Locknut
OwnerDaniel John Spriggelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locknut includes a nut body having a threaded through opening therein extending between a first end and a second end. A pocket is defined within the second end of the nut body. A spring member having a generally rectangularly shaped cross-section disposed within the pocket includes a pair of leg members joined together by an apex member. The leg members define locking surfaces. The locking surfaces exert pressure on the externally threaded member at spaced-apart radial locations to develop a locking force between the nut body and the externally threaded member.
Claims22
A locknut for engaging an externally threaded member, comprising:
- a nut body having a first and a second end, said nut body defining a threaded through opening therein sized to receive the externally threaded member, the second end of said nut body defining a pocket therein, the pocket comprising a first mating surface and a second mating surface, the second mating surface being disposed at an angle with respect to the first mating surface;
- and
- a spring member having a generally rectangularly-shaped cross section disposed within the pocket of said nut body, said spring member comprising at least a first leg member, a second leg member, a first end member extending from the first leg member, and a second end member extending from the second leg member, the first and second leg members joined together by an apex member, the apex member being received by the first and second mating surfaces of the pocket, the first and second leg members defining respective first and second locking surfaces so that when the externally threaded member is threaded into the threaded through opening defined by said nut body the first and second locking surfaces contact the externally threaded member at respective first and second spaced-apart radial locations wherein at least the first and second leg members are elastically displaced by contact between the externally threaded member and the first and second locking surfaces to develop a locking force between said nut body and the externally threaded member.
A method of making a lock nut for engaging an externally threaded member, comprising:
- providing a nut body blank;
- forming the nut body blank into a nut body, the nut body comprising:
- a first, a second end, and a threaded through opening therein sized to receive an externally threaded member, the second end of the nut body defining a pocket therein, the pocket comprising a first mating surface and a second mating surface, the second mating surface being disposed at an angle with respect to the first mating surface;
- providing a spring member blank;
- forming the spring member blank into a spring member comprising at least a first leg member, a second leg member, a first end member extending from the first leg member, and a second end member extending from the second leg member, the first and second leg members joined together by an apex member, the first and second leg members defining respective first and second locking surfaces;
- and
- positioning the spring member into the pocket so that the first and second mating surfaces comprising the pocket receive the apex member of the spring member and so that when the externally threaded member is threaded into the threaded through opening defined by the nut body the first and second locking surfaces of the spring member are elastically displaced and press against the externally threaded member at respective first and second spaced-apart radial locations and develop a locking force between the nut body and the externally threaded member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.