Patent ID: 7004844
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: B62D,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A telescoping shaft assembly including a shaft having a shaft outer diameter; a tube configured to receive the shaft therein, the tube having a tube outer diameter; a clearance damping element comprising: a tube engaging portion having a body having first and second ends and adapted to fixedly receive the tube; and a shaft engaging portion having a body extending from the second end of the tube engaging portion body, the shaft engaging portion body having a plurality of radially spaced axial slots therealong to define a plurality of flexible fingers, at least two of the fingers having inward extending projections such that the fingers define an inner diameter less than the shaft outer diameter when the fingers are in a relaxed, unbiased condition, the fingers and projections configured such that the fingers apply a dampening force to the shaft but do not prevent relative axial movement between the shaft and tube.