Patent US963217A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3768325A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3768325A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiturn adjustment potentiometer ratcheting mechanism
Assignee: Bourns Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-15
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A ratcheting mechanism for use in a worm gear actuated potentiometer which utilizes a worm gear having a circumferential portion of the teeth thereof removed, i.e., a blank area, a worm screw having threads for engaging the teeth of the worm gear, and a ratcheting structure including a stop member and a resilient member. One of the two ratcheting structure members is attached to a housing or other nonmovable structure and the other is attached to the worm gear at locations such that the resilient member will engage the stop member whenever the threads of the worm screw engage a tooth of the worm gear adjacent the blank area so as to provide ratcheting.
Inventors
- 👤 L Kucharski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:10
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G5/00; G05G5/04; F; F16; F16D; F16D71/00; F16H; F16H1/00; F16H1/02; F16H1/04; F16H1/12; F16H1/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S338/00; Y10S338/01; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19614; Y10T74/1987; Y10T74/19874
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A ratcheting mechanism for a worm gear actuated variable resistance device comprised of: a. A rotatable worm gear for providing relative movement between a resistance element and a resistance element contact, said worm gear having a circumferential portion of its teeth removed to form a blank circumferential area thereon; b. A worm screw having threads for engaging the teeth of said worm gear whereby rotation of said worm screw causes rotation of said worm gear when the worm screw threads engage the teeth of said worm gear; c. A ratcheting structure comprised of two members, a stop member and an elongate, resilient ratcheting member, one of said members being fixedly connected to said worm gear and the other of said members being fixed to a nonmovable portion of said device, wherein said members are located such that said resilient ratcheting member engages said stop member whenever the worm screw teeth engage a tooth of said worm gear adjacent the blank area, to permit continued rotation of said worm screw without causing rotation of said worm gear and to bias the worm gear toward engagement of its teeth with the worm screw threads when its direction of rotation is reversed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A ratcheting mechanism for a worm gear actuated variable resistance device comprised of: a. A rotatable worm gear for providing relative movement between a resistance element and a resistance element contact, said worm gear having a circumferential portion of its teeth removed to form a blank circumferential area thereon; b. A worm screw having threads for engaging the teeth of said worm gear whereby rotation of said worm screw causes rotation of said worm gear when the worm screw threads engage the teeth of said worm gear; c. A ratcheting structure comprised of two members, a stop member and an elongate, resilient ratcheting member, one of said members being fixedly connected to said worm gear and the other of said members being fixed to a nonmovable portion of said device, wherein said members are located such that said resilient ratcheting member engages said stop member whenever the worm screw teeth engage a tooth of said worm gear adjacent the blank area, to permit continued rotation of said worm screw without causing rotation of said worm gear and to bias the worm gear toward engagement of its teeth with the worm screw threads when its direction of rotation is reversed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ratcheting mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said resilient ratcheting member is fixedly attached to said worm gear and said stop member is fixed to a housing for said device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A ratcheting mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said resilient ratcheting member includes at least one long, extending portion formed of spring wire capable of flexing on contact with said stop member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A ratcheting mechanism as in claim 3 wherein said ratcheting member is of a cotter pin shape and said worm gear includes a keyhole shaped aperture on the face thereof for retaining said ratcheting member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ratcheting mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said ratcheting member is fixed at one end to a housing for said device and said stop member if fixedly connected to said worm gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A variable resistance device including a ratcheting mechanism as in claim 1 further comprising a rotor, wherein said worm gear is integral with said rotor on one side thereof and a resistance element contact is fixedly attached to said rotor on the side opposite the worm gear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3416119A
Cited
US3446085A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |