Ring shaped spring device

A spring device comprising a pair of spaced-apart first and second annular support plates defining a ring with a central axis;

• a plurality of circumferentially spaced, parallel oriented coil springs disposed between said annular plates and having associated therewith a free-state height for said coil springs, said coil spring being coiled about a spring axis which defines a spring center passage;
• and, a plurality of lock assemblies located at circumferentially spaced positions around said ring, each of said lock assemblies being within one of said center passages and including a first tab extending from one of said plates toward a distal end facing the other of said plates, a second tab extending from said other of said plates toward said one of said plates, said distal end being curved to form a hook having a width and which faces said second tab, said second tab having a locking slot with a given width greater than said hook width and extending in a direction perpendicular to said plates, said hook extending through said slot to allow said plates move toward and away from each other to compress and/or release said coil springs, said hook engaging said slot to prevent said coil springs from reaching said free-state height.

A spring device comprising a pair of spaced-apart first and second annular support plates defining a ring with a central ring axis;

• a plurality of circumferentially spaced, parallel oriented coil springs disposed between said annular plates and having associated therewith a free-state height for said coil springs;
• and, a plurality of lock assemblies located at circumferentially spaced positions around said ring, each of said lock assemblies including a first tab extending from one of said plates toward a distal end facing the other of said plates, a second tab extending from said other of said plates toward said one of said plates, said distal end being curved to form a hook having a width and which faces said second tab, said second tab having a locking slot with a given width generally matching, but slightly larger than said hook width and extending in a direction perpendicular to said plates and said hook extending through said slot to allow said plates to move toward and away from each other to compress and/or release said coil springs, said hook engaging said slot to prevent said coil springs from reaching said free-state height, and to prevent relative rotation between said annular plates about said ring axis.

A spring device comprising an annular support plate defining a ring with a central ring axis;

• a plurality of circumferentially spaced, parallel oriented coil springs disposed on one side of said annular plate and having associated therewith a free-state height for said coil springs, each of said coil springs including a first end engaging said one side and a second end spaced from said one side, said each spring being formed by a unitary wire coiled about a spring axis between said first and second ends which defines a spring center passage, said each spring further including a wire extension formed by said unitary wire which extends from said second end into said center passage toward said first end, said extension having a spring hook;
• and, a plurality of tabs located at circumferentially spaced positions around said ring, each of said tabs extending from said plate into said center passage of a respective said each spring and has a guide slot extending in a direction perpendicular to said plate, said spring hook extending through said slot to maintain said each spring relative to said plate and to prevent said each spring from reaching said free-state height.

A spring device comprising a pair of spaced-apart first and second annular support plates defining a ring with a central ring axis;

• a plurality of circumferentially spaced, parallel oriented coil springs disposed between said annular plates and having associated therewith a free-state height for said coil springs, each said coil spring being coiled about a spring axis which defines a spring center passage;
• and, a plurality of lock assemblies located at circumferentially spaced positions around said ring, each of said lock assemblies being within one of said center passages and including a first tab extending from one of said plates toward a first distal end facing the other of said plates, a second tab extending from said other of said plates toward said one of said plates, said distal end including a hook, said second tab having parallel sides extending from said other plate, one of said parallel sides including a notch having opposing notch edges transverse to said parallel sides, said hook extend into said notch such that said plates move toward and away from each other to compress and/or release said coil springs, said hook engages one of said notch edges to prevent said coil springs from receiving said free-state height.

A spring device comprising a pair of spaced-apart first and second annular support plates defining a ring with a central ring axis;

• a plurality of circumferentially spaced, parallel oriented coil springs disposed between said annular plates and having associated therewith a free-state height for said coil springs, each said coil spring being coiled about a spring axis which defines a spring center passage;
• and, a plurality of lock assemblies located at circumferentially spaced positions around said ring, each of said lock assemblies including a receptacle having a base connected to one of said plates and distal end extending toward the other of said plates, said distal end including a plurality of locking barbs, a post extending from said other of said plates toward said one of said plates, said post having a base connected to said other plate and a distal end having a tapered tip shaped to pass said barbs and a locking groove, said barbs interengaging with said groove to maintain said post in said receptacle while allowing said plates move relative to one another to compress and/or release said coil springs, said interengagement preventing said coil springs from reaching said free-state height and to prevent relative rotation between said annular rings about said ring axis.

A spring device comprising at least one annular support plate defining a ring with a central ring axis;

• a plurality of circumferentialiy spaced, parallel oriented coil springs disposed on one side of said at least one plate and having associated therewith a free-state height for said coil springs, said coil springs being coiled about a spring axis which defines a spring center passage and having a first end engaging said one side and a second end spaced from said first end;
• and, a plurality of lock assemblies located at circumferentially spaced positions around said ring, each of said lock assemblies being within one of said center passages, said plurality of lock assemblies maintaining said engagement between said first end and said one side but preventing said coil springs from reaching said free-state height.

A spring device comprising a pair of spaced-apart first and second annular support plates defining a ring with a central ring axis;

• a plurality of circumferentially spaced, parallel oriented coil springs disposed between said annular plates and having associated therewith a free-state height for said coil springs, said coil springs being coiled about a spring axis which defines a spring center passage;
• and, a plurality of lock assemblies located at circumferentially spaced positions around said ring, each of said lock assemblies being within one of said center passages and including a first element extending from one of said plates, a second element extending from said other of said plates, said first and second elements interengaging to allow said plates to move toward or away from each other to compress and/or release said coil springs but preventing said coil springs from reaching said free-state height.