IP Library Granted Patent US 7,948,334
Granted Patent B2
US 7,948,334 · App. 12/223,374 · Granted May 24, 2011

Attachment of deep drawn resonator shell

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,948,334
App. No.
12/223,374
Granted
May 24, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus includes a shell member having an interior width, where the shell includes a closed end and an open end, and a nut that includes a plurality of laterally extending resilient leg. The legs define an outer width of the nut, and when the legs are in a relaxed state the outer width of the nut is greater than the interior width of the shell. The nut is adapted for at least partially entering the open end of the shell member, such that the legs are placed in a tensioned state in which the legs define the outer width to be smaller than or equal to the interior width of the shell. The apparatus also includes a base plate adapted for receiving the shell member and securing the shell member to the base plate with the closed end of the shell facing away from the base plate through cooperation with the nut when the nut is at least partially within the shell member.

Claims (46)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a shell member having an interior width, wherein the shell member includes a closed end and an open end, wherein the shell member comprises a resonator shell;

a nut comprising a plurality of laterally extending resilient legs, wherein the legs define an outer width of the nut, wherein when the plurality of laterally extending resilient legs are in a relaxed state the outer width of the nut is greater than the interior width of the shell member, wherein the nut is adapted for at least partially entering the open end of the shell member such that the plurality of laterally extending resilient legs are placed in a tensioned state in which the plurality of laterally extending resilient legs define the outer width of the nut being smaller than or equal to the interior width of the shell member; and

a base plate adapted for receiving the shell member and securing the shell member member to the base plate with the closed end of the shell facing away from the base plate through cooperation with the nut when the nut is at least partially within the shell member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base plate further comprises:

a countersunk portion that is adapted to receive the shell member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base plate further comprises:

a shaft adapted for securing the shell member to the base plate through cooperation with the nut, wherein the shaft is adapted to pass at least partially through the nut.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base plate includes a boring, the apparatus further comprising:

a shaft adapted for securing the shell member to the base plate through cooperation with the nut, wherein the shaft is adapted to pass at least partially through the boring in the base plate and at least partially through the nut.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the shaft further comprises:

a head having a width greater than a width of a central portion of the shaft, wherein a width of the head is greater than the width of the boring of the base plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the shaft further comprises:

an outer threaded portion that is adapted for engaging with an inner threaded portion of the boring.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the shaft further comprises:

a bolt adapted to be threaded through threads of the nut.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the outer width of the nut when positioned within the shell member is greater than a width of the boring.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shell member further comprises:

an interior flange defining a flange opening having a width that is less than the interior width of the shell member, wherein the nut is adapted to be passed at least partially through the open end and the flange opening, such that the shell member of the nut pass at least partially past the interior flange and then extend to define the outer width of the nut being greater than the flange opening width.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the base plate includes a boring, the apparatus further comprising:

a shaft adapted for securing the shell member to the base plate, wherein the shaft includes a head having a width greater than a width of a central portion of the shaft, wherein the shaft is adapted to pass at least partially through the boring, and at least partially through the nut, and wherein the width of the head is greater than a width of the boring of the base plate.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the shaft further comprises:

a bolt adapted to be threaded through threads of the nut.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shell member further comprises:

at least one inner wall, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the shell member of the nut contacts the at least one inner wall.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the resonator shell of the shell member is:

a deep drawn resonator shell.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nut further comprises:

an at least partially threaded inner hub.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of laterally extending resilient legs of the nut further comprise:

at least three laterally extending resilient legs.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shell member further comprises:

an inward protrusion, wherein an inner width of the shell member at the inward protrusion is less than the interior width of the shell member, and wherein the inner width of the shell member at the inward protrusion is adapted to inhibit the entry of the nut into the shell member.

17. A method of securing a resonator shell including an open end and a closed end to a base plate, the method comprising:

inserting, into the open end of the resonator shell, a nut including extending legs that, in a relaxed position, define a relaxed outer width of the nut that is greater than an interior width of the resonator shell;

allowing the extending legs to extend within an interior of the resonator shell to define a tensioned outer width of the nut that is greater than an opening width of the open end of the resonator shell;

securing a fastener to the nut; and

drawing the resonator shell securely against the base plate with the fastener secured to the nut.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the resonator shell is a deep drawn resonator shell.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

threading the fastener into threads of the nut.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a shell member having an interior width, wherein the shell member includes a closed end and an open end;

a nut comprising a plurality of laterally extending resilient legs, wherein the plurality of laterally extending resilient legs define an outer width of the nut, wherein when the plurality of laterally extending resilient legs are in a relaxed state the outer width of the nut is greater than the interior width of the shell member, wherein the nut is adapted for at least partially entering the open end of the shell member such that the plurality of laterally extending resilient legs are placed in a tensioned state in which the plurality of laterally extending resilient legs define the outer width of the nut being smaller than or equal to the interior width of the shell member;

a base plate adapted for receiving the shell member and securing the shell member member to the base plate with the closed end of the shell facing away from the base plate through cooperation with the nut when the nut is at least partially within the shell member; and

a shaft adapted for securing the shell member to the base plate through cooperation with the nut, wherein the shaft is adapted to pass at least partially through a boring in the base plate and at least partially through the nut.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2014
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG
To: ALCATEL LUCENT
Reel/Frame 033868/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 30, 2013
From: ALCATEL LUCENT
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG
Reel/Frame 029821/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2011
From: RADIO FREQUENCY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ALCATEL LUCENT
Reel/Frame 026264/0205 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2011
From: JONES, ADAM; PARENT, SAMUEL
To: RADIO FREQUENCY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 026077/0222 →