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:
Jun. 28, 2016
Filed:
Sep. 30, 2009
Wei MA, Richmond Hill, CA (US);
Gerald J. Hamers, Woodbridge, CA;
Wei Ma, Richmond Hill, CA (US);
Gerald J. Hamers, Woodbridge, CA;
Litens Automotive Partnership, Woodbridge, CA;
Abstract
A tensioner assembly that includes a base, an arm, an opening spring (i.e., a torsion spring that opens or radially expands with increasing torque applied thereto), a spring reaction member, and a pivot bushing. The tensioner assembly is configured to orient various loads in predetermined directions. For example, a spring load can be oriented to counteract a hub load to reduce a bushing load that acts on the pivot bushing. As another example, a spring reaction force exerted by the spring reaction member can be employed by a damping mechanism to generate a grounding force that is parallel to the spring reaction force and is directed to intersect an axis about which the arm pivots relative to the base. A tensioner assembly having improved assembly characteristics is also provided.