Anti-backlash universal coupling

Claim 2

A universal coupling having a male member, a female member, the male member having a head with a plurality of pins extending therefrom, and the female member provided with a cavity and engaging slots, each pin being received within a respective one of the slots, the head being substantially enclosed within the cavity, wherein the improvement comprises the pins being oversize relative to the slots to provide an interference fit therebetween, the female member being provided with a plurality of relief slots such that the portions of the female member adjoining the engaging slots can independently flex upon engagement of the pins within the slots, and the relief slots being circumferential slots formed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity and extending a predetermined distance from the innermost extent of the engaging slots, whereby the members are substantially constrained to move about their longitudinal axis in unison but are substantially free to move angularly rElative to each other.

Claim 3

A universal coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is spherical in shape.

Claim 4

A universal coupling as defined in claim 2 wherein the female member is provided with a cavity that is cylindrical in shape.

Claim 5

A universal coupling as defined in claim 3 wherein the pins are positioned substantially opposite on the head about a common longitudinal axis formed substantially opposed on the male member.

Claim 6

A universal coupling as defined in claim 4 wherein the female member is comprised of a flexible material such that the female member can better conform to the male member.

Claim 7

A universal coupling comprising a male member having a shaft, a female member having a shaft, the male member having a spherical head, the spherical head having a plurality of pins, the pins cylindrical in shape extending along a common longitudinal axis from opposite points on the head, the female member being formed as a cylindrical cup, the cup composed of flexible material and having its longitudinal axis substantially concurrent with the axis of the female shaft, the cup provided with a cylindrical cavity therein the cup provided with axial engaging slots, the slots extending a predetermined distance from the mouth of the cavity on opposite sides of the cup, the pins being oversize with respect to the slots, each pin being received within a respective one of the slots, and having an interference fit therewith, the cup being provided with relief slots, and the relief slots being circumferential to the cup and extending from the inner extent of the engaging slots a short distance in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cup the head being substantially enclosed within the cavity, whereby the members are substantially constrained to move about their longitudinal axis in unison but are substantially free to angularly move one to the other.

Claim 8

A universal coupling comprising a male member having a shaft, a female member having a shaft, the male member having a spherical head, the spherical head having a plurality of pins, the pins cylindrical in shape extending along a common longitudinal axis from opposite points on the head, the female member being formed as a cylindrical cup, the cup composed of flexible material and having its longitudinal axis substantially concurrent with the axis of the female shaft, the cup provided with a cylindrical cavity therein the cup provided with axial engaging slots, the slots extending a predetermined distance from the mouth of the cavity on opposite sides of the cup, the pins being oversize with respect to the slots, each pin being received within a respective one of the slots, and having an interference fit therewith, the cup being provided with relief slots, and the relief slots being circumferential to the cup and extending from the inner extent of the engaging slots a short distance in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cup the head being substantially enclosed within the cavity, whereby the members are substantially constrained to move about their longitudinal axis in unison but are substantially free to angularly move one to the other.

Claim 9

The universal coupling as defined in claim 6 wherein a compression ring is slipped over the female member such that bias of the ring reinforces the female member.

Claim 10

In a radio receiver having a tuning mechanism, a tuning control, and a universal coupling having a male member having a shaft, a female member having a shaft, one of said shafts being coupled to the tuning mechanism and the other of said shafts being coupled to the tuning control wherein the improvement comprises: the male member having a spherical head, the spherical head having a plurality of pins, the pins extending along a common longitudinal axis from opposite points on the head, the female member being formed as a cup, of a flexible material and having its longitudinal axis substantially concurrent with the axis of the female shaft, with a central cavity therein and with axial engaging slots, the slots extending a predetermined distance from the mouth of the cavity on opposite sides of the cup, the pins being oversize with respect to the slots, each pin being received within a respective one of the slots and having an interference fit therewith, the cup being provided with relief slots, and the relief slots being circumferential to the cup and extending from the inner extent of the engaging slots a predetermined distance, the head being substantially enclosed within the cavity, whereby the shafts are substantially constrained to move about their longitudinal axis in unison for tuning said receiver.

Claim 11

In a radio receiver having a tuning mechanism, a tuning control, and a universal coupling having a male member having a shaft, a female member having a shaft, one of said shafts being coupled to the tuning mechanism and the other of said shafts being coupled to the tuning control wherein the improvement comprises: the male member having a spherical head, the spherical head having a plurality of pins, the pins extending along a common longitudinal axis from opposite points on the head, the female member being formed as a cup, of a flexible material and having its longitudinal axis substantially concurrent with the axis of the female shaft, with a central cavity therein and with axial engaging slots, the slots extending a predetermined distance from the mouth of the cavity on opposite sides of the cup, the pins being oversize with respect to the slots, each pin being received within a respective one of the slots and having an interference fit therewith, the cup being provided with relief slots, and the relief slots being circumferential to the cup and extending from the inner extent of the engaging slots a predetermined distance, the head being substantially enclosed within the cavity, whereby the shafts are substantially constrained to move about their longitudinal axis in unison for tuning said receiver.