Locking Ball Joint

Abstract

The present application discloses a ball joint that consists of a ball that may expand or contract, and a coupling that may expand or contract in order to lock the ball joint and prevent rotational movement. In the basic structure, the ball and the coupling may have an internal passageway that allows for a pressurized or depressurized member to pass through. The ball joint allows for a fixed condition that resists rotation under one pressure condition, and various degrees of rotation under a different pressure condition.

Claims

1. A ball joint capable of transition between a rotational and a fixed condition.

2. A ball joint capable of transition between a rotational and a fixed condition without user adjustment at the joint.

3. A ball joint that maintains rotational movement under one pressure exhibited by a fluid tube, and becomes fixed in position under a different pressure exhibited by a fluid tube.

4. The ball joint of claim 1, wherein the condition change is achieved by a change in pressure around the ball joint.

5. The ball joint of claim 1, wherein the condition change is achieved by a change in pressure within the ball joint.

6. The ball joint of claim 1, wherein the condition change is achieved by a state of matter change.

7. The ball joint of claim 1, wherein the condition change is achieved by electroactive composite activation.

8. The ball joint of claim 1, wherein the condition change is achieved by electroactive composite deactivation.

9. The ball joint of claim 2, wherein the condition change is achieved by a change in pressure around the ball joint.

10. The ball joint of claim 2, wherein the condition change is achieved by a change in pressure within the ball joint.

11. The ball joint of claim 2, wherein the condition change is achieved by a state of matter change.

12. The ball joint of claim 2, wherein the condition change is achieved by electroactive composite activation.

13. The ball joint of claim 2, wherein the condition change is achieved by electroactive composite deactivation.

14. The ball joint of claim 3, wherein the rotational movement change is achieved by a change in pressure around the ball joint.

15. The ball joint of claim 3, wherein the rotational movement change is achieved by a change in pressure within the ball joint.

16. The ball joint of claim 3, wherein the rotational movement change is achieved by a state of matter change.

17. The ball joint of claim 3, wherein the rotational movement change is achieved by electroactive composite activation.

18. The ball joint of claim 3, wherein the rotational movement change is achieved by electroactive composite deactivation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is an unlabeled perspective view of the Locking Ball Joint.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a labeled perspective view of the Locking Ball Joint.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the Locking Ball Joint.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the locking ball joint.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the locking ball joint.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the locking ball joint.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the locking ball joint.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the locking ball joint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used—to the extent possible—in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

[0024] The present application discloses a ball joint that uses pressure to lock itself into a fixed position. Certain uses may require that the ball joint maintains a fixed position at particular locations, or at particular orientations.

[0025] For example, a camera may be on a stand and need adjustment, a locking ball joint will allow the user to quickly reposition the camera and lock it into place. A locking ball joint that uses pressure to create a mechanically fixed ball joint may be advantageous to a ball joint that does not lock in place due to the speed and simultaneity of locking a series of adjoined ball joints with one action. With the present invention, a photographer may adjust the camera and push a button that adjusts a fluid pressure, electrical stimulus, or pushes an expanding member into the ball joint for a camera repositioning. This would allow for the photographer to quickly adjust the camera for the next shot.

[0026] Similarly, a police officer may find it advantageous to utilize a flashlight that allows for various angles of direction for the light to be positioned. The light may get unintentionally reconfigured during their activities. Having a ball joint that locks in place quickly would allow for them to set the light to a variety of positions and quickly change the light position to various angles.

[0027] The present application discloses a ball joint that uses pressure or vacuum, to lock itself into a fixed position. With a change in pressure, the ball joint may be free to rotate. The ball joint pressure change may be a result of fluid hydraulic, fluid pneumatic, electronic stimulation, or mechanical alteration from an internal or external source.

[0028] The basic structure may comprise an internal cavity, shown on FIG. 2 as 203, which contains the fluid or electronic actuator and a ball 201, which is at least partially spherical in nature to allow for rotation within a coupling 202. In some embodiments, the ball joint may be locked and/or unlocked into place at a portion of or the entirety of the ball joint by pressurizing or depressurizing at the component served by the ball joint. In other embodiments, the change of pressure may be initiated from a point along the body of the ball joint.

[0029] An exemplary plan view of the locking ball joint, FIG. 3 shows the ball joint 301 surrounding an internal cavity 303. This internal cavity 303 may contain a fluid tube that can expand and contract depending on the fluid pressure applied. Component 302, may be indicative of a component of which the ball joint is fastened to, or joined with. This component may contain a coupling to the ball, or the component 302 may be any of a wide possibilities of objects for which the ball joint serves.

[0030] The Ball Joint may happen as a stand alone joint, or as a chain of ball joints. The cross sectional view in FIG. 4 shows the ball 405, attached to the coupling 402. Expansion gap 404 is positioned on the ball in this exemplary embodiment and is intended to allow the ball to expand or contract from its exemplified condition. Coupling 402 may have surface variations that allow for the ball joint to lock in place. Grips 405, may be grooves or ridges and may be positioned along the ball or the coupling. Grips 405, may be grooves or ridges and may be positioned on both or either the ball and the coupling. Grips 405, may also be indicative of a smooth or textured material that allows the ball joint to lock in place. For example, grips 405 may have rubber contact surfaces, and when pressed together with vacuum or pressure, they made sufficiently lock the ball joint in position. Other materials could be aluminum, polystyrene, rubber, steel, Plexiglass, or any other suitable material. These materials could comprise a single, multiple or various combinations of components of a joint. Cavity 403 may pass through the ball and through the coupling in a linear fashion.

[0031] In another embodiment, ball 401 and coupling 402 may comprise in part or whole of electro active materials. Alteration of electric current may encourage the deformation of the ball 401 within the coupling 402 or the coupling 402 around the ball 401, resulting in a locked ball joint.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the ball 501, located within the coupling 502, with a fluid tube 511, passing through the internal passageway, 503. Fluid tube 511 may expand within ball 501 and coupling 502, and apply pressure to ball 501, expanding ball 501 within coupling 502. Coupling 502 may be more resistive to expansion than ball 501, allowing for ball 501 to press against the interior surface of coupling 502. Fluid tube 511 may comprise of at least one tube of which is air or water tight. Fluid Tube 511 may be additional tubes or sleeves layered around each-other or within each-other.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing the ball 601, located within the coupling 602, with an actuator 611 positioned within the internal passageway, 603. Actuator 611 may expand within ball 601 and coupling 602, and apply pressure to ball 601, expanding ball 601 within coupling 602. Coupling 602 may be more resistive to expansion than ball 601, allowing for ball 601 to press against the interior surface of coupling 602. Ball 601 may have an expansion gap 604 to allow for the ball to expand or contract. Actuator feed wires 606 may be wired through internal passageway 603, or may be wired to the ball 601, or coupling 602 of which may provide electrical current.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a locking ball joint with a ball 701, coupling 702 and expansion gap 704. The expansion gap 704 may allow for the Coupling 702 may be less resistive to compression than ball 701, allowing for coupling 702 to press against the surface of ball 701. Ball 701 and coupling 702 may have an internal passageway 703.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a locking ball joint with ball 801, coupling 802, expansion gap 804, internal passageway 803 and external sleeve 811. External sleeve 811 may exhibit vacuum or plenum pressure on coupling 802. The pressure may result in coupling 802 contracting around ball 801.