Adjustable pivot joint

• US 20040179891A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Raymer Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Raymer Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Bird, Michael, Watkins, Mervyn M.
• Application Number:
  US10/389,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20040179891A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/96
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/10 Arrangements for locking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32361 Engaging recess in radial face

Abstract

An adjustable pivot joint includes rotation arms which, when locked, prevent pivoting about an axis. A release mechanism is used to unlock the rotation arms to allow pivoting about the axis for adjustment of the pivot joint. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A pivot joint comprising:

a first rotation arm and a second rotation arm, the first rotation arm coupled to an engagement piece having at least one portion with an angled perimeter, and the second rotation arm having a locking portion also having an angled perimeter, wherein the angled perimeters of the at least one portion of the engagement piece and the locking portion allow the locking portion to receive the engagement piece to provide a locking mechanism for the pivot joint;

a pivot piece about which the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm are rotatable, and a spring mechanism positioned around the pivot piece and between the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm;

a release mechanism having a series of pins, the second rotation arm having a series of holes through which the series of pins are positioned, wherein the series of pins extend through the series of holes to move the engagement piece against the spring mechanism and out of the locking portion when the release mechanism is activated to allow at least one of the first rotation arm and the second rotation arms to move relative to the other.

2. The pivot joint of claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism allows the engagement piece to disengage the locking portion when pressure is applied to move the first and second rotation arms toward each other, and allows the engagement piece to engage the locking portion to maintain the pivot joint in a locked position when no pressure is applied to rotate the at least one of the first and second rotation arms relative to the other.

3. The pivot joint of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism includes a head portion having a button coupled to the series of pins.

4. The pivot joint of claim 1, wherein the series of pins are contoured to securely fit into the series of holes to prevent movement of the release mechanism.

5. The pivot joint of claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of the engagement piece is a first, conical portion having a plurality of teeth, and wherein the engagement piece also includes a second, square portion coupled to the first, conical portion.

6. The pivot joint of claim 5, wherein the plurality of teeth of the first, conical portion fit into a plurality of grooves in the locking portion of the second rotation arm.

7. The pivot joint of claim 6, wherein the locking portion is recessed within the second rotation arm and has a conical configuration to accept the first, conical portion of the engagement piece.

8. The pivot joint of claim 7, wherein the second, square portion fits into a recessed portion of the first rotation arm.

9. The pivot joint of claim 8, wherein the spring mechanism biases the engagement piece toward the second rotation arm when in an uncompressed position to cause the first, conical portion of the engagement piece to engage the locking portion of the second rotation arm.

10. The pivot joint of claim 9, wherein activating the series of pins causes the spring mechanism to compress and moves the second, square portion of the engagement piece into the recessed portion of the first rotation arm, causing the first rotation arm and the engagement piece to move together relative to the second arm rotation arm to allow adjustment of the pivot joint.

11. The pivot joint of claim 10, wherein when activated, the series of pins disengage the plurality of teeth of the engagement piece from the plurality of grooves from the locking portion.

12. The pivot joint of claim 11, wherein when the plurality of teeth of the engagement piece engage the plurality of grooves of the locking portion, the first rotation arm is prevented from rotating relative to the second rotation arm.

13. The pivot joint of claim 1, wherein the pivot piece provides a non-rotating diameter about which the pivot joint can be adjusted.

14. The pivot joint of claim 13, wherein the pivot piece is centrally positioned within the first rotation arm, the engagement piece, the second rotation arm, and the release mechanism.

15. A pivot joint comprising:

a rotation mechanism having a first rotation arm coupled to an engagement piece and a locking portion recessed within a second rotation arm, the engagement piece having a plurality of teeth, and the locking portion having a plurality of grooves, such that when the engagement piece is positioned within the locking portion and the plurality of teeth and the plurality of grooves are aligned together, the rotation mechanism lockably engages the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm; and

a release mechanism configured to disengage the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm by removing the plurality of teeth from the plurality of grooves when a spring mechanism positioned between the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm is compressed.

16. The pivot joint of claim 15, further comprising a pivot piece about which at least one of the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm is rotatable.

17. The pivot joint of claim 15, wherein the release mechanism includes a head portion having a button and a series of pins positioned in and extending from the head portion, the second rotation arm having a series of holes through which the series of pins are positioned.

18. The pivot joint of claim 17, wherein application of pressure to the release mechanism causes the series of pins to extend through the series of holes to push the engagement piece against the spring mechanism and out of the locking portion to allow at least one of the first rotation arm and the second rotation arms to move relative to the other.

19. The pivot joint of claim 16, wherein the spring mechanism is positioned around the pivot piece.

20. The pivot joint of claim 17, wherein the series of pins are contoured to securely fit into the series of holes to prevent movement of the release mechanism.

21. The pivot joint of claim 18, wherein the engagement piece includes a first, conical portion having the plurality of teeth and second, square portion coupled to the first, conical portion.

22. The pivot joint of claim 21, wherein the plurality of teeth of the first, conical portion fit into the plurality of grooves in the locking portion of the second rotation arm.

23. The pivot joint of claim 22, wherein the locking portion is recessed within the second rotation arm and has a conical configuration to accept the first, conical portion of the engagement piece.

24. The pivot joint of claim 23, wherein the second, square portion fits into a recessed portion of the first rotation arm.

25. The pivot joint of claim 24, wherein the spring mechanism biases the engagement piece toward the second rotation arm when in an uncompressed position to cause the first, conical portion of the engagement piece to engage the locking portion of the second rotation arm.

26. The pivot joint of claim 25, wherein activating the series of pins causes the spring mechanism to compress and moves the second, square portion of the engagement piece into the recessed portion of the first rotation arm, causing the first rotation arm and the engagement piece to move together relative to the second arm rotation arm to allow adjustment of the pivot joint.

27. The pivot joint of claim 26, wherein when activated, the series of pins disengage the plurality of teeth of the engagement piece from the plurality of grooves from the locking portion.

28. The pivot joint of claim 27, wherein when the plurality of teeth of the engagement piece engage the plurality of grooves of the second rotation arm, the first rotation arm is prevented from rotating relative to the second rotation arm.

29. The pivot joint of claim 15, wherein the pivot piece provides a non-rotating diameter about which the pivot joint can be adjusted.

30. The pivot joint of claim 29, wherein the pivot piece is centrally positioned within the first rotation arm, the engagement piece, the second rotation arm, and the release mechanism.

31. A method of pivoting a joint apparatus, comprising:

providing a first rotation arm and a second rotation arm, the first rotation arm coupled to an engagement piece having at least one portion with a sloped perimeter, and the second rotation arm having a locking portion also having a sloped perimeter capable of receiving the at least one portion of the engagement piece;

releasing the engagement piece from the locking portion by moving the first rotation arm to apply pressure against a spring mechanism;

rotating at least one of the first and second rotation arms around a pivot piece; and

locking the first and second rotation arms in a desired position by releasing pressure on the spring mechanism and engaging the engagement piece and the locking portion to prevent the first and second rotation arms from moving relative to each other.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the releasing the engagement piece from the locking portion by moving the first rotation arm to apply pressure against a spring mechanism includes activating a release mechanism having a head portion and a button coupled to a series of pins positionable in a series of holes in the second rotation arm, wherein activation of the release mechanism causes the series of pins to extend through the series of holes to move the engagement piece against the spring mechanism and out of the locking portion.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the spring mechanism is positioned around the pivot piece and between the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the series of pins are contoured to securely fit into the series of holes to prevent movement of the release mechanism.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one portion of the engagement piece is a first, conical portion having a plurality of teeth, and wherein the engagement piece also includes a second, square portion coupled to the first, conical portion.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of teeth of the first, conical portion fit into a plurality of grooves in the locking portion of the second rotation arm.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the locking portion is recessed within the second rotation arm and has a conical configuration to accept the first, conical portion of the engagement piece.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the second, square portion fits into a recessed portion of the first rotation arm.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the spring mechanism biases the engagement piece toward the second rotation arm when in an uncompressed position to cause the first, conical portion of the engagement piece to engage the recessed locking portion of the second rotation arm.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein activating the series of pins causes the spring mechanism to compress and moves the second, square portion of the engagement piece into the recessed portion of the first rotation arm, causing the first rotation arm and the engagement piece to move together relative to the second arm rotation arm to allow adjustment of the pivot joint.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein when activated, the series of pins disengage the plurality of teeth of the engagement piece from the plurality of grooves from the locking portion.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein when the plurality of teeth of the engagement piece engage the plurality of grooves of the second rotation arm, the first rotation arm is prevented from rotating relative to the second rotation arm.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the pivot piece provides a non-rotating diameter about which the pivot joint can be adjusted.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the pivot piece is centrally positioned within the first rotation arm, the engagement piece, the second rotation arm, and the activation mechanism.