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. 17, 2002
Filed:
May. 19, 2000
Scott S. Christiansen, Longmont, CO (US);
Scott F. Tibbitts, Longmont, CO (US);
David E. Dowen, Longmont, CO (US);
Starsys Research Corporation, Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
A self-aligning release assembly for a separation mechanism is provided. The separation mechanism has a protective housing for selectively releasably securing a fastener. The protective housing is mountable to a structure. The release assembly comprises a rotatable flywheel having an internal bearing race with the bearing race having a plurality of recessed portions. A plurality of bearing elements contact the bearing race and a positioning element is positioned within and adjacent the flywheel for aligning and retaining the bearing elements. A retaining mechanism releasably retains the fastener with the retaining means positioned within the flywheel with the outer surfaces of the retaining means abutting the bearing elements.