Spring energized segmented-ring latch
First Claim
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1. A latch device comprising:
- a shaft having a surface of revolution defining an insertion surface disposed at an insertion angle with respect to a shaft axis;
a circumferential groove in said shaft disposed proximate said insertion surface;
a housing having a shaft receiving bore therethrough and a torroidal cavity alignable with said circumferential groove;
a garter spring disposed within the cavity; and
a segmented ring comprising a plurality of separate sound producing dogs circumferentially disposed about the housing bore for radial movement within the cavity, said dogs being radially expanded by the insertion surface and radially contracting into said circumferential groove with an audible sound upon latching of said shaft to said housing.
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Abstract
A latch device includes a shaft having a surface of revolution defining an insertion surface disposed at an insertion angle along with a circumferential groove. A housing is provided which includes a shaft receiving bore therethrough and a torroidal cavity with a spring disposed therein. A segmented ring is provided which includes a plurality of separate sound producing dogs circumferentially disposed about the housing bore for latching between the housing and the shaft.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A latch device comprising:
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a shaft having a surface of revolution defining an insertion surface disposed at an insertion angle with respect to a shaft axis;
a circumferential groove in said shaft disposed proximate said insertion surface;
a housing having a shaft receiving bore therethrough and a torroidal cavity alignable with said circumferential groove;
a garter spring disposed within the cavity; and
a segmented ring comprising a plurality of separate sound producing dogs circumferentially disposed about the housing bore for radial movement within the cavity, said dogs being radially expanded by the insertion surface and radially contracting into said circumferential groove with an audible sound upon latching of said shaft to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A latch device comprising:
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a shaft having a surface of revolution defining an insertion surface disposed at an insertion angle with respect to a shaft axis;
a circumferential groove in said shaft disposed proximate said insertion surface;
a housing having a shaft receiving bore therethrough and a torroidal cavity alignable with said circumferential groove;
a garter spring disposed within the cavity;
a segmented ring comprising a plurality of separate sound producing dogs circumferentially disposed about the housing bore for radial movement within the cavity, said dogs being radially expanded by the insertion surface and radially contracting into said circumferential groove with an audible sound upon latching of said shaft to said housing; and
means for enabling position latching between said shaft and said housing with consistent bi-directional connect/disconnect force ratios between approximately 1/1 and 1/20. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification