US3918322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap-in lever assembly
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1973-12-13
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1993-12-13
Abstract
Abstract The yoke of a vehicle turn signal mechanism has an elongated cavity for receiving the end of a turn signal lever. A spring clip secured to the yoke retains the lever end in the cavity and allows the assembly and removal of the lever by a sliding movement along the axis of the elongated cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Frier
- 👤 Willard E Graddy
- 👤 Daniel W Hyden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/34; B60Q1/343; G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/04; G05G1/08; G05G1/10; G05G1/12; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/40; F16B2200/403; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20582
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A snap-in lever assembly comprising a body having a surface and an adjacent side wall, an elongated cavity formed in the surface and extending through the side wall, a lever having an elongated terminal portion formed to nest within the cavity, and means for enabling insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity and for rigidly securing the lever to the body including a spring clip having a body portion disposed over the cavity and substantially coextensive therewith and having a depending tang formed in the spring clip and extending toward the cavity and fastener means extending through the spring clip and through the cavity for securing the spring clip to the actuator body, the terminal portion of the lever having a bifurcated end for providing clearance between the terminal portion and the fastener means and for permitting sliding insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity under the spring clip with the bifurcated end straddling the fastener, and having a recess for receiving the tang of the spring clip for preventing removal of the lever.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A snap-in lever assembly comprising a body having a surface and an adjacent side wall, an elongated cavity formed in the surface and extending through the side wall, a lever having an elongated terminal portion formed to nest within the cavity, and means for enabling insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity and for rigidly securing the lever to the body including a spring clip having a body portion disposed over the cavity and substantially coextensive therewith and having a depending tang formed in the spring clip and extending toward the cavity and fastener means extending through the spring clip and through the cavity for securing the spring clip to the actuator body, the terminal portion of the lever having a bifurcated end for providing clearance between the terminal portion and the fastener means and for permitting sliding insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity under the spring clip with the bifurcated end straddling the fastener, and having a recess for receiving the tang of the spring clip for preventing removal of the lever.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
211 words
A snap-in lever assembly comprising a body having a surface and an adjacent side wall, an elongated cavity formed in the surface and extending through the side wall, a lever having an elongated terminal portion formed to nest within the cavity, and means for enabling insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity and for rigidly securing the lever to the body including a spring clip having a body portion disposed over the cavity and substantially coextensive therewith and having a depending tang formed in the spring clip and extending toward the cavity and fastener means extending through the spring clip and through the cavity for securing the spring clip to the actuator body, the terminal portion of the lever having a bifurcated end for providing clearance between the terminal portion and the fastener means and for permitting sliding insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity under the spring clip with the bifurcated end straddling the fastener, and having a recess for receiving the tang of the spring clip for preventing removal of the lever, and the spring clip being slightly concave toward the cavity and being resiliently biased by the fastener means against the terminal portion of the lever whereby the terminal portion is firmly seated in the cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
211 words
A snap-in lever assembly comprising a body having a surface and an adjacent side wall, an elongated cavity formed in the surface and extending through the side wall, a lever having an elongated terminal portion formed to nest within the cavity, and means for enabling insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity and for rigidly securing the lever to the body including a spring clip having a body portion disposed over the cavity and substantially coextensive therewith and having a depending tang formed in the spring clip and extending toward the cavity and fastener means extending through the spring clip and through the cavity for securing the spring clip to the actuator body, the terminal portion of the lever having a bifurcated end for providing clearance between the terminal portion and the fastener means and for permitting sliding insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity under the spring clip with the bifurcated end straddling the fastener, and having a recess for receiving the tang of the spring clip for preventing removal of the lever, and the spring clip being slightly concave toward the cavity and being resiliently biased by the fastener means against the terminal portion of the lever whereby the terminal portion is firmly seated in the cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
296 words
A snap-in lever assembly comprising a body having a surface and an adjacent side wall, an elongated cavity formed in the surface and extending through the side wall, a lever having an elongated terminal portion formed to nest within the cavity, and means for enabling insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity and for rigidly securing the lever to the body including a spring clip having a body portion disposed over the cavity and substantially coextensive therewith and having a depending tang formed in the spring clip and extending toward the cavity and fastener means extending through the spring clip and through the cavity for securing the spring clip to the actuator body, the terminal portion of the lever having a bifurcated end for providing clearance between the terminal portion and the fastener means and for permitting sliding insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity under the spring clip with the bifurcated end straddling the fastener, and having a recess for receiving the tang of the spring clip for preventing removal of the lever, the spring clip being slightly conCave toward the cavity and being resiliently biased by the fastener means against the terminal portion of the lever whereby the terminal portion is firmly seated in the cavity, and an end of the spring clip body supporting an integral U-shaped member depending at a right angle therefrom and defining an opening through which the lever extends, the depending tang being located near the same end of the body portion which supports the U-shaped member whereby the tang may be retracted from the recess in the lever to allow removal of the lever by moving the U-shaped member toward the lever to bias that one end of the spring clip body away from the lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
296 words
A snap-in lever assembly comprising a body having a surface and an adjacent side wall, an elongated cavity formed in the surface and extending through the side wall, a lever having an elongated terminal portion formed to nest within the cavity, and means for enabling insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity and for rigidly securing the lever to the body including a spring clip having a body portion disposed over the cavity and substantially coextensive therewith and having a depending tang formed in the spring clip and extending toward the cavity and fastener means extending through the spring clip and through the cavity for securing the spring clip to the actuator body, the terminal portion of the lever having a bifurcated end for providing clearance between the terminal portion and the fastener means and for permitting sliding insertion of the terminal portion into the cavity under the spring clip with the bifurcated end straddling the fastener, and having a recess for receiving the tang of the spring clip for preventing removal of the lever, the spring clip being slightly conCave toward the cavity and being resiliently biased by the fastener means against the terminal portion of the lever whereby the terminal portion is firmly seated in the cavity, and an end of the spring clip body supporting an integral U-shaped member depending at a right angle therefrom and defining an opening through which the lever extends, the depending tang being located near the same end of the body portion which supports the U-shaped member whereby the tang may be retracted from the recess in the lever to allow removal of the lever by moving the U-shaped member toward the lever to bias that one end of the spring clip body away from the lever.
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) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |