Patent ID: 7377712
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: F16M,H04N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A swivel assembly for connecting a load to a support member, said swivel assembly comprising: a one-piece hollow swivel stem having a head, a reduced size middle body, and a mounting base, said head, body, and base being mutually coaxial, and said head having a bottom surface forming an outwardly-extending shoulder at the top of said middle body; and a retainer assembly for rotatably supporting said head of said swivel stem, said retainer assembly comprising: a bottom retainer plate; a washer plate assembly comprising front and rear retainer plates abutted against one another and forming between them a bore surrounding said middle body of said swivel member and also forming a washer nest; a lower thrust washer supported in said nest and engaged with said shoulder; a top retainer plate overlying said head, said top retainer plate having a downwardly-open washer pocket overlying said head; an upper thrust washer located in said pocket and engaged with a top surface of said head; said top retainer plate, said front retainer plate, and said bottom retainer plate having mutually aligned front through bores, said front through bore in said front retainer plate being threaded; a front threaded fastener extending through said front bores and threadedly engaged with said threaded bore in said front retainer plate; said top retainer plate, said rear retainer plate, and said bottom retainer plate having mutually aligned rear through bores, said rear through bore in said rear retainer plate being threaded; a rear threaded fastener extending through said rear bores and threadedly engaged with said threaded rear bore in said rear retainer plate; said washer plate assembly being clamped to said bottom retainer plate in part by said threaded fasteners; and adjusting members threadedly engaged with said threaded fasteners and bearing downwardly on said top retainer plate.