Patent ID: 6446320
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of retaining a first generally cylindrical housing to a second generally cylindrical housing while allowing for relative rotation between the housings, the second generally cylindrical housing having a protrusion, the method comprising:providing a sheet metal clip having an annulus disposed about a central axis, the annulus having a plurality of retention members, each of the plurality of retention member including a leg portion and a hook portion, the leg portion extending in a first direction from an inner perimeter of the annulus along the central axis, the hook portion projecting from the leg portion toward the central axis in a second direction opposite the first so as to define an imaginary perimeter concentric to the inner perimeter, the hook portion being acute to the central axis; supporting the annulus of the clip within a retaining portion of the first housing; and engaging the hook portion of the clip with the protrusion of the second housing in the first direction to position the protrusion into a space between the imaginary perimeter and inner perimeter so that the hook portion self-tightens on the protrusion when the second housing is moved away from the first housing along the central axis.