The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 29, 1990
Filed:
Mar. 17, 1989
Francis H Mee, Aurora, CA;
Spar Aerospace Limited, Mississauga, CA;
Abstract
The devices are floating engageable means which may be a floating nut or a floating driver for use in hostile environment, such as space. The device includes a housing with a cross-shaped opening, each arm of the cross receiving a wing of a floating member. A spring between the base of the housing and the back of the floating member urges the wings against the top surface of the arms of the cross-shaped opening in the housing. The cross-shaped openings may have a rectangular configuration with a thread surface forming the top surface of the opening. This permits the floating member to maintain a lateral offset. Alternatively, the arms may have a triangular outline with the vertex forming the top surface of the arms. With this configuration, a force will be provided to center the floating member in the housing. The floating member terminates in a an outwardly facing taper guiding surface which tapers to the engaging means of the floating member. With this arrangement, off axis and off angle mating is possible.