Patent ID: 8020324

Claim:
A spacing assembly for adjusting a coupling width on an implement comprising: a first and second spacing element, each of the spacing elements having a first end having an inboard surface and an opposite second end having an outboard surface and including a thickness between said first end and said second end, said spacing element further including a bore extending between said first end and said second end which defines a spacing element longitudinal axis and a recess coaxial with said bore and disposed at said first end, said first and second spacing elements being positionable on an implement coupling pin such that said inboard surfaces face one another and freely slidable along the length of said pin to reduce an implement coupling width thereof; each spacing element further having an exposed outer surface which includes an exposed outer surface length extending from said first end to said second end, and at least three outer surface points positioned between said first end and said second end at both a uniform axial position and a uniform radial distance relative to the longitudinal axis, and said first end further including an exposed end surface having an inner peripheral edge adjoining said recess, and an outer peripheral edge adjoining said exposed outer surface and surrounding said bore; and a first and second spring clamp, each of the spring clamps positionable at least partially within the recess of a corresponding one of said first and second spacing elements and configured to inhibit movement of said spacing element along said pin, said clamp having a thickness less than the thickness of said spacing element and including an outer diameter and an inner diameter, wherein said inner diameter includes pin clamping surfaces configured to engage about said pin with a clamping force, and spring zones extending between said pin clamping surfaces, and wherein said clamp is movable along said pin via relieving said clamping force on said pin; wherein a clearance exists between said outer diameter of each said clamp and said recess of said corresponding spacing element such that said clamp may be spread apart while positioned within said recess to relieve said clamping force against said pin; and wherein each said spring clamp includes a non-uniform radial thickness between said outer diameter and said inner diameter varying between greater thickness at said pin clamping surfaces and lesser thickness in said spring zones, wherein the radial thickness defines a shape profile of each of said spring zones and said spring zones have among them at least three different shape profiles, and wherein a first circle defined by said pin clamping surfaces is concentric with a second circle defined by said outer diameter.