SNAP RING

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a snap ring, simple in constitution and having a structure to be easily and surely pressed with a shaft member in a hole of a body where the shaft member is inserted even when the snap ring changes in its attitude due to rotation in a groove so that the centering state is not held. SOLUTION: This snap ring 1 is substantially annular, and partly divided to have an abutment part 10. The snap ring is fitted to an annular groove 21 formed in the periphery of a drive shaft 2 as the shaft member, and pressed with the drive shaft 2 in a center hole 30 of a side gear 3 as the body where the snap ring is inserted to thereby prevent the drive shaft 2 from slipping off the side gear 3. The snap ring has an end trap part 11 formed to be protruded inward in the radial direction in the vicinity of the abutment part 10 and an intermediate trap part 12 formed to be protruded inward in the radial direction between the end trap part 11 and the central part 13 of the whole snap ring 1. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI