US3643290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bushing and bushing assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-12-01
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1989-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A bushing comprising a cylindrical portion, and a flange portion presented at one end of the cylindrical portion and projecting outwardly from and around the cylindrical portion. The bushing is axially split throughout its length, a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings being formed through the flange portion of the bushing on one side of the split, and one or more locking pins projecting from the flange portion on the other side of the split so that, depending on which of the openings the or each pin is disposed through, the diameter of the bushing which is formed of a resiliently deformable material can be varied. In an alternative embodiment the plurality of openings are formed transverse to the axis of the bushing rather than through the flange portion, and instead of the above-mentioned pin or pins a single circumferentially disposed locking pin is presented by the flange portion on the above-mentioned other side of the axial split, the pin having a tooth which is engageable with the farthest opening from the split through which the pin is disposed thereby again permitting the diameter of the bushing to be varied. Two or more of the bushings may be assembled together with the locking pin or pins presented by one of the bushings in engagement with selected openings provided in the other bushing and with the locking pin or pins presented by said other bushing in engagement with selected openings in the first-mentioned bushing. Thus, a bushing assembly is provided, the diameter of the assembly being variable within a range of sizes which is substantially greater than the range of sizes which can be achieved using only one of the bushings. Furthermore, a game comprising a plurality of the bushings together with a board formed with a plurality of holes may be provided. The holes in the board are of different sizes, and the adjustable sizes of the bushings are such that, in relation to each hole in the board, only one of the bushings has an adjustable size which corresponds to the size of said hole.
Inventors
- 👤 John D Milne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:03
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L41/00; F16L41/08; H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/06; H02G3/0616; H02G3/0625; H02G3/0683
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A bushing comprising a tubular portion having a longitudinal axis, and a flange portion which is presented at one end of the tubular portion and which projects outwardly from and around the tubular portion, the bushing which is formed of a flexible material having a discontinuity extending throughout its axial length, whereIn the bushing has on one side of the discontinuity a plurality of peripherally spaced openings, and the bushing on the other side of the discontinuity presents at least one projecting locking pin which is disposable selectively through the openings for locking engagement therewith, thereby to permit variation in the size of the bushing in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A bushing comprising a tubular portion having a longitudinal axis, and a flange portion which is presented at one end of the tubular portion and which projects outwardly from and around the tubular portion, the bushing which is formed of a flexible material having a discontinuity extending throughout its axial length, whereIn the bushing has on one side of the discontinuity a plurality of peripherally spaced openings, and the bushing on the other side of the discontinuity presents at least one projecting locking pin which is disposable selectively through the openings for locking engagement therewith, thereby to permit variation in the size of the bushing in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A bushing according to claim 1, wherein the bushing is formed of a stiff but resiliently deformable material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A bushing according to claim 1, wherein a peripherally disposed, outwardly projecting rib is presented by the tubular portion between the ends thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A bushing according to claim 1, wherein the end of the tubular portion remote from said one end thereof is internally chamfered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A bushing assembly comprising a plurality of identical bushings according to claim 1, wherein said at least one locking pin presented by each of the bushings is disposed selectively through the openings provided in the remaining bushing, or in an adjacent one of the remaining bushings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A game comprising, in combination, a plurality of bushings according to claim 1, and a board formed with a plurality of holes equal in number to the plurality of bushings, the holes in the board being of different sizes, and the adjustable sizes of the bushings in the directions perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tubular portions thereof being such that, in relation to each hole, only one of the bushings has an adjustable size which corresponds to the size of said hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
A bushing comprising a substantially cylindrical portion having a longitudinal axis, and a flange portion which is presented at one end of the cylindrical portion and which projects outwardly from and around the cylindrical portion, the bushing which is formed of a flexible material being circumferentially discontinuous throughout its axial length, wherein on one side of the discontinuity a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings which are substantially equidistantly spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion are formed through the flange portion and wherein on the other side of the discontinuity the flange portion presents at least one projecting locking pin which is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion a distance substantially equal to the distance by which the openings are spaced from said axis, and which is disposable through a selected one of the plurality of openings for locking engagement therewith, thereby to permit variation in the size of the bushing in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
168 words
A bushing comprising a substantially cylindrical portion having a longitudinal axis, and a flange portion which is presented at one end of the cylindrical portion and which projects outwardly from and around the cylindrical portion, the bushing which is formed of a flexible material being circumferentially discontinuous throughout its axial length, wherein on one side of the discontinuity a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings which are substantially equidistantly spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion are formed through the flange portion and wherein on the other side of the discontinuity the flange portion presents at least one projecting locking pin which is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion a distance substantially equal to the distance by which the openings are spaced from said axis, and which is disposable through a selected one of the plurality of openings for locking engagement therewith, thereby to permit variation in the size of the bushing in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A bushing according to claim 7, wherein the bushing is formed of a stiff but resiliently deformable material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A bushing according to claim 8, wherein the material from which the bushing is formed is one of the group of materials consisting of linear polyethylene and nylon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
A bushing according to claim 7, wherein a circumferentially disposed, outwardly projecting rib is presented by the cylindrical portion between the ends thereof, the rib on the side of the discontinuity from which the pin projects terminating at a circumferential distance from the pin which is at least as large as the circumferential distance between the discontinuity and the opening which is circumferentially farthest spaced from the discontinuity, said at least one locking pin being disposed on the same side of the flange portion as the cylindrical portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A bushing according to claim 7, wherein the end of the cylindrical portion remote from said one end thereof is internally chamfered.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
1. A bushing according to claim 7, wherein the length of said at least one locking pin is substantially equal to the thickness of the flange portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A bushing according to claim 7, wherein the end of said at least one locking pin remote from the flange portion presents a lip which projects from the pin in a Direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion, the lip being spaced from the flange portion a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the flange portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A bushing according to claim 13, wherein said at least one locking pin is, in cross section, in the form of a major segment of a circle, and the lip and the end of the pin from which the lip is presented are together of substantially circular cross section, the flat face of the pin being substantially flush with the discontinuity in the flange portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A bushing according to claim 14, wherein at right angles to the plane containing the longitudinal axes of the cylindrical portion and of the pin, the pin is of progressively increasing width in the direction away from the flange portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A bushing according to claim 7, wherein said at least one locking pin comprises a plurality of circumferentially equispaced locking pins, the plurality of openings being circumferentially equispaced, with the distance between each opening and the opening adjacent thereto being substantially equal to the distance between each locking pin and the pin adjacent thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
214 words
A bushing comprising a substantially cylindrical portion having a longitudinal axis, and a flange portion which is presented at one end of the cylindrical portion and which projects outwardly from and around the cylindrical portion, the bushing which is formed of a flexible material being circumferentially discontinuous throughout its axial length, wherein the flange portion has on one side of the discontinuity a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings which are substantially equidistantly spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion and which are disposed substantially transverse to said axis, and wherein the flange portion presents on the other side of the discontinuity a projecting locking pin which is circumferentially disposed and which is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion a distance substantially equal to the distance by which the openings are spaced from said axis, the pin presenting a projecting tooth and being disposable through any selected number of the openings from the opening circumferentially most closely adjacent to the discontinuity for locking engagement of the projecting tooth with the opening which, of the openings through which the pin is disposed, is circumferentially farthest spaced from the discontinuity, thereby to permit variation in the size of the bushing in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
214 words
A bushing comprising a substantially cylindrical portion having a longitudinal axis, and a flange portion which is presented at one end of the cylindrical portion and which projects outwardly from and around the cylindrical portion, the bushing which is formed of a flexible material being circumferentially discontinuous throughout its axial length, wherein the flange portion has on one side of the discontinuity a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings which are substantially equidistantly spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion and which are disposed substantially transverse to said axis, and wherein the flange portion presents on the other side of the discontinuity a projecting locking pin which is circumferentially disposed and which is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion a distance substantially equal to the distance by which the openings are spaced from said axis, the pin presenting a projecting tooth and being disposable through any selected number of the openings from the opening circumferentially most closely adjacent to the discontinuity for locking engagement of the projecting tooth with the opening which, of the openings through which the pin is disposed, is circumferentially farthest spaced from the discontinuity, thereby to permit variation in the size of the bushing in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |