Patent US4852425A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4852425A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable length rod assembly having locking adjustment mechanism
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1987-12-28
•
Granted: 1989-08-01
•
Expires: 2007-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A rod connecting mechanical attachments whose positions in space and distances between each other are variable includes a rod carrying a grommet engageable by a pin located on one of the attachments and a pin formed on an adjustable member adapted to engage a grommet or other suitable mechanical attachment. The rod is connected to a housing by way of tangs located in rectangular slots, whereby the axial and angular position of the rod and housing are established. An adjuster is biased by a spring so that a tang formed on the adjuster contacts the end of a slotted hole formed in the housing. A lock has flexible legs extending downward into contact with stops and detents formed on the housing, and includes teeth formed on an inner bore adapted to engage teeth formed on the adjuster. Rotation of the lock causes the lock to engage the adjuster and to establish the axial position of the adjuster relative to the housing and lower attachment.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond Stocker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:48
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B7/00; F16B7/10; F16B7/105; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32254; Y10T403/32426; Y10T403/32434; Y10T403/32442; Y10T403/32451; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20468; Y10T74/20474; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2142; Y10T74/2151
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A connecting device having an adjustable length, comprising: an adjuster adapted to support a component of a first mechanical attachment thereon; first engageable means extending along a portion of the length of the adjuster; a housing adapted to support a component of a second mechanical attachment thereon; alignment means for fixing the angular position of the housing relative to the adjuster and permitting the axial position of the housing to vary relative to the adjuster; and locking means having second engageable means for fixing the axial position of the adjuster relative to the housing by mutual engagement of the first and second engageable means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A connecting device having an adjustable length, comprising: an adjuster adapted to support a component of a first mechanical attachment thereon; first engageable means extending along a portion of the length of the adjuster; a housing adapted to support a component of a second mechanical attachment thereon; alignment means for fixing the angular position of the housing relative to the adjuster and permitting the axial position of the housing to vary relative to the adjuster; and locking means having second engageable means for fixing the axial position of the adjuster relative to the housing by mutual engagement of the first and second engageable means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means biasing the adjuster axially away from the housing and wherein the alignment means limits axial movement of the adjuster relative to the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the locking means is connectable to the housing at a fixed axial position and is supported rotatably on the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means for releasably holding the locking means in a locked and an unlocked position relative to the adjuster.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the locking means includes a first leg engageable with the holding means, and the holding means includes: a first stop extending radially outward from the housing and contactable by the first leg while the first and second engageable means are disengaged; a second stop extending radially outward from the housing; and a first detent located adjacent the second stop and angularly spaced therefrom to receive the first leg in the space therebetween while the first and second engageable means are engaged mutually.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the locking means includes a second leg engageable with the holding means, and wherein the holding means furhter includes: a second detent extending radially from the housing, located between the first and second stops and engageable with the second leg as the locking means rotates between positions where the first and second engageable means are engaged and disengaged.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the locking means includes a first leg engageable with the holding means, and holding means further including a which includes: a first stop extending radially outward from the housing and contactable by the first leg while the first and second engageable means are disengaged; a second stop extending radially outward from the housing; and a first detent located adjacent the second stop and angularly spaced therefrom to receive the first leg in the space therebetween while the first and second engageable means are engaged mutually.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the locking means includes a second leg engageable with the holding means, and wherein the holding means further includes: a second detent extending radially from the housing, located between the first and second stops and engageable with the second leg as the locking means rotates between positions where the first and second engageable means are engaged and disengaged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the locking means includes a first leg engageable with the holding means, and holding means further including a which includes: a first stop extending radially outward from the housing and contactable by the first leg while the first and second engageable means are disengaged; a second stop extending radially outward from the housing; and a first detent located adjacent the second stop and angularly spaced therefrom to receive the first leg in the space therebetween while the first and second engageable means are engaged mutually.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the locking means includes a second leg engageable with the holding means, and wherein the holding means further includes: a second detent extending radially from the housing, located between the first and second stops and engageable with the second leg as the locking means rotates between positions where the first and second engageable means are engaged and disengaged.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
149 words
A device having an adjustable length, extending between and connecting two mechanical attachments separated by an undefined or variable distance, comprising: a rod having a component of a first mechanical attachment supported thereon; an adjuster having a component of a second mechanical attachment supported thereon, and engageable means extending along the length of the adjuster; a housing located between the rod and the adjuster, having means for fixing the angular position of the housing relative to the adjuster and permitting a variable axial position of the housing relative to the adjuster; means for connecting at a fixed angular and axial position the housing and the rod; means biasing the adjuster axially away from the housing; and locking means connected to the housing at a fixed axial position and supported rotatably on the housing for connecting the adjuster and the housing by engagement with the engageable means of the adjuster.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
149 words
A device having an adjustable length, extending between and connecting two mechanical attachments separated by an undefined or variable distance, comprising: a rod having a component of a first mechanical attachment supported thereon; an adjuster having a component of a second mechanical attachment supported thereon, and engageable means extending along the length of the adjuster; a housing located between the rod and the adjuster, having means for fixing the angular position of the housing relative to the adjuster and permitting a variable axial position of the housing relative to the adjuster; means for connecting at a fixed angular and axial position the housing and the rod; means biasing the adjuster axially away from the housing; and locking means connected to the housing at a fixed axial position and supported rotatably on the housing for connecting the adjuster and the housing by engagement with the engageable means of the adjuster.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2395332A
Cited
US2550018A
Cited
DE815436C
Cited
US2751794A
Cited
US2805584A
Cited
US3132532A
Cited
US3078738A
Cited
US3496800A
Cited
US3572159A
Cited
US3587341A
Cited
GB1359860A
Cited
US4422242A
Cited
US4669330A
Cited
US4693137A
Cited
US4656668A
Cited
US4762017A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-01-30 | 1993-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-31 | 1997-01-30 | 1997-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-31 | 2001-01-30 | 2001-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |