Patent Application
20230114134
Filed
This disclosure relates generally to a snap-in link.
Various types of links are known in the art for coupling one device to another device, such as an actuating device and an actuated device. Sometimes these links have a snap-in feature that allows them to be effectively coupled to the devices. The snap-in feature generally requires the link to be designed to allow for elastic deformation of the link when it is assembled without causing permanent deformation of the link and allow for proper retention of the link over time. These designs often employ a taper in the link to obtain these desired qualities. However, for some implementations, the envelope that the link is required to fit in may not be large enough to accommodate the size of the taper required for the loading constraints for a certain size and weight link. Thus, improvements can be made.
The following discussion discloses and describes a snap-in link that provides a robust and deformable snap-in connection between two devices. The link includes an elongated portion and a first flexible arm coupled to the elongated portion at one end and having a first snap-in slot at an opposite end, where the first flexible arm is flexible relative to the elongated portion. The first flexible arm includes an outer side, an inner side, a plurality of stress-concentration indentations formed in the outer side and a plurality of stress-concentration indentations formed in the inner side, where a nub is formed in each of the indentations along the outer side. The link also includes a second flexible arm coupled to the elongated portion at one end and having a second snap-in slot at an opposite end, where the second flexible arm is flexible relative to the elongated portion. The second flexible arm also includes an outer side, an inner side, a plurality of stress-concentration indentations formed in the outer side and a plurality of stress-concentration indentations formed in the inner side, where a nub is formed in each of the indentations along the outer side and where the first and second flexible arms define a slot therebetween.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following discussion of the embodiments of the disclosure directed to a snap-in link including two opposing cantilever arms defining a slot therebetween and including a series of inside stress-concentration indentations and a series of outside stress-concentration indentations is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or its applications or uses.
A series of stress-concentration indentations 36 are formed along an outer side of the cantilever arm 16 opposite to the slot 20 between the top portion 24 and the mounting portion 14, where each indentation 36 includes a central nub 38 to provide two stress-concentration radii in each indentation 36. Likewise, a series of stress-concentration indentations 40 are formed along an outer side of the cantilever arm 18 opposite to the slot 20 between the top portion 26 and the mounting portion 14, where each indentation 40 includes a central nub 42 to provide two stress-concentration radii in each indentation 40, and where the indentations 36 and 40 are directly across the slot 20 from each other. A series of stress-concentration indentations 44 are formed along an inner side of the cantilever arm 16 facing the slot 20 between the top portion 26 and the mounting portion 14 and a series of stress-concentration indentations 46 are formed along an inner side of the cantilever arm 18 facing the slot 20 between the top portion 26 and the mounting portion 14, where the indentations 44 and 46 are directly across the slot 20 from each other.
In this non-limiting embodiment, there are five of the indentations 36 and 40 and four of the indentations 44 and 46 to provide the desired deformation and strength by distributing bending stresses and deformation throughout the link 10. The secondary radii provided by the nubs 38 and 42 further distribute the stresses within the link 10 by using the additional radii to focus stresses occurring in the indentations 36 and 40 to two points instead of one. Further, the indentations 44 are positioned between or staggered relative to the indentations 36 and the indentations 46 are positioned between or staggered relative the indentations 40, which avoids excessive reduction in cross-section area and tensile strength of the arms 16 and 18. The indentations 36, 40, 44 and 46 can have any suitable radius for the purposes discussed herein to provide the desired stress areas on the link 10. Although all of the indentations 36 and 40 are shown spaced the same distance from a vertical centerline of the link 10, the figures are intended to represent that the indentations 36 and 40 that are horizontally aligned across the slot 20 can be spaced the same distance from the centerline, but each set of horizontally aligned indentations 36 and 40 can be spaced different distances from the centerline to move stresses on the arms 16 and 18 up and down.
The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority from the U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/253,358, filed on Oct. 7, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63253358 | Oct 2021 | US |
