Joints and connections – With adjunctive protector – broken parts retainer – repair,... – Position or guide means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-11-27
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
With adjunctive protector, broken parts retainer, repair,...
Position or guide means
C403S196000, C403S187000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322274
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rod end clip for retaining a rod within an aperture. More particularly, the present invention includes a self-locking feature with a flexible arm assembly and a semi-circular seat. The flexible arm assembly includes a flexible finger which moves to a flexed position as the rod is inserted into the flexible arm assembly and thereafter moves back to the unflexed position as the rod travels to the semi-circular seat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, it is known to attach a rod end clip to the end of a rod, wherein the rod has a right angle end portion. Typically, the rod end clip is engaged on the rod end about both sides of the right angle bend. A typical application for such a rod end clip is to attach the rod end to an aperture in a panel so as to serve as a pivot point for subsequent pivoting of the rod.
However, some rod end clips in the prior art have not been simple to install in an assembly line environment. In particular, the rod end clips have not provided, to the extent desired, a locked engagement which is not susceptible to faulty installation. Similar, some rod end clips of the prior art have not indicated to the installer, in an intuitive manner, that the rod end clip has been installed properly.
Examples of prior art rod end clips are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,479 entitled “Rod End Clip” and issued to Brown et al. on Jan. 12, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,285 entitled “Rod Retainer” and issued to Nelson on May 27, 1986; U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,820 entitled “Rod Retainer” and issued to Nelson on Dec. 22, 1981; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,410 entitled “Rod Retainer” and issued to Lindsay on Nov. 23, 1976.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rod end clip which securely engages the end of a rod.
It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a rod end clip which can be reliably installed on the end of a rod, particularly in an assembly line environment.
It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to provide a rod end clip which provides an intuitive indication to the installer that the rod end clip has been properly and securely installed.
These and objects are attained by providing a rod end clip which has a flexible arm and a semi-circular seat for receiving the rod end. A flexible finger flexes to allow the rod end to approach the semi-circular seat. As the rod continues to the semi-circular seat past the flexible finger, the flexible finger flexes to the original position. The length of the flexible arm can be varied in the design wherein a shorter arm flexes to its original position immediately prior to the entry of the rod into the semi-circular seat so that two clicks are generated (the first by the flexure of the arm, the second by the seating of the rod into the semi-circular seat). A longer arm, however, will flex to the original position substantially simultaneously with the seating of the rod, thereby producing only a single click.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2853913 (1958-09-01), Rapata
patent: 3679249 (1972-07-01), Hoffmann
patent: 3695652 (1972-10-01), Ratnikas
patent: 3721059 (1973-03-01), Reynolds
patent: 3993410 (1976-11-01), Lindsay, Jr.
patent: 4306820 (1981-12-01), Nelson
patent: 4406557 (1983-09-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 4482265 (1984-11-01), Koza
patent: 4591285 (1986-05-01), Nelson
patent: 4840334 (1989-06-01), Kikuchi
patent: 4953269 (1990-09-01), Ragsdale
patent: 5178479 (1993-01-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5316245 (1994-05-01), Ruckwardt
patent: 5709498 (1998-01-01), Sova et al.
patent: 5934817 (1999-08-01), Kim et al.
Binotti Marla A.
Gugle James E.
Siragusa George
Browne Lynne H.
Cottingham John R.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
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