Bi-stable spring loaded pivoting joint
First Claim
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1. A pivot joint assembly comprising:
- first and second housing elements co-axially rotatable with respect to one another;
a substantially hairpin-shaped spring retained within said housing elements and having a first closed end and a second substantially opposite open end;
wherein said closed end of said spring is held substantially irrotatably in said first housing element, and said open end of said spring is engaged to said second housing element;
wherein said spring is designed to urge selective rotation of said housing elements between two different stable yet opposite rotational extremes.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a pivoting joint that has two stable positions. The pivoting joint is comprised of two housing elements that can rotate co-axially with respect to one another. A spring, generally in the shape of a modified hairpin, is contained within the two housing elements. The two ends of the spring fit into holes in one housing element, and the closed end of the spring is held, substantially irrotatably, in the other housing element. The spring urges the two housing elements to one or the other rotational extreme with respect to one another.
6 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A pivot joint assembly comprising:
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first and second housing elements co-axially rotatable with respect to one another; a substantially hairpin-shaped spring retained within said housing elements and having a first closed end and a second substantially opposite open end; wherein said closed end of said spring is held substantially irrotatably in said first housing element, and said open end of said spring is engaged to said second housing element; wherein said spring is designed to urge selective rotation of said housing elements between two different stable yet opposite rotational extremes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A pivot joint assembly comprising:
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first and second housing elements co-axially rotatable with respect to one another; a substantially hairpin-shaped spring having a first closed end defined by at least a single half turn, and a pair of legs extending into opposite free ends; wherein said closed end of said spring is held substantially irrotatably by at least one internal groove and wherein said free ends of said spring are engaged to said second housing element; wherein said spring is designed to urge selective rotation of said housing elements between two different stable yet opposite rotational extremes in which said legs of said spring are crossed when said housing elements have been urged to either of said opposite stable positions. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A pivoting joint assembly with two stable positions comprising two housing elements which can selectively rotate co-axially with respect to one another and spring means retained within the housing elements for urging selective rotation of each of said elements in order to define two different stable and opposite rotational extremes thereof.
Specification