Patent ID: 8001725
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: E05F,E05Y,F16B,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming an elongated drive shaft for a movable barrier operator system for moving a movable barrier between positions, the steps comprising: aligning a first shaft segment having a first shaft segment longitudinal axis of rotation and a first connection end with a first shaft segment groove on an outer portion of the first connection end to a second shaft segment having a second shaft segment longitudinal axis of rotation and a second connection end with a second shaft segment groove on an outer portion of the second connection end along a common axis of rotation, the first shaft segment including an expandable portion set in the first shaft segment groove, each of the grooves having bottom surfaces facing outward from a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; joining the first and second connection ends by forcing a cooperating structure of each connection end to be received by cooperating structure on the other connection end which joining includes forcing the cooperating structure of the second connection end against the first connection end to expand the expandable portion of the first shaft segment, the first and second segments having generally planar walls which abuttingly engage each other to effect rotational motion to the drive shaft when driven; and contracting the expandable portion at the first shaft segment groove and the second shaft segment groove with a connector which expands and then contracts when the first shaft segment groove aligns with the second shaft segment groove and the connector is seated in the bottom surfaces of the grooves to join the first and second shaft segments.