Spindle nut retainer

Abstract

A spindle nut retainer is provided for preventing a nut threaded upon a spindle from unthreading and detaching from the spindle. The spindle nut retainer includes an integral base section and peripheral section maintaining a cup-shaped configuration. The base section includes an aperture through which the spindle may pass and the peripheral section includes a plurality of fingers which form windows therebetween used to form a locking connection between the spindle nut retainer and the nut.

1 . A spindle nut retainer for preventing disengagement of a nut threadedly engaged to a spindle, comprising: 
 an integral base section and a generally perpendicular peripheral section maintaining a cup-shaped configuration while in place over the nut;    wherein said base section defines a central aperture; and    wherein said peripheral section has an interior surface and includes a plurality of fingers which define one or more longitudinal windows therebetween, said fingers including nut corner engaging surfaces.    
     
     
         2 . The spindle nut retainer of  claim 1  wherein said nut corner engaging surfaces each comprise two angled surfaces.  
     
     
         3 . The spindle nut retainer of  claim 1  wherein said central aperture is D-shaped.  
     
     
         4 . The spindle nut retainer of  claim 1  wherein said base section is flat.  
     
     
         5 . The spindle nut retainer of  claim 1  wherein said base section is reinforced around said central aperture.  
     
     
         6 . The spindle nut retainer of  claim 1  made from polymer.  
     
     
         7 - 12 . cancelled.  
     
     
         13 . A spindle nut locking system comprising: 
 a spindle having a first end;    a nut threadedly engaged to said spindle, said nut having flats;    a spindle nut retainer, circumscribing said nut and said spindle, comprising an integral base section and a generally perpendicular peripheral section maintaining a cup-shaped configuration wherein said base section defines a central aperture, and wherein said peripheral section includes a plurality of fingers which create one or more longitudinal windows therebetween.    
     
     
         14 . The spindle nut locking system of  claim 13  wherein said spindle has a D-shaped cross-section adjacent to said first end.  
     
     
         15 . The spindle nut locking system of  claim 14  wherein said central aperture is D-shaped and said spindle nut retainer circumscribes the D-shaped cross section of said spindle resulting in rotational interference between said spindle nut retainer and said spindle.  
     
     
         16 . The spindle nut locking system of  claim 13  wherein said peripheral member has an interior surface which defines a plurality of nut engaging surfaces.  
     
     
         17 - 18 . cancelled.  
     
     
         19 . The spindle nut locking system of  claim 13  wherein said spindle includes a threaded section and a non-threaded section and said nut includes a first face adjacent said non-threaded spindle section and a second face on an opposite side of said nut and wherein said spindle nut retainer base section is adjacent said opposite side of said nut.  
     
     
         20 . A spindle nut retainer for placing over a nut threadedly engaged to a spindle having a threaded section with a truncated circular cross-section, said spindle nut retainer preventing disengagement of the nut and comprising: 
 an integral base section and a generally perpendicular peripheral section maintaining a cup-shaped configuration while in place over the nut;    wherein said base section defines a central aperture having a truncated circular shape for receiving the complementary shaped truncated circular cross-sectioned spindle to prevent rotation of the spindle nut retainer about the spindle;    wherein said peripheral section defines one or more longitudinal windows into which one or more corners of the nut protrude, preventing rotation of the nut; and    wherein said peripheral section includes inwardly extending portions for snapping over the nut to lock said spindle nut retainer in place.    
     
     
         21 . The spindle nut retainer of  claim 20  wherein said windows extend from said base section to an open end of the peripheral section opposite said base section.  
     
     
         22 . cancelled  
     
     
         23 . The spindle nut retainer of  claim 20  wherein said peripheral section further defines nut engaging surfaces on an interior surface.  
     
     
         24 . The spindle net retainer of  claim 21  wherein said inwardly extending portions are flared ends of fingers upon the peripheral section.