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US 5,908,261 AGranted
Turnbuckle and method of making a turnbuckle
AssigneeAMSTED Industries Incorporated
InventorsJohn D. Bush, William L. Foley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a composite turnbuckle comprising a pair of co-axial and spaced annular end fittings. Each end fitting has a threaded interior surface and an outer surface. The end fittings are made of metal. The turnbuckle has a body that extends between the end fittings. The body includes a non-metallic material. The end fittings are secured to the body to limit relative axial movement between the end fittings and the body. The turnbuckle may be used in connection with riggings of sailing vessels, for example.
Claims21
A turnbuckle comprising:
- a pair of co-axial and spaced annular end fittings each having a threaded interior surface and an outer surface, the end fittings being made of metal;
- a one-piece body extending between the end fittings, the body comprising a non-metallic material and including a pair of spaced jackets and a pair of spaced parallel arms, at least a part of one jacket overlying at least a part of the surface of one end of the surface of the other end fitting, and each arm being integral with and extending between the pair of jackets, each arm having a pair of edges and the edges of one arm being free from lateral connection to the edges of the other arm for a majority of the distance between the jackets;
- the end fittings being secured to the body to limit outward axial movement of the end fittings relative to the body.
A turnbuckle comprising:
- a pair of co-axial and spaced annular metallic end fittings each having a threaded interior surface and an outer surface;
- a one-piece non-metallic body extending between the end fittings and including a pair of integral spaced jackets, each jacket being at one end fitting and having an interior surface mating with the outer surface of the end fitting, the body being made of a composite material formed by molding around the end fittings;
- the mating surfaces of the end fittings and jackets securing the end fittings against outward axial movement relative to the body;
- the turnbuckle is free from mechanical fasteners securing the jackets to the end fittings;
- wherein each end fitting has an inward face and an outward face, the outer diameter of the outer surface of each end fitting varying between the inward and outward face, the jackets of the body being molded substantially around the outer surfaces of the end fittings, the inner surfaces of the jackets having varying diameters extending over and molded to mate with the varying diameters of the outer surfaces.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.