Spring array frame and related methods
AssigneeBal Seal Engineering, Inc.
InventorsJoshua Kompa, Erik Fort, Mark Maloney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frame assembly having a body and a plurality of prongs extending from an elongated edge or surface of the body. A canted coil spring length is located on one of the prongs and optionally each prong has a canted coil spring length located thereon. The prong can position the spring length at a neutral position or with a turning angle without a spring groove. The frame assembly can be used to conduct heat, transfer electricity, shield RF and EMI, and to test the spring length without a spring groove.
Claims21
1-17. (canceled)
A frame assembly comprising:
- a body comprising a perimeter formed by a plurality of frame sections, including a first frame section and a second frame section, the perimeter defining an open space and each of the first and second frame sections comprising an inner edge;
- a first prong extending from the inner edge of the first frame section and extending towards the second frame section, the first prong having an attached end that is attached to the first frame section and a free end that is movable and located adjacent the second frame section;
- a second prong spaced from the first prong, the second prong extending from the inner edge of the first frame section or the second frame section and extending towards the other one of the second frame section or the first frame section, the second prong having an attached end that is attached to the first frame section or the second frame section and has a free end that is movable;
- a first canted coil spring length comprising a plurality of interconnected coils located on the first prong and a second canted coil spring length comprising a plurality of interconnected coils located on the second prong;
- and
- wherein the body is made from a metal material or a non-metallic material.
A method of using a spring length without a spring groove comprising:
- placing a canted coil spring length comprising a plurality of interconnected coils onto a first prong of a frame assembly having a perimeter formed by a plurality of frame sections, including a first frame section and a second frame section, the perimeter defining an open space and each of the first and second frame sections comprising an inner edge and wherein the first prong is attached to one of the inner edges and extends towards the other inner edge and is spaced from a second prong;
- and
- deflecting the plurality of interconnected coils between two planar surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.