Patent US4589301A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4589301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linearly infinitely variable mechanism
Assignee: Hoover Universal Inc
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Filing: 1983-04-27
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Granted: 1986-05-20
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Expires: 2003-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprises first and second portions which are relatively axially positionable to establish the effective length of the mechanism. A rotary element is axially captured on the second portion. The operative connection between the first portion and the second portion is via a threaded connection of the first portion with the rotary element. The axial capture of the rotary element comprises a twist lock which, when locked, forcefully abuts the ends of the rotary element to preclude its rotation and prevent a change in the effective length of the mechanism provided that the first and second portions are constrained against relative rotation. When unlocked, the rotary element can rotate within its axial capture so that axial forces applied to the mechanism are effective to change its length. Recesses are provided between the element and the twist lock and contain yieldably resiliently mounted bearings which promote free rotation of the element when unlocked but which retract into the recesses when locked.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn C. Griner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:51
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/23; B60N2/233; F; F16; F16H; F16H25/00; F16H25/18; F16H25/20; F16H25/24; F16H25/2454; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S188/00; Y10S188/01; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19698; Y10T74/19702; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2142; Y10T74/2151
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
478 words
In apparatus having relatively positionable member, a linearly infinitely variable mechanism for positioning said relatively positionable members, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism having an effective length along a linear axis thereof which is infinitely variable over a given linear range, said linear infinitely variable mechanism comprising first and second portions which are relatively positionable along said axis to cooperatively establish the effective length of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism, means mounting said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism on said apparatus to preclude their rotation relative to each other about said linear axis, and means operatively coupling said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising an annular element concentric with said axis and means axially capturing said element on said second portion of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism, said means axially capturing said element comprising capturing portions which are relatively adjustable to one condition permitting said element to rotate about said axis relative to said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism and to another condition preventing such rotation, said element and said first portion of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising an operative connection between then which is effective, when said capturing portions are in said one condition and axial forces are concurrently applied to said linearly infinitely variable mechanism to urge a change in the length thereof, to initiate rotation of said element about said axis relative to said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism, and said rotation of said element is in turn effective to permit translation of said first portion relative to both said element and said second portion thereby to change effective length of said mechanism, said element having transverse and faces at opposite axial ends thereof, and said capturing portions being disposed in confronting juxtaposition to said end faces and operable in said another condition to apply axial capturing frictional forces against both said end faces great enough to prevent said element from rotating with respect to said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism in response to axially applied forces tending to change the effective length thereof, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising means defining a recess between one of said transverse end faces of said element and a corresponding juxtaposed confronting capturing portion of said axially capturing means and means disposed within said recess including bearing means and yieldable resilient means, said bearing means being urged by said yieldable resilient means to provide bearing support to promote free rotation of said element with respect to said second portion of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism when said capturing portions are in said one condition, said yieldable resilient means yielding when said capturing portions are in said another condition so as to allow said bearing means to be disposed more fully into said recess.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
478 words
In apparatus having relatively positionable member, a linearly infinitely variable mechanism for positioning said relatively positionable members, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism having an effective length along a linear axis thereof which is infinitely variable over a given linear range, said linear infinitely variable mechanism comprising first and second portions which are relatively positionable along said axis to cooperatively establish the effective length of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism, means mounting said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism on said apparatus to preclude their rotation relative to each other about said linear axis, and means operatively coupling said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising an annular element concentric with said axis and means axially capturing said element on said second portion of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism, said means axially capturing said element comprising capturing portions which are relatively adjustable to one condition permitting said element to rotate about said axis relative to said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism and to another condition preventing such rotation, said element and said first portion of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising an operative connection between then which is effective, when said capturing portions are in said one condition and axial forces are concurrently applied to said linearly infinitely variable mechanism to urge a change in the length thereof, to initiate rotation of said element about said axis relative to said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism, and said rotation of said element is in turn effective to permit translation of said first portion relative to both said element and said second portion thereby to change effective length of said mechanism, said element having transverse and faces at opposite axial ends thereof, and said capturing portions being disposed in confronting juxtaposition to said end faces and operable in said another condition to apply axial capturing frictional forces against both said end faces great enough to prevent said element from rotating with respect to said first and second portions of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism in response to axially applied forces tending to change the effective length thereof, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising means defining a recess between one of said transverse end faces of said element and a corresponding juxtaposed confronting capturing portion of said axially capturing means and means disposed within said recess including bearing means and yieldable resilient means, said bearing means being urged by said yieldable resilient means to provide bearing support to promote free rotation of said element with respect to said second portion of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism when said capturing portions are in said one condition, said yieldable resilient means yielding when said capturing portions are in said another condition so as to allow said bearing means to be disposed more fully into said recess.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising said recess being disposed in said one transverse end face of said element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising said recess being circular and concentric with said axis, said one transverse end face being disposed in a plane perpendicular to said axis and being circular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising said element having a circular sidewall extending parallel with said axis and being of the same diameter as said one transverse end face, said other transverse end face being disposed in a plane perpendicular to said axis and being circular and of the same diameter as said one transverse end face and said sidewall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising a central recess in each of said transverse end faces and means within each said recess including bearing means and yieldable resilient means, said means within each said recess being operable when said capturing portions are in said one condition to promote free rotation of said element with respect to said second portion of said mechanism and to lodge more fully into the corresponding recess when said capturing portions are in said another condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 5, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising each said bearing means being a circular array of bearings concentric with said axis, an annular bearing race between said array of bearings and the corresponding yieldable resilient means, each said yieldable resilient means being disposed between the corresponding annular bearing race and a wall of the corresponding recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising each said yieldable means comprising a compressible, resilient annular element concentric with the corresponding circular bearing array and annular bearing race.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising said capturing portions being adjustable via a screw thread connection which is concentric with said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising said element comprising said transverse end walls thereof being disposed in planes perpendicular to said axis, said capturing portions comprising walls perpendicular to said axes which are relatively axially positionable to forcefully abut said transverse end walls of said element when said capturing portions are in said another condition, and said recesses comprising central circular bores in said transverse end walls of said element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 9, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising said second portion thereof comprising a main body and said axially capturing means including as one of said capturing portions a transverse wall disposed in fixed relation on said main body, said capturing means also including a separate element connected with said main body by said screw thread connection and having a transverse wall as another of said capturing portions so that threading of said separate element with respect to said main body is effective to axially move said transverse walls of said main body and said separate element toward and away from each other to adjust said axially capturing means to said conditions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 10, said linearly infinitely variable mechanism coaprising apertures in both said transverse walls of said axially capturing means in alignment with said axis, said first portion of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism including a shaft extending axially through both said apertures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 11, said first-mentioned element comprising a central aperture which is in alignment with the apertures of said transverse walls of said axially capturing means, said shaft also extending axially through said aperture of said first mentioned element, said operative coupling between said first portion of said linearly infinitely variable mechanism and said first-mentioned element being provided between said first-mentioned element and said shaft where the latter passes through the aperture of the former.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
444 words
A linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising first and second portions which are relatively positionable along a linear axis to establish an effective length which is infinitely variable over a given range along said axis, and means operatively coupling said first and second portions and selectively operable to plural conditions, one condition permitting relative axial positioning of said first and second portions to establish a desired effective length and another condition preventing relative axial positioning of said first and second portions, said means operatively coupling said first and second portions comprising an annular element concentric with said axis and means axially capturing said element on said second portion, said means axially capturing said element on said second portion comprising relatively axially positionable transverse walls having faces axially confronting said element, said element having transverse end faces at opposite axial ends thereof confronting said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls, said axially capturing means and said element being constructed and arranged such that in said one condition said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls are axially spaced apart to permit relative rotation about said axis between said element and said second portion and in said another condition said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls forcefully axially abut and frictionally engage said end faces of said element to prevent relative rotation about said axis between said element said said second portion, means operatively coupling said first portion and said element such that in said another condition axial forces applied to said mechanism urging a change in its effective length are ineffective to change the effective length unless accompanied by a correlative rotational component of motion between said element and said first portion and in said one condition axial forces applied to said mechanism urging a change in its effective length are effective to change the effective length only if there is no said correlative rotational component of motion between said element and said first portion, means defining a recess between at least one of said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls and the correpsonding end face of said element abutted thereby in said another condition, and means disposed within said recess including bearing means and yieldable resilient means, said bearing means being urged by said yieldable resilient means to provide bearing support to promote free rotation of said element with respect to said second portion in said one condition, said yieldable resilient means yielding in said another condition so as to allow said bearing means to be disposed more fully in said recess when said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls are in abutment with said transverse end faces of said element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
444 words
A linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising first and second portions which are relatively positionable along a linear axis to establish an effective length which is infinitely variable over a given range along said axis, and means operatively coupling said first and second portions and selectively operable to plural conditions, one condition permitting relative axial positioning of said first and second portions to establish a desired effective length and another condition preventing relative axial positioning of said first and second portions, said means operatively coupling said first and second portions comprising an annular element concentric with said axis and means axially capturing said element on said second portion, said means axially capturing said element on said second portion comprising relatively axially positionable transverse walls having faces axially confronting said element, said element having transverse end faces at opposite axial ends thereof confronting said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls, said axially capturing means and said element being constructed and arranged such that in said one condition said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls are axially spaced apart to permit relative rotation about said axis between said element and said second portion and in said another condition said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls forcefully axially abut and frictionally engage said end faces of said element to prevent relative rotation about said axis between said element said said second portion, means operatively coupling said first portion and said element such that in said another condition axial forces applied to said mechanism urging a change in its effective length are ineffective to change the effective length unless accompanied by a correlative rotational component of motion between said element and said first portion and in said one condition axial forces applied to said mechanism urging a change in its effective length are effective to change the effective length only if there is no said correlative rotational component of motion between said element and said first portion, means defining a recess between at least one of said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls and the correpsonding end face of said element abutted thereby in said another condition, and means disposed within said recess including bearing means and yieldable resilient means, said bearing means being urged by said yieldable resilient means to provide bearing support to promote free rotation of said element with respect to said second portion in said one condition, said yieldable resilient means yielding in said another condition so as to allow said bearing means to be disposed more fully in said recess when said faces of said relatively positionable transverse walls are in abutment with said transverse end faces of said element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A linearly infinitely variable mechanism as set forth in claim 13 wherein said recess in disposed in said element as a bore concentric with said axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A linearly infinitely variable mechanism as set forth in claim 14 wherein said yieldable resilient means comprises an annular member within said bore and said bearing means comprises an annular race member disposed against said annular member and a circular array of bearing balls disposed between said race member and the corresponding face of said relatively positionable transverse walls.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
A linearly infinitely variable mechanism as set forth in claim 13 in which said second portion comprises a main body having a fixed transverse wall constituting one of said relatively positionable transverse walls and another of said relatively positionable transverse walls is constituted by an axial wall of a separate cap element, said separate cap element and said main body having a screw thread connection such that the two are relatively rotatable about said axis to relatively position said relatively positionable transverse walls and hence selectively operate said mechanism to said one and said another conditions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A linearly infinitely variable mechanism as set forth in claim 16 including a helical coiled spring disposed concentrically around said mechanism and operatively coupled between said main body and said cap to urge said cap toward said another condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
460 words
A linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising first and second portions which are relatively positionable along a linear axis to establish an effective length which is infinitely variable over a given range along said axis, and means operatively coupling said first and second portions and selectively operable to plural conditions, one condition permitting relative axial positioning of said first and second portions to establish a desired effective length and another condition preventing relative axial positioning of said first and second portions, said means operatively coupling said first and second portions comprising an annular element concentric with said axis and means axially capturing said element on said second portion, said means axially capturing said element on said second portion comprising relatively axially positionable surfaces, said axially capturing means and said element being constructed and arranged such that in said one condition said relatively axially positionable surfaces are axially spaced apart to permit relative rotation about said axis between said element and said second portion and in said another condition said relatively axially positionable surfaces forcefully axially abut and frictionally engage said element to prevent relative rotation about said axis between said element and said second portion, means operatively coupling said first portion and said element such that in said another condition axial forces applied to said mechanism urging a change in its effective length are ineffective to change the effective length unless accompanied by a correlative rotational component of motion between said element and said first portion and in said one condition axial forces applied to said mechanism urging a change in its effective length are effective to change the effective length only if there is no said correlative rotational component of motion between said element and said first portion, said element having transverse end faces at axial ends thereof and said means axially capturing said element on said second portion comprises said axially positionable surfaces being disposed coaxial with said element and confronting said transverse end faces for selective coaction therewith to prevent and permit relative rotation about said axis between said element and said second portion, and further including means defining a recess between at least one of said relatively axially positionable surfaces and the corresponding end face of said element confronted thereby, and means disposed within said recess including bearing means and yieldable resilient means, said bearing means being urged by said yieldable resilient means to provide bearing support to promote free rotation of said element with respect to said second portion in said one condition, said yieldable resilient means yielding in said another condition so as to allow said bearing means to be disposed more fully in said recess when said relatively axially positionable surfaces coact with said element to prevent rotation thereof relative to said second portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
460 words
A linearly infinitely variable mechanism comprising first and second portions which are relatively positionable along a linear axis to establish an effective length which is infinitely variable over a given range along said axis, and means operatively coupling said first and second portions and selectively operable to plural conditions, one condition permitting relative axial positioning of said first and second portions to establish a desired effective length and another condition preventing relative axial positioning of said first and second portions, said means operatively coupling said first and second portions comprising an annular element concentric with said axis and means axially capturing said element on said second portion, said means axially capturing said element on said second portion comprising relatively axially positionable surfaces, said axially capturing means and said element being constructed and arranged such that in said one condition said relatively axially positionable surfaces are axially spaced apart to permit relative rotation about said axis between said element and said second portion and in said another condition said relatively axially positionable surfaces forcefully axially abut and frictionally engage said element to prevent relative rotation about said axis between said element and said second portion, means operatively coupling said first portion and said element such that in said another condition axial forces applied to said mechanism urging a change in its effective length are ineffective to change the effective length unless accompanied by a correlative rotational component of motion between said element and said first portion and in said one condition axial forces applied to said mechanism urging a change in its effective length are effective to change the effective length only if there is no said correlative rotational component of motion between said element and said first portion, said element having transverse end faces at axial ends thereof and said means axially capturing said element on said second portion comprises said axially positionable surfaces being disposed coaxial with said element and confronting said transverse end faces for selective coaction therewith to prevent and permit relative rotation about said axis between said element and said second portion, and further including means defining a recess between at least one of said relatively axially positionable surfaces and the corresponding end face of said element confronted thereby, and means disposed within said recess including bearing means and yieldable resilient means, said bearing means being urged by said yieldable resilient means to provide bearing support to promote free rotation of said element with respect to said second portion in said one condition, said yieldable resilient means yielding in said another condition so as to allow said bearing means to be disposed more fully in said recess when said relatively axially positionable surfaces coact with said element to prevent rotation thereof relative to said second portion.
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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) | 1989-05-19 | 1989-11-18 | 1990-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-19 | 1993-11-18 | 1994-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-19 | 1997-11-18 | 1998-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |