Locking nut

A nut fastener, comprising:

• a retaining ring comprising a first rotational retaining member engageable with a shaft thereby preventing relative rotation between said retaining ring and said shaft, a pressure surface adapted to apply longitudinal force to an apparatus, a first longitudinal retaining member, a first torque bearing surface, a first spring abutment surface, and a second rotational retaining member;
• a collar comprising a third rotational retaining member engaged with said second rotational retaining member thereby preventing relative rotation between said collar and said retaining ring, a second spring abutment surface, a fourth rotational retaining member, and an engagement surface;
• a spring disposed between said first spring abutment surface and said second spring abutment surface, said spring thereby biasing said collar away from said retaining ring and said collar being longitudinally moveable toward said retaining ring by compressing said spring, and;
• a nut comprising a second longitudinal retaining member engaged with said first longitudinal retaining member thereby preventing said nut and said retaining ring from separating from each other, a second torque bearing surface engaged with said first torque bearing surface thereby translating torque from said nut to said retaining ring, a fifth rotational retaining member engageable with said fourth rotational retaining member thereby preventing relative rotation between said nut and said collar when said collar is biased away from said retaining ring by said spring, inner threads engageable with external threads on said shaft, and a plurality of wrench bearing surfaces engageable with a tool to rotate said nut;
• wherein a force applied to said engagement surface compresses said spring and moves said collar toward said retaining ring, said fourth rotational retaining member and said fifth rotational retaining member thereby disengaging from each other to allow relative rotation between said nut and said collar;
• wherein said fourth rotational retaining member is a ratchet tooth with an inclined surface and a locking surface and the fifth rotational retaining member is a corresponding ratchet tooth with a corresponding inclined surface and a corresponding locking surface, said inclined surfaces biasing said collar toward said retaining ring to allow relative rotation between said nut and said collar in a tightening direction, and when said force is not applied said locking surfaces prevent relative rotation between said nut and said collar in a loosening direction.

A nut fastener, comprising:

• a retaining ring comprising a first rotational retaining member engageable with a shaft thereby preventing relative rotation between said retaining ring and said shaft, a pressure surface adapted to apply longitudinal force to an apparatus, a first longitudinal retaining member, a first torque bearing surface, a first spring abutment surface, and a second rotational retaining member;
• a collar comprising a third rotational retaining member engaged with said second rotational retaining member thereby preventing relative rotation between said collar and said retaining ring, a second spring abutment surface, a fourth rotational retaining member, a first stop surface, and an engagement surface;
• a spring disposed between said first spring abutment surface and said second spring abutment surface, said spring thereby biasing said collar away from said retaining ring and said collar being longitudinally moveable toward said retaining ring by compressing said spring, and;
• a nut comprising a second longitudinal retaining member engaged with said first longitudinal retaining member thereby preventing said nut and said retaining ring from separating from each other, a second torque bearing surface engaged with said first torque bearing surface thereby translating torque from said nut to said retaining ring, a fifth rotational retaining member engageable with said fourth rotational retaining member thereby preventing relative rotation between said nut and said collar when said collar is biased away from said retaining ring by said spring, a second stop surface engageable with said first stop surface thereby restraining longitudinal movement of said collar by said spring when said fourth rotational retaining member and said fifth rotational retaining member are engaged, inner threads engageable with external threads on said shaft, and a plurality of wrench bearing surfaces engageable with a tool to rotate said nut;
• wherein a force applied to said engagement surface compresses said spring and moves said collar toward said retaining ring, said fourth rotational retaining member and said fifth rotational retaining member thereby disengaging from each other to allow relative rotation between said nut and said collar;
• wherein said second rotational retaining member is a retaining ring tab extending away from an axis of said fastener, said third rotational retaining member is a first collar recess receiving said retaining ring tab, further comprising at least three of said second rotational retaining member and at least three of said third rotational retaining member equally spaced around a circumference of said retaining ring, said collar comprises a bent portion extending longitudinally toward said retaining ring, an inner surface of said bent portion encompassing an entire outer circumference of said retaining ring, wherein no portion of said retaining ring extends out from said inner surface of said bent portion, said fourth rotational retaining member is a ratchet tooth with an inclined surface and a locking surface and the fifth rotational retaining member is a corresponding ratchet tooth with a corresponding inclined surface and a corresponding locking surface, said inclined surfaces biasing said collar toward said retaining ring to allow relative rotation between said nut and said collar in a tightening direction, and when said force is not applied said locking surfaces prevent relative rotation between said nut and said collar in a loosening direction, further comprising more than three of said fifth rotational retaining member and more of said fourth rotational retaining member than said fifth rotational retaining member equally spaced around a circumference of said nut and said collar, said first rotational retaining member is an inner tab engageable with a slot in said shaft, said spring being a circular spring disposed around an axis of said fastener, said spring being disposed within a groove in said retaining ring, said engagement surface is generally flush with said first stop surface, said engagement surface being disposed adjacent a bottom end of said wrench bearing surfaces when said first stop surface is biased against said second stop surface by said spring, said engagement surface thereby being engageable by an end of said tool when said tool engages said wrench bearing surfaces to apply said force to disengage said fourth rotational retaining member and said fifth rotational retaining member.