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US 7,395,582 B2Granted
Article retention band
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorLee N. Bowers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article retention band includes a ring, a lever, and a clasp. The ring has an inner circumference and is configured to encircle and apply a compressive force around an exterior circumference of an article. The lever is attached to the ring and has an end surface. The lever is moveable between a first position in which the end surface is spaced from the ring and a second position in which the end surface is adjacent to the ring. Movement of the lever from the first position to the second position results in a reduction of the inner circumference of the ring. A clasp is configured for selectively retaining the lever in the second position such that the clasp at least partially covers the end surface of the lever. A drive assembly and a vehicle having a drive assembly are also provided.
Claims24
An article retention band comprising:
- a ring having an inner circumference, the ring configured to encircle and apply a compressive force around an exterior circumference of an article;
- a lever attached to the ring at an attachment location and having an end surface, the lever being moveable between a first position in which the end surface is spaced from the ring and a second position in which the end surface is adjacent to the ring, wherein movement of the lever from the first position to the second position results in a reduction of the inner circumference of the ring;
- and
- a clasp comprising two side walls, each of the side walls comprising a respective top end which is stepped to define high and low sections of the side wall, the clasp being fixedly disposed relative to the attachment location such that, when the lever is in the second position and the ring encircles and applies a compressive force around an exterior circumference of an article, the end surface of the lever does not extend beyond the clasp and each side wall is selectively bendable such that portions of each said high section contact the lever and compress the lever against the ring in a radial direction and the end surface of the lever does not extend beyond the high section of each said side wall of the clasp.
1 more element
An article retention band comprising:
- a ring comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an inner circumference, portions of the inner surface adjacent to respective ends of the ring are attached together in contact with each other adjacent to an attachment location, and the ring is configured to encircle and apply a compressive force around an exterior circumference of an article;
- a lever comprising a first surface, a second surface, and an end surface, a portion of the first surface of the lever is attached to the outer surface of the ring at the attachment location, the lever being moveable between a first position in which the end surface is spaced from the ring and a second position in which the second surface of the lever contacts the outer surface of the ring along the entire length of the lever, wherein movement of the lever from the first position to the second position results in a reduction of the inner circumference of the ring;
- and
- a clasp comprising a base and two side walls extending from the base, each of the side walls comprising a respective top end which is stepped to define high and low sections of the side wall, the clasp being attached to the ring such that, when the lever is in the second position and the ring encircles and applies a compressive force around an exterior circumference of an article, the end surface of the lever does not extend beyond the clasp and each side wall is selectively bendable such that portions of each said high section contact the lever and compress the lever against the ring and the end surface of the lever does not extend beyond the high section of each said side wall of the clasp.
1 more element
An article retention band comprising:
- a ring having an inner circumference, the ring configured to encircle and apply a compressive force around an exterior circumference of an article;
- a lever attached to the ring and having an end surface, the lever being moveable between a first position in which the end surface is spaced from the ring and a second position in which the end surface is adjacent to the ring, the lever being movable to selectively reduce the inner circumference of the ring;
- and
- a clasp comprising two side walls, each of the side walls comprising a respective top end which is stepped to define high and low sections of the side wall, and each of the side walls configured to be selectively bent such that portions of each said high section contact the lever and compress the lever against the ring in a radial direction and the end surface of the lever does not extend beyond the high section of each said side wall of the clasp.
1 more element
A drive assembly comprising:
- a drive shaft having an end;
- a boot surrounding a portion of the drive shaft adjacent to the end, the boot having an exterior circumference;
- and
- a band comprising a ring, a lever and a clasp, the ring having an inner circumference and configured to encircle and apply a compressive force around the exterior circumference of the boot, the lever attached to the ring and having an end surface, the lever being moveable between a first position in which the end surface is spaced from the ring and a second position in which the end surface is adjacent to the ring, the lever being moveable to selectively reduce the inner circumference of the ring, the clasp comprising two side walls, each of the side walls comprising a respective top end which is stepped to define high and low sections of the side wall, each of the side walls being configured to be selectively bent such that portions of each said high section contact the lever and compress the lever against the ring in a radial direction and the end surface of the lever does not extend beyond the high section of each said side wall of the clasp.
1 more element
A vehicle having a drive assembly, wherein the drive assembly comprises:
- a drive shaft having an end;
- a boot surrounding a portion of the drive shaft adjacent to the end, the boot having an exterior circumference;
- and
- a band comprising a ring, a lever and a clasp, the ring having an inner circumference and configured to encircle and apply a compressive force around the exterior circumference of the boot, the lever attached to the ring and having an end surface, the lever being moveable between a first position in which the end surface is spaced from the ring and a second position in which the end surface is adjacent to the ring, the lever being moveable to selectively reduce the inner circumference of the ring, the clasp comprising two side walls, each of the side walls comprising a respective top end which is stepped to define high and low sections of the side wall, each of the side walls being configured to be selectively bent such that portions of each said high section contact the lever and compress the lever against the ring in a radial direction and the end surface of the lever does not extend beyond the high section of each said side wall of the clasp.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.