Importance

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Abstract

A retainer sleeve having a cylindrically curved wall of resilient material spaced radially from its longitudinal centerline for defining a tapered leading end portion, a midportion and an opposing trailing end portion of the sleeve. The defining wall has extended through its thickness a longitudinally coextensive first opening with an open end portion in the trailing end portion of the sleeve disposed in opposing relationship with a hinge portion of the wall. The hinge portion terminates in a closed end of a longitudinal second opening in the wall having an opposing open end portion disposed in diametric opposing relationship with an opposing open end portion of the first opening in the leading end portion of the sleeve. Thus, the first and second openings form therebetween first and second opposing flexible legs which have in the midportion of the sleeve respective proximal end portions. Extending radially outward from the proximal end portions of the legs are respective ramp-like tabs which have respective sloped surfaces directed toward the leading end portion of the sleeve and respective sheer end surfaces directed toward the trailing end portion of the sleeve. In the leading end portion of the sleeve, the flexible legs have respective cam-like distal end portions which curve radially outward of the sleeve respective distances greater than the extent of the respective ramp-like tabs.

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First Claim