Geodesic mounting apparatus
First Claim
1. A multi-positionable mounting device comprising:
- a mounting base;
a frame projecting from the mounting base and having a first surface;
a socket portion formed as a first cavity in the first surface of the frame, the cavity having a first concave approximately quarterspherical multi-faceted geodesic shape and a retaining lip portion formed as an additional quarterspherical zone extending along one axis of the quarterspherical geodesic shape beyond a spherical center thereof;
a retaining cap formed with a second cavity in one surface thereof, an approximately spherical partial ball portion formed of a substantially pressure deformable, resilient elastomeric material, the partial ball portion being sized to substantially fill the first cavity of the socket portion and the second cavity of the retaining cap and to conform to the first surface of the first cavity of the socket portion and to the second cavity of the surface of the ret(aining cap when compressed therebetween; and
a means for securing the retaining cap to the socket portion with the second cavity adjacent to and facing the first cavity and having the ball portion compressed therebetween in fixed orientation with the socket portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-positionable mounting device that provides a substantially stable, load-bearing but relatively adjustable ball and socket mounting device. An interior surface of the socket is formed of first and second opposing part hemispherical socket portions that are relatively orientable with one another for forming therebetween a part spherical cavity. The interior surface of one socket portion is formed with multiple facets at a predetermined radial distance from a spherical center point of the cavity. The first and second opposing part hemispherical socket portions are securable in a relationship which forms the part spherical cavity therebetween. A part-spherical coupler substantially fills the spherical cavity. The mechanical securing means applies clamping force that acts between the first and second opposing socket portions and secures the coupler therebetween in fixed orientation with one of the faceted socket portion.
118 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A multi-positionable mounting device comprising:
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a mounting base;
a frame projecting from the mounting base and having a first surface;
a socket portion formed as a first cavity in the first surface of the frame, the cavity having a first concave approximately quarterspherical multi-faceted geodesic shape and a retaining lip portion formed as an additional quarterspherical zone extending along one axis of the quarterspherical geodesic shape beyond a spherical center thereof;
a retaining cap formed with a second cavity in one surface thereof, an approximately spherical partial ball portion formed of a substantially pressure deformable, resilient elastomeric material, the partial ball portion being sized to substantially fill the first cavity of the socket portion and the second cavity of the retaining cap and to conform to the first surface of the first cavity of the socket portion and to the second cavity of the surface of the ret(aining cap when compressed therebetween; and
a means for securing the retaining cap to the socket portion with the second cavity adjacent to and facing the first cavity and having the ball portion compressed therebetween in fixed orientation with the socket portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 6, 7)
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3. A multi-positionable mounting device comprising:
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a part-spherical coupler having a plurality of discrete equilateral triangular facets each surface being oriented substantially perpendicularly to a radius from a spherical center point of the part-spherical coupler;
a part hemispherical socket portion sized to partially encompass the coupler and having a plurality of discrete equilateral triangular facets formed on an interior surface thereof, each of the facets being oriented substantially perpendicularly to a radius from a spherical center point of the part hemispherical socket portion;
a part hemispherical retaining cap portion sized to partially encompass the coupler and adapted for securing to the socket portion;
means for securing the retaining cap to the socket portion;
a means for connection to a user-selected external device, the connection means including first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the part-spherical coupler; and
a second part-spherical coupler being coupled to the second end of the connection means. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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8. A multi-positionable mounting device comprising:
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a part-spherical coupler formed of a radially compressible material molded over a frame having a means for coupling an attachment thereto;
a part hemispherical socket portion sized to partially encompass the coupler and having a plurality of facets formed on an interior surface thereof;
a part hemispherical retaining cap portion sized to partially encompass the coupler and adapted for securing to the socket portion;
means for securing the retaining cap to the socket portion, whereby the radially compressible material of the part-spherical coupler is conformed to the plurality of facets formed on the interior surface of the part hemispherical socket portion; and
wherein the part-spherical coupler is sized having a radial dimension larger than a radial dimension of the part hemispherical socket portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A multi-positionable mounting device comprising:
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a mounting base;
a frame projecting from the mounting base and having a first surface;
a socket portion formed as a first cavity in the first surface of the frame, the cavity having a first concave approximately quarterspherical multi-faceted geodesic shape and a retaining lip portion formed as ai additional quarterspherical zone extending along one axis of the quarterspherical geodesic shape beyond a spherical center thereof, each of the facets comprising a substantially equilateral triangle and arranged substantially perpendicularly to the spherical center of the quarterspherical shape at a substantially equal radial distance therefrom;
a retaining cap formed with a second cavity in one surface thereof;
an approximately spherical partial ball portion sized to substantially fill the first cavity of the socket portion and the second cavity of the retaining cap, the ball portion being formed of a substantially rigid material with a multi-faceted geodesic shape comprising substantially equilateral triangular facets arranged at substantially equal radial distances from a spherical center thereof, the radial distance being substantially equal to the radial distances of the facets of the socket portion from the center thereof; and
a means for securing the retaining cap to the socket portion with the second cavity adjacent to and facing the first cavity and having the ball portion clamped therebetween in fixed orientation with the socket portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification