Linear positioning devices and the like

Claim 2

In a positioning device, the combination of, a screw having a plurality of threads all spiraled at the same helix angle, and a plastic nut having a body with the same number of threads as said screw and spiraled at the same helix angle whereby the nut may be threaded onto the screw, said nut including a plurality of angularly spaced spring fingers each extending from said body and each having one end integral with and cantilevered on one end of the body, there being one finger for each thread of said screw with each finger being spiraled at the same angle as the helix angle of the screw threads and making a partial revolution around the screw whereby the fingers mate with the screw threads, said fingers resiliently engaging the threads of said screw to take up rotational lash between the nut and the screw.

Claim 3

A positioning device as defined in claim 1 in which said fingers are of wedge-shaped cross-section and are resiliently wedged against the screw threads.

Claim 4

A positioning device as defined in claim 2 in which said fingers are separated by angularly spaced slots spiraled at the same helix angle as the fingers and receiving said screw threads.

Claim 5

A positioning device as defined in claim 1 further including a garter spring contracted around the free end portions of said fingers and resiliently urging the latter against the screw threads.

Claim 6

A posItioning device as defined in claim 1 in which fingers define a central passage and are tapered along their inner sides from said body toward their free ends such that the diameter of said passage near the free ends of the fingers is less than the root diameter of said screw prior to threading of said nut onto said screw, said fingers flexing outwardly relative to said body as an incident to the threading of said nut onto said screw.

Claim 7

The combination of, an elongated rod with a series of angularly spaced teeth and a series of angularly spaced grooves extending therealong, a plastic collar telescoped onto said rod and adapted to be translated back and forth relative to the rod, said collar including a body and a plurality of angularly spaced spring fingers each extending from said body and each having one end integral with and cantilevered on one end of the body, there being one finger for each groove, said teeth, said grooves and said fingers extending axially along said rod with a zero helix angle and coupling said rod and said collar for rotation in unison and for relative translation, each finger extending along its respective groove along its entire length and being wedged against and resiliently engaging adjacent teeth on said rod to take up rotational lash between said rod and said collar.

Claim 8

The combination of, an elongated rod with a series of angularly spaced teeth and a series of angularly spaced grooves extending therealong, a plastic collar telescoped onto said rod and adapted to be translated back and forth relative to the rod, said collar including a body and a plurality of angularly spaced spring fingers each extending from said body and each having one end integral with and cantilevered on one end of the body, there being one finger for each groove, said teeth, said grooves and said fingers extending axially along said rod with a zero helix angle and coupling said rod and said collar for rotation in unison and for relative translation, each finger extending along its respective groove along its entire length and being wedged against and resiliently engaging adjacent teeth on said rod to take up rotational lash between said rod and said collar.

Claim 9

The combination defined in claim 6 in which said fingers are separated by angularly spaced slots which receive said teeth.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 6 in which said body is formed with angularly spaced teeth fitted into said grooves in said rod and is formed with angularly spaced grooves receiving the teeth of said rod.