Joints and connections – With adjunctive protector – broken parts retainer – repair,... – Holding means or protector functioning only during...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-12
2001-05-08
Kim, Harry C. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
With adjunctive protector, broken parts retainer, repair,...
Holding means or protector functioning only during...
C403S154000, C015S250310
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227747
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to reciprocating shaft retainers, and more particularly to retainers for maintaining a predetermined clearance between a shaft retainer and a shaft housing, as are found on various switch mechanisms and windshield wiper mechanisms as used on motor vehicles.
2. Disclosure Information
It is well known to use press fit retainers to retain a shaft within a shaft housing. Such retainers can be found on many devices, including rotary dial switches, as found on appliances, such as kitchen stoves, televisions, etc. as well as on heavier mechanical devices such as windshield wipers on motor vehicles. A common problem for such retainers is that they can be installed too far onto the shaft, causing an interference between the retainer and the shaft housing during rotation. This interference is undesirable for many reasons, including noises generated during operation as well as inconsistent efforts, which in turn reflects poorly on craftsmanship and quality.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a shaft retainer apparatus capable of automatically and reliably ensuring a predetermined clearance between the haft housing and the retainer, thereby providing consistent quality and craftsmanship for devices incorporating such design features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a shaft retaining apparatus has been discovered for retaining a reciprocating shaft within a housing. The shaft retaining apparatus includes a shaft having an outer retainer engaging surface and a shaft housing having a bore therethrough for rotatably receiving the shaft and at least one housing protuberance disposed on and projecting away from a shoulder located at a first end of the bore. A shaft retainer includes a tubular portion with an inner surface sized to matingly engage the outer retainer engaging surface of the shaft and a flange portion disposed at one end of the tubular portion. The flange has at least one retainer protuberance formed thereon and projecting toward the shaft housing. The at least one retainer protuberance has a predetermined height and arcuate length such that it contacts the housing protuberance upon press fitting and disengages thereafter upon rotation of the shaft within the housing, thereby establishing a predetermined clearance between the retainer and the housing.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide reliable clearance between a shaft retainer and a shaft housing for a reciprocating shaft disposed within the shaft housing. The present invention enables high speed, mass production with high confidence of such products incorporating such devices, found in a wide variety of switches and other applications including windshield wiper mechanisms on motor vehicles.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4135471 (1979-01-01), Wooldridge et al.
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patent: 5507585 (1996-04-01), Diederich et al.
patent: 5618125 (1997-04-01), McPhee et al.
patent: 5675862 (1997-10-01), Reinl
patent: 5984564 (1999-11-01), Mitterreiter
patent: 6044518 (2000-04-01), Kiso
patent: 6059294 (2000-05-01), Gorce
Remington Philip Michael
Vallis Paul
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Kim Harry C.
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
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