MODULAR ROTATABLE LINK

Abstract

The present invention relates to a modular rotatable link for use for a plate on which a piece of hardware, such as a card terminal or tablet, may be secured. The modular rotatable link comprises a base section, a rotation ring, a body section, and a fastener. The body section may be of different form and functionality.

Claims

1. A modular rotatable link (100) comprising a base section (200), a rotation ring (300), a body section (400), and a fastener (500); wherein the base section (200) comprises: a) a base unit (210) with a cable channel (212) at least partly formed therein; b) an elongated member (220) with a first end (222) attached to the base unit (210), and with a second end (224) configured to be removably received by the fastener (500); and c) a stop pin (230) with a first end (232) attached to the base unit (210); wherein the body section (400) comprises a bottom part (410) configured for rotatably engaging with the rotation ring (300); wherein the bottom part (410) of the body section (400) comprises: a) a channel (412) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200); b) a cable channel (414) in communication with the cable channel (212) of the base section (200); and c) a rotation limiting channel (416) configured for rotatably engaging with the stop pin (230) of the base section (200).

2. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 1, wherein the body section (400) further comprises a tilt insert (420) and a tilt part (430); wherein the tilt insert faces the bottom part (410); wherein the tilt insert (420) tiltably supports the tilt part (430), and the tilt part (430) being tiltably mounted on the tilt insert (420); wherein the tilt insert (420) comprises a channel (422) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200); wherein the tilt part (430) comprises a channel (432) configured for rotatably and tiltably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200).

3. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 1, wherein the body section (400) further comprises a tilt insert (420) and a tilt part (430); wherein the tilt insert faces the bottom part (410); wherein the tilt insert (420) comprises a channel (422) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200); wherein the tilt part (430) comprises a channel (432) configured for rotatably and tiltably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200); wherein the tilt insert (420) has a first surface side (421) and a second surface side (423); wherein the first surface side (421) is opposite to the second surface side (423); wherein the first surface side (421) is a curved convex surface tiltably supporting the tilt part (430); wherein the tilt part (430) has a first surface side (431) and a second surface side (433); wherein the first surface side (431) is opposite to the second surface side (433); wherein the second surface side (433) is a curved concave surface configured for tiltably mounting and sliding on the first surface side (421) of the tilt insert (420).

4. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 3, wherein at least a the part of the first surface side (431) of the tilt part (430) comprising the channel (432) configured for rotatably and tiltably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200) is a curved convex surface; wherein the fastener (500) comprises a curved washer (510) configured for slideably engaging with the part of the first surface side (431) of the tilt part (430) comprising the channel (432) configured for rotatably and tiltably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200); and wherein the curved washer (510) comprises a channel (512) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200).

5. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 1, wherein the fastener (500) comprises a spring washer system (520) and a lock nut (530).

6. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member (220) is positioned at the center of the base unit (210).

7. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 6, wherein the cable channel (212) at least partly formed in the base unit (210) extends around the circumference of the elongated member (220).

8. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 1, wherein the base unit (210) is mounted in a tube (600), and wherein the tube (600) is configured to support and accommodate at least a part of the rotation ring (300).

9. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 1, wherein a part of the body section (400) is configured as an angled tube.

10. A modular rotatable link (100) according to claim 1, wherein the rotation limiting channel (416) extends around the circumference of the channel (412) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a rotatable link with tilt function in exploded view in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the bottom part of the body section in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 3A+B shows a top view of the tilt part of the body section in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 4A shows an assembled version of a rotatable link with tilt function in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and FIG. 4B shows a cross-section of FIG. 4A;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a rotatable link with fixed tilt in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, where the body section is an angled tube;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows an assembled version of a rotatable link with tilt function in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, and where the base unit is positioned in an angled tube; and

[0047] FIG. 7 shows four rotatable links with fixed tilt in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, where the body section is a 15-60 degree angled tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, the general scheme of the invention is shown in exploded view. FIG. 1 shows a modular rotatable link (100) comprising a base section (200), a rotation ring (300), a body section (400), and a fastener (500).

[0049] The base section (200) comprises a base unit (210) with a cable channel (212) at least partly formed therein.

[0050] The base section (200) also comprises an elongated member (220) with a first end (222) attached to the base unit (210), and with a second end (224) configured to be removably received by the fastener (500). The elongated member (220) is welded at its first end (222) to the base unit (210), and is only threaded at its second end (224) for receiving a lock nut (530). The remaining of the elongated member (220) is unthreaded to provide a surface suitable for rotatable engagement with the other components. The elongated member (220) is positioned at the center of the base unit (210).

[0051] The base section (200) also comprises a stop pin (230) with a first end (232) attached to the base unit (210).

[0052] The body section (400) comprises a bottom part (410) configured for rotatably engaging with the rotation ring (300).

[0053] The bottom part (410) of the body section (400) comprises a channel (412) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200).

[0054] The bottom part (410) of the body section (400) also comprises a cable channel (414) in communication with the cable channel (212) of the base section (200). The cable channel (212) is formed in the base unit (210) and extends in an arc around the circumference of the elongated member (220).

[0055] The bottom part (410) of the body section (400) also comprises a rotation limiting channel (416) configured for rotatably engaging with the stop pin (230) of the base section (200). The rotation limiting channel (416) extends in an arc around the circumference of the channel (412) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200) (FIG. 2).

[0056] The body section (400) further comprises a tilt insert (420) and a tilt part (430).

[0057] The tilt insert faces the bottom part (410); and comprises a channel (422) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200).

[0058] The tilt insert (420) has a first surface side (421) and a second surface side (423). The first surface side (421) is opposite to the second surface side (423); and the first surface side (421) is a curved convex surface tiltably supporting the tilt part (430).

[0059] The tilt part (430) comprises a channel (432) configured for rotatably and tiltably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200) (FIG. 3A). Thereby, the tilt part is capable of tilting relative to the other components that are only able to rotate around the elongated member (220) (FIG. 3B).

[0060] The tilt part (430) has a first surface side (431) and a second surface side (433); and the first surface side (431) is opposite to the second surface side (433). The second surface side (433) is a curved concave surface configured for tiltably mounting and sliding on the first surface side (421) of the tilt insert (420).

[0061] The first surface side (431) is provided with four threaded holes (435) for mounting a plate on which a piece of hardware, such as a card terminal or tablet, may be secured (FIG. 3A+B). The mounting is shown in FIG. 8.

[0062] A part of the first surface side (431) of the tilt part (430) comprising the channel (432) configured for rotatably and tiltably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200) is a curved convex surface.

[0063] The inventors have prepared a special fastener suitable for both rotation and tilting operations. The fastener (500) comprises a spring washer system (520) and a lock nut (530). The fastener system is shown (from bottom to top of the link) with a curved washer (510), a hard metal (e.g. steel) spring washer, two soft metal or metal alloy (e.g. bronze) spring washers (521A+B), a soft metal or metal alloy spring lock washer (e.g. bronze), and a lock nut (530).

[0064] The curved washer (510) is configured for slideably engaging with the part of the first surface side (431) of the tilt part (430) comprising the channel (432) configured for rotatably and tiltably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200).

[0065] The curved washer (510) comprises a channel (512) configured for rotatably engaging with the elongated member (220) of the base section (200).

[0066] The base unit (210) is mounted in a tube (600), and the tube (600) is configured to support and accommodate a part of the rotation ring (300). FIG. 4A shows an assembled version of a rotatable link with tilt function. The base unit is mounted in a tube (600). FIG. 4B shows a cross-section of FIG. 4A.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a rotatable link with fixed tilt, and where the body section is an angled tube.

[0068] FIG. 6 shows an assembled version of a rotatable link with tilt function where the base unit is positioned in an angled tube.

[0069] FIG. 7 shows four different rotatable links with fixed tilts. The body section is a 15-60 degree angled tube. A plate is attached to the body section on which a piece of hardware is mounted.

REFERENCES

[0070] 100 Modular rotatable link [0071] 200 Base section [0072] 210 Base unit [0073] 212 Cable channel [0074] 220 Elongated member [0075] 222 First end [0076] 224 Second end [0077] 230 Stop pin [0078] 232 First end [0079] 234 Second end [0080] 300 Rotation ring [0081] 400 Body section [0082] 410 Bottom part [0083] 412 Channel [0084] 414 Cable channel [0085] 416 Rotation limiting channel [0086] 420 Tilt insert [0087] 421 First surface side [0088] 422 Channel [0089] 423 Second surface side [0090] 430 Tilt part [0091] 431 First surface side [0092] 432 Channel [0093] 433 Second surface side [0094] 434 Cable channel or cable plug [0095] 435 Threaded hole [0096] 500 Fastener [0097] 510 Curved washer [0098] 512 Channel [0099] 520 Washer system [0100] 521 Washer [0101] 530 Lock nut [0102] 600 Tube