Patents Represented by Attorney Patrict T. Bever
  • Patent number: 5662486
    Abstract: A rotary connector wherein a free rotation between both housings can be locked or unlocked in a simple manner. A holding member is formed integrally with a first housing through a thin-walled portion, while engaging projections are formed integrally with a second housing, and at the rotary connector manufacturing stage, by aligning both housings exactly with each other and thereafter inserting a tapping screw threadedly into a support portion of the holding member, the tapping screw can be brought into abutment with both engaging projections. Further, at the time of mounting the rotary connector into a steering system, a free rotation between both housings is ensured by cutting the holding member at the thin-walled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Kato, Masanori Nakao