Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a cam having a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis. The cam body has a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis. At least a portion of the cam is an elastically compressible material. A follower having at least one follower surface is in contact with the compressible material portion of the cam. A cam non-deflected condition is defined when an elastically compressible material portion outer surface is in contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the elastically compressible material portion. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis moves the cam body center toward the follower. The elastically compressible material portion deflects, defining a deflected condition, creating a biasing force acting toward the follower, and releasably frictionally engaging the elastically compressible material portion with the follower.

Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a one-piece cam including: a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis and a having a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis and an outer surface; and a deflecting arm freely extending from the cam body having a free end elastically deflected toward the cam body in an arm deflected condition. A follower has at least one follower surface in direct contact with the cam outer surface at the deflecting arm. An arm non-deflected condition is defined when the outer surface is in direct contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the deflecting arm. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis acts to move the cam body center toward the follower thereby deflecting the deflecting arm to the deflected condition creating a biasing force acting toward the follower.

Abstract: A compliant follower cam system includes a cam rotatable about a cam rotational axis continuously aligned with a cam displacement axis. The cam has a body center spaced from the rotational axis. A compliant follower has an elastically deformable first contact wall positioned proximate to a cavity. The first contact wall is directly contacted by the cam body outer surface. A compliant follower non-deflected condition occurs when a first contact wall outer surface directly contacts the cam body outer surface prior to deflection of the first contact wall, with the cam body center out of alignment with the displacement axis. Rotating the cam moves the body center toward the compliant follower into alignment with the displacement axis. The cam thereby deflects the first contact wall into the cavity defining a compliant follower deflected condition and creates a biasing force releasably frictionally engaging the first contact wall and cam.

Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a cam having a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis. The cam body has a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis. At least a portion of the cam is an elastically compressible material. A follower having at least one follower surface is in contact with the compressible material portion of the cam. A cam non-deflected condition is defined when an elastically compressible material portion outer surface is in contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the elastically compressible material portion. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis moves the cam body center toward the follower. The elastically compressible material portion deflects, defining a deflected condition, creating a biasing force acting toward the follower, and releasably frictionally engaging the elastically compressible material portion with the follower.

Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a cam having a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis. The cam body has a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis. At least a portion of the cam is an elastically compressible material. A follower having at least one follower surface is in contact with the compressible material portion of the cam. A cam non-deflected condition is defined when an elastically compressible material portion outer surface is in contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the elastically compressible material portion. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis moves the cam body center toward the follower. The elastically compressible material portion deflects, defining a deflected condition, creating a biasing force acting toward the follower, and releasably frictionally engaging the elastically compressible material portion with the follower.

Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a cam having a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis. The cam body has a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis. At least a portion of the cam is an elastically compressible material. A follower having at least one follower surface is in contact with the compressible material portion of the cam. A cam non-deflected condition is defined when an elastically compressible material portion outer surface is in contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the elastically compressible material portion. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis moves the cam body center toward the follower. The elastically compressible material portion deflects, defining a deflected condition, creating a biasing force acting toward the follower, and releasably frictionally engaging the elastically compressible material portion with the follower.

Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a one-piece cam including: a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis and a having a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis and an outer surface; and a deflecting arm freely extending from the cam body having a free end elastically deflected toward the cam body in an arm deflected condition. A follower has at least one follower surface in direct contact with the cam outer surface at the deflecting arm. An arm non-deflected condition is defined when the outer surface is in direct contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the deflecting arm. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis acts to move the cam body center toward the follower thereby deflecting the deflecting arm to the deflected condition creating a biasing force acting toward the follower.

Abstract: A compliant follower cam system includes a cam rotatable about a cam rotational axis continuously aligned with a cam displacement axis. The cam has a body center spaced from the rotational axis. A compliant follower has an elastically deformable first contact wall positioned proximate to a cavity. The first contact wall is directly contacted by the cam body outer surface. A compliant follower non-deflected condition occurs when a first contact wall outer surface directly contacts the cam body outer surface prior to deflection of the first contact wall, with the cam body center out of alignment with the displacement axis. Rotating the cam moves the body center toward the compliant follower into alignment with the displacement axis. The cam thereby deflects the first contact wall into the cavity defining a compliant follower deflected condition and creates a biasing force releasably frictionally engaging the first contact wall and cam.