Anti-tipping retainer for a retaining mechanism

Abstract

An anti-tipping retainer has a lug receiving portion defining a lug receiving slot that extends partially through the lug receiving portion, forming a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a catch surface connecting the first sidewall to the second sidewall. A drive portion has recess for turning the retainer. At least a first detent receiving surface is disposed on the outside of the lug receiving portion proximate to the first sidewall or the second sidewall. The drive portion further includes a tab that has a bearing surface extending between a first stop surface and a second stop surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anti-tipping retainer comprising:
 a lug receiving portion defining a first maximum outside dimension, the lug receiving portion also defining a lug receiving slot that extends partially through the lug receiving portion, forming a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a catch surface connecting the first sidewall to the second sidewall;   a drive portion defining a second maximum outside dimension; and   at least a first detent receiving surface disposed on the outside of the lug receiving portion proximate to the first sidewall or the second sidewall;   wherein the drive portion further includes a tab extending from the drive portion, the tab including a first stop surface, a second stop surface, and a bearing surface extending between the first stop surface and the second stop surface.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-tipping retainer of  claim 1  wherein the lug receiving portion includes a cylindrical lug receiving portion including an outside cylindrical surface defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, and a cylindrical axis, and the first maximum outside dimension is an outside cylindrical surface diameter, and the drive portion includes a drive cylindrical portion and the second maximum outside dimension is a drive cylindrical portion diameter that is less than the outside cylindrical surface diameter of the cylindrical lug receiving portion, and the bearing surface is an arcuate bearing surface that is radially interposed between the outside cylindrical surface and the drive cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-tipping retainer of  claim 2  wherein the arcuate bearing surface defines an arcuate bearing surface area that is at least 30.0 mm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The anti-tipping retainer of  claim 2  wherein the arcuate bearing surface area is interrupted by the at least first detent receiving surface. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-tipping retainer of  claim 4  wherein the at least first detent receiving surface extends axially completely through the tab. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-tipping retainer of  claim 2  wherein the drive portion defines a rectangular shaped recess that is centered on the cylindrical axis, the at least first detent receiving surface includes a groove surface extending axially completely through the lug receiving portion, and the arcuate bearing surface is disposed at least partially diametrically opposite to the groove surface. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-tipping retainer of  claim 5  further comprising a first blend surface connecting the arcuate bearing surface to the first stop surface, and a second blend surface connecting the arcuate bearing surface to the second stop surface. 
     
     
         8 . An anti-tipping retainer comprising:
 a cylindrical lug receiving portion including an outside cylindrical surface defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, and a cylindrical axis, and defining an outside cylindrical surface diameter, the cylindrical lug receiving portion also defining a lug receiving slot that extends radially partially through the cylindrical lug receiving portion, forming a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a catch surface connecting the first sidewall to the second sidewall;   a drive cylindrical portion defining a drive cylindrical portion diameter that is less than the outside cylindrical surface diameter; and   at least a first detent receiving surface disposed on the outside of the cylindrical lug receiving portion proximate to the first sidewall or the second sidewall;   wherein the drive cylindrical portion further includes a tab extending radially from the drive cylindrical portion, the tab including a first stop surface, a second stop surface, and an arcuate bearing surface extending between the first stop surface and the second stop surface that is radially interposed between the drive cylindrical portion and the outside cylindrical surface.   
     
     
         9 . The anti-tipping retainer of  claim 8  wherein the arcuate bearing surface defines an arcuate bearing surface area ranging from 30.0 mm 2  to 80.0 mm 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The anti-tipping retainer of  claim 8  wherein the drive cylindrical portion defines a first axial height, and the tab defines a second axial height that is the same as the first axial height. 
     
     
         11 . A tip assembly comprising:
 a tip that includes a body that defines a longitudinal axis, a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a lateral axis that is perpendicular to the vertical axis and the longitudinal axis, the body including:
 a forward working portion disposed along the longitudinal axis including a closed end; and 
 a rear attachment portion disposed along the longitudinal axis including an open end; 
 wherein the rear attachment portion defines
 an exterior surface; 
 an adapter nose receiving pocket extending longitudinally from the open end; 
 
 a retaining mechanism receiving aperture in communication with the adapter nose receiving pocket and the exterior surface; 
 an adapter nose lug receiving groove extending longitudinally from the open end to the retaining mechanism receiving aperture; and 
   an anti-tipping retainer disposed in the retaining mechanism receiving aperture;   wherein the retaining mechanism receiving aperture includes a counterbore including a counterbore surface defining a counterbore maximum diameter, a radial direction, a counterbore longitudinal axis, and a thru-hole defining a thru-hole surface defining a thru-hole minimum diameter that is less than the counterbore maximum diameter, and the anti-tipping retainer includes an arcuate bearing surface that is disposed along the counterbore longitudinal axis radially proximate to the thru-hole surface at the thru-hole minimum diameter.   
     
     
         12 . The tip assembly of  claim 11  wherein the arcuate bearing surface is spaced away from the thru-hole surface a radial clearance distance ranging from 0 mm to 6.0 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The tip assembly of  claim 12  wherein the arcuate bearing surface defines an arcuate bearing surface area that is at least 30.0 mm 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The tip assembly of  claim 13  wherein the anti-tipping retainer comprises:
 a cylindrical lug receiving portion including an outside cylindrical surface, and defining an outside cylindrical surface diameter, the cylindrical lug receiving portion also defining a lug receiving slot that extends radially partially through the cylindrical lug receiving portion, forming a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a catch surface connecting the first sidewall to the second sidewall; 
 a drive cylindrical portion defining a drive cylindrical portion diameter that is less than the outside cylindrical surface diameter; and 
 at least a first detent receiving surface disposed on the outside of the cylindrical lug receiving portion proximate to the first sidewall or the second sidewall; and 
 the drive cylindrical portion further includes a tab extending radially past the cylindrical portion diameter, the tab including a first stop surface, a second stop surface, and the arcuate bearing surface extends between the first stop surface and the second stop surface, the arcuate bearing surface being radially interposed between the drive cylindrical portion and the outside cylindrical surface. 
 
     
     
         15 . The tip assembly of  claim 14  wherein the at least first detent receiving surface extends axially completely through the tab. 
     
     
         16 . The tip assembly of  claim 14  wherein the drive cylindrical portion defines a first axial height along the counterbore longitudinal axis, and the tab defines a second axial height along the counterbore longitudinal axis that is the same as the first axial height. 
     
     
         17 . The tip assembly of  claim 15  wherein the arcuate bearing surface area ranges from 30.0 mm 2  to 80.0 mm 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The tip assembly of  claim 15  wherein the arcuate bearing surface defines an arcuate bearing surface angular extent about the counterbore longitudinal axis ranging from 15.0 degrees to 50.0 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The tip assembly of  claim 14  wherein the drive cylindrical portion defines a rectangular shaped recess that is centered on the counterbore longitudinal axis, the at least first detent surface includes a groove surface extending along the counterbore longitudinal axis completely through the lug receiving portion, and the arcuate bearing surface is disposed at least partially diametrically opposite to the groove surface. 
     
     
         20 . The tip assembly of  claim 19  wherein the tip defines at least retainer sleeve receiving slot that is in communication with the counterbore, and further comprising a plastic spring member that is disposed in the counterbore and that engages the groove surface for preventing the unintentional rotation of anti-tipping retainer.