USRE32878E — Counterbalance device and torsion member usable t…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 193 words

A counterbalance device to act between first and second parts connected to one another to pivot about a first axis, comprising a pair of spaced supports adapted to be secured to said first part and spaced from one another along a second axis spaced from said first axis, socket members secured to said supports, extending toward one another, and having polygonal recesses facing one another along said second axis, a torsion member having ends non-rotatably received in said recesses and extending along said second axis, a sleeve extending between and mounted on said socket members to rotate relative to said socket members about said second axis, said torsion member being freely received within said sleeve, an anchor means inside said sleeve .[.non-rotatably mounted on said torsion member at a point spaced from said socket members, and means operatively connecting said anchor means to said second part.]. .Iadd.and non-rotatably connected to said sleeve and to said torsion member at a first point spaced from said socket members, and means externally non-rotatably mounted on said sleeve at a second point axially spaced from said first point and operatively connecting said sleeve to said second part.Iaddend..

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 193 words

A counterbalance device to act between first and second parts connected to one another to pivot about a first axis, comprising a pair of spaced supports adapted to be secured to said first part and spaced from one another along a second axis spaced from said first axis, socket members secured to said supports, extending toward one another, and having polygonal recesses facing one another along said second axis, a torsion member having ends non-rotatably received in said recesses and extending along said second axis, a sleeve extending between and mounted on said socket members to rotate relative to said socket members about said second axis, said torsion member being freely received within said sleeve, an anchor means inside said sleeve .[.non-rotatably mounted on said torsion member at a point spaced from said socket members, and means operatively connecting said anchor means to said second part.]. .Iadd.and non-rotatably connected to said sleeve and to said torsion member at a first point spaced from said socket members, and means externally non-rotatably mounted on said sleeve at a second point axially spaced from said first point and operatively connecting said sleeve to said second part.Iaddend..

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

In the counterbalance device of claim 1, adaptors non-rotatably received in said socket member recesses and having polygonal second recesses facing one another along said second axis, the ends of said torsion member being non-rotatively received in said second recesses.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The counterbalance of either of claims 1 or 2, in which said anchor means is axially adjustably slidable on said torsion member and is located approxiomately midway between said socket members.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 106 words

The counterbalance of either of claims 1 or 2, in which said sleeve has a central aperture, said anchor means has a periphery generally corresponding to said central aperture to thereby be axially slidably adjustable within said sleeve, said anchor means having a polygonal through opening, and said torsion member is slidably but non-rotatively received within said central through opening, said anchor means being located approximately midway between said socket members. .[.5. In the counterbalanc of either of claims 1 or 2, said means for operatively connecting said anchor means to said second part comprising means non-rotatably connecting said sleeve and said anchor means, and means

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 182 words

operatively connecting said sleeve to said second part..]. 6. A counterbalance device to act between first and second parts articulately connected to one another, comprising a pair of spaced supports adapted to be secured to said first part, socket members secured to said supports, extending toward one another, and having facing polygonal recesses, longitudinally extending lengths of torsion member each having an end nonrotatably received in said recesses respectively, a sleeve extending between and rotatably mounted on said socket members within which said torsion member is freely received, anchor means inside said sleeve non-rotatably mounted on said lengths of torsion members at .Iadd.first .Iaddend.points spaced from said socket members respecctively, an arm extending radially from and non-rotatably secured to said sleeve .Iadd.at a point axially spaced from said first points.Iaddend., a cam adapted to be secured to said second part radially spaced from said sleeve, cam follower means on said arm engaging said cam, and means non-rotatably connecting said sleeve and said anchor means, said torsion member exerting a rotary force on said sleeve in a direction to urge said follower against

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 182 words

operatively connecting said sleeve to said second part..]. 6. A counterbalance device to act between first and second parts articulately connected to one another, comprising a pair of spaced supports adapted to be secured to said first part, socket members secured to said supports, extending toward one another, and having facing polygonal recesses, longitudinally extending lengths of torsion member each having an end nonrotatably received in said recesses respectively, a sleeve extending between and rotatably mounted on said socket members within which said torsion member is freely received, anchor means inside said sleeve non-rotatably mounted on said lengths of torsion members at .Iadd.first .Iaddend.points spaced from said socket members respecctively, an arm extending radially from and non-rotatably secured to said sleeve .Iadd.at a point axially spaced from said first points.Iaddend., a cam adapted to be secured to said second part radially spaced from said sleeve, cam follower means on said arm engaging said cam, and means non-rotatably connecting said sleeve and said anchor means, said torsion member exerting a rotary force on said sleeve in a direction to urge said follower against

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

said cam. 7. The counterbalance device of claim 6, in which said torsion member lengths are defined by a single longitudinally continuous

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

structure. 8. The counterbalance device of claim 6, in which said first and second parts are connected to one another to pivot about a first axis, said torsion member and said sleeve extending along a second axis radially

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

spaced from said first axis. 9. The counterbalance of either of claims 6 or 8, in which there are two sets of arms, cams and cam followers axially

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 39 words

spaced from one another along the axis of said sleeve. 10. The counterbalance of either of claims 6 or 8, in which there are two sets of arms, cams and cam followers axially spaced from one another along the

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

axis of said sleeve and axially spaced from said anchor means. 11. The counterbalance of either of claims 6 or 8, in which there are two sets of arms, cams and cam followers axially spaced from one another along the axis of said sleeve and axially spaced from said anchor means, said arms

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

being axially adjustably positionable along said sleeve. 12. The counterbalance of either of claims 6 or 8, in which there are two sets of arms, cams and cam followers axially spaced from one another along the axis of said sleeve, said arms being axially adjustably positionable along

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

said sleeve. 13. In the counterbalance device of either of claims 6 or 8, adaptors non-rotatably received in said socket member recesses and having polygonal second recesses facing one another, the ends of said torsion

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 261 words

member being non-rotatably received in said second recesses. 14. A mechanism including a first member and a second member and a pivotal connection securing said members together for relative movement about a pivotal axis, and a torsion-spring mechanism for providing spring bias between said members about said pivotal axis, said torsion-spring mechanism including (a) first and second bearings secured to said first member at spaced-apart locations, said first and second bearings being mutually aligned along a torsion spring axis parallel to said pivotal axis, (b) an elongated tube coaxial with said torsion spring axis and having opposite ends pivotally supported by said first and second bearings, respectively, (c) an elongated torsion spring unit extending along said torsion spring axis and contained in said tube, said first bearing including means for fixing a first portion of said torsion spring unit at an end thereof against turning about said torsion spring axis relative to said first member, and means acting on a second portion of said torsion spring unit spaced substantially along said torsion spring axis from said first bearing for securing said second portion against turning relative to said tube, and (d) cam means including a cam secured to said second member and a cooperating cam-follower arm projecting from said tube and secured thereto for applying spring bias between said first and second members as developed by said torsion spring unit and modified by said cam means.Iadd., (e) said cam-follower arm being located on said tube at a point axially spaced from said means acting on a second portion of said torsion

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 261 words

member being non-rotatably received in said second recesses. 14. A mechanism including a first member and a second member and a pivotal connection securing said members together for relative movement about a pivotal axis, and a torsion-spring mechanism for providing spring bias between said members about said pivotal axis, said torsion-spring mechanism including (a) first and second bearings secured to said first member at spaced-apart locations, said first and second bearings being mutually aligned along a torsion spring axis parallel to said pivotal axis, (b) an elongated tube coaxial with said torsion spring axis and having opposite ends pivotally supported by said first and second bearings, respectively, (c) an elongated torsion spring unit extending along said torsion spring axis and contained in said tube, said first bearing including means for fixing a first portion of said torsion spring unit at an end thereof against turning about said torsion spring axis relative to said first member, and means acting on a second portion of said torsion spring unit spaced substantially along said torsion spring axis from said first bearing for securing said second portion against turning relative to said tube, and (d) cam means including a cam secured to said second member and a cooperating cam-follower arm projecting from said tube and secured thereto for applying spring bias between said first and second members as developed by said torsion spring unit and modified by said cam means.Iadd., (e) said cam-follower arm being located on said tube at a point axially spaced from said means acting on a second portion of said torsion

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 59 words

spring.Iaddend.. 15. A mechanism as in claim 14, wherein said elongated torsion spring unit has a third portion at the end of said unit remote from said first portion and spaced substantially along said torsion spring axis from said second portion, wherein said second bearing includes means for fixing said third portion of the torsion spring unit against turning

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 92 words

about the torsion spring axis relative to said first member. 16. A mechanism as in claim 14, further including a second elongated torsion spring unit contained in said tube, said second bearing including means fixing a first portion of said second torsion spring unit against turning about said torsion spring axis relative to said first member, and means acting on a second portion of said second torsion spring unit spaced substantially from said second bearing for securing said second portion of said second torsion spring unit against turning relative to said tube.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 68 words

A mechanism as in claim 14 wherein said elongated torsion spring unit comprises a bundle of rods each of which has a regular polygonal cross-section and wherein each of said means for securing said first and second portions against turning includes a respective socket having a cavity that receives a respective portion of the bundle of rods, the cross-section of each cavity having facets that bear against respective

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 84 words

facets of at least certain of the polygonal rods. 18. A mechanism as in claim 15, wherein said elongated torsion spring unit comprises a bundle of rods each of which has a regular polygonal cross-section and wherein each of said means for securing said first, second and third portions of the torsion spring unit against turning includes a respective socket having a cavity that receives a respective portion of the bundle of rods, the cross-section of each cavity having facets that bear against respective

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 87 words

facets of at least certain of the polygonal rods. 19. A mechanism as in claim 16, wherein each of said torsion spring units comprises a bundle of rods each of which has a regular polygonal cross-section and wherein the means for securing each of the first and second portions of each of said torsion spring units, respectively, against turning includes a respective socket having a cavity that receives a respective portion of one of said bundles of rods, the cross-section of each cavity having facets that bear

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 82 words

against respective facets of certain of the polygonal rods. 20. A mechanism as in any of claims 14-16, wherein said cam means includes a second cam secured to said second member and a second cooperating cam-follower arm projecting from said tube and secured thereto, said cam and its cooperating cam follower being spaced along said tube far from said second cam and said second cam follower in a balanced construction wherein said cam-follower arms are constrained by said tube to move in

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 155 words

coordination with each other. 21. A torsion spring device including an elongated tube, a pair of bearing members aligned with each other along the axis of the tube and cooperating with opposite ends of said tube to provide bearing support for the tube, said bearings being adapted to be secured non-rotatably to an external member, said members having respective sockets that provide cavities opening toward each other, torsion spring means comprising bundled rods of regular polygonal cross-section extending axially inside said tube and having opposite end portions received non-rotatably in the cavities of said sockets, means disposed between and spaced substantially from both of said sockets for securing said tube to said bundled rods, thereby developing two lengths of bundled rods extending between said tube and said sockets, and means secured to said tube for developing torsion in said bundled rods.Iadd., said means being secured to said tube at a point axially spaced from said

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 155 words

coordination with each other. 21. A torsion spring device including an elongated tube, a pair of bearing members aligned with each other along the axis of the tube and cooperating with opposite ends of said tube to provide bearing support for the tube, said bearings being adapted to be secured non-rotatably to an external member, said members having respective sockets that provide cavities opening toward each other, torsion spring means comprising bundled rods of regular polygonal cross-section extending axially inside said tube and having opposite end portions received non-rotatably in the cavities of said sockets, means disposed between and spaced substantially from both of said sockets for securing said tube to said bundled rods, thereby developing two lengths of bundled rods extending between said tube and said sockets, and means secured to said tube for developing torsion in said bundled rods.Iadd., said means being secured to said tube at a point axially spaced from said

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 58 words

means for securing said tube to said bundled rods.Iaddend.. 22. A torsion spring device as in claim 21, wherein said bundled rods extend continuously between said opposite end portions and wherein said means for securing said tube to said bundled rods comprises at least one member fixed nonrotatably to said tube and having a passage through which said

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 91 words

bundled rods extend nonrotatably relative to said tube. 23. A torsion spring device as in claim 21, wherein said bundled rods are divided into two endwise aligned torsion spring units each having an end portion received in a respective one of said sockets as aforesaid, and wherein said means for securing said tube to said bundled rods comprises a pair of anchor members secured non-rotatably to said tube and each of said anchor members having an opening that receives non-rotatably a portion of a respective one of said torsion spring units.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-02-28	1992-08-29	1993-02-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-02-28	1996-08-29	1997-02-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-02-28	2000-08-29	2001-02-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Counterbalance device and torsion member usable therein

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag