Patent ID: 6524012
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: B60B,F16C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
In an assembly comprising an external member having a first bore and an internal groove in the first bore, an internal member having an external groove, a second bore and a radial slot extending axially between said external groove and an end of the internal member, and a spring ring having adjacent to its ends, arms which extend generally radially inwardly, a method of securing together the external member in telescopic relationship with the internal member by the spring ring comprising:mounting the spring ring in the external groove off the internal member so that the arms extend inwardly through said slot into the second bore; releasably holding the spring ring in a contracted state so that it lies substantially within the external groove by engaging the arms in the second bore with a holding mechanism; telescoping the internal member into the external member while the arms are engaged with the holding mechanism until the internal and external grooves are mutually aligned; and releasing the arms of the spring ring so that the spring ring expands to engage in both of the mutually aligned internal and external grooves.