Integral snap button and anti-rattle member
AssigneeInvacare Corporation
InventorShane Obitts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integral snap button and anti-rattle member is provided for locking the length of and decreasing the play and rattle between inner and outer tubes of an adjustable-length telescoping tube assembly. The member fits into the inner and outer tubes and a button formed thereon passes through an opening in the inner tube and one of a plurality of openings in the outer tube to adjustably lock the length of the assembly. A collar formed on the member fits within the outer telescoping tube to decrease play and rattle between the tubes of the assembly. The member is easily manufactured as an integral or one-piece member and is easily installed in the assembly.
Claims33
An integral snap button and anti-rattle collar member for receipt in first and second components, the member comprising:
- a body adapted for receipt in the first component, the body having a tab partially separated from the remainder of the body and adapted for limited flexing movement;
- a snap button extending outwardly from the tab for selectively securing the first and second components against relative movement;
- a collar formed on the body, the collar having an outer peripheral dimension generally adapted to be larger than the outer peripheral dimension of the body, the collar being discontinuous along a peripheral portion therein, the collar adapted for receipt in the second component for eliminating rattle between the first and second components;
- and
- a spring in engagement with the tab.
An adjustable-length support assembly comprising:
- a first component having at least a pair of openings therein;
- a second component having an opening therein, the second component being operatively received in the first component and being selectively movable relative thereto;
- an integral anti-rattle and snap button member received in the first and second components, a first portion of the member closely, but slidably, engaging the first component and a second portion of the member secured to the second component, the member including a snap button extending outwardly through the second component opening and disposed for selective receipt through any one of the openings of the first component when aligned over the second component opening whereby the first and second components are locked against further relative movement, said member further comprising a flexible tab defined for selective depression inward when the snap button is depressed whereby the first and second components may be moved relative to one another until one of the openings in the first component is aligned with the second component opening, and wherein said tab is partially separated from the remainder of the member by a pair of cutouts on either side of the tab.
A selectively-extendable leg of a medical patient aid device comprising:
- a first tubular component adapted for extension from an associated patient aid device;
- a second tubular component dimensioned for sliding telescoping receipt with the first tubular component whereby the combined length of the first and second tubular components may be selectively altered;
- an opening in the first tubular component and plural openings in the second tubular component which may be selectively aligned with the opening in the first tubular component;
- an integral anti-rattle and snap button member received in the first tubular component comprising;
- (i) a snap button portion that extends through the opening in the first tubular component and is adapted to extend through any one of the plural openings in the second tubular component when aligned therewith to lock the tubular components against relative movement, (ii) a collar portion closely received in the second tubular component to eliminate rattle between the telescoping tubular components, and (iii) a flexible tab that carries said snap button portion and flexes generally transversely inward upon depression of said snap button to allow the combined length of said tubular components to be selectively altered.
An integral locking and anti-rattle member for insertion in at least first and second telescopically mated tubes, said first tube having a tube wall and at least one open end, the first tube further being formed with a tube wall opening, said second tube having a tube wall and at least one open end, the second tube further being formed with at least one tube wall opening, said first tube open end being slidably received in said second tube open end, said locking and anti-rattle member including:
- a) a resilient substantially closed loop-shaped member having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
- b) a collar connected to said loop-shaped member, said collar comprising:
- i) a portion distal from said loop-shaped member, said distal portion having an outer peripheral dimension adapted to be greater than an outer peripheral dimension of said first tube and adapted to be substantially equal to an inner peripheral dimension of said second tube;
- ii) a portion proximal to said loop-shaped member, said proximal portion having an outer peripheral dimension adapted to be substantially equal to an inner peripheral dimension of said first tube;
- and
- c) a button formed on said exterior surface of said loop-shaped member, so that upon insertion of the loop-shaped member and said proximal collar portion in said first tube open end and alignment of said button with said first tube wall opening, and further upon sliding said second tube over the first tube and alignment of said second tube wall opening with said first tube wall opening, said resilient loop-shaped member biases the button in an outward direction through said aligned tube wall openings to lock said tubes against relative movement.
An integral anti-rattle member for selectively locking inner and outer adjustable mated tubes said member comprising:
- a) a resilient, loop-shaped member, said loop-shaped member having an interior and an exterior surface;
- b) a button, said button located on said exterior surface of said loop-shaped member, said button extending outwardly and adapted for engagement with an opening in said inner tube and adapted for receipt with at least one opening in said outer tube for selectively securing said inner tube and said outer tube against relative movement with respect to each other;
- and
- c) a collar connected to said loop-shaped member, said collar comprising:
- an upper section, said upper section having an outer peripheral dimension adapted to be slightly greater than an outer peripheral dimension of said inner tube;
- and
- a lower section, said lower section having an outer peripheral dimension adapted to be substantially equal to the inner peripheral dimension of said inner tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.