Unitary piece dual lock split washer
A washer includes a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material and having a split extending between an inner circumferential edge and a radially outer peripheral edge to provide the body with first and second ends. One end has circumferentially extending and radially spaced fingers, and the other end has circumferentially extending and radially spaced fingers. A joint structure is integrally formed with the first and second ends. The joint structure includes a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism. The second locking mechanism is only engageable after the first locking mechanism is fully engaged.
1 . A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising:
a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends; and
a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged;
wherein the joint structure includes: first and second fingers radially spaced by a first gap and extending circumferentially from the first end; and, first and second fingers radially spaced by a second gap and extending circumferentially from the second end wherein when in the engaged state one finger of each end fits in the gap between the two fingers of the other end.
2 . The split washer according to claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism has a first part on the first finger extending from the first end and a second part on the second finger extending from the second end.
3 . The split washer according to claim 2 , wherein a first part of the second locking mechanism is carried on the second finger extending from the second end.
4 . The split washer according to claim 3 , wherein a second part of the second locking mechanism is on the second finger extending from the first end.
5 . The split washer according to claim 1 , wherein one of a first part and a second part of the second locking mechanism comprises a protrusion extending in a generally radial direction and another of the first part and the second part of the second locking mechanism is a recess for receiving the protrusion.
6 . The split washer according to claim 5 , wherein the second part of the second locking mechanism is the protrusion and the protrusion is on the second finger extending from the first end.
7 . The split washer according to claim 6 , wherein the protrusion is arranged to:
bear against the first finger extending from the second end and flex in a generally radial outward direction prior to the first locking mechanism becoming fully engaged while the first and second ends are being moved toward each other; and,
be in radial alignment with the second part of the second locking mechanism wherein the second finger extending from the first end is capable of flexing in a generally radial inward direction to engage with the second part of the second locking mechanism when the first locking mechanism is fully engaged.
8 . The split washer according to claim 5 , wherein the first part of the second locking mechanism comprises a recess formed in the second end.
9 . The split washer according to claim 1 , wherein the first part of the first locking mechanism comprises at least one engaging portion, and the second part of the first locking mechanism comprises at least one complementary engaging portion.
10 . The split washer according to claim 9 , wherein the least one engaging portion comprises a first plurality of teeth, and each of the at least one complementary engaging portion comprises a second plurality of teeth.
11 . The split washer according to claim 1 , wherein when the first and second locking mechanism are engaged, the inner circumferential edge has a substantially constant radius Ri and the radially outer peripheral edge has a compound shape of a portion of a circle and a radially extending tab having opposite radial edges which reach to an arcuate edge.
12 . The split washer according to claim 11 , wherein the split follows a winding path through the tab from the inner circumferential edge to the arcuate edge of the tab.
13 . The split washer according to claim 11 , wherein the portion of the circle of the radially outer peripheral edge extends with a constant radius Ro for between about 260°-300°, and the tab extends circumferentially for between about 60°-100°.
14 . The split washer according to claim 1 , where in the body is made from a natural or synthetic rubber including a thermoplastic elastomer.
15 . An electrical configuration comprising:
a junction box;
a gland including an end that secures to a wall of the junction box;
a cable including an end that extends through the gland and beyond the end of the gland that secures to the wall of the junction box so as to extend within the junction box; and
the split washer of claim 1 , wherein the split washer is disposed between a portion of the gland and the wall of the junction box.
16 . A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising:
a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends; and
a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged;
wherein:
the joint structure includes first and second fingers radially spaced by a first gap and extending circumferentially from the first end, and first and second fingers radially spaced by a second gap and extending circumferentially from the second end wherein when in the engaged state one finger of each end fits in the gap between the two fingers of the other end; and
one of a first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a protrusion extending in a generally radial direction and another of the first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a recess for receiving the protrusion.
17 . A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising:
a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends; and
a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged;
wherein:
the first locking mechanism has a first part on the first finger extending from the first end and a second part on the second finger extending from the second end;
a first part of the second locking mechanism is carried on the second finger extending from the second end;
a second part of the second locking mechanism is on the second finger extending from the first end; and
one of the first part and the second part of the second locking mechanism is a protrusion extending in a generally radial direction and another of the first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a recess for receiving the protrusion.