Abstract: A ball and socket joint incorporating a detent mechanism that provides positive biasing toward a desired position. The ball and socket joint can be used in flexible supports that hold and support items such as lamps, tools and faucets. The detent mechanism comprises two corresponding parts, one in the ball portion and the second in the socket portion of the joint. The first detent part is a protrusion of some type and the second detent part is a groove or indentation that is adapted to accept and engage the protrusion. If the ball contains the detent protrusion, then the socket contains the detent indentation. And conversely, if the socket contains the detent protrusion, then the ball contains the detent indentation. The detent tensioning force can be provided by a spring, a spring band, the characteristics of the material from which the joint is made, or by some other similar tensioning device.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint incorporating a detent mechanism that provides positive biasing toward a desired position. The ball and socket joint can be used in flexible supports that hold and support items such as lamps, tools and faucets. The detent mechanism comprises two corresponding parts, one in the ball portion and the second in the socket portion of the joint. The first detent part is a protrusion of some type and the second detent part is a groove or indentation that is adapted to accept and engage the protrusion. If the ball contains the detent protrusion, then the socket contains the detent indentation. And conversely, if the socket contains the detent protrusion, then the ball contains the detent indentation. The detent tensioning force can be provided by a spring, a spring band, the characteristics of the material from which the joint is made, or by some other similar tensioning device.

Abstract: A segmented, ball jointed support, which is an improvement over other support devices which make use of ball joints to provide universal flexibility of the support. This support is made up of a plurality of individual hollow segments, each segment shaft having a male ball at one end that is received by an adjacent segment's female socket. The socket is sized to fit snugly over the received ball. A spring-detent arrangement within the segment shaft acts against a receiving hole at the top of the corresponding ball. The spring-detent allows the ball joint to be “snap returned” to a straight, axially aligned arrangement. The spring-detent also provides greater joint stability over a longer length of assembled support, without compromising useful flexibility of the support. A radial compression device around the segment socket maintains appropriate joint tightness and compensates for joint wear.