Ratchet link
First Claim
1. A ratchet link, comprising:
- (a) a socket, said socket including a pair of opposing, spaced-apart, arcuate prongs, said prongs having ends, said socket including an inner surface between said ends of said prongs;
(b) a generally cylindrical tongue, said tongue joined to and extending away from said socket, said tongue including an outer surface; and
(c) link coupling means for pivotally and releasably coupling said tongue to a socket on another said ratchet link and articulating said coupled ratchet links in a plurality of discrete positions, said link coupling means comprising;
(i) a first plurality of teeth extending outward from said inner surface of said socket and separated by a first plurality of notches; and
(ii) a second plurality of teeth extending outward from said outer surface of said tongue and separated by a second plurality of notches.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ratchet link having a cylindrically-shaped tongue at one end and a C-shaped socket at the other end for use in an articulating coupling system. The socket is defined by a pair of opposing, spaced-apart, resilient arcuate prongs which extend outward from the device away from the tongue end. The inside radius of the socket is substantially the same as the outside radius of the tongue, so that the tongue can be inserted into the socket of another link. The socket includes a narrow centrally positioned slot along its circumference, and the tongue includes a narrow centrally positioned ring extending outward along its circumference which is received by the slot when the tongue is inserted into the socket. A plurality of spaced apart teeth are provided along the inside surface of the socket and extend between the faces of the device in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the plane of the faces. Similar teeth are located along the outside surface of the tongue. When the tongue of one link is placed into the socket of another link, the teeth intermesh wherein the teeth in the tongue fit into the interdental notches between the teeth in the socket, and the teeth in the socket fit into the interdental notches between the teeth in the tongue. The tongue and socket pivot in discrete positions, while lateral movement is prevented by the engagement of the ring and the socket. Various tongue/socket combinations can be used for coupling objects for articulating movement.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A ratchet link, comprising:
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(a) a socket, said socket including a pair of opposing, spaced-apart, arcuate prongs, said prongs having ends, said socket including an inner surface between said ends of said prongs; (b) a generally cylindrical tongue, said tongue joined to and extending away from said socket, said tongue including an outer surface; and (c) link coupling means for pivotally and releasably coupling said tongue to a socket on another said ratchet link and articulating said coupled ratchet links in a plurality of discrete positions, said link coupling means comprising; (i) a first plurality of teeth extending outward from said inner surface of said socket and separated by a first plurality of notches; and (ii) a second plurality of teeth extending outward from said outer surface of said tongue and separated by a second plurality of notches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A ratchet link, comprising:
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(a) a socket, said socket including a pair of opposing, spaced-apart, resilient arcuate prongs, said prongs having ends, said socket having an inner surface between said ends of said prongs; (b) a slot, said slot positioned circumferentially along said inner surface of said socket between said ends of said prongs; (c) a first plurality of teeth extending outward from said inner surface of said socket and separated by a first plurality of notches; (d) a generally cylindrical tongue, said tongue joined to and extending away from said socket, said tongue having an outer surface; (e) an annular ring, said ring positioned circumferentially along said outer surface of said tongue; and (f) a second plurality of teeth extending outward from said outer surface of said tongue and separated by a second plurality of notches. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An articulating coupling system, comprising:
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(a) a socket, said socket including a pair of opposing, spaced-apart, resilient arcuate prongs, said prongs having ends, said socket having an inner surface between said ends of said prongs, said socket including a slot positioned circumferentially along said inner surface of said socket between said ends of said prongs, said socket including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said inner surface of said socket and separated by a first plurality of notches; (b) a generally cylindrical tongue, said tongue having an outer surface, said tongue including an annular ring positioned circumferentially along said outer surface of said tongue, said tongue including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said outer surface of said tongue and separated by a second plurality of notches; (c) means for coupling said socket to an object; and (d) means for coupling said tongue to an object. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An articulating coupling system, comprising:
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(a) a first socket, said first socket including a pair of opposing, spaced-apart, resilient arcuate prongs, said prongs having ends, said first socket having an inner surface between said ends of said prongs, said first socket including a slot positioned circumferentially along said inner surface of said first socket between said ends of said prongs, said first socket including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said inner surface of said first socket and separated by a first plurality of notches; (b) means for coupling said first socket to an object; (c) a second socket, said second socket including a pair of opposing, spaced-apart, resilient arcuate prongs, said prongs having ends, said second socket having an inner surface between said ends of said prongs, said second socket including a slot positioned circumferentially along said inner surface of said second socket between said ends of said prongs, said second socket including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said inner surface of said second socket and separated by a first plurality of notches; (d) means for coupling said second socket to an object; (e) a first link, said first link including a pair of sockets, each said socket including a pair of opposing spaced-apart, resilient arcuate prongs, said prongs having ends, each said socket having an inner surface between said ends of said prongs, each said socket including a slot positioned circumferentially along said inner surface of said socket between said ends of said prongs, each said socket including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said inner surface of said socket and separated by a plurality of notches; and (f) a second link, said second link including a pair of generally cylindrical tongues, each said tongue having an outer surface, each said tongue including an annular ring, said ring positioned circumferentially along said outer surface of said tongue, each said tongue including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said outer surface of said tongue and separated by a plurality of notches, each said tongue structured and configured to reversibly engage said first socket and said second socket, each said tongue structured and configured to reversibly engage each of said pair of sockets on said first link. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An articulating coupling system, comprising:
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(a) a first generally cylindrical tongue, said first tongue having an outer surface, said first tongue including an annular ring positioned circumferentially along said outer surface of said first tongue, said first tongue including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said outer surface of said first tongue and separated by a plurality of notches; (b) means for coupling said first tongue to an object; (c) a second generally cylindrical tongue, said second tongue having an outer surface, said second tongue including an annular ring positioned circumferentially along said outer surface of said second tongue, said second tongue including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said outer surface of said second tongue and separated by a plurality of notches; (d) means for coupling said second tongue to an object; (e) a first link, said first link including a pair of sockets, each said socket including a pair of opposing spaced-apart, resilient arcuate prongs, said prongs having ends, each said socket having an inner surface between said ends of said prongs, each said socket including a slot positioned circumferentially along said inner surface of said socket between said ends of said prongs, each said socket including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said inner surface of said socket and separated by a plurality of notches, each said socket structured and configured to reversibly engage said first tongue and said second tongue; and (f) a second link, said second link including a pair of generally cylindrical tongues, each said tongue having an outer surface, each said tongue including an annular ring, said ring positioned circumferentially along said outer surface of said tongue, each said tongue including a plurality of teeth extending outward from said outer surface of said tongue and separated by a plurality of notches, each said tongue structured and configured to reversibly engage each of said sockets on said first link. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification