Connector
AssigneeDmotm Limited
InventorDaniel Peter McElrea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector having a spring configured to change a dimension such as diameter or length in response to a change in a force applied to it, wherein the spring is biased in a radial or longitudinal direction towards a natural dimension. The connector including a dimension control portion configured to restrict the change in dimension in a direction away from the bias of the spring.
Claims17
An adjustable length shaft comprising a first hollow shaft portion and an inserted shaft portion and including a connector comprising:
- a spring connection comprising two springs oriented in opposed directions on the first hollow shaft portion;
- each spring configured to change a dimension selected from one of diameter or length or both, in response to a change in force applied to it, wherein the spring is biased in a radial or longitudinal direction towards a natural dimension;
- and
- a sleeve overlying said connector and configured to restrict the change in dimension in a direction away from the bias of at least one spring.
A mechanism for gripping and adjusting the length of a shaft having an external surface with an outer dimension, said mechanism comprising:
- a sleeve configured to receive the outer dimension of a first portion of the shaft;
- a spring comprising the outer dimension of said first portion of said shaft, said sleeve surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of said spring;
- the spring having an inner diameter of an at least similar dimension to the outer dimension of a second shaft portion;
- the spring being configured such that when gripping force is applied the first shaft portion can move over the second shaft portion;
- the sleeve positioned such that the gripping force can be applied upon the spring via the sleeve to allow adjustment of the shaft length via at least relative rotation of the shaft portions;
- and
- when the gripping force is no longer applied the spring is biased to return toward its original inner diameter and bear against the external surface of the second shaft portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.