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:
Dec. 22, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 21, 1997
Ronald W Reynolds, Carrollton, TX (US);
Stanley Mechanics Tools, Carollton, TX (US);
Abstract
The universal joint is provided for use with power drive tools. A driving member (12) is provided having a bore (16) at one end for receiving a drive member and a cavity (18) at the other end. A driven member (14) is provided having a quadrified ball (20) at one end and a socket receiving member (22) at the other end. The quadrified ball (20) has quadrified sides (40), a spherical head (42) and spherical corners (44). The quadrified side (40) contains sloped portions (46). The cavity (18) contains a base (54), a square cross-sectional area (48), radius corners (56) and a spring groove (66). The quadrified ball (20) is held in place in the cavity (18) by means of a 'C' spring (68). The 'C' spring (68) fits in spring groove (66). Disposed at the base (54) of the cavity (18) is a plug compression washer (60) made of a compressible polymer. Disposed between plug compression washer (60) and the head (42) of quadrified ball (20) is a plug tension washer (62). The plug tension washer (62) comprises a cylindrical disk with a frustroconical end and a planar end. The plug compression washer keeps pressure on the quadrified ball (20) against the 'C' spring (68) such that the driven member (14) will remain at an angle at which it is placed. The plug tension washer (62) accepts the friction from the quadrified ball (40) as it rotates at its articulated angle.