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:
Aug. 24, 2010
Filed:
Aug. 25, 2004
Michael Robert Lau, San Ramon, CA (US);
Eric Michel DE Wild, San Mateo, CA (US);
Michael Robert Lau, San Ramon, CA (US);
Eric Michel De Wild, San Mateo, CA (US);
Abstract
A coupling mechanism is provided. The coupling mechanism includes a bushing assembly adapted to establish a coupling when rotated, a housing that is rotatable when torque is applied to the housing, a torque-limit member positioned between the housing and the bushing assembly such that when the torque-limit member is in a positive-lock state, the housing and bushing assembly rotate jointly upon the application of torque until a predefined torque level is attained. A compressible member is included that engages the torque-limit member to define through frictional resistance of moving parts and parts geometry a predefined torque level. The torque-limit member switches from the positive-lock state to a ratchet state when the predefined torque level is attained. When the torque-limit member is in the ratchet state, the housing rotates relative to the bushing assembly.