Patent ID: 7513709
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: B62D,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A universal joint, comprising: a yoke including a fitting portion for fitting a shaft, the fitting portion having a first tab and a second tab parallel to each other to form a U-shape for receiving the shaft between interior surfaces of the tabs; a fixing mechanism for fastening and fixing the shaft between the first tab and the second tab, and including a bolt passing through an insertion hole provided in the first tab and an insertion hole provided in the second tab, and a nut screwed onto the bolt on a fastening axis of the bolt, a head of the bolt abutting an exterior surface of the fist tab and the nut being movable toward an exterior surface of the second tab and being extendable through the insertion hole in the second tab to engage the shaft; a nut holding member fixed the exterior surface of the second tab, and having an elastic projection, and an engaging piece protruding outwardly from the second tab, the engaging piece comprising a distal portion non-rotatably engaging with the nut to retain the nut at a spaced distance from the exterior surface of the second tab such that the nut, which has not been screwed onto the bolt, is held in alignment with the fastening axis of the bolt and preventing rotation of the nut to enable the nut to be screwed onto the bolt and move towards the second tab along the fastening axis, the engaging piece further comprising a proximal portion between the distal portion and the exterior surface of the tab which allows rotation of the nut once the nut has been moved toward the second tab so as to be free of contact with the distal portion; and a cover held by the elastic projection, and being removably mounted on the nut holding member and covering at least the engaging piece around the nut, the cover having a cylindrical portion surrounding the nut, the cylindrical portion having a fitting recess in which the elastic projection is elastically fitted.