Patent ID: 8263866
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: B60R,F16L,G01D,H02G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. In combination, a positioning device and an elongated member, said positioning device comprising: a band surrounding a central space; at least one flexible, resilient finger having a first end attached to said band and a second end extending radially inwardly toward said central space, at least one of said second end being engageable with said elongated member received within said central space, said band and said at least one finger being slidably movable along said elongated member to a predetermined position upon the application of a force to said band directed along a longitudinal axis of said elongated member and sufficient to overcome resistance between said at least one finger and said elongated member, at least one of said second end forcibly engaging said elongated member and holding said band in said predetermined position in the absence of said force and maintaining said band in said predetermined position along said elongated member, and wherein said elongated member comprises a plurality of annular corrugations spaced axially from one another by annular channels wherein at least one of said second end is received within one of said annular channels between adjacent corrugations to maintain said band in said predetermined position, said at least one finger being resiliently flexible and passing over said corrugations upon application of a force to said band along said central axis to allow said positioning device to move axially relative to said elongated member, and wherein said position device has a plurality of said fingers with adjacent ones of said fingers having different radially extending lengths.