Ball And Socket Type Patents (Class 248/288.31)
  • Publication number: 20020166935
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Patent number: 6379073
    Abstract: A positionable arm composed of multiple member segments connected by an adjustable joint which may be fixedly positioned and repeatedly repositioned. The first member includes an end portion defining a first connector opening and an inner surface defining a chamber. A slideable piston provided in the first member includes a first end and a second end, the first end being adjacent the chamber and creating a seal along the inner surface of the first member. A rotatable connector is received in the first member between the second end of said piston and the end portion of the first member, and a second member is attached to the rotatable connector. To position the arm, a pressurized fluid source supplies compressed air to the chamber, which presses the piston against the rotatable connector, fixedly clamping the connector between the piston and the end portion of the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: WaferMasters Incorporated
    Inventors: Woo Sik Yoo, Hiromitsu Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 6361238
    Abstract: An attachment element, including a base (1) having a bearing surface (14), a clamping member (3), and a ball (4) extending through a through-bore formed in the clamping member (3) an axis of which extends transverse to the bearing surface (14), with the ball (4) having a connection member (5) and a counter-support (88), and with the connection member (5) being rotatable relative to the ball (4) and having, at a region thereof adjacent to the base (1), a bearing element (7) projecting into the counter-support (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Schittl, Markus Gmeiner, Eduard Sever
  • Patent number: 6357711
    Abstract: A sign holder having a bracket releasably securable to a support, an arm extending horizontally from the bracket, and structure releasably securable to a sign. This structure is supported on the arm at least for limited vertical swinging movement relative to the arm in either direction from a median position in which the sign hangs down vertically from the arm. The arm can have at an outer end a universal joint interconnecting the arm and the support structure, this joint permitting rotation of the support structure about an upright axis and providing for a limited vertical swinging movement of a sign in any direction. The arm can also be hollow and have a slot extending lengthwise of an underside of the arm, the slot being of a length less than the length of the arm, the support structure having at least partially circular bearing surfaces bearing on the interior of the underside of the arm beyond opposite ends of the slot, so that the sign can have only limited vertical swinging movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: MBM Presentations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Heyderman, Richard S. Heyderman
  • Patent number: 6328271
    Abstract: The invention relates to a holder for a mobile telephone that has a fastening device for mounting the holder (10) in a motor vehicle. In order to be able to use the holder universally, the fastening device (12) is in the form of a three-point fastening having three fastening feet which are attached to the fastening device (12) at the corners of a notional triangle. To enable the fastening feet to pivot in any direction, the fastening device (12) has a multi-directional pivot bearing for each fastening foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Haage, Bernd Plocher
  • Patent number: 6328270
    Abstract: A combination of a swivel joint with an arm for mounting an apparatus for surveillance applications, such as a television camera includes a truncated ball, an arm attached at the end thereof to the truncated ball and having a passage for a cable, a ring-shaped holder having an inner curved rim of a curvature radius equal to that of the truncated ball for locking that truncated ball. An elongated cylindrical cover having an elongated cutout provides a passage to the arm for gripping the truncated ball and provides the arm with positioning capacity extending through the length of the cutout. A locking nut locks the cylindrical cover to the ring-shaped holder. The cylindrical cover can be rotated for positioning the cutout so that the arm can be adjusted to any position within the length of the cutout and the cable passing through the truncated ball and the holder is not obstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Elbex Video Ltd.
    Inventor: David Elberbaum
  • Publication number: 20010025905
    Abstract: A flexible stabilizer arm assembly is provided that can be positioned in a desired three-dimensional attitude and then fixed in place to forceably hold an object against an undulating surface. In one embodiment, the invention assembly comprises a mounting base for attachment of the arm to a stationary fixture, a flexible arm of multiple articulated elongate links rotatably joined to adjacent links, a freely rotatable turret joint at the distal end of the arm that is adapted to attach an appendage in freely rotatable fashion to the distal end of the arm. Once positioned, a tightening mechanism is actuated to fix the attitude of the arm with respect to the mounting base. Optionally, the appendage is a two-tined foot adapted for holding a surgical instrument, such as a suction body, against a beating heart. The flexible arm, which ranges up to 12 inches in length, can withstand an undulating force exerted against the distal end of up to 20 pounds while remaining in the fixed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Carpenter, Michelle Fourmont, Kazuo Sasamine
  • Publication number: 20010020668
    Abstract: A hair dryer holder for adjustably holding a hair dryer, comprising a base for attaching the hair dryer holder to a surface; an extension member including a bottom portion fixed to the base and an arm member extending from the base; and a cup member coupled to the arm member. The holder also includes a ball member disposed between the cup member and a plate member for rotation therein, the ball member is configured for coupling to a nozzle of a hair dryer such that the nozzle can be positioned by the ball member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Anne Marie Thomas, Andrew P. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20010017339
    Abstract: This present invention discloses apparatus and a method for mounting a camera on a tripod platform for taking pictures and this mounting apparatus includes a cradle cup mounted on a tripod platform and an 0 ring mounted in a groove on the inside diameter of the cradle cup, and a pear shaped or oblate spheroid shaped ball attached to the bottom of a camera and the ball attached to the camera is set into the cradle cup and the ball sets on O ring in the groove on the inside diameter of the cradle cup. The inside diameter of the 0 ring is less than the diameter of the pear shaped ball attached to the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Ralph T. Brotz, Michael R. Brotz, Ralph R. Brotz, John G. Brotz, Roman G. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6234554
    Abstract: A windshield mounting system for a cycle comprising a plurality of rod members, a windshield, ball and socket units, a pair of windshield engaging flanges parallel to each other and spaced apart so as to accommodate the thickness of said windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Barry A. Willey
  • Patent number: 6220556
    Abstract: A mounting system having a first arm and a second arm adjustably held together. An upper portion of the first arm is pivotably mounted in a first clamp that is pivotably held in a second clamp. The first and second arm are rotatably secured to a pair of mounting plates, and include a top tray pivotably and rotatably mounted at the top end of the first arm, so that a switch, or the like, supported on the top tray, may be moved to any desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sohrt, Carrie Sohrt-McCormick
  • Patent number: 6170795
    Abstract: An optical device mounting apparatus and method for altering and fixing the angular position of an optical device without substantial linear displacement. The apparatus comprises a kinematic mount which permits precision adjustment and clamping. The apparatus includes a sphere, which either contains an optical device mounted therein or is, at least partially, an optical device itself. A support is placed in physical contact with the outer surface of the sphere such that angular displacement of the sphere is possible with substantially no linear displacement thereof. A clamp in physical contact with the outer surface of the sphere provides force through the sphere to the support with substantially no transmitted torque. In this manner, precise positioning of the optical device is possible, for example, with an external and removable tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Wayne