A non-conductive lock washer for push-on attachment to a threaded shaft

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a non-conductive lock washer (1) arranged to be push-on attached to a threaded shaft (110), the lock washer (1) comprising a base (3) having a through-hole (5), a plurality of flexible tabs (2), each tab extending inwardly and upwardly towards a centre axis (c1) of said through-hole (5). Further, edges (4) of the tabs (2) of the lock washer (1) jointly form a spiral pattern arranged to correspond to a thread pattern (120) of said threaded shaft (110) for enabling the lock washer (1) to be removed from said threaded shaft (110) by threading.

Description

[0001] A NON-CONDUCTIVE LOCK WASHER FOR PUSH-ON ATTACHMENT TO A THREADED SHAFT

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a non-conductive lock washer for push-on attachment to a threaded shaft and a mounting arrangement.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Lock washers are utilized to be secured to a shaft and / or to complement a bolt / nut secured to a shaft. Accordingly, lock washers may create tension that prevents a bolt from loosening, or lock washers as such may attach to the shaft for locking the shaft to another unit.

[0006] However, conventional lock washers that are arranged to be coupled to a shaft that has a longer axial extension are not time-efficient to attach to said shaft. In such cases, the lock washer need to be threaded from the top of the shaft all the way to a bottom thereof - a process that is time-consuming for a user.

[0007] A conventional solution for overcoming the time-consuming process of threading a lock washer from a top to a bottom of a threaded shaft is to provide clamp lock washer which has an arcshape with respective ends configured to be directly attached to a shaft. However, such solutions, even though they might be less time consuming, are not efficient enough and fail to provide a sufficient tightening.

[0008] Thus, lock washers in the present art fail to fulfil requirements of being dimensioned to provide convenience in assembly while providing a secure fastening.

[0009] Thus, there is room for lock washers in the present art to explore the domain of providing a lock washer that provides improved convenience when being installed while allowing for being tensioned in accordance with requirements.

[0010] Thus, even though previous solutions may work well in some situations, it would be desirable to provide a lock washer that address requirements related to installation convenience and fastening performance.

[0011] SUMMARY

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to alleviate at least some of the mentioned drawbacks to provide an improved lock washer that is more convenient in installation while fastened in a secured manner while installed. This and other objects, which will become apparent in the following, are achieved by a lock washer and a mounting arrangement as defined in the appended claims.

[0013] The present disclosure relates to a non-conductive lock washer for push-on attachment to a threaded shaft, the lock washer comprising a base having a through-hole, a plurality of flexible tabs, each tab extending inwardly (and upwardly forming a rising angle being greater than 0 degrees) towards a centre axis of said through-hole. Further, edges of the tabs of the lock washer jointly form a spiral pattern arranged to correspond to a thread pattern of said threaded shaft for enabling the lock washer to be removed from said threaded shaft by threading.

[0014] The phrase “edges of the tabs jointly form a spiral pattern” may refer to that the edges of the tabs jointly form a spiral form extending around said centre axis (axially) spirally / helically.

[0015] An advantage of the lock washer according to the present disclosure is that it can be push-on attached to a threaded shaft while being removed by threading. Also, the lock washer can be push-on attached to the threaded shaft and, at the bottom thereof, secured to an end of the shaft by threading. Further, even though the lock washer can be attached by push-on it can not be removed by simply pulling the lock washer, thereby being secured properly to a shaft.

[0016] The base of the lock washer may be polygonal (e.g rectangular) or circular in shape. The base of the lock washer may be a solid, thereby fully enclosing said through hole which the shaft penetrates. Thus, providing a more robust structure. Another advantage with having a polygonal structure is that it provides a more convenient threading of the lock washer with a tool

[0017] Further, the base may comprise walls extending from sides of said base away from said tabs, said walls forming an inner chamber. The inner chamber allows for a fastening unit or any other unit at a bottom of a shaft to be enclosed, increasing the stability of a mounting arrangement comprising the washer. The walls may be arranged to be grippable by a mounting tool (such as a wrench) so to provide torque when the lock washer is at the bottom of the shaft to additionally secure the lock washer thereto. The walls may therefore form a circumference which corresponds to a fastening part of the mounting tool (e.g. the jaw / head of a wrench). Therefore, the circumference may form a polygonal shape so that it comprise e.g. three or more edges.

[0018] Moreover, the lock washer may comprises a uniform thickness, the thickness being preferably 0.5-3 mm, more preferably about 1 mm. The uniform thickness allows for a more convenient production of the lock washer. The lock washer may comprise a continuous shape (being uninterrupted throughout its surface) with uniform cross-section. Advantageously, this enable the lock washer to comprise a uniform strength. Further, the tabs may comprise inner edges and outer edges, wherein the edges that jointly form a spiral pattern is at least one of said inner edges and outer edge. In some aspects, it is an area in between the inner and outer edge forming said spiral pattern. Thus, the term “edge” may refer to inner edges, outer edges and / or the surface in-between the inner and outer edges. The edges forming the spiral pattern allows for the edges (e.g. inner edges) to harmonize with an underside of threads of a shaft.

[0019] The inward and upward extension of each of the tabs may form a common rising angle relative said base, the rising angle being 5-80 degrees, preferably 20-75 degrees, more preferably 30- 70 degrees, more preferably 50-65 degrees. An advantage of the specific rising angles is that they provide an optimal angle for allowing the lock washer to be attached by push-on manually, while being properly secured to the shaft to be prevented from being removed by dragging the lock-washer in a direction opposite the push-on direction. In other words, the lock washer is adapted to be un-removable by pushing in a direction opposite the push-on direction such that it is only removable in the direction opposite the push-on direction by threading, “pushing” may refer to a linear force applied to the lock washer in one direction.

[0020] Further, opposing tabs may have an extension difference being half a thread pitch of said threaded shaft for allowing the tabs to be threaded onto and from the shaft. The extension difference may also be greater, however the extension difference being half a thread pitch allows for a more compact and robust lock washer.

[0021] The non-conductive lock washer may be made of plastic, nylon or any other non-conductive material. Non-conductive may be interchanged with “dielectric”. An advantage of having the lock washer in a non-conductive material is that it will not be providing passive intermodulation, thereby generating interfering signals. This may specifically occur for conductive lock washers attached or associated to antennas or antenna components. The material of the lock washer herein may have a dielectric constant / relative permittivity being 5.5 or lower.

[0022] Each tab may have a non-bending / constant extension, i.e. having a straight / constant rising angle from the base towards the centre axis, thereby being more robust.

[0023] Further, the non-conductive lock washer may form an integral structure such that it is a one- piece structure. Advantageously, being of low weight and convenient to manufacture while fulfilling its function in accordance with requirements.

[0024] Moreover, there is provided a mounting arrangement for an electronic arrangement, the electronic arrangement being a radio frequency arrangement or an antenna arrangement or any other electronic arrangement. The mounting arrangement comprises said lock washer according to any aspect herein and a threaded shaft, wherein the lock washer is arranged to be attached to the threaded shaft by push-on, and wherein the lock washer is removable from the threaded shaft by threading.

[0025] Generally, all terms used in the description are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a / an / the [element, device, component, means, step, unit, arrangement etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0026] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will now be further clarified and described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings;

[0028] Figure 1 A illustrates an objective view of a lock washer in accordance with some aspects herein;

[0029] Figure 1 B illustrates a side view of a lock washer in accordance with some aspects herein;

[0030] Figure 2A illustrates a top view of a lock washer in accordance with some aspects herein;

[0031] Figure 2B illustrates an objective back view of a lock washer in accordance with some aspects herein;

[0032] Figure 3 illustrates from a side view, a threaded rod and tabs of a lock washer herein engaging with the threaded rod;

[0033] Figure 4A illustrates a threaded rod and a lock washer according to some aspects herein being attached to said rod by push-on attachment;

[0034] Figure 4B illustrates a threaded rod and a lock washer according to some aspects herein being removed from said rod by threading.

[0035] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 1A illustrates an objective view of a lock washer 1 arranged to be push-on attached to a threaded shaft, the lock washer 1 comprising a base 3 having a through-hole 5 therein. Further, the lock washer comprises a plurality of flexible tabs 2, each tab extending inwardly and upwardly towards a centre axis c1 of said through-hole 5. The tabs may extend from edges of said through hole 5. Moreover, edges 4 of the tabs 2 of the lock washer 1 jointly form a spiral pattern arranged to correspond to a thread pattern of said threaded shaft for enabling the lock washer 1 to be removed from said threaded shaft by threading.

[0038] Figure 1 B illustrates from a side view the spiral pattern formed by the edges 4 of the lock washer. Specifically, Figure 1B illustrates that the edges of the tabs 2 jointly form a circular pattern, said circular pattern extending away from the base 3 in a helix / spiral staircase form. The edges may have a common distance to the centre axis c1. The phrase “jointly form a pattern” may assume that the edges 2 and spaces / an imaginary line / extension axis in-between adjacent edges 2 jointly form said pattern.

[0039] Figure 1B further illustrates that the inward and upward extension of the tabs 2 may form a common rising angle a relative said base 3, the rising angle a being 5-80 degrees, preferably 20-75 degrees, more preferably 30-70 degrees, more preferably 50-65 degrees. The rising angle a may be defined by the amount of degrees the tabs 2 tilt upwards and inwards relative the base 3. A common rising angle may refer to that all tabs have the same rising angle.

[0040] As illustrated in Figures 1A-1B the lock washer may comprise six tabs 2, however in other aspects, the lock washer may comprise less or more tabs. Moreover, as illustrated, in Figures 1A-1B opposing tabs 2 (or opposing points on two opposing tabs 2) may have an extension difference as a consequence of the spiral form. The extension difference may be half a thread pitch 6 of a threaded shaft that the lock washer 1 is to be attached to. Moreover, Figures 1A- 1 B illustrates that each tab 2 may extend towards the centre axis c1 with a constant / non- bending extension.

[0041] Figure 2A illustrates a top view of the lock washer 1 according to some aspects herein. As illustrated in Figure 2A, the lock washer 1 may be polygonal in shape, more specifically, as illustrated in Figure 2A, the lock washer 1 or base 3 thereof may be rectangular in shape. However, in other aspects, the lock washer 1 may be circular in shape. Further, Figure 2A illustrates that the tabs 2 comprise inner edges 4a and outer edges 4b, wherein the edges 4 that jointly form a spiral pattern is at least one of said inner edges 4a and outer edges 4b.

[0042] Figure 2B illustrates an objective back view of the lock washer 1 according to some aspects herein. Figure 2B illustrates that the lock washer 1 may comprise a uniform thickness, the thickness being preferably 0.5-3 mm, more preferably about 1 mm. Moreover, Figure 2B illustrates that the base 3 may comprise walls 3’ extending from sides 3a of said base 3 away from said tabs 2, said walls 3’ forming an inner chamber 9. The inner chamber 9 may be defined by the space enclosed by the (inner surface of the) walls 3’. Figure 2B illustrates that the lock washer 1 comprises four walls 3’, however, the base 3 may comprise more or less walls 3’.

[0043] Figure 3 illustrates a cutoff side view of a threaded shaft 110, having a threaded pattern 120. Moreover, a placement of opposing tabs 2 of a lock washer 1 according to some aspects herein is illustrated. As illustrated by Figure 3, the opposing tabs 2 may have an extension difference being half a thread pitch 6 of said threaded shaft 110. As illustrated by Figure 3, the tabs 2 may be arranged to harmonize with the threads 120 of a corresponding shaft 110.

[0044] Figure 4A illustrates a mounting arrangement 100 for an electronic arrangement comprising a lock washer 1 according to any aspect herein and a threaded shaft 110. In Figure 4A, the lock washer 1 is in an operation so to be attached to the threaded shaft 110 by push-on as indicated by the arrows. Thus, Figure 4A depicts the push-on operation, said operation deforming the tabs of the lock washer 1 so to allow the lock washer to be push-on attached to the threaded shaft 110. The lock washer 1 according to any aspect herein may be arranged to, in a push-on operation state, engage with the threads of the shaft 110 by a ratchet and pawl mechanism thereby allowing the lock washer to be attached by push on, while not being removable by the same operation in an opposite direction. Instead, based on the spiral form, the lock washer can only be removed by threading.

[0045] Figure 4B illustrates a mounting arrangement 100 for an electronic arrangement / device comprising a lock washer according to any aspect herein in which the lock washer 110 is attached to the threaded shaft 110 and under a removal state.

[0046] As illustrated in Figure 4B, the space provided by walls of the lock washer 1 can enclose a unit 20 at the bottom of the shaft 110, thereby provide a more secure and aesthetic attachment. Based on the lock washer 1 being able to provide a rotating movement in attachment as well as push-on in one direction, the lock washer 1 may be push-on to the bottom of the shaft 110 and subsequently be rotated / threaded to be further tensioned at a bottom of the shaft 110. Moreover, as illustrated in Figure 4B, the removal state of the lock washer 1 is performed by rotation / threading of the same based on the tabs being locked in the direction opposite to the push-one direction.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A non-conductive lock washer (1) arranged to be push-on attached to a threaded shaft (110), the lock washer (1) comprising: a base (3) having a through-hole (5); a plurality of flexible tabs (2), each tab extending inwardly and upwardly towards a centre axis (c1) of said through-hole (5); wherein edges (4) of the tabs (2) of the lock washer (1) jointly form a spiral pattern arranged to correspond to a thread pattern (120) of said threaded shaft (110) for enabling the lock washer (1) to be removed from said threaded shaft (110) by threading.

2. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the base (3) is polygonal or circular in shape.

3. The non-conductive lock washer according to any one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the base (3) comprises walls (3’) extending from sides (3a) of said base (3) away from said tabs (2), said walls (3’) forming an inner chamber (9).

4. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to any one of the claims 1-3, wherein the lock washer (1) comprises a uniform thickness, the thickness being preferably 0.5-3 mm, more preferably about 1 mm.

5. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to any one of the claims 1-4, wherein the tabs (2) comprise inner edges (4a) and outer edges (4b), wherein the edges (4) that jointly form a spiral pattern is at least one of said inner edges (4a) and outer edges (4b).

6. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to any one of the claims 1-5, wherein inward and upward extension of the tabs (2) form a common rising angle (a) relative said base (3), preferably, the rising angle (a) is 5-80 degrees, more preferably 20-75 degrees, more preferably 30-70 degrees, more preferably 50-65 degrees.

7. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein opposing tabs (2) have an extension difference being half a thread pitch (6) of said threaded shaft (110).

8. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to any one of the claims 1-7, wherein the non-conductive lock washer (1) is made of plastic, nylon or any other non- conductive material.

9. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to any one of the claims 1-8, wherein each tab (2) extend in a non-bending manner.

10. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to any one of the claims 1-9, wherein the lock washer (1) is arranged to, in a push-on operation state, engage with the threads of the shaft (110) by a ratchet and pawl mechanism.

11. The non-conductive lock washer (1) according to any one of the claims 1-10, wherein the non-conductive lock washer (1) forms an integral structure.

12. A mounting arrangement (100) for an electronic arrangement comprising a lock washer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and a threaded shaft (110), wherein the lock washer (1) is arranged to be attached to the threaded shaft (110) by push-on, and wherein the lock washer (1) is removable from the threaded shaft (110) by threading.

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