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US 12,618,430 B2Granted
Unitary piece dual lock split washer
AssigneeWoodside Energy Technologies Pty Ltd
InventorsTimothy Adam Byrne, Henry Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A washer includes a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material and having a split extending between an inner circumferential edge and a radially outer peripheral edge to provide the body with first and second ends. One end has circumferentially extending and radially spaced fingers, and the other end has circumferentially extending and radially spaced fingers. A joint structure is integrally formed with the first and second ends. The joint structure includes a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism. The second locking mechanism is only engageable after the first locking mechanism is fully engaged.
Claims17
A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising:
- a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends;
- and
- a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged;
- wherein the joint structure includes:
- first and second fingers radially spaced by a first gap and extending circumferentially from the first end;
- and, first and second fingers radially spaced by a second gap and extending circumferentially from the second end wherein when in the engaged state one finger of each end fits in the gap between the two fingers of the other end.
3 more elements
A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising:
- a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends;
- and
- a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged;
- wherein:
- the joint structure includes first and second fingers radially spaced by a first gap and extending circumferentially from the first end, and first and second fingers radially spaced by a second gap and extending circumferentially from the second end wherein when in the engaged state one finger of each end fits in the gap between the two fingers of the other end;
- and
- one of a first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a protrusion extending in a generally radial direction and another of the first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a recess for receiving the protrusion.
4 more elements
A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising:
- a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends;
- and
- a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged;
- wherein:
- the first locking mechanism has a first part on the first finger extending from the first end and a second part on the second finger extending from the second end;
- a first part of the second locking mechanism is carried on the second finger extending from the second end;
- a second part of the second locking mechanism is on the second finger extending from the first end;
- and
- one of the first part and the second part of the second locking mechanism is a protrusion extending in a generally radial direction and another of the first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a recess for receiving the protrusion.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.