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:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 09, 1997
Robert J. McCaffrey, Dracut, MA (US);
Harald Quintus-Bosz, Sudbury, MA (US);
Graber Products, Inc., Madison, WI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for removably holding an axle includes an axle attachment which is removably attachable to an end of the axle. A threaded shaft is coupled to the axle attachment, and a latch is selectively engageable with the threads of the shaft. A crank is coupled to the shaft, and rotation of the crank results in advancement of the axle attachment towed the end of the axle, to clamp the axle between the axle attachment and a centering apparatus engageable with the opposite end of the axle. The latch is movable to a release position in which the latch is disengaged from the threads of the shaft. A spring bears against the crank so as to bias the axle attachment away from the end of the axle, and the spring functions to disengage the axle attachment from the end of the axle when the latch is moved to its release position. The centering apparatus is movable to varying positions so as to accommodate varying axle lengths and to provide proper centering of the axle.