IP Library Granted Patent US 11,571,790
Granted Patent B2
US 11,571,790 · App. 16/968,572 · Granted Feb 7, 2023

Asymmetrical disposable torque limiting mount and device

Inventors: Michael J. Milella, Jr. (Thousand Oaks, CA); Gary Norsworthy (Newbury Park, CA)
Assignee: ECA Medical Instruments, Inc.
B25B23/1427B25B13/08B25B23/141
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,571,790
App. No.
16/968,572
Granted
Feb 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are aspects of exemplars of torque-limiting devices, methods and mechanisms exemplars methods may include placing an actuator in a tool containment interface of a handle; movable mounting a tool portion with an actuation catch and a work piece engaging region (WER) in the interface; applying sufficient force to the movable mounting to the handle may be via pins, guides and slots. Said catch may be one of a body catch and a lever catch; and, the actuator terminates on one of a ball shaped end that forms and interface with the body catch and a force lever that forms an interface with the lever catch.

Claims (32)

1. A disposable torque limiting device comprising:

a handle with a tool containment interface formed on a side of said handle that is opposite of a side of said handle configured to be held;

a first pin guide and a third pin guide formed through said handle to movably attach to a tool portion;

an actuator mounted in said handle with a movable ball end;

said tool portion configured to movably fit in at least part of said tool containment comprising:

a work piece engaging region (WER);

a second pin guide formed in said tool portion;

a guide slot formed in the said tool portion; and

a body catch forming an interface for said movable ball end of said actuator;

a first pin configured to fit through said first pin guide in said handle and said second pin guide in said tool portion so as to connect said handle to said tool portion and allow said tool portion to rotate about said first pin;

a second pin configured to fit through said third pin guide and move along said guide slot in said tool portion during rotational movement of said tool portion;

wherein said second pin guide is a retention slot, and said tool portion may be removed from said tool containment by rotating said tool portion off said first and second pins; and,

wherein when sufficient force is applied to said actuator said body catch disengages said ball end and said tool portion is released from torque limiting provided by said actuator.

2. The torque limiting device of claim 1 , further comprising a containment with an annular wall and a closed end formed in said handle to mount said actuator to said handle.

3. The torque limiting device of claim 1 , said actuator further comprising a generally cylindrical housing with an open end and an end portion closing off said cylindrical housing; a spring resting against said end portion, and said movable ball fitted into said housing and extending into said body catch.

4. The torque limiting device of claim 3 , wherein said spring has a predetermined compressive force limit.

5. The torque limiting device of claim 2 , said actuator further comprising an actuation body and an elastomeric bushing configured to cause said movable ball end of said actuation body to apply a predetermined amount of force to said body catch.

6. The torque limiting device of claim 5 , wherein said bushing has a diameter less than the diameter inside said tool containment.

7. The torque limiting device of claim 5 , wherein said bushing fits into a well to configured to retain it and allowing volume around said bushing for expansion which will occur during compression by the application of force to said movable ball end.

8. The torque limiting device of claim 5 , wherein the containment is a annular wall of the containment has a bushing expansion region of the annular wall which is of a greater diameter inside the containment to allow volume around the bushing for bushing expansion which will occur during compression by the application of force to the ball shaped nose.

9. A disposable torque limiting device comprising:

a handle with a tool containment interface formed on a front side of the handle;

a first pin guide and a third pin guide formed through the handle;

an actuator mounted in the handle with a movable ball end;

a tool portion configured to movable fit in at least part of the tool containment comprising;

a work piece engaging region (WER);

a retention slot formed in the tool portion;

a guide slot formed in the tool portion;

a body catch forming an interface for said movable ball end of the actuator;

a first pin configured to fit in said first pin guide and move along in said retention slot in said tool portion during rotational movement of said tool portion;

a second pin configured to fit in said third pin guide and move along said guide slot in said tool portion during rotational movement of said tool portion; and,

wherein when sufficient force is applied to the actuator the body catch disengages movable ball end and the tool portion is released.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2026
From: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
To: CELTIC BANK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 075338/0264 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2026
From: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
To: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS; ECA ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075344/0777 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2024
From: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS; ECA ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
Reel/Frame 069218/0300 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62628873 · Feb 9, 2018
Related Publication 20210039233A1 · Feb 11, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 1,111,736