Patent ID: RE44204

Claim:
A tensioner comprising a fixed structure, a pivoting structure mounted on said fixed structure for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis, a pulley mounted on said pivoting structure for rotational movement about a rotational axis parallel to said pivotal axis, a spring operatively connected between said fixed structure and said pivoting structure resiliently biasing the pivoting structure in one direction, said fixed structure including a hollow shaft and an end member formed of sheet metal of predetermined thickness fixed to an end portion of said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft receiving a bolt for fixedly attaching the tensioner to a mounting structure, said end member engaging said mounting structure for regulating a position of said tensioner relative to said mounting structure, said end member including an opening having a plurality of annularly spaced inwardly extending pointed projections and a mounting knob positioned to engage within an associated mating recess of said mounting structure, said end portion of said hollow shaft having an outwardly extending shoulder and a shaft end section adjacent said shoulder, said end portion including a circumferential groove formed in said shaft end section and positioned between said shoulder and said shaft end section, said circumferential groove having a first diameter and said shaft end section having a second diameter greater than said first diameter, said end member abutting against said shoulder, said end portion being deformed radially outwardly embedding the pointed projections into said hollow shaft, said circumferential groove providing a deformation path as said end portion of said hollow shaft deforms radially outwardly.