APPARATUS FOR RETAINING A BALL JOINT, AND AN ASSEMBLY AND A METHOD THEREOF

• US 20150016866A1
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wainscott, Larry E., Gordon, Mark R., Roscoe, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,291,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/76
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/32 Ball-joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/06 Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0623 Construction or details of the socket member
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0657 the socket member being mainly made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/069 with at least one separate part to retain the ball member in the socket; Quick-release systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2362/00 Apparatus for lighting or heating in general F21 - F28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49696 Mounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32196 Articulate joint is ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32786 Divided socket-type coupling

Abstract

An assembly for enabling multi-adjustment of a lamp is provided. The assembly includes a frame to which the lamp is attachable, a ball joint, and an apparatus for retaining the ball joint. The ball joint has a head and a neck. The apparatus is attached to the frame, and includes a housing and a cap. The housing defines a chamber configured to receive the head of the ball joint. The housing may further define a slot in which the neck is slidable such that the ball joint is insertable into and removable from the chamber. The cap is configured to interlock with the housing to secure the ball joint such that they are substantially restricted to rotational movement with respect to each other. The cap and the housing may have retention tabs and retention ridges, respectively, configured to engage with each other to enable the interlocking.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retaining a ball joint having a head and a neck, the ball joint allowing adjustment of a lamp having a frame, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a chamber configured to receive the head of the ball joint; and

a cap configured to interlock with the housing to secure the ball joint such that the ball joint and the housing are substantially restricted to rotational movement with respect to each other;

wherein the apparatus is attachable to the frame of the lamp.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cap defines a concave portion configured to fit around at least a portion of the head of the ball joint.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing further defines at least one fastener hole configured to receive a fastener to enable the apparatus to be attached to the frame of the lamp.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing further defines a slot in which the neck of the ball joint is slidable such that the head of the ball joint is insertable into and removable from the chamber of the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing further defines at least one retention ridge, and the cap comprises at least one retention tab configured to engage with the at least one retention ridge from within the chamber or from without the housing to interlock the cap with the housing.

6. An assembly for enabling multi-angle adjustment of a lamp, the assembly comprising:

a frame to which the lamp is attachable;

a ball joint having a head and a neck; and

an apparatus in which the ball joint is retained, the apparatus being attached to the frame and having;

a housing defining a chamber configured to receive the head of the ball joint; and

a cap configured to interlock with the housing to secure the ball joint such that the ball joint and the housing are substantially restricted to rotational movement with respect to each other.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the cap of the apparatus defines a concave portion configured to fit around at least a portion of the head of the ball joint.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the housing of the apparatus and the frame each define at least one fastener hole substantially aligned with the other, the fastener holes being configured to receive a fastener to attach the apparatus to the frame.

9. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the housing of the apparatus further defines a slot in which the neck of the ball joint is slidable such that the head of the ball joint is insertable into and removable from the chamber of the housing.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the housing of the apparatus further defines at least one retention ridge, and the cap of the apparatus comprises at least one retention tab configured to engage with the at least one retention ridge from within the chamber or from without the housing to interlock the cap with the housing.

11. The assembly of claim 6 further comprising an insert located between the frame and the retention apparatus, the insert defining at least one indent.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the housing further comprises at least one protrusion configured to engage with the at least one indent of the insert such that the apparatus is substantially restricted from rotating with respect to the frame.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the insert further defines at least one fastener hole configured to receive a fastener.

14. A method for assembling an apparatus with a ball joint and a frame of a lamp, the ball joint having a head and a neck, and the apparatus having a housing defining a chamber, and a cap configured to interlock with the housing, the method comprising:

attaching the housing to the frame;

inserting the ball joint into the chamber such that the head is within the chamber; and

interlocking the cap with the housing such that the ball joint and the housing are substantially restricted to rotational movement with respect to each other.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the frame and the apparatus each define at least one fastener hole configured to receive a fastener, such that attaching the housing to the frame includes inserting the fastener through the respective fastener holes of the apparatus and the frame.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the apparatus further defines a slot in which the neck of the ball joint is slidable, such that inserting the ball joint into the chamber includes sliding the neck in the slot until the head of the ball joint is within the chamber.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the method further includes providing an insert between the frame and the housing prior to attaching the housing to the frame, the insert having at least one indent.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the housing further comprises at least one protrusion configured to engage with the at least one indent of the insert such that the apparatus is substantially restricted from rotating with respect to the frame, and the method further includes aligning the at least one protrusion with the at least one indent prior to attaching the housing to the frame.