Brush holder assembly for an electric motor

Claim 1

A brush holder for an electric motor having a commutator, said brush holder comprising, a substantially flat plate having a generally central opening therein for receiving the motor commutator, first and second brush guiding slots formed in said plate, each of said slots opening into said central opening and extending outwardly of the central opening, each of said slots having generally parallel side edges; a first brush in said first slot and having oppositely opening grooves slidably mounting the first brush between the side edges of the first slot, a second brush in said second slot and having oppositely opening grooves slidably mounting the second brush between the side edges of the second slot; first and second brush spring receiving openings formed in said plate in spaced relation respectively to said first and second brush guiding slots; first and second torsion brush springs each comprising a body, an arm extending from one end of the body, and a retaining hook extending from the other end of the body; said brush springs being mounted on said plate with said bodies extending respectively into said first and second brush spring receiving openings; a notch communicating with said first brush spring receiving opening and defining a tab for engaging and retaining the retaining hook of the first brush spring, a notch communicating with said second brush spring receiving opening and defining a tab for engaging and retaining the retaining hook of the second brush spring, said arm of said first brush spring being engagable with an end of said first brush to urge the first brush inwardly toward the commutator and said arm of said second brush spring being engagable with an end of said second brush to urge said second brush inwardly toward the commutator, said first brush being movable outwardly in its slot to a retracted position in which said arm of said first brush spring engages a side face of the first brush to hold the first brush in said retracted position, and said second brush being movable outwardly in its slot to a retracted position in which said arm of said second brush spring engages a side face of the second brush to hold the second brush in said retracted position.