Patent · US Expired

Radially mounted spring to connect, lock and unlock, and for snap-on fastening, and for mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, and thermal dissipation with environmental sealing

US5545842A · kind A · utility

113Cited by
20References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 26, 1993
Grant dateAug 13, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 26, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T403/7022
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A mechanism for connecting and disconnecting, locking and unlocking, and holding members to one another, including snap-on fasteners, and at the same time providing mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, and thermal dissipation, coupled with environmental sealing, is provided by a cylindrical or elliptical body having a circumferential groove therein and a continuous coil spring disposed therein. A housing, having a bore sized to accommodate the cylindrical, or spherical, body, is provided, and a tapered bottom in the circumferential groove prevents the spring from turning past a vertical line, thus locking or connecting the cylindrical, or spherical, member with the housing or plate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.