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:
Jul. 23, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2000
Stephen W. Rector, Metamora, IL (US);
Glenda D. Tullis, Peoria, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for restricting movement of a device. The detent device includes a housing, and a magnetic device, the magnetic device exerting a magnetic force and including a body and one of a recess defined therein and a protrusion. A magnetic body is located at least partially within the housing and is biased towards the magnetic device as a function of the magnetic force. The magnetic body includes a magnetic mass and the other of the recess defined therein and the protrusion, the other of the protrusion and the recess receiving the one of the protrusion and the recess of the magnetic device when the magnetic body is in a first predetermined position relative to the magnetic device. The magnetic mass of the magnetic body is spaced a first distance from the body of the magnetic device when the magnetic body is in the first predetermined position, and the magnetic mass of the magnetic body is spaced a second predetermined distance from the body of the magnetic device by the protrusion on the one of the magnetic device and the magnetic body when the magnetic body is in a second predetermined position relative to the magnetic device.