A damping unit for damping a movable element of a home appliance has at least two dampers positioned in a housing. The dampers are positioned side-by-side to guarantee a defined series of damping an energy of the movable element. There is also described a home appliance having the novel damping unit.

A top panel of an appliance defines an appliance profile. A hinge assembly coupled to the appliance and an appliance lid allows the lid to pivot relative to the appliance between a lowered position in which the appliance lid rests horizontally above the appliance and a raised position in which the appliance lid defines a non-horizontal plane away from the appliance allowing access to at least a portion of the appliance. The hinge assembly includes one or more snap fit portions to engage the appliance profile of the appliance, such that the appliance operates as a cam and the one or more snap fit portions operates as a follower when in contact with the cam, thereby slowing the descent of the lid from the raised position to the lowered position by travel of the follower along the cam.

A top panel of an appliance defines an appliance profile. A hinge assembly coupled to the appliance and an appliance lid allows the lid to pivot relative to the appliance between a lowered position in which the appliance lid rests horizontally above the appliance and a raised position in which the appliance lid defines a non-horizontal plane away from the appliance allowing access to at least a portion of the appliance. The hinge assembly includes one or more snap fit portions to engage the appliance profile of the appliance, such that the appliance operates as a cam and the one or more snap fit portions operates as a follower when in contact with the cam, thereby slowing the descent of the lid from the raised position to the lowered position by travel of the follower along the cam.

A furniture board with an integrated or inserted flap fitting includes a lever mechanism having a plurality of levers guiding a flap of a furniture item. The flap fitting has a spring unit acting on at least one lever of the lever mechanism via an adjustable preload. The lever mechanism, in a closed position of the guided flap, moves into a front-side opening of the flap fitting and a front-side opening of the furniture board. The preload of the spring unit and/or the transmission ratio between the spring unit and the lever mechanism is adjustable via an adjusting element having a tool receptacle. The tool receptacle is accessible through a front-side opening in the furniture board and/or the flap fitting.

A braking device for a movable door leaf comprises an electric braking motor to damp movement of the door leaf; a motor shaft coupleable with an axis of rotation of the door leaf; and a control unit to control the electric braking motor. A generator provides power to the control unit. A continuously variable transmission unit between the axis of rotation of the door leaf and either the motor shaft of the electric braking motor or the separate generator is controlled by a mechanical control such that the motor shaft of the electric braking motor and/or the separate generator, can be driven at a rotational speed independent of the rotational speed of the rotational axle of the door leaf. Also included is a door closer, having a rotatable door closer axis, coupleable with a door leaf, cooperating with a mechanical energy storage device, and a correspondingly designed braking device.

A liquid sealed damper includes: an attachment portion attached to a peripheral portion of an opening of a vehicle or an opening and closing member for covering the opening; a contact portion to which an external force is input; an insulator configured to isolate vibration and connect the attachment portion and the contact portion; a main liquid chamber in which working liquid is sealed, the insulator serving as a wall portion of the main liquid chamber; an auxiliary liquid chamber divided from the main liquid chamber by a partition member and having a wall portion formed of a diaphragm; and an orifice passage formed in the partition member and communicating with the main liquid chamber and the auxiliary liquid chamber. The partition member has an inner gap in the shape of a recess, and a part of the diaphragm is inserted into the inner gap.

A locking mechanism for an opening/closing cover supported by an apparatus case in an openable and closable manner includes a rotational gear, a rack gear, a locking member and a spring member. The rotational gear rotates with an opening and closing operation of the opening/closing cover. The rack gear slides with a rotating of the rotational gear. The locking member has a hooking part facing the rack gear. The spring member pushes the hooking part toward the rack gear. The hooking part restricts a sliding of the rack gear in an opened state of the opening/closing cover.

The present invention relates to a device and a method for opening and closing supported covers, in which a first compressive force is exerted onto a working body having a longitudinal axis in a first axial direction so that the working body is released from a latch connection, the working body being displaced in a spring-mounted manner from the housing into a first working position against the first compressive force direction when the first compressive force is cancelled, wherein a cover operatively connected to the working body is opened, is returned partially into the housing into a second working position by a renewed compressive force in the same axial direction of the working body; the working body, when partially returned, latches with the latch connection, and, by way of a continued compressive force in the same axial direction, the working body is returned against a resistance of a damping element into a starting position in the housing, the cover being returnable into a closed position.

The present invention relates to a device and a method for opening and closing supported covers, in which a first compressive force is exerted onto a working body having a longitudinal axis in a first axial direction so that the working body is released from a latch connection, the working body being displaced in a spring-mounted manner from the housing into a first working position against the first compressive force direction when the first compressive force is cancelled, wherein a cover operatively connected to the working body is opened, is returned partially into the housing into a second working position by a renewed compressive force in the same axial direction of the working body; the working body, when partially returned, latches with the latch connection, and, by way of a continued compressive force in the same axial direction, the working body is returned against a resistance of a damping element into a starting position in the housing, the cover being returnable into a closed position.

A washing appliance having a removable service tray. The tray may include a cartridge removably received within a door of the appliance. A spring assembly may be positioned within the cartridge for assisting in opening the door. The cartridge and its components may be concealed from the view of a user at the front of the appliance.