Spacer and parts attachment device

• US 6,666,615 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated, Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated, Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Jun, Hirai, Masayuki, Mukouyama, Satoshi, Onuma, Kiyoshi, Araki, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Ruth C.
• Application Number:
  US09/933,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 403/374--37, 403/388, 403/409.1, 745/75, 745/77.S, 745/77.SF, 745/77.M, 745/77.R, 242/608.5, 242/608.6
• US Class Current: 403/374.4
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/009 with a wedging effect in order to adjust the height of the washer
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0233 allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7064 by wedge or cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7066 having actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7067 Threaded actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7069 Axially oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/76 having a cam, wedge, or tapered portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2102 Adjustable

Abstract

A spacer includes a first cam having an inclined cam surface and a second cam having an inclined cam surface. The overall length of the two cams can be changed by contacting the cam surfaces together to move the cams relative to each other.

Claims

1. A spacer for adjusting a spacing between a TV receiver cabinet and a cathode ray tube or CRT having a member, the spacer comprising:

a first cam having a first inclined cam surface and a first cylindrical portion;

a second cam having a second inclined cam surface abutting on the first inclined cam surface and a second cylindrical portion fitted on the first cylindrical portion;

a ratchet means comprising engaging teeth provided on a peripheral wall of the first cam and a pawl provided on a peripheral wall of the second cam, the pawl engaging with the engaging teeth of the ratchet means;

a torque limiter provided on a threaded engaging portion of the second cam, the torque limiter engaging with a fixing screw; and

coupling means between the first and second cams for coupling the first and second cams together at least in an initial state of the first and second cams, the coupling means including a pawl located on the first cam and teeth located on the pawl of the second cam;

wherein a torque of a screwing action of the fixing screw relative to the threaded engaging portion is larger than a ratchet torque of the ratchet means,

whereby relative movement between the first and second cams changes an overall length of the first and second cams, and

when rotation of the fixing screw in the threaded engaging portion brings one of the first and second cams into contact with the member of the CRT, the torque limiter functions to screw the fixing screw into the threaded engaging portion.

2. A spacer for adjusting a spacing between a TV receiver cabinet and a cathode ray tube or CRT having a member, the spacer comprising:

a first cam having a first inclined cam surface and a first cylindrical portion;

a second cam having a second inclined cam surface abutting on the first inclined cam surface and a second cylindrical portion fitted on the first cylindrical portion;

a ratchet means comprising engaging teeth provided on the first inclined cam surface and a pawl provided on the second inclined cam surface, the pawl engaging with the engaging teeth;

a torque limiter provided on a threaded engaging portion of the second cam, the torque limiter engaging with a fixing screw; and

coupling means between the first and second cams for coupling the first and second cams together at least in an initial state of the first and second cams, the coupling means including a pawl located on the first cam and teeth located on the pawl of the second cam;

wherein a torque of a screwing action of the fixing screw relative to the threaded engaging portion is larger than a ratchet torque of the ratchet means, and

whereby relative movement between the first and second cams changes an overall length of the spacer, and

when rotation of the fixing screw into the threaded engaging portion brings the second cam into contact with the member of the CRT, the fixing screw is fully screwed into the torque limiter of the threaded engaging portion of the second cam.

3. A structure for attaching a cathode ray tube or CRT, having a member, to a TV receiver cabinet, the structure comprising:

a first cam having a first inclined cam surface and a first cylindrical portion;

a second cam having a second inclined cam surface abutting on the first inclined cam surface and a second cylindrical portion fitted on the first cylindrical portion;

a ratchet means comprising engaging teeth provided on a peripheral wall of the first cam and a pawl provided on a peripheral wall of the second cam, the pawl engaging with the engaging teeth of the ratchet means;

a torque limiter provided on a threaded engaging portion of the second cam, the torque limiter engaging with a fixing screw; and

coupling means between the first and second cams for coupling the first and second cams together at least in an initial state of the first and second cams, the coupling means including a pawl located on the first cam and teeth located on the pawl of the second cam,

wherein a torque of a screwing action of the fixing screw relative to the threaded engaging portion is larger than a ratchet torque of the ratchet means,

whereby relative movement between the first and second cams changes an overall length of the spacer, and

when rotation of the fixing screw into the threaded engaging portion brings the second cam into contact with the member of the CRT, the fixing screw is fully screwed into the torque limiter of the threaded engaging portion of the second cam.

4. A structure for attaching a cathode ray tube or CRT, having a member, to a TV receiver cabinet, the structure comprising:

a first cam having a first inclined cam surface and a first cylindrical portion;

a second cam having a second inclined cam surface abutting on the first inclined cam surface and a second cylindrical portion fitted on the first cylindrical portion;

a ratchet means comprising engaging teeth provided on the first inclined cam surface and a pawl provided on the second inclined cam surface, the pawl engaging with the engaging teeth of the ratchet means;

a torque limiter provided on a threaded engaging portion of the second cam, the torque limiter engaging with a fixing screw;

coupling means between the first and second cams for coupling the first and second cams together at least in an initial state of the first and second cams, the coupling means including a pawl located on the first cam and teeth located on the pawl of the second cam;

wherein a torque of a screwing action of the fixing screw relative to the threaded engaging portion is larger than a ratchet torque of the ratchet means,

whereby relative movement between the first and second cams changes an overall length of the spacer, and

when rotation of the fixing screw into the threaded engaging portion brings the second cam into contact with the member of the CRT, the fixing screw is fully screwed into the torque limiter of the threaded engaging portion of the second cam.