US3857294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable length endless transmission belt
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-05
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1992-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An endless transmission belt comprising a tubular belt of polymeric material cuttable to any desired length and a coupling means for locking together opposite ends of the belt. The coupling means includes an axially compressible-radially expandable and axially expandable-radially compressible sleeve on an inner wall of the tubular belt and an elongated flexible coupler having end portions adapted to fit into the sleeve at opposite ends of the belt and to be tightly gripped thereby upon axial expansion of the sleeve.
Inventors
- 👤 R Edouart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16G; F16G5/00; F16G5/16; F16G5/166; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/16; Y10T24/1676
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
An endless transmission belt comprising: an elongated transmission belt having cavities in opposite ends thereof; and coupling means for connecting together said opposite ends to form a continuous transmission belt, said coupling means including an axially compressible-radially expandable and axially expandable-radially compressible sleeve of soft elastomeric material secured to axially extending inner walls of each of said cavities, a sleeve of open cell mesh on an inner surface of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material including a series of axially spaced helical strands curling in a first direction and intertwined with a similar series of axially spaced helical strands cuRling in an opposite direction to form said open mesh, and an elongated flexible coupler having a circumferential dimension slightly larger than a normal inner circumferential dimension of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material for insertion into said sleeve of open cell mesh for gripping thereby upon axial expansion of said sleeves as by an axial tensioning of said belt, said coupler comprising a length of flexible cable, a plurality of beads including central openings for receiving said cable, means on opposite ends of said cable for retaining said beads thereon, and center stop means on said cable between particular ones of said beads for engaging said opposite ends of said belt as said beads on one side of said center stop are inserted into one of said cavities and beads on another side of said center stop are inserted into the other of said cavities, said beads being dimensioned to have a circumference slightly greater than the inner circumference of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material to be tightly gripped thereby upon an exertion of an axial force on said belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
An endless transmission belt comprising: an elongated transmission belt having cavities in opposite ends thereof; and coupling means for connecting together said opposite ends to form a continuous transmission belt, said coupling means including an axially compressible-radially expandable and axially expandable-radially compressible sleeve of soft elastomeric material secured to axially extending inner walls of each of said cavities, a sleeve of open cell mesh on an inner surface of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material including a series of axially spaced helical strands curling in a first direction and intertwined with a similar series of axially spaced helical strands cuRling in an opposite direction to form said open mesh, and an elongated flexible coupler having a circumferential dimension slightly larger than a normal inner circumferential dimension of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material for insertion into said sleeve of open cell mesh for gripping thereby upon axial expansion of said sleeves as by an axial tensioning of said belt, said coupler comprising a length of flexible cable, a plurality of beads including central openings for receiving said cable, means on opposite ends of said cable for retaining said beads thereon, and center stop means on said cable between particular ones of said beads for engaging said opposite ends of said belt as said beads on one side of said center stop are inserted into one of said cavities and beads on another side of said center stop are inserted into the other of said cavities, said beads being dimensioned to have a circumference slightly greater than the inner circumference of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material to be tightly gripped thereby upon an exertion of an axial force on said belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The transmission belt of claim 1 wherein each of said beads carries an open mesh pattern on an outer surface thereof for mating with said mesh of said sleeve to lock said coupler to said sleeve and hence to said belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The transmission belt of claim 1, wherein said openings in said beads for receiving said cable are enlarged at opposite ends thereof in a plane of said continuous belt to allow said cable to bend with said belt as it travels over a pulley.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The transmission belt of claim 1 wherein said coupler further includes spring means at opposite ends of said cable and bearing axially on endmost ones of said beads to urge said beads toward said center stop and to permit axial movement of said beads on said cable as said coupler bends with said belt as it travels over a pulley.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The transmission belt of claim 1 wherein said coupler further includes means on said center stop mating with beads adjacent thereto to releasably lock said adjacent beads to said center stop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The transmission belt of claim 1 wherein said coupler further includes mating means on adjacent beads and on said center stop for limiting bending of said coupler to a plane of said continuous belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
The transmission belt of claim 1 wherein said coupler includes a lateral, substantially V-shaped slot in one end of each bead transverse to and intersecting along its apex a longitudinal axis of its central opening and all but endmost ones of said beads on said cable including a lateral, substantially V-shaped projection from an opposite end of each bead transverse to and intersecting along its apex said longitudinal axis for riding in a V-shaped slot in an adjacent bead to limit bending of said coupler to a plane of saic continuous belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The transmission belt of claim 7 wherein said lateral slots and projections extend in a plane substantially normal to said plane of said continuous belt and said lateral slots are angularly larger than said projections to permit said beads to pivot on said projections in said slots and said projections to slide axially in said slots as said coupler bends in said plane of said continuous belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The transmission belt of claim 7 wherein said lateral slots and projections include curved bases and outer edges respectively and extend in a plane substantially parallel to said plane of said continuous belt to permit said beads to pivot on said projections in said slots and said projections to slide radially in said slots as said coupler bends in said plane of said continuous belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The transmission belt of claim 7 wherein said coupling means includes lateral substantially V-shaped projections from opposite sides of said center stop for riding in V-shaped slots in beads adjacent thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
An endless transmission belt comprising: an elongated transmission belt having cavities in opposite ends thereof; and coupling means for connecting together said opposite ends to form a continuous transmission belt, said coupling means including a sleeve of soft elastomeric material secured to axially extending inner walls of each of said cavities and being axially compressible-radially expandable and axially expandable-radially compressible from a relaxed condition in said cavities, a sleeve of open cell mesh on an inner surface of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material including a series of axially spaced helical strands curling in a first direction and intertwined with a similar series of axially spaced helical strands curling in an opposite direction to form said open mesh, an elongaged flexible coupler having a circumferential dimension slightly larger than a normal inner circumferential dimension of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material for insertion into said sleeve of open cell mesh with an axial compression-radial expansion of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material, and an open cell mesh pattern on an outer surface of said coupler for mating with said helical strands comprising said open mesh on said inner surface of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material to tightly lock said coupler in said sleeves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
204 words
An endless transmission belt comprising: an elongated transmission belt having cavities in opposite ends thereof; and coupling means for connecting together said opposite ends to form a continuous transmission belt, said coupling means including a sleeve of soft elastomeric material secured to axially extending inner walls of each of said cavities and being axially compressible-radially expandable and axially expandable-radially compressible from a relaxed condition in said cavities, a sleeve of open cell mesh on an inner surface of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material including a series of axially spaced helical strands curling in a first direction and intertwined with a similar series of axially spaced helical strands curling in an opposite direction to form said open mesh, an elongaged flexible coupler having a circumferential dimension slightly larger than a normal inner circumferential dimension of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material for insertion into said sleeve of open cell mesh with an axial compression-radial expansion of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material, and an open cell mesh pattern on an outer surface of said coupler for mating with said helical strands comprising said open mesh on said inner surface of said sleeve of soft elastomeric material to tightly lock said coupler in said sleeves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The transmission belt of claim 11 wherein said belt is a tubular belt having a central cavity defining said end cavities and wherein said belt further includes radial reinforcing means including a plurality of reinforcing beads carried on a cable located in said central cavity for reinforcing side walls of said belt against radial compression.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |