Locking nut
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A nut fastener, comprising:
- a retaining ring comprising a first rotational retaining member engageable with a shaft thereby preventing relative rotation between said retaining ring and said shaft, a pressure surface adapted to apply longitudinal force to an apparatus, a first longitudinal retaining member, a first torque bearing surface, a first spring abutment surface, and a second rotational retaining member;
a collar comprising a third rotational retaining member engaged with said second rotational retaining member thereby preventing relative rotation between said collar and said retaining ring, a second spring abutment surface, and a fourth rotational retaining member;
a first spring disposed between said first spring abutment surface and said second spring abutment surface, said first spring thereby biasing said collar away from said retaining ring and said collar being longitudinally moveable toward said retaining ring by compressing said first spring; and
,a nut comprising a second longitudinal retaining member engaged with said first longitudinal retaining member thereby preventing said nut and said retaining ring from separating from each other, a second torque bearing surface engaged with said first torque bearing surface thereby translating torque from said nut to said retaining ring, a fifth rotational retaining member engageable with said fourth rotational retaining member thereby resisting relative rotation between said nut and said collar when said collar is biased away from said retaining ring by said first spring, inner threads engageable with external threads on said shaft, and a plurality of wrench bearing surfaces engageable with a tool to rotate said nut;
wherein a force applied to said collar compresses said first spring and moves said collar toward said retaining ring, said fourth rotational retaining member and said fifth rotational retaining member thereby disengaging from each other to allow relative rotation between said nut and said collar;
wherein said retaining ring comprises a third longitudinal retaining member and said collar comprises a fourth longitudinal retaining member, said fourth longitudinal retaining member engaged with said third longitudinal retaining member thereby preventing said collar and said retaining ring from separating from each other, a first spacing between said fifth rotational retaining member and said second longitudinal retaining member of said nut and a second spacing between said fourth rotational retaining member and said fourth longitudinal retaining member of said collar being sized relative thereto such that said fourth and fifth rotational retaining members are disengaged from each other when said first and second longitudinal retaining members are engaged and said third and fourth longitudinal retaining members are engaged, said nut thereby free spinning relative to said collar during initial threading of said nut onto said shaft, and additional threading of said nut onto said shaft as said retaining ring applies force to said apparatus draws said fourth and fifth rotational retaining members into engagement with each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nut fastener is provided for locking the nut to prevent inadvertent loosening of the nut. The nut fastener is particularly useful for tightening a wheel onto an axle. The nut fastener includes a nut, a collar and a retaining ring. The nut is unlocked by pushing on an engagement surface of the collar or by riding ratchet teeth over each other. When the collar is released, the collar locks against the nut to resist rotation of the nut.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A nut fastener, comprising:
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a retaining ring comprising a first rotational retaining member engageable with a shaft thereby preventing relative rotation between said retaining ring and said shaft, a pressure surface adapted to apply longitudinal force to an apparatus, a first longitudinal retaining member, a first torque bearing surface, a first spring abutment surface, and a second rotational retaining member; a collar comprising a third rotational retaining member engaged with said second rotational retaining member thereby preventing relative rotation between said collar and said retaining ring, a second spring abutment surface, and a fourth rotational retaining member; a first spring disposed between said first spring abutment surface and said second spring abutment surface, said first spring thereby biasing said collar away from said retaining ring and said collar being longitudinally moveable toward said retaining ring by compressing said first spring; and
,a nut comprising a second longitudinal retaining member engaged with said first longitudinal retaining member thereby preventing said nut and said retaining ring from separating from each other, a second torque bearing surface engaged with said first torque bearing surface thereby translating torque from said nut to said retaining ring, a fifth rotational retaining member engageable with said fourth rotational retaining member thereby resisting relative rotation between said nut and said collar when said collar is biased away from said retaining ring by said first spring, inner threads engageable with external threads on said shaft, and a plurality of wrench bearing surfaces engageable with a tool to rotate said nut;
wherein a force applied to said collar compresses said first spring and moves said collar toward said retaining ring, said fourth rotational retaining member and said fifth rotational retaining member thereby disengaging from each other to allow relative rotation between said nut and said collar;wherein said retaining ring comprises a third longitudinal retaining member and said collar comprises a fourth longitudinal retaining member, said fourth longitudinal retaining member engaged with said third longitudinal retaining member thereby preventing said collar and said retaining ring from separating from each other, a first spacing between said fifth rotational retaining member and said second longitudinal retaining member of said nut and a second spacing between said fourth rotational retaining member and said fourth longitudinal retaining member of said collar being sized relative thereto such that said fourth and fifth rotational retaining members are disengaged from each other when said first and second longitudinal retaining members are engaged and said third and fourth longitudinal retaining members are engaged, said nut thereby free spinning relative to said collar during initial threading of said nut onto said shaft, and additional threading of said nut onto said shaft as said retaining ring applies force to said apparatus draws said fourth and fifth rotational retaining members into engagement with each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A nut fastener, comprising:
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a retaining ring comprising a first rotational retaining member engageable with a shaft thereby preventing relative rotation between said retaining ring and said shaft, a pressure surface adapted to apply longitudinal force to an apparatus, a first longitudinal retaining member, a first torque bearing surface, a first spring abutment surface, and a second rotational retaining member; a collar comprising a third rotational retaining member engaged with said second rotational retaining member thereby preventing relative rotation between said collar and said retaining ring, a second spring abutment surface, and a fourth rotational retaining member; a first spring disposed between said first spring abutment surface and said second spring abutment surface, said first spring thereby biasing said collar away from said retaining ring and said collar being longitudinally moveable toward said retaining ring by compressing said first spring; and
,a nut comprising a second longitudinal retaining member engaged with said first longitudinal retaining member thereby preventing said nut and said retaining ring from separating from each other, a second torque bearing surface engaged with said first torque bearing surface thereby translating torque from said nut to said retaining ring, a fifth rotational retaining member engageable with said fourth rotational retaining member thereby resisting relative rotation between said nut and said collar when said collar is biased away from said retaining ring by said first spring, inner threads engageable with external threads on said shaft, and a plurality of wrench bearing surfaces engageable with a tool to rotate said nut wherein a force applied to said collar compresses said first spring and moves said collar toward said retaining ring, said fourth rotational retaining member and said fifth rotational retaining member thereby disengaging from each other to allow relative rotation between said nut and said collar; wherein said retaining ring comprises a third spring abutment surface, wherein said third spring abutment surface is an annular ring located at an interior of said retaining ring, and said nut comprises a fourth spring abutment surface, and further comprising a second spring disposed between said third spring abutment surface and said fourth spring abutment surface, said second spring thereby biasing said nut away from said retaining ring and said nut being longitudinally moveable toward said retaining ring and said collar by compressing said second spring; wherein a bias force of said first spring is greater than a bias force of said second spring. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A nut fastener, comprising:
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a retaining ring comprising a first rotational retaining member engageable with a shaft thereby preventing relative rotation between said retaining ring and said shaft, a pressure surface adapted to apply longitudinal force to an apparatus, a first longitudinal retaining member, a first torque bearing surface, a first spring abutment surface, and a second rotational retaining member; a collar comprising a third rotational retaining member engaged with said second rotational retaining member thereby preventing relative rotation between said collar and said retaining ring, a second spring abutment surface, and a fourth rotational retaining member; a first spring disposed between said first spring abutment surface and said second spring abutment surface, said first spring thereby biasing said collar away from said retaining ring and said collar being longitudinally moveable toward said retaining ring by compressing said first spring; and
,a nut comprising a second longitudinal retaining member engaged with said first longitudinal retaining member thereby preventing said nut and said retaining ring from separating from each other, a second torque bearing surface engaged with said first torque bearing surface thereby translating torque from said nut to said retaining ring, a fifth rotational retaining member engageable with said fourth rotational retaining member thereby resisting relative rotation between said nut and said collar when said collar is biased away from said retaining ring by said first spring, inner threads engageable with external threads on said shaft, and a plurality of wrench bearing surfaces engageable with a tool to rotate said nut;
wherein a force applied to said collar compresses said first spring and moves said collar toward said retaining ring, said fourth rotational retaining member and said fifth rotational retaining member thereby disengaging from each other to allow relative rotation between said nut and said collar;wherein said collar comprises a bent portion extending longitudinally toward said retaining ring, an inner surface of said bent portion encompassing an outer circumference of said retaining ring, wherein said third rotational retaining member is disposed along said bent portion and said second rotational retaining member of said retaining ring is disposed along an outer surface thereof; wherein said first spring and said second spring are both circular springs disposed around an axis of said fastener, and a bias force of said first spring is greater than a bias force of said second spring. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification