Lock packing prevention for a bit

Abstract

A retaining spring clip includes an elongated body defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction. A handle is disposed proximate to a first longitudinal end, an intermediate spring is disposed along the longitudinal direction, and a stepped groove is disposed proximate to a second longitudinal end. A triangular shaped void forms a backside of the intermediate spring, and a void filler is disposed in the triangular shaped void.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A retaining spring clip comprising:
 an elongated body defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction; and   a handle disposed proximate to a first longitudinal end, an intermediate spring disposed along the longitudinal direction, and a stepped groove disposed proximate to a second longitudinal end.   
     
     
         22 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated body defines a triangular shaped void that forms a backside of the intermediate spring, and further comprising a void filler that is disposed in the triangular shaped void. 
     
     
         23 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 22 , wherein the void filler comprises at least one of the following materials: an elastomer, a rubber, a gel, and a foam. 
     
     
         24 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 21 , wherein the handle defines an interior elongated aperture. 
     
     
         25 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 24 , wherein the interior elongated aperture is rectangularly shaped. 
     
     
         26 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated body defines a longitudinal length, a lateral width that is less than the longitudinal length, and a transverse height that is less that the lateral width. 
     
     
         27 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated body defines a plane of symmetry that includes the longitudinal direction, and the transverse direction. 
     
     
         28 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated body includes a pair of stepped prongs that terminate at the second longitudinal end, forming the stepped groove. 
     
     
         29 . A blade assembly comprising:
 a plurality of retaining spring clips, each comprising:
 an elongated body defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction; and 
 a handle disposed proximate to a first longitudinal end, an intermediate spring disposed along the longitudinal direction, and a stepped groove disposed proximate to a second longitudinal end. 
   
     
     
         30 . The blade assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the handle defines an interior elongated aperture. 
     
     
         31 . A retaining spring clip comprising:
 an elongated body defining a first direction, a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; and   a handle disposed proximate to a first end in the first direction, a stepped groove disposed proximate to a second, opposite end in the first direction, and an intermediate spring disposed between the handle and the stepped groove.   
     
     
         32 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 31 , wherein the elongated body defines a triangular shaped void that forms a backside of the intermediate spring, and further comprising a void filler that is disposed in the triangular shaped void. 
     
     
         33 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 32 , wherein the void filler comprises at least one of the following materials: an elastomer, a rubber, a gel, and a foam. 
     
     
         34 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 31 , wherein the handle defines an interior elongated aperture. 
     
     
         35 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 34 , wherein the interior elongated aperture is rectangularly shaped. 
     
     
         36 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 31 , wherein the elongated body defines a length in the first direction, a width in the second direction that is less than the length, and a height in the third direction that is less that the width. 
     
     
         37 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 31 , wherein the elongated body defines a plane of symmetry that includes the first direction, and the third direction. 
     
     
         38 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 31 , wherein the elongated body includes a pair of stepped prongs that terminate at the second, opposite end in the first direction, forming the stepped groove. 
     
     
         39 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a spring arm that terminates in a dual action cam surface and defines a cantilever catch length measured form a flex point of the spring arm to the dual action cam surface.   
     
     
         40 . The retaining spring clip of  claim 39 , wherein a ratio of the cantilever catch length to an aperture depth ranges from 1 to 1.25.