Spring-biased lost-motion link assembly

Claim 2

A spring-biased lost-motion link assembly comprising a pair of interlocking substantially identical link members and a helical-coil compression spring operatively arranged therebetween, each said link member having a forked end with two prongs, each said prong having a pair of spring seats spaced therealong, the prongs on each link member being forcibly inwardly deflectable toward each other sufficiently to allow their insertion one link member at a time through said spring and then on release of the deflecting force assuming a normal undeflected state entrapping said spring between the springs seats on both prongs opposite the respective ends of said spring, the prongs on each link member having a longitudinally extending space therebetween sufficiently wide in their normal undeflected state to accommodate deflection of the prongs on the other link member so that the prongs on one link member can first be inserted in said spring and then the prongs on the other link member can next be inserted thereby entrapping said spring opposite all said seats, and each said link member further having a pair of longitudinally extending grooves for receiving a terminal portion of the prongs on the other link member in their normal undeflected state with said spring assembled thereon to thereby define a tongue and groove interlock between said link members to both establish and maintain alignment of said link members and prevent inward prong deflection and thereby disengagement of said prongs from said spring whereby entrapment of said spring is maintained and said link members are effective to transmit both a push and pull force without relative longitudinal movement between said link members below a predetermined push or pull force and permit limited relative longitudinal movement between said link members contracting or extending the link assembly by compressive action of said spring between said seats upon encountering forces above said predetermined push or pull force.

Claim 3

A spring-biased lost-motion link assembly comprising a pair of interlocking link members and a helical-coil compression spring operatively arranged therebetween, each said link member having a forked end with two prongs, each said prong having an outer edge with a longitudinally extending outwardly facing recess forming an accommodating space for said spring with spring seat portions at the opposite ends thereof, the prongs on each link member being forcibly inwardly deflectable toward each other sufficiently to allow their insertion one link member at a time through said spring and then on release of the deflecting force assuming a normal undeflected state entrapping said spring in the recesses on both prongs with the spring seat portions of the recesses on both prongs opposite the respective ends of said spring, the prongs on each link member having a longitudinally extending space therebetween sufficiently wide in their normal undeflected state to accommodate deflection of the prongs on the other link member so that the prongs on one link member can first be inserted in said spring and then the prongs on the other link member can next be inserted thereby entrapping said spring in all said recesses opposite all said seat portions, and each said link member further having a pair of longitudinally extending grooves for receiving a terminal portion of the prongs on the other link member in their normal undeflected state with said spring assembled thereon to thereby define a tongue and groove interlock between said link members to both establish and maintain alignment of said link members and prevent inward prong deflection and thereby disengagement of said prongs from said spring whereby entrapment of said spring is maintained and said link members are effective to transmit both a push and pull force without relative longitudinal movement between said link members below a predetermined push or pull force and permit limited relative longitudinal movement between said link members contracting or extending the link assembly by compressive action of said spring between said seat portions upon encountering forces above said predetermined push or pull force.

Claim 4

A spring-biased lost-motion link assembly comprising a pair of interlocking link members and a helical-coil compression spring operatively arranged therebetween, each said link member having a forked end with two prongs, each said prong having an outer edge with a longitudinally extending outwardly facing recess forming an accommodating space for said spring with spring seat portions at the opposite ends thereof, the prongs on each link member being forcibly inwardly deflectable toward each other sufficiently to allow their insertion one link member at a time through said spring and then on release of the deflecting force assuming a normal undeflected state entrapping said spring in the recesses on both prongs with the spring seat portions of the recesses on both prongs opposite the respective ends of said spring, the prongs on each link member having a longitudinally extending space therebetween sufficiently wide in their normal undeflected state to accommodate deflection of the prongs on the other link member so that the prongs on one link member can first be inserted in said spring and then the prongs on the other link member can next be inserted thereby entrapping said spring in all said recesses opposite all said seat portions, and each said link member further having a pair of longitudinally extending grooves for receiving a terminal portion of the prongs on the other link member in their normal undeflected state with said spring assembled thereon to thereby define a tongue and groove interlock between said link members to both establish and maintain alignment of said link members and prevent inward prong deflection and thereby disengagement of said prongs from said spring whereby entrapment of said spring is maintained and said link members are effective to transmit both a push and pull force without relative longitudinal movement between said link members below a predetermined push or pull force and permit limited relative longitudinal movement between said link members contracting or extending the link assembly by compressive action of said spring between said seat portions upon encountering forces above said predetermined push or pull force.