ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 4 -- United States Patent no. 12,320,382, issued on June 3, was assigned to NIDEC GPM GMBH (Merbelsrod, Germany).
"Damping element having bayonet closure" was invented by Michael Vippach (Nahetal-Waldau, Germany) and Maik Buttner (Lautertal, Germany).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A damping element (1) has grooves (5) on its circumferential surface in the manner of a bayonet closure. The grooves (5) are open towards an end face (2, 3) of the damping element (1), wherein the grooves (5) or at least first portions (8) of the grooves (5) open towards the end face (2, 3) of the damping element (1) run substantially in the longitudinal direction of the damping element (1). Mor...