A bearing assembly wherein the inner diameter of the slotted compressible annular
locking collar is provided with a protrusion which extends radially inwardly, and
finger extensions of the inner ring are provided with a recessed groove which extends
at least partially along the collective outer annular surface of the finger extensions.
When the locking collar is disposed about the finger extensions of the inner ring,
the protrusion is disposed within the recessed groove to retain the locking collar
on the inner ring. The inner ring finger extensions and the locking collar are
relatively sized such that when they are in their free states, the inner diameter
of the protrusion is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the recessed groove,
such that the collar may be snapped over the finger extensions and into proper
position on the inner ring prior to installation on a shaft. The protrusion may
be an integrally formed part of the locking collar or a separate resilient member.
In one embodiment, the locking collar and finger extensions are formed with cooperating threads.
