Friction Hinges Aid Ergonomic Design?A great application for rotary viscous dampers is a swing down grab bar used in handicap bathrooms.  These bars are for accessibility to the toilet area for disabled and bariatric patients. If there is no friction hinge the bar may fall at a high rate and injure someone. But what happens if someone is disabled to a degree that they cannot sufficiently grasp the bar to put it in the “up” position? It may drop and injure them critically.  I am sure there are many hospital safety bars, flip down trays and carts that may benefit from a slow close mechanism like a rotary viscous damper.  Friction hinges may also be integrated into a design but usually a designer know which mode of operation they desire. We can help you choose. contact us at www.mmtech.us for a consultation.