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US 11,122,865 B2Granted
Systems and methods for a rotary closure
AssigneePride Manufacturing Company, LLC
InventorsJohn Robert Burt, Lee Paul Shuttleworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary closure with a latching system that latches together the components of the rotary closure in a snap-fit engagement is disclosed. The latching system includes a latching extension defining first and second legs each defining a respective tang configured for coupling the latching extension to the distal-most keyway for assembling the components of the rotary closure together.
Claims19
A latching system for a rotary closure, comprising:
- a housing defining a body, the body defining an outer casing co-axially surrounding an inner casing with a distal-most keyway formed along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
- a spool component disposed within the housing, the spool component defining a first keyway formed through the spool component and in co-axial alignment and in communication with the distal-most keyway of the housing;
- a snap spring assembly in operative engagement with the spool component and disposed within the housing for controlling a direction of rotation of the spool component, the snap spring assembly defining a second keyway formed through the snap spring assembly and in co-axial alignment and in communication with the first keyway;
- and
- a dial component in operative engagement with the snap spring assembly for rotating the spool component, the dial component comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining a latching extension, wherein the latching extension defines a free end comprising a latching element, the latching element defining a first leg having a first tang and a second leg having a second tang, wherein a slot is defined between the first leg and second leg, wherein the latching extension is configured to be inserted in co-axial alignment through the second keyway of the snap spring assembly, the first keyway of the spool component, and the distal-most keyway of the housing such that the latching extension is coupled with the distal-most keyway.
2 more elements
A method for assembling a latching system of a rotary closure, comprising:
- engaging a snap spring assembly with a spool component, wherein the snap spring assembly and spool component are disposed within a housing;
- inserting a latching extension having a bifurcated tab portion defining a first leg and a second leg through a plurality of coaxially aligned keyways, wherein the first leg and the second leg of the latching extension are forced together as they are pushed into a distal-most keyway of the plurality of coaxially aligned keyways, wherein the latching extension extends axially from the center of a dial component;
- and
- inserting the latching extension through the distal-most keyway such that the bifurcated tab portion of the latching extension extends through the distal-most keyway, wherein a first tang defined by the first leg and a second tang defined by the second leg engage with a shoulder of the distal-most keyway in a snap fit engagement such that the housing, the snap spring assembly, the spool component, and the dial component are latched together.
1 more element
A latching system for a rotary closure, comprising:
- a dial component defining an interior surface, wherein the dial component is configured for manual rotation;
- a latching extension having a free end, wherein the latching extension extends axially from the interior surface of the dial component;
- a latching element formed at the free end of the latching extension, the latching element defining a first leg having a first tang and a second leg having a second tang, wherein a slot is defined between the first leg and second leg;
- and
- a distal-most keyway defined axially through a housing, wherein the distal-most keyway of the housing defines a shoulder;
- wherein the first leg and the second leg of the latching element are forced together as the latching extension is inserted through the distal-most keyway of the housing and wherein the first tang and the second tang engage with the shoulder of the distal-most keyway in a snap fit engagement.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.