The Torrington Company

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Ward R Cusati

Arnold M Terrill

Brian McMorrow

Alan L Chambers

Eric L Sejourne

Tom H Merrifield

A locking mechanism for a steering column shaft in a steering column housing of a vehicle, includes a smooth bore hollow cylindrical sleeve member overlying a smooth surface steering column shaft. A longitudinal locking slot in an outer surface of the cylindrical sleeve member is engagable with a locking pin member operated by an ignition switch on the steering column housing. Torque transmitted from the steering column shaft to the sleeve member is limited by a bushing member interposed between the steering column shaft and the sleeve member. The sleeve member is supported in the inner race of a steering column bearing mounted in the housing.

Steering column locking and torque limiting bearing support sleeve

A multi-functional surgical instrument having an interchangeable surgical tool removeably, rotatably attached to a handle. An axially moveable sheath on the surgical tool is moveable from a retracted first position wherein an electrosurgical electrode is exposed to an extended second position wherein the sheath covers the electrosurgical electrode. Both the interchangeable surgical tools and the handle are sterilizable and disposable.

Electrosurgical instrument with interchangeable surgical tools

An intermediate shaft subassembly comprises two members--an inner intermediate shaft member and an outer intermediate tube member. The subassembly connects the upper section of the intermediate shaft to the lower section of the intermediate shaft. The two members of the subassembly make a sliding fit, with the shaft member telescoping inside the tube member, and they are connected by a midpoint connection near their junction where they overlap. The midpoint connection comprises a bolt which is positioned through aligned holes through the tube member and an elongated slot through the shaft member. The elongated slot allows the shaft and tube members to be positioned in variable relative positions before the bolt is tightened to lock the two members together. When the bolt is tightened, the tube member is deformed around the shaft member to form a tight connection with minimal rotational lash.

Midpoint connection for intermediate shaft subassembly

The universal joint cross includes a solidified molded plastic hub around the center of the cross. The hub has four integral flexible seals surrounding the pins in the cross. Each seal provides an external seal for a bearing mounted on each of the four exposed pin ends.

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Burlington, CT, United States of America

Ward R Cusati