Patent ID: 7344310
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. A linear motion guide unit comprising: a guide rail having widthwise opposing sides on which lengthwise raceway grooves are made, one to each side, a slider fit over the guide rail for linear movement relative to the guide rail, the slider being provided with raceway grooves that are in opposition to the raceway grooves on the guide rail, a retainer used to space more than one rolling element from each other, which rolls through a race defined between the raceway groove on the guide rail and the raceway groove on the slider, and a stopper plug fastened to any one of forward and aft end of the guide rail; wherein the stopper plug has horned projections at areas corresponding to the raceway grooves on the guide rail, the horned projections spreading sidewise beyond contour of the guide rail, the horned projections being made in a configuration that causes no interference with the slider upon linear movement of the slider relative to the guide rail, and the horned projections being made with raised portions that are adapted to fit into the raised portions that are adapted to fit into the raceway grooves on the guide rail to keep the stopper plug in place relative to the guide rail, whereby upon movement of the slider relatively to the guide rail, the retainer collides at forward and aft ends thereof against the raised portions of the stopper plugs, which fit in the raceway grooves on the guide rail, to keep the retainer against escape out of the guide rail, and wherein the stopper plug is made of a sheet stock which is formed to product the raised portions, each of which has a horned projection which includes an offset portion having a first surface which is recessed and a second surface on the opposite side of the offset portion which is complementarily raised; wherein each of the second surfaces is respectively fixed to corresponding surfaces in the raceway grooves on the guide rail.