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US 5,178,479 AGranted
Rod end clip
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJohn J. Brown, Brian R. Peek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rod end clip for retaining an elongated L-shaped actuating rod, terminating in a short substantially right angled end portion, in a connected state with respect to an apertured lever member includes a rear wall section upstanding from a base member and having its distal end terminating in an overlying arm portion. A rigid retaining wall member upstanding from the base member and disposed substantially opposite the rear wall section is provided so as to form a retaining groove therebetween for securely retaining the actuating rod therein against rotational and vertical movement. The rigid retaining wall member has a cam surface which permits the insertion of the long leg of the actuating rod into the retaining groove with a low insertion force.
Claims20
A rod end clip for retaining an elongated L-shaped rod, terminating in a short substantially right-angled end portion, therewithin, comprising:
- a substantially flat base member having an aperture defined therewithin for receiving said short, substantially right-angled end portion of said L-shaped rod therewithin;
- groove means defined within a surface portion of said substantially flat base member for receiving a long leg portion of said L-shaped rod;
- an upstanding rear wall section disposed upon one side of said substantially flat base member and having a distal end portion thereof terminating in a flexibly resilient arm portion which overlies, and is spaced a predetermined distance from, said surface portion of said substantially flat base member within which said groove means is defined such that when said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod is seated within said rod end clip, said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod will be interposed between said groove means of said substantially flat base member and said flexibly resilient arm portion;
- a rigid upstanding retaining wall member disposed upon another side of said substantially flat base member and opposite said upstanding rear wall section such that said groove means defined within said surface portion of said substantially flat base member is interposed between said rear wall section and said retaining wall member;
- and
- cam means defined upon said rigid upstanding retaining wall member for biasing said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod into contact with said flexibly resilient arm portion of said rear wall section so as to resiliently deform said flexibly resilient arm portion of said rear wall section in order to permit entry of said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod into said space, defined between said flexibly resilient arm portion of said rear wall section and said surface of said flat base member, and into said groove means, defined within said surface portion of said flat base member, with a low insertion force and in a snap-engagement manner whereby, when said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod is seated within said groove means of said flat base member, said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod will be retained within said rod end clip as a result of being confined between said flexibly resilient arm portion of said rear wall section cooperating with said flat base member, and between said upstanding rear wall section and said rigid upstanding retaining wall member.
3 more elements
A rod end clip for retaining an elongated L-shaped rod, terminating in a short substantially right-angled end portion, therewithin and for mounting said L-shaped rod upon a support member, comprising:
- a substantially flat base member having an aperture defined therewithin for receiving said short, substantially right-angled end portion of said L-shaped rod therewithin;
- groove means defined within a surface portion of said substantially flat base member for receiving a long leg portion of said L-shaped rod;
- an upstanding rear wall section disposed upon one side of said substantially flat base member and having a distal end portion thereof terminating in a flexibly resilient arm portion which overlies, and is spaced a predetermined distance from, said surface portion of said substantially flat base member within which said groove means is defined such that when said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod is seated within said rod end clip, said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod will be interposed between said groove means of said substantially flat base member and said flexibly resilient arm portion of said upstanding rear wall section;
- a rigid upstanding retaining wall member disposed upon another side of said substantially flat base member and opposite said upstanding rear wall section such that said groove means defined within said surface portion of said substantially flat base member is interposed between said rear wall section and said retaining wall member;
- cam means defined upon said rigid upstanding retaining wall member for biasing said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod into contact with said flexibly resilient arm portion of said rear wall section so as to resiliently deform said flexibly resilient arm portion of said rear wall section in order to permit entry of said long leg portion of said l-shaped rod into said space, defined between said flexibly resilient arm portion of said rear wall section and said surface portion of said flat base member, and into said groove means, defined within said surface portion of said flat base member, with a low insertion force and in a snap-engagement manner whereby, when said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod is seated within said groove means of said flat base member, said long leg portion of said L-shaped rod will be retained within said rod end clip as a result of being confined between said flexibly resilient arm portion of said rear wall section cooperating with said flat base member, and between said upstanding rear wall section and said rigid upstanding retaining wall member;
- and
- means disposed upon said flat base member for releasably engaging said support member so as to releasably mount said rod end clip, and said L-shaped rod retained within said rod end clip, upon said support member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.