US3831460A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anti-backlash nut
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-20
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An anti-backlash nut construction for engagement with threads of a screw, the nut comprising a base portion and a threaded portion connected therewith. Both portions have central bores in alignment with one another to receive the screw. The threaded portion is elongate and slotted, comprising two elements which are capable of limited movement toward and away from one another. The nut threads are disposed on the internal surfaces of these elements. An O-ring or equivalent carried in a grooved formation on the outside surfaces of the elements biases the latter toward each other such that the internal threads thereon are brought into close engagement with the screw threads, thus eliminating all looseness and minimizing substantially all of the clearance space between the nut and screw threads which would otherwise give rise to undesirable backlash. An alignment sleeve for the nut is also provided to accommodate slight misalignment between the axes of the screw and the nut.
Inventors
- 👤 F Linley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:36
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B37/00; F16H; F16H25/00; F16H25/18; F16H25/20; F16H25/2003; F16H25/2009; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19698; Y10T74/19702; Y10T74/19805; Y10T74/19809; Y10T74/19814; Y10T74/1987; Y10T74/19893; Y10T74/19898; Y10T74/19902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An anti-backlash nut construction, comprising in combination: a. a base portion adapted to be carried by a machine part and having a bore through which a screw can pass, b. a threaded portion connected to said base portion and characterized by a bore aligned with the bore of said base portion, c. said threaded portion having a slotted configuration by which it is divided into a pair of elements having internal surfaces making up the bore thereof, d. said elements having thread formations adapted for engagement with the external threads of a screw extending through said bores, e. said nut construction having a cut-out configuration enabling said pair of elements to have limited movement toward and away from each other, thereby to enable the thread formations thereof to engage a screw with no clearance and looseness, and f. yieldable means carried by the said pair of elements, biasing the same in directions toward each other so as to maintain the absence of said clearance and looseness.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An anti-backlash nut construction, comprising in combination: a. a base portion adapted to be carried by a machine part and having a bore through which a screw can pass, b. a threaded portion connected to said base portion and characterized by a bore aligned with the bore of said base portion, c. said threaded portion having a slotted configuration by which it is divided into a pair of elements having internal surfaces making up the bore thereof, d. said elements having thread formations adapted for engagement with the external threads of a screw extending through said bores, e. said nut construction having a cut-out configuration enabling said pair of elements to have limited movement toward and away from each other, thereby to enable the thread formations thereof to engage a screw with no clearance and looseness, and f. yieldable means carried by the said pair of elements, biasing the same in directions toward each other so as to maintain the absence of said clearance and looseness.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said element thread formations define an axis, b. at least one of said elements having an elongate groove substantially parallel with said axis and dividing the thread formations of said one element into two separate threaded flutes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein a. said threaded portion is elongate and has an annular wall defining the bore thereof, b. said annular wall having oppositely disposed, longitudinal slots, c. the corresponding ends of said slots being open at one end of the threaded portion, d. said annular wall having oppositely disposed transverse slots communicating with the bore of the threaded portion, e. all of said slots defining two hinge formations enabling limited flexing movement of said elements toward and away from one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said yieldable means comprises a transverse groove in the pair of elements, and b. spring means comprising an O-ring disposed in said groove for biasing the elements toward one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4, and further including: a. an annular alignment sleeve connected with said base portion, b. said sleeve having two pairs of oppositely disposed transverse notches in its walls, said notch pairs being axially spaced from one another. c. each of said notch pairs forming a bridge for enabling limited flexing movement of one part of the sleeve with respect to another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein: a. said annular sleeve has two additional pairs of oppositely disposed notches in its walls, said additional pairs being axially spaced from one another and from said first-mentioned pairs, b. said additional notch pairs each forming additional bridges respectively, for enabling limited flexing movEment of a third part of the sleeve with respect to said first-mentioned parts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein: a. said sleeve is elongate and has a hollow bore, b. said base portion of the nut being disposed in said hollow bore and being permanently retained therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein: a. the end of at least one of said notches is rounded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein: a. the end of at least one of said notches is rectangular.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said threaded portion comprises elements constituted of graphite-impregnated metal secured in the bore of the threaded portion and adapted to engage the external threads of the screw.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein: a. said threaded portion comprises elements constituted of graphite-impregnated metal secured in the bore of the threaded portion and adapted to engage the external threads of the screw.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as set forth in claim 11, wherein: a. said elements are elongate, b. said yieldable detent means comprising a transverse grooved formation and spring means disposed therein for biasing the elements toward one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said elements are elongate, b. said yieldable detent means comprising a transverse grooved formation in the pair of elements and spring means disposed in the grooved formation for biasing the elements toward one another, c. said spring means comprising a garter spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A self-aligning nut construction for engagement with the external threads of a screw, comprising in combination: a. a nut body having threads engageable with said external screw threads, b. an annular, elongate alignment sleeve connected with said nut body, c. said sleeve having two pairs of oppositely disposed transverse notches in its walls, said notch pairs being axially spaced from one another, d. each of said notch pairs forming a bridge for enabling limited flexing movement of one part of the sleeve and the nut body with respect to another part of the sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A self-aligning nut construction for engagement with the external threads of a screw, comprising in combination: a. a nut body having threads engageable with said external screw threads, b. an annular, elongate alignment sleeve connected with said nut body, c. said sleeve having two pairs of oppositely disposed transverse notches in its walls, said notch pairs being axially spaced from one another, d. each of said notch pairs forming a bridge for enabling limited flexing movement of one part of the sleeve and the nut body with respect to another part of the sleeve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14, wherein: a. said annular sleeve has two additional pairs of oppositely disposed notches in its walls, said additional pairs being axially spaced from one another and from said firstmentioned pairs, b. said additional notch pairs each forming additional bridges respectively, for enabling limited flexing movement of a third part of the sleeve with respect to said first-mentioned parts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14, wherein: a. said sleeve has a hollow bore, b. said body being disposed in said hollow bore and being permanently retained therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14, wherein: a. the end of at least one of said notches is rounded.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14, wherein: a. the end of at least one of said notches is rectangular.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2567483A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |