CANTED COIL SPRINGS WITH CONTOURED WIRE SHAPES, RELATED SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

Canted coil springs are disclosed wherein wires used to form the springs have sections with shapes that are not generally round. The different shapes are configured to increase contact surface areas by providing more surface-to-surface contacts with adjacent surfaces of a housing and a shaft over a single point contact typically found with round wires. The disclosed springs may be used with a housing and a shaft in a holding application, a latching application, a locking application, or combinations thereof.