Tightening member, clamp member and clamp assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12365290-B2
Application number	US-202218563343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2022
Priority date	May 27, 2021
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed is a tightening member for tightening a clamping device for fixing an accessory to a crossbar of a load carrier. The tightening member includes a coupling portion for detachably coupling the tightening member to a coupling section of the clamping device. The coupling portion is engageable with the coupling section in a torque transferable manner. The tightening member comprises an operating portion configured to be grasped and rotated by a user, and the operating portion is operatively coupled to the coupling portion. The coupling portion includes an accommodating portion for at least partially receiving a force receiving portion of the coupling section therein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tightening member for tightening a clamping device for fixing an accessory to a crossbar, said tightening member comprising:
a coupling portion for detachably coupling said tightening member to a force receiving section of said clamping device, said coupling portion engageable with said force receiving section in a torque transferable manner;
an operating portion configured to be grasped and rotated by a user, said operating portion being operatively coupled to said coupling portion;
a torque limiting mechanism operatively coupling said coupling portion with said operating portion; and
a ratchet mechanism configured to allow a pumping-like tightening operation by providing a one way torque transmission,
wherein said coupling portion comprises an accommodating portion for at least partially receiving a force receiving section therein.

2. The tightening member according to claim 1 , said torque limiting mechanism comprising:
a first toothed portion operatively coupled to said operating portion;
a second toothed portion operatively coupled to said coupling portion; and
an urging member for urging said first toothed portion and said second toothed portion towards each other with a predetermined urging force, said predetermined urging force and a configuration of said first and second toothed portions defining a maximum transferable torque.

3. The tightening member according to claim 2 , said ratchet mechanism comprising:
a third toothed portion operatively coupled to said operating portion;
a fourth toothed portion operatively coupled to said coupling portion; and
an urging member for urging said third toothed portion and said fourth toothed portion towards each other,
wherein said third and fourth toothed portions comprise a tooth configuration such that in one direction, teeth of a driving toothed portion lock with teeth of a driven toothed portion, and in another direction, teeth of said driving toothed portion slip over teeth of said driven toothed portion.

4. The tightening member according to claim 3 ,
wherein said torque limiting mechanism and said ratchet mechanism are provided in this order in a force transfer path from said operating portion to said coupling portion, or wherein said torque limiting mechanism and said ratchet mechanism are provided by a single pair of toothed portions each toothed portion of said pair of toothed portions comprising dual-action teeth configured to transfer torque up to a predetermined first threshold limit in a tightening direction and allowing slipping between the toothed portions in an opposite rotating direction,
and/or
wherein at least one toothed portion is provided on a disc member prebiased towards engagement with the other toothed portion,
and/or
wherein said torque limiting mechanism and said ratchet mechanism are fully accommodated in a common cylindrical housing portion,
and/or
wherein a toothed portion of said torque limiting mechanism and/or of said ratchet mechanism, which is last in said force transfer path between said operating portion and said coupling portion, is provided on a force transfer member having, on an opposite side to a side on which said toothed portion is provided, a force transfer portion engaged with said coupling portion such that a rotational force is transferable to said coupling portion while said force transfer member is held axially movable relative to said coupling portion.

5. The tightening member according to claim 1 , further comprising a torque-limiting-free coupling portion.

6. The tightening member according to claim 1 , wherein said accommodating portion comprises a through opening extending through the entire coupling portion and comprising an inner profile which allows a transfer of a rotational force on a correspondingly shaped force receiving section.

7. The tightening member according to claim 1 , wherein a single urging member acts in both said torque limiting mechanism and said ratchet mechanism.

8. The tightening member according to claim 1 , wherein the torque limiting mechanism and the ratchet mechanism are engageable along an axial direction in relation to a middle axis.

9. The tightening member according to claim 1 , wherein a first force transfer member and a second force transfer member of the tightening member are arranged upon each other in an axial direction in relation to a middle axis and engage with each other in the axial direction.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Nilvius Anders
• Rinman Johan
• Giselson Mathias

Classifications

• F16B2/14

  using wedges · CPC title

• F16B2/10

  using pivoting jaws · CPC title

• B25B13/466

  the ratchet parts engaging in an axial direction · CPC title

• B25B13/04

  of ring jaw type · CPC title

• B25B23/141

  Mechanical overload release couplings · CPC title