US3874624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector assembly
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-19
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A connector for releasably joining a pair of interfitting elements, such as a belly-type engine guard to a vehicle main frame, including a retainer member extendible through the belly guard, and a fastener member operative to receive the retainer member in securing relation. The fastener member is loosely retainably mounted on the main frame for limited movement in substantially self-aligning relation to the retainer member to permit its substantially unrestricted securing receipt in the fastener member to accommodate minor misalignment between such interfitting elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Gianessi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:48
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/084; B62D55/0845; B62D55/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
An improved connector assembly, for removably securing a member having a bolt receiving opening therethrough to a frame, which frame has a wall disposed in radially spaced, substantially parallel relation to such bolt receiving opening, comprising; support bracket means secured to such wall of said frame and providing a pair of laterally spaced bracket plates disposed on opposite sides of said opening and having a pair of aligned, semicircular bearing recesses disposed axially normal to said opening and opening away therefrom; a connector nut having a threaded bore therethrough and a pair of oppositely extending stub shafts disposed along a mounting axis normal to said bore, said stub shafts being adapted for cradling receipt within said bearing recesses of said bracket plates so as to loosely mount said connector nut in spaced relation from saiD member and said wall of said frame to allow pivotal movement about and limited sliding movement along said mounting axis between said bracket plates to permit the precise alignment of said threaded bore of said connector nut with said bolt receiving opening of said member; flange means carried on said connector nut; and pin means detachably mountable to said bracket means for cooperative engagement with said flange means for selectively retaining said stub shafts of said connector nuts in torque transmitting engagement within their respective bearing recesses to constrain rotary movement of said connector nut about its threaded bore when such pin means are mounted to said bracket means, and for permitting selective removal of said connector nut for replacement purposes when said pin means are dismounted therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
An improved connector assembly, for removably securing a member having a bolt receiving opening therethrough to a frame, which frame has a wall disposed in radially spaced, substantially parallel relation to such bolt receiving opening, comprising; support bracket means secured to such wall of said frame and providing a pair of laterally spaced bracket plates disposed on opposite sides of said opening and having a pair of aligned, semicircular bearing recesses disposed axially normal to said opening and opening away therefrom; a connector nut having a threaded bore therethrough and a pair of oppositely extending stub shafts disposed along a mounting axis normal to said bore, said stub shafts being adapted for cradling receipt within said bearing recesses of said bracket plates so as to loosely mount said connector nut in spaced relation from saiD member and said wall of said frame to allow pivotal movement about and limited sliding movement along said mounting axis between said bracket plates to permit the precise alignment of said threaded bore of said connector nut with said bolt receiving opening of said member; flange means carried on said connector nut; and pin means detachably mountable to said bracket means for cooperative engagement with said flange means for selectively retaining said stub shafts of said connector nuts in torque transmitting engagement within their respective bearing recesses to constrain rotary movement of said connector nut about its threaded bore when such pin means are mounted to said bracket means, and for permitting selective removal of said connector nut for replacement purposes when said pin means are dismounted therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
162 words
The improved connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said connector nut includes; an elongated body having longitudinally spaced opposite ends normal to said threaded bore and a pair of opposite sides parallel with said bore and normal to said stub shafts, with said stub shafts being disposed at one end of said body and said flange means being disposed at the other end thereof and including at least one flange portion extending outwardly from one of said opposite sides; said pin means includes an elongated pin having opposite ends; and said bracket means includes a pair of aligned bores individually formed in said bracket plates which bores are adapted for loosely receiving the opposite ends of said pin and located so as to position said pin in slightly spaced relation above said flange portion for constraining engagement therewith and normally in offsetting relation to said one side of said body for limiting pivotal movement of said connector nut about its mounting axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved connector assembly of claim 2 including means for removably securing said pin within said aligned bores.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The improved connector assembly of claim 3 wherein said flange means includes; another flange portion extending outwardly from the other of said opposite sides of said body of the connector nut; and means providing a nut engaging surface parallel to said other side and normally in offsetting relation to said other flange portion to limit pivotal movement of said connector nut so that said one flange portion continuously underlies said pin throughout the entire pivotal movement of said connector nut as cooperatively permitted by said nut engaging surface and said pin means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improved connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said connector nut is provided with an outwardly opening semi-cylindrical groove in said one side axially along said pin so as to increase the amount of pivotal movement allowed said connector nut without undue extension of its flange portion to provide said connector assembly with greater compactness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved connector assembly of claim 5 wherein said connector nut is provided with a similar outwardly opening semi-cylindrical groove along its other side and wherein said flange portions are identical so that said connector nut can be operatively reversibly installed within said bracket means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |