectional damper according to the present invention.

[0027] 6a and 6b are schematic diagrams of a second connecting member of the bidirectional damper of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the engaging member of the bidirectional damper of the present invention moving to various positions.

[0029] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] As shown in Figure 1 , an embodiment of a bidirectional damper according to the present invention includes a mounting bracket 10, a damping cylinder 20, a first connecting member 30, a second connecting member 40, two engaging members 50, and a tension spring 60. When the bidirectional damper is installed on a shower door, the two engaging members 50 correspond to two stoppers provided on the door frame (not shown), with each stopper located along the motion path of the corresponding engaging member 50.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3a to 3c, the mounting frame 10 includes a first frame plate 101 and a second frame plate 102 with opposing main surfaces. The first frame plate 101 and the second frame plate 102 are connected by a connecting plate 104 and two fixing blocks 103. The first frame plate 101, the second frame plate 102, and the connecting plate 104 are all elongated plates extending along the length of the mounting frame 10. The first frame plate 101 and the second frame plate 102 are spaced apart and parallel to each other along the width of the mounting frame 10. The two fixing blocks 103 are located at both ends of the length of the mounting frame 10. The connecting plate 104 includes a generally horizontal main section 1041 and two extension sections 1042. The two extension sections 1042 are connected to the main section 1041 at both ends along its length.

[0032] The first frame plate 101, the second frame plate 102 and the two fixing blocks 103 form an installation cavity, and the connecting plate 104 divides the installation cavity into an upper cavity 105 and a lower cavity 106. The upper cavity 105 is located above the connecting plate 104, and the lower cavity 106 is located below the connecting plate 104. The cylinder body of the damping cylinder 20 is fixed in the upper cavity 105. As shown in Figure 1, the cylinder body of the damping cylinder 20 is a double-cavity cylinder body. The two cylinder cavities of the double-cavity cylinder body are arranged side by side, that is, the axes of the two cylinder cavities are parallel to each other, and the cylinder ports are in opposite directions. The two cylinder cavities correspond to the first piston rod 201 and the second piston rod 202, respectively, and the first piston rod 201 and the second piston rod 202 are parallel to each other. As an alternative, as shown in Figure 2, the damping cylinder 20 is composed of two separate parallel cylinder bodies arranged side by side, end to end, and the two cylinder bodies correspond to the first piston rod and the second piston rod, respectively, and the first piston rod and the second piston rod are parallel to each other.

[0033] Optionally, the damping cylinder 20 is a gas-liquid damping cylinder, and its damping direction is the direction in which the first piston rod 201 and the second piston rod 202 retract into the cylinder cavity, and the retraction directions of the first piston rod 201 and the second piston rod 202 are opposite.

[0034] The fixing block 103 of the mounting frame 10 is provided with mounting holes 1012 and 1013 respectively along the height direction and width direction of the mounting frame 10 , so as to facilitate fixing the mounting frame 10 on the movable door panel by screws.

[0035] The connecting plate 104 is formed with two guide slots 108 extending through the two extensions 1042 of the connecting plate 104. The guide slots 108 extend along the length of the extensions 1042. Two engaging members 50 correspond to the two guide slots 108, and each engaging member 50 is slidably mounted within the corresponding guide slot 108. The outer ends of the two extensions 1042 of the connecting plate 104 are bent downward to form a vertical positioning plate 107 at the bottom. The guide slots 108 extend from the center of the vertical positioning plate 107 to the main body section 1041 of the connecting plate 104. A first baffle 109 and a second baffle 1010 are respectively provided at each end of the main body section 1041. The damping cylinder 20 is positioned within the space defined by the first and second baffles 109, 1010, in the center of the upper chamber 105.

[0036] As shown in Figures 4a to 4c, the engaging member 50 comprises a sheet-shaped engaging member body 501, which is positioned within the guide groove 108 of the connecting plate 104 of the mounting frame 10. A first latching tooth 507 and a second latching tooth 508 are provided on the upper portion of the engaging member body 501. A latching notch 506 is formed between the first and second latching teeth 507, 508, and extends out of the mounting frame 10. The first latching tooth 507 is provided with an inclined guiding surface. This ensures that when the engaging member reaches the stopper during the opening and closing of the movable door panel, even if the first latching tooth 507 interferes with the stopper, the stopper, guided by the inclined guiding surface, forces the first latching tooth 507 toward the tension spring 60 or deforms, allowing the first latching tooth 507 to pass smoothly through the stopper, thus facilitating the normal operation of the bidirectional damper. A first guide 502 and a second guide 503 are provided at the bottom of the engaging member body 501. The first guide 502 is located above the guide slot 108, while the second guide 503 is located below the guide slot 108, thereby limiting the reciprocating movement of the engaging member 50 along the track formed on the connecting plate 104. A clamping opening 504 is provided at the bottom of the engaging member 50. The clamping opening 504 extends into the lower cavity 106 of the mounting frame 10. This cavity 106 accommodates a tension spring 60, the ends of which are respectively connected to the clamping openings 504 of the two engaging members 50, thereby being stretched. When the engaging member 50 slides on the extension section 1042 of the connecting plate 104, the clamping opening 506 secures an external stopper, which is smaller in width than the clamping opening. When the engaging member 50 slides to the vertical positioning plate 107, the tension of the tension spring 60 in the lower chamber 106 causes the engaging member 50 to flip over, and the second latching tooth 508 sinks and is positioned on the vertical positioning plate 107, and the engaging member 50 loses its retaining function. When the external retaining member reverses and contacts the first latching tooth 507 on the engaging member 50 again, the engaging member 50 flips over again, and the second latching tooth 508 extends upward, and the external retaining member is fixed in the retaining hole 506.

[0037] The hinge 509 on one side of the main body plate 501 of the engaging member 50 is used to be hinged to the first hinge portion 303 of the first connecting member 30 mentioned below or to the second hinge portion 403 of the second connecting member 40 .

[0038] The second latching tooth 508 of the engaging member 50 is formed by bending a strip 5010. A tail hook 5011 is provided at the tail end of the strip 5010. A notch 5012 is formed at the bottom of the main body of the second latching tooth 508. A stopper 5013 is provided at the outer edge of the notch 5012. The tail end of the second latching tooth 508 bends and extends into the notch 5012 of the main body. The stopper 5013 at the notch 5012 restricts the tail hook 5011 of the strip 5010 to movement within the notch 5012. The second latching tooth 508 is elastically deflectable. When the engaging member 50 is disengaged and in a horizontal position on the mounting frame 10, an external stopper can forcibly enter the notch 506 to restore its function.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1 , clamps 601 are provided at both ends of the tension spring 60 for connecting with the clamping openings 504 of the engaging member 50 .

[0040] As shown in Figures 5a and 5b, the first connecting member 30 has a cylindrical first enclosing portion 301, and a first blind hole 302 is provided in the center of one end of the first enclosing portion 301. The first blind hole 302 covers the head of the first piston rod 201 of the damping cylinder 20. The other end of the first enclosing portion 301 is provided with a cylindrical first hinged portion 303. The axis of the first hinged portion 303 and the first enclosing portion 301 are located in the same plane and are perpendicular to each other. The first hinged portion 303 is hinged to the hinge 509 of the first engaging member 50.

[0041] As shown in Figures 6a and 6b, the second connecting member 40 has a cylindrical second enclosing portion 401, and a second blind hole 402 is provided in the center of one end of the second enclosing portion 401. The second blind hole 402 covers the head of the second piston rod 202 of the damping cylinder 20, and a cylindrical second hinged portion 403 is provided at the other end of the second enclosing portion 401. The axes of the second hinged portion 403 and the second enclosing portion 401 are vertically staggered in space but are not in the same plane. The second enclosing portion 401 and the second hinged portion 403 are connected by a turning connection portion 404, and the second hinged portion 403 is hinged to the hinge 509 of the second engaging member 50.

[0042] As shown in Figure 7, the operating principle of the present invention is as follows: a bidirectional damper of the present invention is installed on the movable glass of a shower door. A stopper is installed at each of the door opening and door closing ends of the track. The movable door and damper slide together. When sliding toward the door closing end, the stopper at the door closing end contacts the latch at the door closing end. The latch flips, and the second latch extends upward. The bayonet formed by the first and second latches engages the stopper. The stretched spring in the lower chamber of the mounting frame retracts, pulling the damper and the movable door to continue moving. Simultaneously, the damping cylinder slowly closes the door. When the door is opened in the opposite direction, the bayonet engages the stopper. As the door moves toward the opening direction, the latch moves toward the end of the damper, further stretching the spring. When the latch moves to the vertical positioning plate of the guide groove, the tension of the lower chamber spring causes the latch to flip, and the second latch sinks and locates on the vertical positioning plate, causing the latch to lose its limiting function. As the movable door continues to move, the stopper at the door opening end contacts the engaging member at the door opening end, causing the engaging member to flip upward and the second latching tooth to extend upward. The bayonet formed by the first and second latching teeth engages the stopper, and the stretched spring in the lower chamber of the mounting bracket retracts, pulling the damper and the movable door to continue moving. Under the action of the damping cylinder, the door slowly opens to its maximum position. This reciprocating process effectively reduces the impact and noise generated when the door is opened and closed.

[0043] Of course, the above embodiments are merely preferred implementations of the present invention. In actual applications, the present invention may be further modified as long as the basic purpose of the present invention can be achieved. Industrial Applicability

[0044] The bidirectional damper for a shower door of the present invention can be manufactured and used industrially, and therefore has industrial applicability.

Claims

1. A two-way damper for a shower door, comprising a mounting bracket, a tension spring, a damping cylinder, a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and two engaging members; The mounting frame includes a first frame plate and a second frame plate with main surfaces facing each other, the first frame plate and the second frame plate being connected by a connecting plate and two fixing blocks, the first frame plate, the second frame plate and the connecting plate being elongated plates extending along the length direction of the mounting frame, the first frame plate and the second frame plate being spaced apart and parallel to each other along the width direction of the mounting frame, the two fixing blocks being located at both ends of the length direction of the mounting frame, the connecting plate including a substantially horizontal main section and two extending sections, the two extending sections being connected to both ends of the main section along its length direction; The first frame plate, the second frame plate and the two fixing blocks form a mounting cavity, the connecting plate divides the mounting cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity, the upper cavity is located above the connecting plate, the lower cavity is located below the connecting plate, and the cylinder body of the damping cylinder is fixed in the upper cavity; The connecting plate is provided with two guide grooves penetrating the two extension sections, the two guide grooves extending along the length direction of the mounting frame on the extension section, the two engaging members corresponding to the two guide grooves respectively, and the engaging members are slidably mounted in the corresponding guide grooves; The outer ends of the two extension sections are bent downward to form a vertical positioning plate. The guide groove extends from the center of the vertical positioning plate to the main section. A first baffle and a second baffle are respectively provided at both ends of the main section. The damping cylinder is placed in the space defined by the first baffle and the second baffle, and is located in the middle of the upper cavity. Its characteristics are: The cylinder body of the damping cylinder is a double-chamber cylinder body, in which the two cylinder cavities of the double-chamber cylinder body are arranged side by side, the axes of the two cylinder cavities are parallel to each other, and the cylinder ports are in opposite directions. The two cylinder cavities correspond to the first piston rod and the second piston rod respectively, and the first piston rod and the second piston rod are parallel to each other; or, the damping cylinder is composed of two separate parallel cylinder bodies arranged end to end adjacent to each other, and the two cylinder bodies correspond to the first piston rod and the second piston rod respectively, and the first piston rod and the second piston rod are parallel to each other.

2. The bidirectional damper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first connecting part has a cylindrical first enclosing portion, a first blind hole is provided in the center of one end of the first enclosing portion, the first blind hole covers the head of the first piston rod of the damping cylinder, and a cylindrical first hinged portion is provided at the other end of the first enclosing portion. The first hinged portion and the axis of the first enclosing portion are located in the same plane and are perpendicular to each other, and the first hinged portion is hinged to the first of the two engaging parts.

3. The bidirectional damper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second connecting member has a cylindrical second enclosing portion, a second blind hole is provided in the center of one end of the second enclosing portion, the second blind hole covers the head of the second piston rod of the damping cylinder, and a cylindrical second hinged portion is provided at the other end of the second enclosing portion. The axes of the second hinged portion and the second enclosing portion are vertically staggered in space but are not in the same plane. The second enclosing portion and the second hinged portion are connected by a turning connection portion, and the second hinged portion is hinged to the second engaging member of the two engaging members.

4. The bidirectional damper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking member has a sheet-shaped locking member body, which is placed in the guide groove of the connecting plate; the upper part of the locking member body is provided with a first locking tooth and a second locking tooth, and a bayonet is formed between the first locking tooth and the second locking tooth, which extends to the outside of the mounting bracket; an inclined guide surface is provided on the first locking tooth; the lower part of the locking member body is provided with a first guide member and a second guide member, the first guide member is located above the guide groove, and the second guide member is located below the guide groove, thereby limiting the reciprocating sliding of the locking member along the track formed on the connecting plate; the lower part of the locking member is provided with a clamping opening, which extends into the lower cavity, and the lower cavity accommodates the tension spring, and the two ends of the tension spring are respectively connected to the clamping openings of the two locking members and are stretched.

5. The bidirectional damper according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second latching tooth is formed by bending a strip-shaped body, and a tail hook is provided at the tail of the strip-shaped body. A notch is opened at the bottom body of the second latching tooth, and a limit platform is provided at the outer opening of the notch. The tail of the second latching tooth is bent and extends into the notch, and the limit platform restricts the tail hook to move only inside the notch.

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