Abstract: A fixture permitting adjustment of the position and axial alignment of a prosthesis is characterized by a first attachment member associated with a socket attached to the wearer's stump, and by the fixture's ability to be adjusted without the necessity of removing the socket from the wearer's stump. A second attachment member is operatively attached to the prosthesis, and adjustable attachment means operatively connects the second attachment member to the first attachment member. The adjustable attachment means includes a central bolt member which may be accessed for adjustment without removing the socket from the wearer. The bolt member preferably extends through a rectilinear central opening in the first attachment member, providing a range of selectable lateral positions of the second attachment member with respect to the first attachment member.

Abstract: An adjustable optical element mount having a pair of ball elements, respectively attached to a base and optical element, within a pair of sockets positioned at opposite ends of a spindle which supports a screw actuated cam element positioned within the spindle and between a pair of plungers which simultaneously engage and clamp the both ball elements against the sockets in response to rotation of the screw to hold the ball elements in a desired position.

Abstract: An adjustable lower limb prosthesis has a pylon connected to both a prosthetic foot and to the stump adapter by way of a foot/pylon joint and a pylon/stump joint, respectively. Each of the joints is similar and includes a tapered socket holding a truncated conical wedge sleeve. The wedge sleeve has a bore which may be angled with respect to the cone axis, and into which the pylon is fitted. A cap locks the wedge sleeve in the bore and locks the pylon in the wedge sleeve. For adjusting the prosthesis, a set of wedge sleeves are available to the prosthetist, each having a bore with a different offset with respect to the conical axis of the sleeve. The prosthetist selects the appropriate sleeve based upon a prior determination using a temporary pylon and an alignment adapter. The correct foot wedge sleeve and circumferential alignment of the wedge sleeve are set with the aid of discs having offset holes.

Abstract: A connecting part of a ball joint between leg prosthesis components with a lange intended to fasten to the one component, the flange having an adjusting element position on it, consisting of a cup and a four-sided pyramid positioned centrally upon its point. To improve the adjustability of the connecting part, the flange is a rectangular flange with four holes, upon which the adjusting element is eccentrically positioned.

Abstract: A brake lever includes two separate sections which are connected to one another by an engaging screw to form an angle between two connected ends of the two sections.

Abstract: An improved ball jointed link includes a male ball at one end which is received in a female socket in an adjacent link. A central aperture extends through each of the links between the male ball and the female socket. The male ball is preferably more resistant to radially inward deformation than the female socket. A clamp which secures adjacent links together may thus be tightened to support relatively great loads. The male ball may have a greater wall thickness than the female socket, or may be formed of hardened metal. In a further feature, the clamps used to secure adjacent links have a ledge which abuts an axially forwardmost edge of the female socket to ensure the clamp is properly positioned on the links.

Abstract: An improved assembly for steering and orienting a functional element at the distal end of a catheter tube holds the functional element with its major axis aligned with the axis of the catheter tube for convenient steering to a tissue site. The mechanism can also pivot the functional element in response to an external force to orient the major axis of the functional element generally parallel to the plane of the tissue site, without bending the catheter tube.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a connection system for two structural component parts (1, 10) which are constructed as pipe or rod and/or nodal elements and contain connection ends (7, 15) having front recesses. An angle element (22) with a spherical surface (23) at which the two ends of a through-passage (32) penetrating the angle element (22) open out serves to adjust a multitude of angles (.alpha.) between the structural component parts (1, 10), which angles (.alpha.) can be changed preferably between preselected limits. The connection ends (7, 15) are provided in the area of the joint faces (24, 25) with contact surfaces (27, 28) adapted to the spherical surface (23) so that fine, hardly visible joint faces (24, 25) are formed between the structural component parts (1, 10) and the angle element (22).

Abstract: A handle assembly is to be mounted detachably on one end of a bicycle handlebar and includes a resilient sleeve member that is sleeved on the bicycle handlebar, an integrally formed handle unit that is made of a composite plastic material, and a bolt unit. The integrally formed handle unit has a clamping portion and a handle portion that extends upwardly from the clamping portion. The handle portion has a generally vertical section that extends from the clamping portion, and a generally horizontal section that extends from a distal end of the vertical section. The vertical section of the handle portion is formed with at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing strip that is connected to the clamping portion. The clamping portion has a generally C-shaped section that confines a through-hole and that is sleeved on the first resilient sleeve member.

Abstract: A steering bearing assembly includes a head tube, a steerer tube that has a first end which is connected to a front fork of a bicycle and which extends through the head tube, and a bearing assembly disposed between the head tube and the steerer tube. A truncated cone-shaped inserter is disposed in a second end of the steerer tube and has an axially extending threaded bore formed therethrough. A C-shaped resilient member with an inner tapered wall is press-fitted into the steerer tube above the inserter. A threaded bolt is disposed on the second end of the steerer tube and is threaded into the inserter. When the threaded bolt is tightened, the resilient member expands radially to abut frictionally against the steerer tube and to compress downward simultaneously a stem that is disposed on the head tube around the steerer tube.

Abstract: An external fixator for osteosynthesis features application to the fixation of fractures of small bones such as those of the hand or foot. A small central unit contains two ball joints which are releasably clamped via a single actuation. Bone fasteners, such as bone pins or bone screws are releasably clamped, via a single actuation at each of two clamping units, and each of the clamping units is adjustably clamped to a carrier rod within a wide range of selected positions, which extends to the smallest of offsets from the central double-ball joint unit, by reason of the fact that the ball of each ball joint is the inner end of one of the respective carrier rods.

Abstract: An upper steering assembly for a bicycle includes a head tube, a steerer tube passing through the head tube, a bearing assembly mounted on a top of the head tube and around the steerer tube, a rotational socket having a threaded inner periphery and including an upper clamping portion and a lower skirt portion which has an annular groove in an underside thereof for retaining the bearing assembly, and a compression socket mounted around the steerer tube and having a longitudinal slit and including an upper clamping section and a lower tubular section which is in threading connection with the inner periphery of the rotational socket allowing an adjustment of vertical position of the rotational socket relative to the compression socket.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting system for holding a device in a particular position. The system comprises support apparatus having a base member for coupling the system to a rigid support structure. The system also comprises an expandable arm having adjustment apparatus for adjusting the length of the expandable arm anywhere between fully extended and fully shortened positions. The expandable arm has first and second ends. The first end of the expandable arm comprises mounting apparatus for mounting the arm to the support apparatus. The second end of the expandable arm comprises securing apparatus for securing the device to be held in a particular position proximate the second end of the expandable arm. The present system also comprises lockable positioning apparatus coupled between the first end of the expandable arm and the support apparatus for positioning and locking the arm so that the device can be held proximate the first end of the arm anywhere within first and second hemispheres.

Abstract: A securing base having a round base of three layers to support a pressing disc combined with a supporter, a shaft passing throught the pressing disc to engage the round base by means of threads, a ball at a bottom of a movable rod fitting in a spherical hole in an upper portion of the movable rod, the ball having a plurality of small holes for a pin end of the supporter to selectable in an angle needed.

Abstract: An adjustable support mount having a clamp plate with a fulcrum and a clamp plate extension. The clamp plate extension has a concave, circular toothed depression forming one half of a socket to hold a ball. The other half of the socket is formed by a jaw plate also having a concave, circular toothed depression positioned on the opposite side of the ball to the clamp plate extension. The jaw plate is positioned on the fulcrum and is kept aligned on the clamp plate by a keyway rib and slot structure. The jaw plate is tightened by a bolt or screw that passes through both the jaw plate and the clamp plate extension into a cap nut. The ball is attached to a shaft which is, in turn, attached to an ultimate support mount. Welded to and encircling the shaft is an eccentric ring. The eccentric ring and shaft are encapsulated by the ball, the ball material passing through and around the eccentric ring and shaft.

Abstract: The tripod head contains a cylindrical housing (1), a connecting device (2) which closes the housing (1) off on one side, at least one body (3, 4) which is movably arranged in the housing (1) and at least one fastening device (6, 7) having at least two members (17, 18), each of which is provided with an oblique surface. The members are arranged resting on a base (2, 26) with the oblique surfaces resting on each other and displaceable transverse to each other in order to displace the one member (16, 25) against the body (3, 4) so as to obtain the clamping action. A setting device (19, 28) is provided by which the members (17, 18; 26, 27) are displaceable transverse to each other.

Abstract: A coupling for interfacing hand controls to a handlebar which provides for adjustment about multiple axes of rotation. A positioning collar having an inner cylindrical bore and outer spherical surface is mounted upon the handlebar of a bicycle, motorcycle or other like vehicle. A hand control for the vehicle such as a bar end, brake lever, throttle control, shift lever or clutch lever is provided with a receiving sleeve having an inner surface which is adapted to slidably engage the outer surface of the collar. The force imposed upon the collar by the sleeve may be reduced to allow adjustment of the hand control or increased to fix the hand control in the selected position. When being adjusted, the hand control may be repositioned along the longitudinal axis of the handlebar, rotated about the axis of the handlebar and rotated about an axes which are angularly deflected to the longitudinal axis of the handlebar.

Abstract: A tool fastening apparatus for industrial robots comprises a coupling unit attached to the arm of a robot and a coupling unit attached to a tool to be used with the robot. When the two coupling units are joined together, their relative position can be easily and accurately fixed by means of positioning couplings comprising ball rings carrying a set of annularly arranged balls slightly sticking out from the plane of contact between the two coupling units. Accurate positioning is achieved by bringing the balls on the two ball rings into engagement, which, in turn, is achieved by fitting each ball on one ball ring into between two adjoining balls on the other ball ring.

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar includes a main bar which is conventionally attached at its midpoint to a bicycle stem. There is a pair of auxiliary bars each having a hand-gripping portion thereon. Each auxiliary bar is attached to the main bar to provide for multi-axis movement about the main bar. The attachment for each auxiliary bar includes an adjustment member which can tighten or loosen the connection so that the location and position of each auxiliary bar suits the need of the rider of the bicycle.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting assembly for mounting an instrument on a support member has a first clamping device for releasable clamping engagement with the support member and a second clamping device for securing to an instrument or piece of equipment, with a lockable, adjustable connection between the two clamping devices allowing adjustment about two perpendicular axes to allow the instrument orientation to be adjusted. In one version, an IV pole is secured at one end to the second clamping device, so that it can be oriented vertically or in any other selected orientation relative to a support member which may be vertical, horizontal, or in any other orientation. The pole can support other medical instruments such as IV pumps.

Abstract: A ball joint comprises companion inner and outer hollow ball sections each comprising a major segment of a sphere. Spring means within the ball sections urges a friction pad into engagement with the interior surface of one of the sections. Screws within the ball sections adjusts the spring force, the screws being accessible for movement through a series of openings in one of the ball sections.

Abstract: A device comprises two jaws arranged to be pressed one against the other and to grasp a part to be positioned and secured. The part and/or the jaws comprise circular regions presenting a succession of planar or curved facets regularly disposed over said regions, with adjacent facets forming obtuse angles between them whose vertices define sharp edges or points. In a preferred embodiment, the jaws clamping a part having a rounded portion are tightened by means of two screws whose centerlines form an angle with each other, so that upon tightening of the jaws, at least one of the jaws flexes so as to assure a better grip of the rounded portion of the part.

Abstract: An articulated stand, in particular for lever gauges, having two articulated arms pivotably connected with each other at a central joint. Each articulated arm has on its end a ball joint. Each articulated arm has a clamping device for rigid clamping of all joints, which can be activated with a handle. At least one ball of the ball joints adjoins on the side of the articulated arm a support surface which is fixed with respect to the articulated arm.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting ceiling fans to cathedral ceilings with steep pitch angles connected between a ball-joint and the fan down rod. At the point where the apparatus interconnects with the ball-joint, the apparatus includes means for permitting the apparatus and ball-joint to pivot to a greater angle within the ceiling hanger, allowing a ceiling fan attached thereto to be vertically suspended from cathedral ceilings having steep pitch angles.

Abstract: A pin connector means for removably affixing structural members to central nodes enabling the erection of structural latticeworks is disclosed. The pin connector means includes a ball-ended bolt, a bearing seat, and a means for coupling a spherical ball of the ball-ended bolt to the bearing seat. The surface of the spherical ball and the contact surface of the bearing seat are finished to be of low friction. A threaded rod extending from the spherical ball of the ball-end bolt screwably affixes into an endpiece of a structural member. The bearing seat for receiving the spherical ball of the ball-ended bolt is affixed to a central node. Each of the central nodes can receive a plurality of the pin connector means. The latticework comprises a plurality of central nodes and a plurality of structural members, the structural members being enabled to removably affix to the central nodes using a pin connector means.

Abstract: The tripod head contains a cylindrical housing (1), a connecting device (2) which closes the housing (1) off on one side, at least one body (3, 4) which is movably arranged in the housing (1) and at least one fastening device (6, 7) having at least two members (17, 18), each of which is provided with an oblique surface. The members are arranged resting on a base (2, 26) with the oblique surfaces resting on each other and displaceable transverse to each other in order to displace the one member (16, 25) against the body (3, 4) so as to obtain the clamping action. A setting device (19, 28) is provided by which the members (17, 18; 26, 27) are displaceable transverse to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pivotal attachment means intended for attaching an object to a supporting surface and comprising a lower attachment part (1) which is intended to be fastened to the supporting surface and which includes an outwardly projecting part (9) configured with a central dished recess (10) and a surrounding screw thread (11), and an upper attachment part (3) including an attachment plate (4) which is intended to be fastened to the object, a spacer bolt (5) which projects out from the attachment plate, an attachment nut (6) which is placed around the spacer bolt and which is firmly screwed to the outwardly projecting part of the lower attachment part and is provided with an inwardly projecting edge (16) having a dished chamfer or bevel (17), and a spherical body (7) which is attached to the outer end of the spacer bolt and which is positioned in the space between the lower attachment part and the attachment nut.

Abstract: A device for connecting an arm (2) to a fastening plate (3) comprises an external casing (11) rotatably coupled to the fastening plate (3) by a pivot assembly (5). The external casing (11) is provided with a substantially cylindrical cavity having a hemispherical bottom accessible from the outside of the casing (11). The pivot (5) extends with clearance through a cylindrical cavity of a substantially spherical internal casing (21). The internal casing (21) is fastened to an extremity of the arm (2). The arm (2) extends with clearance through a clamping collar (13). The clamping collar (13) is slidably mounted in the cavity of the external casing (11) for exerting pressure against the internal casing (21) and for clamping the arm (2) in a desired variable angular position with respect to a central axis of the cavity of the external casing (11).

Abstract: Adjustable mounting structure for a compact disc player includes a platform to support the player; an arm supporting the platform; ball and socket swivel elements, one of the elements supporting the arm; and a bracket supporting the other of the ball and socket elements, the bracket attachable to included vehicle passanger compartment structure; the socket element adjustably clamping the ball element to frictionally resist relative swiveling thereof. Switching circuitry is to be connected with the platform and has terminals connectible withi) speaker circuitry,ii) audio circuitry, andiii) a player output connection.

Abstract: An anti-skid device of the type including an arm, carrying in its outer end a chain-provided pulley that is brought in contact with a vehicle wheel so that the chains are thrown in under the vehicle wheel. The arm is, in its inner end, journaled in a U-shaped or fork-shaped bracket via a short axle that, in its ends, rests in bowl-shaped hemispherical bearings that are threaded into the legs of the bracket. The bearing bowls are pretensioned against the axle. At the apex of the shaft's spherical ends, recesses are made that take-up lubrication grease and, in this way, a point-like contact between the bearing shells and the axle is eliminated.

Abstract: A garment hanger is comprised of an integral body of resilient material having a first portion adapted for releasable receipt of a garment and a second portion for suspending the hanger from a display support. The second portion includes a stem projecting from the first portion and a centrally slotted generally spherical member is supported by said stem and is closable on such slot to exhibit a transient reduced diametric condition for joinder with the display support. The display support has a hollow interior and an opening extending longitudinally with the support and communicating with the interior. In its reduced diammetric condition, the spherical member has a diameter equal to or less than the width of the display support opening for insertion into the display support interior.

Abstract: Apparatus useful in surgery for holding retractors and other surgical instrumentation in a number of different positions required by a surgeon for the performance of a surgical procedure, including advanced sensing and regulation of retraction pressures and position; and incorporating a force amplification method to drive a locking mechanism in the supporting structure that utilizes a constrained, substantially incompressible, flexible solid material to yield a mechanism that is suitable for clinical use.

Abstract: A windshield mounted bracket to removably and adjustably hold a radar detector including suction cups for removable windshield attachment, an adjustable strap bracket having flanged bottoms to seat into corresponding grooves in side walls of the detector housing and a rotatably adjustable connecting ball hinge.

Abstract: An adjustable rear view mirror for an automotive vehicle adapted to be mounted on a door and comprising a housing including a mounting flange at one end and an opening adjacent the other end, an end bracket in the housing, a mirror and a mounting mechanism supporting the mirror in the opening of the housing. The mounting mechanism comprises an adaptor connected to the mirror, a cup, a sleeve and a retainer. The adaptor includes a spherical portion having a slot. The cup is mounted on the end bracket, or alternatively, on the housing and engages the outer spherical portion of the adaptor. The sleeve has a rib on its outer surface and spaced from the rib is a groove on the inner surface of the sleeve. The sleeve engages the inner surface of the adaptor and is positioned so the rib is received in a slot of the adaptor. The retainer engages the inner surface of the sleeve and has a rib received in the groove of the sleeve. A spring yieldingly urges the retainer on the cup.

Abstract: A solar powered outdoor recreational light 10 comprising a housing 14, a lamp operatively associated with the housing 14, a solar panel 12 and a joint 20 coupling the solar panel 12 and housing 14 in articulatable relation to each other. The joint 20 is substantially at the center of gravity and rotation of the solar panel 12. The joint 20 includes a pin 28 and pin seat 30 which are cooperable with a sphere 26 and sphere seat 24b.

Abstract: Portable, motor-driven cutting device, especially motor saws or hedge-shears with a housing with support handle and operating buttons at the back section and cutting devices at the front section, as well as with at least one operating grip to be set, angled or freely adjustable about a first axis which runs in the main parallel to the cutting plane and which serves to adjust the cutting plane whereby the handle can be adjusted to the housing about at least one additional axis vertical to the cutting plane that locking for the turn and adjusting position about the first axis is effected if facing notches and counter notches of the handle and housing catch form-fit and/or friction tight due to adjusting around the additional axis.

Abstract: A swivel mount for mounting cameras and other such instruments on supports such as tripods. A base member is mounted to the support, with a spherical ball mounted for swivel movement on the base. Cam actuating means is provided to selectively loosen the ball for movement or to lock the ball against relative movement. An annular cap is included to hold the ball in position on the base. Resilient means including a spring washer is disposed between the ball and base means, and a resilient O-ring is disposed between the ball and an internal surface of the cap.

Abstract: A device comprises two jaws arranged to be pressed one against the other and to grasp a part to be positioned and secured. The part and/or the jaws comprise circular regions presenting a succession of planar or curved facets regularly disposed over said regions, with adjacent facets forming obtuse angles between them whose vertices define sharp edges or points. In a preferred embodiment, the jaws clamping a part having a rounded portion are tightened by means of two screws whose centerlines form an angle with each other, so that upon tightening of the jaws, at least one of the jaws flexes so as to assure a better grip of the rounded portion of the part.

Abstract: A mechanical clamping device for coupling any an object requiring infinite positioning to a fixed surface and which quickly and easily locks the object firmly in position without the use of electricity or hydraulic fluids. A triple pivoting linkage is employed which magnifies the force applied to a locking lever to thereby facilitate locking of the object in position. The ball seat configuration provides an additional force magnifier at the interface of the ball of the object being clamped and a ball seat defined within the clamping device. An adjusting screw is preferably provided for selectively varying the play between upper and lower clamping plates thereby enabling the clamping force applied to a ball within the device to be varied.

Abstract: A foldable mounting assembly for a vehicle accessory includes a base attached to a vehicle headliner and having a stem extending therefrom for attachment of a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror to an end of the stem opposite the base. A spring-loaded cam cooperatively interconnects the end of the stem to the base such that the stem and accessory attached thereto can be moved from a stored position closely adjacent the headliner for shipment thereof to a lowered locked-in-place use position.

Abstract: A camera supporting tripod is described with a hip to which legs are attached. The legs are adjustable as to length. In addition, the tripod includes a center shaft mounted to the hip for tilting movement. The center shaft is also adjustable as to length. Manually actuated hydraulic mechanisms are provided for releasably holding the legs as to length, for releasably locking the center shaft to the hip to prevent relative tilting, and for releasably holding the shaft at the length to which it is adjusted. An instrument supporting head on the tripod includes friction brake panning and tilting mechanisms designed to apply a variable drag to these motions and also for smooth operation.

Abstract: The invention provides a headband fastened by moveable ball and socket to a mounting ring attachable to the earpiece of a standard telephone handset. The ball affixed to the headband has an adjust tab on the rounded end which fits adjust receptacles in the base of the socket. The tab and receptacle arrangement allows a three-position positive adjustment of the handset position in relation to the headband. In a square-type attachment for modern rectangular telephone handsets, an embodiment designed for the purpose includes two holder frames, one for right ear use and one for left ear use through positioning of the socket holder. The headband and holder for rectangular handsets includes a three-position positive adjust ball and socket fitting and an opened frame yoke that supports the earpiece attachment frame in a manner which prevents interference with the plunger on and off switch of the telephone handset.

Abstract: A flexible joint mechanism comprises male and female joint members for joining a microphone pole to a base member. The male joint member has a substantially spherical end surface. The female joint member has a dish-shaped end surface for receiving the spherical end surface. The dish-shaped and spherical end surfaces are held together in sliding engagement by a spring or the like. A detent is interposed between the dish-shaped and spherical end surfaces for releasably holding the joint members in a vertically aligned position following movement thereof into the aligned position.

Abstract: A drywall sander mount which permits sanding action at a location remote from the person of the user, as on a ceiling or other high access location. The sanding mechanism is pole supported, where the mount permits universal movement during use. The basis of the mount is the provision of a connecting member having an enlarged end with flat opposite walls, where a pin secures the connecting member into position and permits sanding mechanism movement in the longitudinal axis direction of such and, as well, laterally.

Abstract: The load-locking joint, which is particularly suitable as a suspension mount for surgery microscopes, comprises a joint ball mounted in a housing and having a shaped-on hinge pin or rod, whose free mobility can be inhibited in its mount by mechanical clamping elements. The self-locking action is brought about in that the clamping elements engage on the spherical surface of the ball and during the rotation of the joint ball are carried along on said side, but are supported on a fixed abutment on the other side, the length between the point on the joint ball and the support point increasing with a slope, whose tangent is smaller than the friction coefficient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing stereotactic surgery upon a target within a skull establishes a first, predetermined geometric relationship between a positioning fixture mounted on the skull and a scanning table surface upon which the skull is supported; and that geometric relationship is duplicated in a phantom fixture.

Abstract: A body of a camera supporting device according to the present invention is provided with a grip which is shaped so as to permit a one-handed hold, and which incorporates a trigger. A shoe mounting surface is formed on the top of the body, and a shoe is mounted rotatably and detachably on the mounting surface. The shoe is fitted with a camera screw. A ball is fixed on a fixed base which is mounted on a tripod, and is rotatably housed in a cylindrical ball case. The ball case and the body are connected to each other. The ball is held beween an edge of the ball case and a ball retainer by means of the urging force of a compression coil spring. The ball retainer can be moved away from the ball, by means of a link mechanism, by squeezing the trigger, thereby permitting orientation in all directions of a camera mounted on the shoe mounting surface. The camera is locked in position when the trigger is released.

Abstract: A toy figure is provided with joints having adjustable mobility. Threadably movable rings provided at each joint are used to limit the degree of associated limb movement, and ball sockets are provided with integral stops to control directional movement.

Abstract: An adjustable arm having a plurality of sections joined together by a ball and socket joint comprising a housing, a ball retained within the housing, a concave cup slidably mounted within the housing with clearance between the cup and the ball, a locking member slidably mounted in a recess in the ball so that one end projects beyond the ball and bears against the concave face of the cup a push rod passing through the section so that one end bears against the cup adjacent one end of the section and the other end bears against the locking member of the joint adjacent the other end of the section and means for applying a compressive force to the push rod to simultaneously lock all joints against relative movement.

Abstract: A windshield mounted bracket to removably and adjustably hold a radar detector including suction cups for removable windshield attachment, an adjustable strap bracket having flanged bottoms to seat into corresponding grooves in side walls of the detector housing and a rotatably adjustable connecting ball hinge.