Universal mounting apparatus

• US 20100078537A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adaptiv Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Adaptiv Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Chen, Wayne, Gold, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,366,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/276.100
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/00 Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/043 Allowing translations
• 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: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32032 Plural ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32311 Ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32631 Universal ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32647 Plural concave surfaces with diverse curvature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32655 Interposed concavo-convex component

Abstract

A ball-and-socket joint assembly includes a stationary object, a movable object, and a mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus has first and second rigid link sections, each link section having an upper socket section and a lower socket section, so that an upper receiving space is defined by the two upper socket sections and a lower receiving space is defined by the two lower socket sections. The assembly further includes an upper coupler having an upper ball that is received for rotation inside the upper receiving space, with the movable object secured to the upper coupler, and a lower coupler having a lower ball that is received for rotation inside the lower receiving space, with the stationary object secured to the lower coupler. A link member secures the link sections together with the upper ball retained inside the upper receiving space, and with the lower ball retained inside the lower receiving space.

Claims

1. A ball-and-socket joint assembly, comprising:

a stationary object;

a movable object; and

a mounting apparatus comprising;

first and second rigid link sections, each link section having an upper socket section and a lower socket section, so that an upper receiving space is defined by the two upper socket sections and a lower receiving space is defined by the two lower socket sections;

an upper coupler having an upper ball that is received for rotation inside the upper receiving space, with the movable object secured to the upper coupler;

a lower coupler having a lower ball that is received for rotation inside the lower receiving space, with the stationary object secured to the lower coupler;

a link member for securing the link sections together with the upper ball retained inside the upper receiving space, and with the lower ball retained inside the lower receiving space; and

wherein each of the socket sections has a radius, with the radius of the upper socket sections being about 85%-96% of the radius of the upper ball, and the radius of the lower socket sections being about 85%-96% of the radius of the lower ball.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a circular line of contact is defined by each of the upper socket sections of the link sections.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a circular line of contact is defined by each of the lower socket sections of the link sections.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein a circular line of contact is defined by each of the lower socket sections of the link sections.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein a centerline extends perpendicular through the center of each circular line of contact for the upper socket sections, and wherein each circular line of contact has first and second contact points at each upper socket section that are directly opposite each other in a manner to define the diameter of the circular line of contact, wherein a parallel line extends between the first contact points of the upper socket sections, with the distance between the centerline and the parallel line being almost the same as, but less than, the radius of the upper ball.

7. The assembly of claim 2, wherein a centerline extends perpendicular through the center of each circular line of contact for the lower socket sections, and wherein each circular line of contact has first and second contact points at each lower socket section that are directly opposite each other in a manner to define the diameter of the circular line of contact, wherein a parallel line extends between the first contact points of the lower socket sections, with the distance between the centerline and the parallel line being almost the same as, but less than, the radius of the lower ball.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein a centerline extends perpendicular through the center of each circular line of contact for the lower socket sections, and wherein each circular line of contact for the lower socket sections has third and fourth contact points at each lower socket section that are directly opposite each other in a manner to define the diameter of the circular line of contact for the lower socket sections, wherein a parallel line extends between the third contact points of the lower socket sections, with the distance between the centerline and the parallel line for the lower socket sections being almost the same as, but less than, the radius of the lower ball.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the radius of the upper socket sections is 94% of the radius of the upper ball, and the radius of the lower socket sections is 94% of the radius of the lower ball.

10. A ball-and-socket joint assembly, comprising:

a stationary object;

a movable object; and

a mounting apparatus comprising;

first and second rigid link sections, each link section having an upper socket section and a lower socket section, so that an upper receiving space is defined by the two upper socket sections and a lower receiving space is defined by the two lower socket sections;

an upper coupler having an upper ball that is received for rotation inside the upper receiving space, with the movable object secured to the upper coupler;

a lower coupler having a lower ball that is received for rotation inside the lower receiving space, with the stationary object secured to the lower coupler;

a link member for securing the link sections together with the upper ball retained inside the upper receiving space, and with the lower ball retained inside the lower receiving space; and

wherein a centerline extends perpendicular through the center of each circular line of contact for the upper socket sections, and wherein each circular line of contact has first and second contact points at each upper socket section that are directly opposite each other in a manner to define the diameter of the circular line of contact, wherein a parallel line extends between the first contact points of the upper socket sections, with the distance between the centerline and the parallel line being almost the same as, but less than, the radius of the upper ball.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein a centerline extends perpendicular through the center of each circular line of contact for the lower socket sections, and wherein each circular line of contact for the lower socket sections has third and fourth contact points at each lower socket section that are directly opposite each other in a manner to define the diameter of the circular line of contact for the lower socket sections, wherein a parallel line extends between the third contact points of the lower socket sections, with the distance between the centerline and the parallel line for the lower socket sections being almost the same as, but less than, the radius of the lower ball.