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:
Sep. 20, 1994
Filed:
May. 27, 1993
Michael A Dykema, Birch Run, MI (US);
Terry E Burkhard, Bay City, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A variable length shaft assembly including a first shaft having a tubular polygonal end, a second shaft having a correspondingly polygonal solid end telescopically disposed in the polygonal tubular end, an arched spring in a spring chamber in the solid polygonal end having a planar body portion bearing in sliding engagement on a planar wall of the polygonal tubular end and biasing the polygonal solid and tubular ends in opposite directions to a substantially zero clearance relationship in which linear clearances are reduced to substantially zero, and a monolithic plastic block injection molded in situ in the spring chamber behind the flat body portion. After the in situ injection molded plastic solidifies, the monolith plastic block captures the substantially zero clearance relationship between the polygonal solid and tubular ends and encases the arched spring such that the flat body portion thereof defines a reinforced wear plate on the block in sliding engagement on the planar wall of the tubular polygonal end.