Patent ID: 6955335
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: F02D,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A throttle device comprising: a throttle body; a cover adapted to be mounted to the throttle body; a coupling device comprising a first engaging portion disposed on one of the throttle body and the cover and a second engaging portion disposed on the other of the throttle body and the cover, wherein the first and second engaging portions are engageable with each other when the throttle body and the cover is moved toward each other in a first direction, so that the throttle body and the cover are prevented from moving away from each other in a second direction opposite to the first direction; means for preventing access to the first or second engaging portions in order to disengage the first and second engaging portions; wherein the first engaging portion is resiliently deformed and subsequently recovers towards the engaging portion's original configuration in order to engage the second engaging portion as the throttle body and the cover move together relative to each other in the first direction; wherein the prevention means is arranged and constructed to restrict the intentional operation of the first engaging member; wherein the second engaging portion includes an engaging hole that has an axis substantially parallel to the first and second directions; the engaging hole defines an engaging surface that extends in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions; the first engaging portion includes at least one resiliently deformable shank and an engaging claw disposed at one end of each shank; the shank with the engaging claw is adapted to be inserted into the engaging hole, so that the engaging claw slides along an inner wall of the engaging hole while the shank is resiliently deformed inward in the third direction as the first engaging portion is inserted into the engaging hole; and the shank resiliently recovers towards the shank's original configuration to move the engaging claw outward in the third direction, so that the engaging claw engages the engaging hole with the engaging claw opposite the engaging surface in the first direction when the engaging claw moves beyond the engaging surface, wherein the shank comprises a pair of shank portions that are formed integrally with one of the throttle body and the cover and extend in the first direction therefrom, the shank portions are spaced apart from each other in the third direction and the engaging claw comprises a pair of claw portions, and the claw portions are formed integrally with the respective ends of the shank portions and extend in radially outward in the third direction.