Ball joint with detent action
First Claim
1. A flexible multi-jointed support for holding items such as lamps and tools, wherein the support is comprised of multiple segments that are joined end to end, each joining of two segments thereby forming the joints, and at least one of the joints is a ball and socket joint that is capable of being biased in a desired orientation, wherein each ball and socket joint comprises:
- a male portion, that is in the shape of a ball, wherein the ball comprises a detent area that includes one part of a detent mechanism; and
, a female portion, that is in the shape of a socket that frictionally embraces the ball, wherein the socket comprises a detent area that includes a second complimentary part of the detent mechanism that aligns with and engages the detent area of the ball when the male and female portions are placed in a desired position thereby biasing the joint toward that position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ball and socket joint incorporating a detent mechanism that provides positive biasing toward a desired position. The ball and socket joint can be used in flexible supports that hold and support items such as lamps, tools and faucets. The detent mechanism comprises two corresponding parts, one in the ball portion and the second in the socket portion of the joint. The first detent part is a protrusion of some type and the second detent part is a groove or indentation that is adapted to accept and engage the protrusion. If the ball contains the detent protrusion, then the socket contains the detent indentation. And conversely, if the socket contains the detent protrusion, then the ball contains the detent indentation. The detent tensioning force can be provided by a spring, a spring band, the characteristics of the material from which the joint is made, or by some other similar tensioning device.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A flexible multi-jointed support for holding items such as lamps and tools, wherein the support is comprised of multiple segments that are joined end to end, each joining of two segments thereby forming the joints, and at least one of the joints is a ball and socket joint that is capable of being biased in a desired orientation, wherein each ball and socket joint comprises:
-
a male portion, that is in the shape of a ball, wherein the ball comprises a detent area that includes one part of a detent mechanism; and
,a female portion, that is in the shape of a socket that frictionally embraces the ball, wherein the socket comprises a detent area that includes a second complimentary part of the detent mechanism that aligns with and engages the detent area of the ball when the male and female portions are placed in a desired position thereby biasing the joint toward that position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for supporting items, such as lamps and tools, wherein a support arm with multiple joints is used to support the item, and one or more ball and socket joints are used in the support arm, wherein the ball and socket joints can be placed in at least one biased position, the method comprising the steps of:
-
forming at least one ball and socket joint, wherein the ball comprises a detent area that includes one part of a detent mechanism, and the socket comprises a detent area that includes a second complimentary part of the detent mechanism, and the detent area of the socket corresponds to, and is adapted to engage, the detent area of the ball when the ball and socket are aligned in a desired position; and
,using one or more of the formed ball and socket joints in the support arm. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A flexible multi-jointed support for holding items such as lamps and tools, wherein the support is comprised of multiple segments that are joined end to end each joining of two segments thereby forming the joints, and at least one of the joints is a ball and socket joint that is capable of being biased in a desired orientation, wherein at least one ball and socket joint comprises:
-
a male portion, that is in the shape of a ball, wherein the ball has one or more detent areas; and
,a female portion, that is in the shape of a socket that frictionally embraces the ball, wherein the socket has one or more detent areas, and, each socket detent area can engage at least one of the ball'"'"'s detent areas and each ball detent area can engage at least one of the socket'"'"'s detent areas, thereby allowing the support to be biased in multiple different desired positions, and further wherein each segment is hollow and each ball has a hole at an axial end so that a cord, such as a power cord, can pass through an interior of the support.
-
Specification