Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Headed fastener element – Having resilient securing structure on shank
Patent
1998-05-04
2000-09-12
Wilson, Neill
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Headed fastener element
Having resilient securing structure on shank
411353, 411526, 411913, F16B 1900, F16B 2118
Patent
active
061168378
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an annular locking element for engaging a cylindrical object, such as a shaft, and holding (locking) the cylindrical object to a corresponding region having a hole, such as a plate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known locking elements are designed as flat washers with an exterior, circular cylindrical area, from which spring tongues extend radially to the center of the circular area. The spring tongues, which are spaced apart, leave a diametrical region in the center of the washer open, through which a fitting shaft to be locked can be slid. Such locking elements, punched out of spring steel, can be used for the purpose of locking, when placed around the fitting shaft, which, for example, is slid through a fitting passage borehole of a counter region.
In order to mount the known locking element on the fitting shaft, the locking element must, in principle, be slid on the shaft starting from the base of the shaft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is designed to provide a locking element, similar to the type known, that can be mounted both at right angles to the longitudinal axis of a curved, circular cylindrical region of the shaft and can be fastened to the shaft, before the circular cylindrical region is inserted through the borehole of the counter region, into its installation or locked position.
The problems of the prior art are solved by the present invention, which comprises an annular locking element for engaging a cylindrical object to lock the object to a plate or other corresponding region. The locking element comprises a circular element formed to be an interrupted circle, that is, there is a part of the circle missing, which is adapted to engage a first contact surface on the cylindrical object. A plurality of spring tongues extend radially from the circular element and are bent outwardly from the center of the circular element. A plurality of support elements also extend from the circular element and are adapted to engage a second contact surface on the cylindrical object.
The annular locking element is slid on a circular cylindrical region of the shaft or cylindrical object from the side and is then fastened on the circular cylindrical region. The first and second contact surfaces of the circular cylindrical region are formed preferably by the faces of a groove, which runs around the circular cylindrical region.
The groove is, preferably, recessed deep enough so that the circular element lies flush with the outer surface of the shaft. Thus, it is possible to push the locking element, which is slid on the shaft from the side, through a matching opening of a counter region, for example, through a matching bore of a plate, which extends at right angles to the axis of the shaft. In the process of sliding the locking element through the base of the plate, the integral spring tongues are pushed inwardly and, after passing through the borehole, spring radially away from the shaft and return to their original position.
With the present invention, it is possible to arrange the locking element in such a way that, after it passes through the opening in the counter region or plate, the integral spring tongues, which are now spread apart, sit closely against the rear side of the counter region, for example the rear side of the plate, thereby holding the shaft to the plate. However, it is also possible that the spring tongues are not close to the plate, but allow an axial movement between the circular cylindrical region and the counter region, so that the locking element does not serve to lock the regions with respect to one another, but rather only serves to safeguard against extraction of the cylindrical region from the opening.
The locking element, according to the invention, permits not only a fast and uncomplicated assembly, but it also allows a simple disassembly of the cylindrical region and the plate. Without destroying the locking element, disassembly is accomplished simply by pushing or pulling the locking element off towards the side.
BR
REFERENCES:
patent: 1083697 (1914-01-01), Neptune
patent: 2342910 (1944-02-01), Tinnerman
patent: 2887891 (1959-05-01), Perez
patent: 3050097 (1962-08-01), Cochran
patent: 4810145 (1989-03-01), Villas
patent: 5022875 (1991-06-01), Karis
Bertrand Faure Sitztechnik GmbH & Co. KG
Wilson Neill
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