Paragraph Number

318

As used herein, a “thread” or "screw thread" refers to a helical structure used to convert between rotational and linear movement or force and/or to connect or engage two structures. A screw thread can be a ridge that wraps around a cylinder in the form of a helix, referred to as a straight thread. A screw thread can also be a ridge that wraps around a cone shape, referred to as a tapered thread. A screw thread is a feature of a screw as a simple machine and also in use as a threaded fastener. A screw thread can provide one or both of the following functions: conversion of rotary motion or force into linear motion or force and preventing or mitigating linear motion or force without corresponding rotation motion or force. In certain implementations of screw threads that convert a rotation force or torque into linear motion, or vice versa, the screw threads may be referred to as drive threads because of the drive function rotating the threads serves to extend or retract a structure linearly.

Added by DJM 9 2021