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US 6,371,464 B1Granted
Valve spring
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsLeonard Porche, William Jeff Bertrand, Mitchell Solis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of making a spring are described. The spring is made by etching or cutting at least one spiral arm in a flat substrate leaving residual material around the arm. The intermediate residual material is either pushed or lifted to form a conical spring.
Claims50
A method of making a spring comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate having a central point for each spring and a peripheral area for each spring spaced away from the central point;
- forming at least one spiral leg in the substrate, the spiral leg having a proximal and a distal end, the spiral leg leaving a central area in the substrate around the central point and a residual area near the peripheral area;
- and,
- moving the central area away from the residual area until a desired free height is reached between the central area and the peripheral area.
1 more element
A method of making a spring comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate having a central point for each spring and a peripheral area for each spring spaced away from the central point;
- forming an interleaved spiral having at least a first leg and a second leg in the substrate, the first and second leg each having a proximal and a distal end, the interleaved spiral leaving a central area in the substrate around the central point and a residual area near the peripheral area;
- and,
- moving the central area away from the residual area until a desired free height is reached between the central area and the peripheral area.
1 more element
A spring comprising:
- a substrate having a central point, a central area in the substrate around the central point, a peripheral area spaced away from the central point and a residual area near the peripheral area;
- a spiral leg formed in the substrate, the spiral leg having a proximal and a distal end, the spiral leg leaving the central area and extending to the residual area
- whereby the distal end of the spiral leg is connected to the central area and the proximal end of the spiral leg is connected to the residual area,
- whereby the spring has a frustro-conical shape and
- whereby no two portions of the spiral leg overlap each other.
2 more elements
A spring comprising:
- a substrate having a central point, a central area in the substrate around the central point, a peripheral area spaced away from the central point and a residual area near the peripheral area;
- an interleaved spiral formed in the substrate, the interleaved spiral having at least a first leg and a second leg, the first and second leg each having a proximal and a distal end, the interleaved spiral leaving the central area and extending to the residual area
- whereby the distal ends of the first and second leg area are connected to the central area and proximal ends of the first and second leg are connected to the residual area and
- whereby the spring has a frustro-conical shape.
1 more element
A spring made according to the steps of:
- providing a substrate having a central point for each spring and a peripheral area for each spring spaced away from the central point;
- forming an interleaved spiral having at least a first leg and a second leg in the substrate, the first and second leg each having a proximal and a distal end, the interleaved spiral leaving a central area in the substrate around the central point and a residual area near the peripheral area;
- and,
- moving the central area away from the residual area until a desired free height is reached between the central area and the peripheral area.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.