Locking assembly for rotary shafts
US7700902B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 16, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/604
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A locking assembly has a base and a rotary shaft which is capable of rotating relative to the base. The rotary shaft has a shaft body and a set of capture portions supported by the shaft body. The locking assembly further includes a set of detention mechanisms supported by the base. The set of detention mechanisms is arranged to (i) initially apply retention force to the set of capture portions to provide resistance against rotation of the rotary shaft from an initial angular position, and (ii) remove application of the retention force from the set of capture portions in response to an amount of rotational torque on the rotary shaft. The amount of rotational torque on the rotary shaft exceeds a predetermined threshold and is sufficient to substantially rotate the rotary shaft from the initial angular position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.