Ball and socket mounting assembly

• US 7,090,181 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gamber-Johnson LLC
• Inventors: Biba, Scott Ignatius, Bakken, Todd James, Verhalen, Ami Marie, Boudreau, Cory Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US10/936,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20050095058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 248/288.3, 248/276.1, 248/274.1, 248/288.51, 248/181.1, 248/181.2, 403/122, 403/124, 403/125, 403/126, 403/127, 403/56, 403/90, 403/76, 403/77, 403/132, 403/133
• US Class Current: 248/288.31
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/106 for ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32032 Plural ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32631 Universal ball and socket

Abstract

A mounting assembly includes a connecting subassembly having first and second exterior arms, and an interior arm having first and second ends disposed between the first and second exterior arms. The first end of the interior arm and a portion of the first exterior arm define a first socket. The second end of the interior arm and a portion of the second exterior arm define a second socket. First and second mounting members disposed in the respective first and second sockets.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly comprising:

a connecting subassembly comprising;

first and second exterior arms; and

an interior arm having first and second ends disposed between the first and second exterior arms, the first end of the interior arm and a portion of the first exterior arm defining a first socket, and the second end of the interior arm and a portion of the second exterior arm defining a second socket;

first and second mounting members disposed in the respective first and second sockets; and

an adjustment subassembly comprising a lever positionable to permit movement of the first mounting member within the first socket upon application of a force insufficient to move the second mounting member within the second socket.

2. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sockets have shapes corresponding to shapes of the first and second mounting members.

3. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein a portion having a substantially spherical shape of the first mounting member is disposed in the first socket.

4. The mounting assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first socket has a substantially spherical shape.

5. The mounting assembly according to claim 4, wherein portions of the first end of the interior arm and the first exterior arm have substantially spherical shapes so as to define the first socket.

6. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein portions having substantially spherical shapes of the first and second mounting members are disposed in the first and second sockets.

7. The mounting assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first and second sockets have substantially spherical shapes.

8. The mounting assembly according to claim 7, wherein portions having textured surfaces of the first and second mounting members are disposed in the first and second sockets.

9. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment subassembly is configured to permit adjustment of a position of the first and second mounting members relative to the connecting subassembly.

10. The mounting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment subassembly is configurable to prevent adjustment of the position of the first and second mounting members relative to the connecting subassembly.

11. The mounting assembly according to claim 10, wherein the adjustment subassembly comprises a first fastener disposed through the exterior arms and the interior arm.

12. The mounting assembly according to claim 11, wherein the adjustment subassembly comprises a second fastener cooperatively engaged with the first fastener.

13. A mounting assembly comprising:

a connecting subassembly comprising;

first and second exterior arms; and

an interior arm having first and second ends disposed between the first and second exterior arms, the first end of the interior arm and a portion of the first exterior arm defining a first socket, and the second end of the interior arm and a portion of the second exterior arm defining a second socket;

first and second mounting members disposed in the respective first and second sockets; and

an adjustment subassembly configurable to permit adjustment of a position of the first and second mounting members relative to the connecting subassembly,

wherein the adjustment subassembly is configurable to prevent adjustment of the position of the first and second mounting members relative to the connecting subassembly,

wherein the adjustment subassembly comprises a first fastener disposed through the exterior arms and the interior arm,

wherein the adjustment subassembly comprises a second fastener cooperatively engaged with the first fastener, and

wherein the adjustment subassembly comprises a cam lever positionable to bring one of a plurality of faces of the cam lever adjacent one of the exterior arms.

14. The mounting assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cam lever includes a first face positionable to face the one of the exterior arms and to hold the exterior and interior arms in contact with one another.

15. The mounting assembly according to claim 14, wherein the cam lever includes a second face positionable to face the one of the exterior arms and to permit movement of the exterior arms and interior arm relative to one another.

16. The mounting assembly according to claim 15, wherein the cam lever includes a third face positionable to face the one of the exterior arms and to permit removal of at least one of the first and second mounting members from the connecting subassembly.

17. The mounting assembly according to claim 16, further comprising:

at least one liner disposed between the connecting subassembly and one of the first and second mounting members, the liner being deformable when the first face of the cam lever contacts the one of the exterior arms.

18. The mounting assembly according to claim 17, wherein the first fastener comprises a bolt, and the second fastener comprises a nut for threadingly engaging the bolt.

19. The mounting assembly according to claim 18, further comprising:

a third fastener for preventing positioning of the cam lever.

20. The mounting assembly according to claim 19, wherein the third fastener is disposed through a void defined in the cam lever into a portion of the connecting subassembly.

21. The mounting assembly according to claim 20, wherein the third fastener comprises a bolt.

22. A mounting assembly comprising:

a connecting subassembly comprising;

first and second exterior arms; and

an interior arm having first and second ends disposed between the first and second exterior arms, the first end of the interior arm and a portion of the first exterior arm defining a first socket, and the second end of the interior arm and a portion of the second exterior arm defining a second socket;

first and second mounting members disposed in the respective first and second sockets; and

a cam lever configured to move between a first orientation permitting positioning of at least one of the first and second mounting members relative to the connecting subassembly and a second orientation preventing positioning of at least one of the first and second mounting members relative to the connecting subassembly.

23. The mounting assembly according to claim 22, wherein the cam lever includes a first face positionable to face the one of the exterior arms and to hold the exterior and interior arms in contact with one another, and a second face positionable to face the one of the exterior arms and to permit movement of the exterior arms and interior arm relative to one another.

24. The mounting assembly according to claim 23, wherein the first mounting member is mountable to a surface, and the second mounting member is mountable to a portable device.

25. A method of adjusting a mounting assembly including an interior arm disposed between first and second exterior arms, the interior arm and the first exterior arm defining a first socket in which a first mounting member is disposed, and the interior arm and the second exterior arm defining a second socket in which a second mounting member is disposed, the method comprising:

rotating a cam lever to a first position configured to permit movement of at least one of the first and second mounting members; and

rotating the cam lever to a second position configured to prevent movement of at least one of the first and second mounting members.

26. The method according to claim 25, which comprises rotating a first face of the cam lever to the first position.

27. The method according to claim 26, which comprises rotating a second face of the cam lever to the second position.

28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

rotating the cam lever to a third position configured to permit removal of at least one of the first and second mounting members.

29. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

mounting one of the first and second members to one of a surface and a portable device.

30. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

locking a position of the cam lever to prevent further movement between the first and second positions.

31. A mounting assembly, comprising:

an interior arm disposed between first and second exterior arms, the interior arm and the first exterior arm defining a first socket in which a first mounting member is disposed, and the interior arm and the second exterior arm defining a second socket in which a second mounting member is disposed; and

a cam lever rotatable to a first position to permit movement of at least one of the first and second mounting members and rotatable to a second position to prevent movement of at least one of the first and second mounting members.

32. A mounting assembly comprising:

a connecting subassembly comprising;

first and second exterior arms; and

a single interior arm having first and second ends disposed between the first and second exterior arms, the first end of the interior arm and a portion of the first exterior arm defining a first socket configured to receive a mounting member, and the second end of the interior arm and a portion of the second exterior arm defining a second socket configured to receive another mounting member.

33. The mounting assembly according to claim 32, further comprising:

first and second mounting members disposed in the first and second sockets; and

an adjustment subassembly comprising a lever positionable to permit movement of the first mounting member within the first socket upon application of a force insufficient to move the second mounting member within the second socket.