Rotatable and pivotable connector

• US 7,533,906 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Golichowski, Gary, Luettgen, Harold A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna; David
• Application Number:
  US10/964,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 285/146.1, 285/146.2, 285/146.3, 285/261
• US Class Current: 285/146.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/00 Flexible or turnable line connectors , i.e. the rotation angle being limited rotary current collectors, distributors H01R39/00

Abstract

A rotatable, pivotable connector having a female end, a male end, a neck joining the male and female ends, and an exterior retention element. The exterior retention element, such as, for example, a fitting, may limit expansion of the exterior of the female end. The exterior retention element may also take the form of a retainer or similar structure to retain a fitting about the exterior of the female end of the connector. Further, the connector may be hollow, thus defining a continuous passage within. Also, multiple connectors may be interconnected to form an arm.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a female end defining an interior socket cavity and open socket external end, the interior socket cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the socket external end;

a male end defining an interior ball cavity and open ball external end, the interior ball cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the ball external end;

a neck joining the male and female ends;

an exterior retention element placed about an exterior of the female end and comprising a clamp fitting configured to limit expansion of the female end;

the exterior of the female end comprising a seat point; and

the seat point comprising a flat cylindrical portion adapted to receive the clamp fitting.

2. The connector of claim 1, the neck defining a neck hollow linking the interior socket cavity and interior ball cavity to define a passage.

3. The connector of claim 2, further comprising an inner wall formed within the passage, the inner wall configured to isolate the interior socket cavity from the interior ball cavity.

4. The connector of claim 1, the interior socket cavity comprising a smooth, continuously narrowing passage from the midpoint of the female end to the neck hollow along a longitudinal axis of the connector.

5. The connector of claim 1, the seat point further comprising a linearly tapered surface extending inwardly from the open socket exterior end.

6. The connector of claim 1, the seat point further comprising a linearly tapered surface extending inwardly towards the open socket exterior end.

7. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a cutout, the cutout comprising a recess formed on the connector exterior, the cutout configured to accept a tool for placing the fitting about the exterior of the female end.

8. The connector of claim 1, the interior socket cavity comprising an inner diameter, the male end of a second connector comprising an outer diameter, the inner diameter of the interior socket cavity being smaller than the outer diameter of the male end of the second connector;

whereby insertion of the male end of the second connector into the interior socket cavity results in a friction fit.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the widest portion of an exterior of the male end is located midway between the neck and the open ball external end.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the widest portion of the exterior of the female end is located towards the neck from the open socket external end.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the widest portion of the exterior of the female end is located midway between the neck and the open socket external end.

12. The connector of claim 1, the open socket external end comprising a diameter smaller than the widest portion of the male end.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is at least partially formed from plastic.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is at least partially formed from metal.

15. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is at least partially formed from a ceramic.

16. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is at least partially formed from wood.

17. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is at least partially formed from a composite material.

18. The connector of claim 1, wherein the fitting is manufactured from plastic.

19. The connector of claim 1, wherein the fitting is manufactured from metal.

20. The connector of claim 1, the fitting further comprising an inner diameter, the female end comprising an exterior diameter, the inner diameter of the fitting being smaller than the exterior diameter of the female end.

21. The connector of claim 1, the fitting further comprising a press-fit fitting.

22. The connector of claim 21, the press-fit fitting comprising an inner diameter smaller than a diameter of the exterior of the female end.

23. The connector of claim 21, wherein the press-fit fitting is manufactured from an elastic material.

24. The connector of claim 1, the clamp fitting comprising a protrusion formed by crimping the clamp fitting onto the exterior of the female end.

25. The connector of claim 1, the clamp fitting comprising a hose clamp.

26. The connector of claim 1, the fitting further comprising an integrally-formed fitting located about the exterior of the female end.

27. The connector of claim 26, wherein the integrally-formed fitting is co-extruded with the exterior of the female end.

28. The connector of claim 26, the integrally-formed fitting comprising the same material as the exterior of the female end.

29. The connector of claim 26, the integrally-formed fitting comprising a different material than the exterior of the female end.

30. The connector of claim 26, the exterior of the female end comprising a recess, the integrally-formed fitting extending thereinto.

31. A connector, comprising:

a female end defining an interior socket cavity and open socket external end, the interior socket cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the socket external end;

a male end defining an interior ball cavity and open ball external end, the interior ball cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the ball external end;

a neck joining the male and female ends;

an exterior retention element placed about an exterior of the female end, the exterior retention element comprising a retainer extending outwardly from the exterior of the female end, the retainer configured to retain a fitting;

the exterior of the female end comprising a seat point; and

the seat point comprising a flat cylindrical portion adapted to receive the fitting.

32. A connector, comprising:

a female end defining an interior socket cavity and open socket external end, the interior socket cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the socket external end;

a male end defining an interior ball cavity and open ball external end, the interior ball cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the ball external end;

a neck joining the male and female ends;

an exterior retention element placed about an exterior of the female end, the exterior retention element comprising a ramp extending outwardly from the exterior of the female end, the ramp sloping downward toward the neck;

the exterior of the female end comprising a seat point; and

the seat point comprising a flat cylindrical portion adapted to receive a fitting.

33. The connector of claim 32, further comprising a ledge at the end of the ramp nearest the open socket external end.

34. A connector, comprising:

a female end defining an interior socket cavity and open socket external end, the interior socket cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the socket external end;

a male end defining an interior ball cavity and open ball external end, the interior ball cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the ball external end;

a neck joining the male and female ends; and

an exterior retention element placed about an exterior of the female end and comprising an integrally-formed fitting located about the exterior of the female end and configured to limit expansion of the female end, wherein the integrally-formed fitting is insert-molded with the exterior of the female end.

35. A flexible connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector comprising;

a female end defining an interior socket cavity and open socket external end, the interior socket cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the socket external end;

a male end defining an interior ball cavity and open ball external end, the interior ball cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the ball external end;

a neck joining the male and female ends;

a second connector comprising;

a female end defining an interior socket cavity and open socket external end, the interior socket cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the socket external end;

a male end defining an interior ball cavity and open ball external end, the interior ball cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the ball external end;

a neck joining the male and female ends;

the male end of the second connector located within the female end of the first connector, the first and second connectors thereby forming an arm;

a clamp fitting located about an exterior of the female end of the first connector, the clamp fitting substantially limiting expansion of the female end of the first connector;

the exterior end of the female end of the first connector comprising a seat point; and

the seat point comprising a flat cylindrical portion adapted to receive the clamp fitting.

36. The flexible connector assembly of claim 35, the neck of the first and second connectors each defining a neck hollow, the neck hollow linking the interior socket cavity and the interior ball cavity, whereby the first and second connectors define a continuous passage therethrough.

37. The flexible connector assembly of claim 36, wherein the continuous passage permits transmission of fluids, solids, and gases the length of the connector assembly.

38. The flexible connector assembly of claim 35, further comprising:

a third connector comprising;

a female end defining an interior socket cavity and open socket external end, the interior socket cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the socket external end;

a male end defining an interior ball cavity and open ball external end, the interior ball cavity in communication with the connector exterior via the ball external end;

a neck joining the male and female ends;

the male end of the third connector located within the female end of the second connector, the first, second and third connectors thereby forming an arm;

a second fitting located about an exterior of the female end of the second connector, the fitting limiting expansion of the female end of the second connector; and

a level of frictional resistance between the female end of the second connector and the male end of the third connector being different than a level of frictional resistance between the female end of the first connector and the male end of the second connector.

39. A method for assembling a flexible connector assembly, comprising:

providing a plurality of connector bodies, each connector body comprising;

a female end defining an interior socket cavity and open socket external end, the interior socket cavity in communication with the connector body exterior via the socket external end and an exterior of the female end comprising a seat point;

the seat point comprising a flat cylindrical portion adapted to receive a clamp fitting;

a male end defining an interior ball cavity and open ball external end, the interior ball cavity in communication with the connector body exterior via the ball external end;

a neck joining the male and female ends;

inserting the male end of a first of the connectors through the open socket external end and into the internal socket cavity of a second of the connectors; and

placing the clamp fitting about the female end of the second of the connectors.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the clamp fitting limits expansion of the female end of the second of the connectors.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the clamp fitting prevents the male end of the first of the connectors from decoupling from the female end of the second of the connectors.