Nifco Inc.

Takefumi Tsuchiya

Yasutomo Kobayashi

Hiroji Sato

Katsuyasu Tomiji

A sliding assisting apparatus for assisting a sliding operation wherein a movable body slidably engaged with a base is slid between a first sliding position and a second sliding position includes sliders, a spring member, lock members and operation members. The sliders are engaged with the movable body and capable of sliding in the same one or more directions as the movable body. The spring member is capable of accumulating force in the sliding operation of the movable body and connecting the respective sliders together. The lock members are each capable of engaging with one of the sliders to exert the accumulated force on the slider, and disengaging from the slider to release the accumulated force from the slider. Operation members are each capable of engaging and disengaging with the lock member for engaging the lock member with a slider and disengaging a lock member from the slider.

Sliding assisting apparatus

A sliding assisting apparatus includes a main body provided on a base or a movable body, and having a pair of sliders disposed in a case; lock members formed on the sliders; coupling parts provided on the case to couple/uncouple with the lock members; a forcing device provided between the two sliders to accumulate a biasing force when one of the sliders is slid to move away from the other; a pair of strikers provided on the base or the movable body; and a switch between a case restrained position and a case restraint released position. One striker is disposed between the first and second sliding positions to cause the movable body to slide toward the first sliding position, and a second striker is disposed closer to the second sliding position than the first striker to cause the movable body to slide toward the second sliding position.

A shock absorbing device uses a damper including a cylinder enclosing a viscous fluid; a piston rod; and a piston dividing the interior of the cylinder in two axially separated parts. The piston is connected to the piston rod and has an orifice communicating the two parts. The piston includes an inner member integrally connected with the piston rod, and an outer member disposed about an outer perimeter of the inner member and configured to be axially movable with respect to the inner member. The inner and outer members are configured to define a gap therebetween through which the viscous fluid can flow, and to be biased away from each other by a spring disposed therebetween. The inner and outer members are arranged so that the gap is reduced as the amount that the inner member protrudes into the outer member increases, to thereby define a variable orifice.

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Zushi, Japan

Takefumi Tsuchiya