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US 12,529,393 B2Granted
Self-locking retaining ring with a dimple locking mechanism
AssigneeSmalley Steel Ring Company
InventorKenneth B. Zuber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-locking retaining ring can include a first turn of flat metal comprising a dimple; and a second turn of flat metal formed over the first turn. A slot is formed within the second turn and is adapted such that the dimple resides within the slot.
Claims16
A self-locking retaining ring comprising:
- a first turn of flat metal comprising a dimple comprising a top with a curved profile;
- and
- a second turn of the flat metal formed over the first turn,
- wherein a slot is formed within the second turn and is at least one and a half times the size of the dimple such that the curved profile of the dimple resides at a portion of the slot and moves within the slot, the slot comprising a mating surface for the curved profile, a contact between the slot and the dimple at the mating surface configured to provide physical interference to restrict an expansion or compression of the ring.
1 more element
A self-locking retaining ring comprising:
- a first turn of flat metal comprising a first dimple comprising a top with a curved profile integrally formed on the flat metal;
- and
- a second turn of the flat metal formed over the first turn, wherein a second dimple is formed within the second turn and is configured to engage the first dimple to lock the retaining ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.