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US 4,636,107 AGranted
Reformed in place resilient retention springs
AssigneePlus Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsWilliam A. Casler, Phillip E. Saurenman
Life of this patent
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AssigneePlus Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsWilliam A. Casler, Phillip E. Saurenman
Estimating the term…
Secure and rapid assembly of magnets or other articles in tubular or other-shaped housings is achieved with bow type compression retainers which are made from reformable spring metal, and are initially formed shorter and higher than their ultimate working dimensions to permit loose or easy manual or automatic assembly in their final working location, after which the retainers can be reformed in place to a reduced height and extended length so as to take up any clearance and to place an initial load on abutting faces of the article to be secured. Then the bow shaped retainer is finally reworked in a comparatively small portion of its length, and in a direction which tends to change the natural curvature and extend the intrinsic unloaded length of the restrained bow, thus off-setting "spring back" type load losses characteristic of normal spring forming, and assuring maximum spring retention forces irrespective of large assembly tolerances and high spring rates. Provisions for metal curling or bending near the ends of the retainer can further extend tolerance take-up capabilities; and several preferred means are shown for accomplishing the final curvature-reversal loading of the retainers.
A working spring retainer biasing a separate article to hold it in place against a separate concavely-curved wall in surface to surface contact therewith, said article having an abutment surface facing toward and being contacted by said spring retainer, said spring retainer also bearing against a second abutment surface, and comprising:
The method of installing a retention spring between two separate opposed abutment surfaces on separable articles so the spring exerts a separative force against said abutment surfaces, said surfaces being spaced apart by a spacing and lying adjacent to a wall, said retainer spring comprising a springy metal body having two arms with contact surfaces to bear against respective ones of said abutment surfaces, and a bight between and joining said arms which is substantially displaced from a line extending between said contact surfaces, and the distance between said contact surfaces being initially shorter than said spacing, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.