Connective joint with interlocking ring structures, forming a lamp or portions thereof
First Claim
1. In combination, a connective joint incorporated integrally in a lamp, said joint providing a rotational component of relative motion of a lamp base in relation to a lightbulb fixture, about an axis having any arbitrarily selectable orientation;
- said combination comprising;
a substantially stationary article;
an article that is substantially unrestrained, except by said joint, and that is in the form of a lightbulb fixture;
wherein the substantially stationary article is in the form of a lamp support; and
a connective joint comprising;
two interlocking toroids, each having a substantially circular minor cross-section and each having a substantially circular central aperture,the minor cross-section of each toroid being sized to substantially just fit through the central aperture of the other toroid,first connection means on one of the toroids for securing that toroid to the lamp support, andsecond connection means on the other of the toroids for securing that toroid to the lightbulb fixture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This mechanical joint allows relative rotation of two articles (one may be a stationary fixture), on an arbitrary axis. The joint has as much angular-rotation range as a hinge, but as many degrees of freedom as a ball-and-socket or universal joint. It allows transmission, between the objects, of force or flux (e.g., of electricity, gas, or liquid), or both. It can be used as an applied-force or motion sensor, varying electrical contacts or conductivity in response to relative motion or force applied between the articles. In one form the invention is simply a mechanical joint formed of two closely interlocked toroids. The minor cross-section of each toroid is sized to just fit through the central aperture of the other; there is a connection point on each toroid for attachment of one article. By adjusting closeness of fit, a designer can impart to the device a wide range of desirable frictional properties. In another basic form, the invention has an internal structure of two mutually fixed, interlocked rings or the like. Outer structures, generally ring-shaped, ride on the inner ones. The internal structure may be effectively concealed, but via a common area where they are joined they provide paths for transmitting flux or force between the articles.
45 Citations
27 Claims
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1. In combination, a connective joint incorporated integrally in a lamp, said joint providing a rotational component of relative motion of a lamp base in relation to a lightbulb fixture, about an axis having any arbitrarily selectable orientation;
- said combination comprising;
a substantially stationary article; an article that is substantially unrestrained, except by said joint, and that is in the form of a lightbulb fixture; wherein the substantially stationary article is in the form of a lamp support; and a connective joint comprising; two interlocking toroids, each having a substantially circular minor cross-section and each having a substantially circular central aperture, the minor cross-section of each toroid being sized to substantially just fit through the central aperture of the other toroid, first connection means on one of the toroids for securing that toroid to the lamp support, and second connection means on the other of the toroids for securing that toroid to the lightbulb fixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- said combination comprising;
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4. In combination, a connective joint incorporated integrally in a lamp and providing a rotational component of relative motion of a lightbulb fixture in relation to a lamp base, about an axis having an arbitrarily selectable orientation, and for use in transmitting a flux of electricity between the lamp base and the lightbulb fixture;
- said joint comprising;
a lamp support; a lightbulb fixture; and a connective joint comprising; two interlocking toroids, each having a substantially circular minor cross-section and a substantially circular central aperture, the minor cross-section of each toroid being small enough to fit through the central aperture of the other toroid; and
the central aperture of at least a particular one of the toroids having an inner periphery,flux-conducting means, formed along a path from within said particular one of the bodies, and penetrating through said inner periphery of said particular one of the bodies, to the other body, and connection means on each toroid for securing that toroid to one of such two articles respectively; wherein said flux-conducting means carry electricity from the pedestal to the lightbulb. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
- said joint comprising;
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8. A lamp comprising:
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a lamp support; a lightbulb fixture; and interconnecting the fixture and the support, a connective joint comprising; two interlocked bodies, each body being at least very generally arched, and each body substantially surrounding an aperture which is at least very generally central to the body, means, interconnecting the bodies, for constraining the bodies to mutually arcuate motions, each body being small enough to fit through the central aperture of the other body, in at least part of said motions of the bodies, connection means on one of the bodies for securing that body to the lamp support, and connection means on the other of the bodies for securing that body to the lightbulb fixture. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification