Bowed external spring retaining ring of the E-shaped type

Claim 1

A bowed external spring retaining ring of the E-shape type of generally U-shaped cross-section and symmetrically bowed about a line transverse to its longitudinal axis; comprising: a spring steel ring having a discontinuous circumference thereby forming an open ended ring including: a middle section (32), a pair of end sections (34), a pair of intermediate sections (36) interconnecting said middle and end sections; and the end sections (34) each including lugs (37) spaced apart to define an opening (38) located opposite the middle section (32), and a middle prong (39) projecting generally radially inwardly from said middle section (32), with said middle prong (39) and middle section (32) having a combined radial width, said intermediate sections (36) having radial widths each less than the radial width of the lugs (37) and less than the combined radial width of the middle prong (39) and the middle section (32), flats (40, 41) formed in the middle section (32) and the end sections (34) to define the trailing and leading ends of the ring, the flats (40, 41) being mutually coplanar, said flat (40) adjacent said prong (39) terminating short of said prong and being of a radial width less than the combined radial width of the middle section (32) and prong (39) said intermediate sections, said prong and a part of said lugs being bowed about an imaginary transverse line to define concave and convex sides of said ring, said transverse line extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said ring, said end sections having rounded leading edges on said concave side of said ring.