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US 5,509,696 AGranted
Connector with spring retainer
OwnerLeary W. Smith, Clifford H. Boylstoninventors
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OwnerLeary W. Smith, Clifford H. Boylstoninventors
Estimating the term…
An adapter for connecting one size of nozzle with a blower tip of varying sizes has a plurality of springs spaced there around. Each spring has straight portions resiliently urged towards the blower tip. At the entrance end of the adapter, the springs are sloped or tapered so the blower tip will gradually flex the springs towards the wall of the adapter. The springs may be solid, like leaf springs, or may be formed of wire; and, the springs may be made of polymeric material, metal or other elastic materials. In other embodiments, the springs may be fixed to the male member for receiving a female member thereon; and, the male or female member may have a slope rather than the springs. The spring members may have two straight portions parallel to each other, or only one straight portion.
A connector for releasably holding a male member having a centerline coaxially within a female member having a centerline, said connector comprising a plurality of spring means externally of said male member and internally of said female member, each spring means of said plurality of spring means including a pair of holding portions and a central portion, said central portion of each spring means of said plurality of spring means being fixed with respect to one of said members so that said pair of holding portions are resiliently movable away from each other about lines parallel to the centerline of such member and resiliently engageable with the other of said members along lines parallel to the centerline of such member, and further including camming means interacting with said other of said members for flexing said pair of holding portions as said male member is urged into said female member.
An adapter for connecting a first device of a given size with a second device of varying sizes, said adapter comprising a housing for receiving said second device therein, said housing having a centerline, and said second device being receivable concentrically with said housing, a plurality of spring means within said housing, each spring means of said plurality of spring means including a central portion fixed to said housing along a first line parallel to said centerline, a pair of holding portions parallel to said centerline and resiliently engageable with said second device along straight second lines parallel to said centerline, said holding portion being movable about said first line parallel to said centerline, and a pair of ramp portions tapering from said holding portions to said central portion for ease of insertion of said second device, said pair of holding portions being biased to move towards each other and towards said centerline.
A spring, for use in a connector for a male member and a female member, said spring comprising a central portion having a centerline, said central portion being fixed with respect to one of said members, a pair of holding portions parallel to said centerline and resiliently movable about said centerline, and ramp portions extending from said central portion to said holding portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.