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US 7,029,221 B2Granted
Sleeve device with internal fins for holding a piece such as a bolt in a bore
AssigneeNewfrey LLC
InventorZdravko Kovac
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for holding a piece in a bore comprises a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore, and a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve. The sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, and the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve. The flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece.
Claims57
A device for holding a piece in a bore, comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore, the ends of the sleeve being substantially identical and exposed for insertion in the bore;
- and a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
- wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve, a dimension of each fin along a direction of its inward projection is substantially greater than the thickness of the fin, and a dimension of each fin longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve is a plurality of times greater than the thickness of the fin, and the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece.
A device for holding a piece in a bore, comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore, the ends of the sleeve being substantially identical and exposed for insertion in the bore;
- and a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
- wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed relative to radial planes of the sleeve, the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece, and each fin is tapered by having each longitudinal end that extends away from a respective longitudinal end of the sleeve and away from the inner surface of the sleeve.
A device for holding a piece in a bore, comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore;
- and a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
- wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve, a dimension of each fin along a direction of its inward projection is substantially greater than the thickness of the fin, and the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece;
- wherein the fins have longitudinal ends that face longitudinal ends of the sleeve, respectively, and each longitudinal end of the fins extends away from the respective longitudinal end of the sleeve and away from the inner surface of the sleeve;
- and
- wherein each fin has trapezoidal longitudinal side surfaces.
3 more elements
A device for holding a piece in a bore, comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore, the ends of the sleeve being substantially identical and exposed for insertion in the bore;
- and a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
- wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve, a dimension of each fin along a direction of its inward projection is substantially greater than the thickness of the fin, and the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece;
- and
- wherein end portions of the sleeve adjacent to the longitudinal ends of the sleeve, respectively, have an outer diameter that increases away from the respective longitudinal ends of the sleeve.
2 more elements
A device for holding a piece in a bore, comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore, the ends of the sleeve being substantially identical and exposed for insertion in the bore;
- and a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips free from one another and disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
- wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve, a dimension of each fin along a direction of its inward projection is substantially greater than the thickness of the fin, and the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece.
A device for holding a piece in a bore, comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore, the ends of the sleeve being substantially identical and exposed for insertion in the bore;
- and a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
- wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve, a dimension of each fin along a direction of its inward projection is substantially greater than the thickness of the fin, a dimension of each fin longitudinally of the inner surface of the sleeve is substantially greater than a dimension of each fin along a direction of its inward projection, and the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece.
A device for holding a piece in a bore, comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore, the ends of the sleeve being substantially identical and exposed for insertion in the bore;
- and a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips free from one another and disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
- wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve, a dimension of each fin along a direction of its inward projection is substantially greater than the thickness of the fin, a dimension of each fin longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve is a plurality of times greater than the thickness of the fin and is substantially greater than a dimension of each fin along a direction of its inward projection, and the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.