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:
Oct. 21, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1995
Garry Gordon Fimeri, Morphett Vale, AU;
Britax Rainsfords Pty Ltd., Lonsdale, AU;
Abstract
A detent mechanism that acts between two components that rotate with respect to one another to control rotation from a first set position to at least a second set position. The detent mechanism (10) comprises at least one rotating cam (23) positioned between adjacent surfaces of two components (11 and 16). The cam (23) is spaced from the axis of rotation of the two components (11 and 16). The cam (23) is journalled for rotation on one of the components (11) about an axis that is substantially transverse to the axis of rotation between the two components (11 and 16). The operating surface (25) of the cam (23) comprises at least one cam lobe that is caused to rotate as the two components (11 and 16) rotate. The cam (23) acts to separate the two components (11 and 16). Spring (17) acts to urge the adjacent surfaces together so that a predetermined torque is required to cause relative rotation between the components (11 and 16). The torque is set by the force applied by the spring (17) that results from the extent of compression of the spring (17) when the two components (11 and 16) separate upon rotation. The advantage of the detent mechanism (10) is that sufficient resistance to rotation can be obtained with a relatively light spring (17) due to the high rate of lift provided by the cam (23).