Bi-stable Component Providing Indication of Proper Installation
AssigneeDV Industries, LLC
InventorJorge Alejandro Narvaez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus having a threaded bottom assembly for interfacing to connect the bottom assembly to a second structure with threads, having a bi-stable element that, when sufficient force is applied via the process of threading the bottom assembly to the second structure, and at an appropriate torque value, passes from its first minima state, through its maxima state, and to its second minima state, creating a tactile or audible indication that the apparatus has been properly installed.
Claims19
An oil filter having an engine end and an opposite housing end, comprising:
- a sealing ring;
- said sealing ring having a sealing surface facing the engine end;
- a threaded fitting at the engine end;
- and
- a bi-stable dome;
- said dome comprising a first stable position in which said dome extends past the sealing surface in a direction of the engine end.
The oil filter of claim 2,
- said dome further comprising a second stable position in which said dome extends past the sealing surface in a direction of the housing end.
An oil filter having an outflow direction and inflow direction, comprising:
- a threaded fitting;
- a sealing surface positioned annularly about the fitting;
- and
- a force indication mechanism comprising;
- a bi-stable dome having a first stable position and a second stable position;
- wherein in said first stable position said dome extends in the outflow direction beyond the sealing surface.
A method of installing an oil filter comprising:
- threading a threaded fitting onto a mating fitting on an engine mounting base;
- contacting a sealing surface of the oil filter to said mounting base;
- and
- operating a force indication mechanism comprising a bi-stable dome operationally connected to the fitting;
- said operating step comprising contacting said dome to said engine mounting base when said dome is in a first stable position;
- and
- said operating step further comprising said indicator mechanism creating a vibrational indication that a desired force has been applied to said sealing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.