Back to results
US 10,012,261 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for releasably immobilizing an attachment to an external object
OwnerKenneth Alvin Jungeberginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to a shaft or other external object is provided. The spherical bearing comprises a truncated flexible spherical core with an annular hole through the center of the spherical core for appending the core on the shaft or external object. Segments around the spherical core are created by relief cuts in the spherical core, and deflection flexure points displaced from the annular hole are formed by the relief cuts in the core. A housing provides compression against the core and immobilization of the shaft or other external object.
Claims87
A method for releasably immobilizing an attachment to a shaft comprising:
- providing a truncated flexible spherical core for a spherical bearing;
- boring an annular hole through the center of the core;
- creating segments around the spherical core by making relief cuts in the core;
- arranging the relief cuts to provide deflection flexure points displaced from the annular hole in the core;
- providing a flexible housing surrounding the spherical core that comprises a clamping mechanism for compressing the housing and the spherical core;
- attaching an attachment to the housing;
- placing the shaft through the annular hole;
- compressing the spherical core with the clamping mechanism and housing to deflect the segments about the deflection flexure points toward the shaft to immobilize the core on the shaft, the housing on the core, and the attachment on the housing;
- and
- releasing the clamping mechanism to release the immobilization of the attachment when mobility of the attachment is desired.
7 more elements
A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to an external object, said bearing comprising:
- a spherical core having a top, a bottom, a center, a spherical outer periphery, and an annular hole through said center of said core for appending said core to the external object, the spherical core further comprising:
- said annular hole extending from said top to said bottom of said spherical core, said spherical outer periphery extending to said annular hole, and a plurality of segments positioned radially around said annular hole, said segments being defined by at least one of a plurality of outer relief cuts formed in said spherical outer periphery and a plurality of inner relief cuts formed around said annular hole;
- and
- a plurality of deflection flexure points, each said point formed at at least one of an inner end of one said outer relief cut and an outer end of one said inner relief cut in said core;
- a flexible housing surrounding said spherical core;
- a releasable clamping mechanism for radially clamping said flexible housing to compress said spherical core, said clamping mechanism being positioned to reduce the diameter of said flexible housing when said clamping mechanism is tightened to cause said segments to deflect about said deflection flexure points and conform to the outer surface of the external object, thereby immobilizing said core on the external object and immobilizing said housing on said core;
- and
- said spherical core having a spherical core diameter and the external object having an object diameter wherein the ratio of said spherical core diameter to said object diameter is greater than about 1.5.
5 more elements
A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to an external object, said bearing comprising:
- a truncated spherical core having opposing top and bottom surfaces connected by a spherical outer periphery, and further comprising an annular hole through the center of said core for appending said core to the external object, the core further comprising:
- a plurality of segments positioned radially around said annular hole, said segments being defined by a plurality of outer relief cuts formed in said spherical outer periphery and around said annular hole;
- and
- a plurality of deflection flexure points, each said point formed at an inner end of one said outer relief cut in said core;
- a flexible housing surrounding said spherical core;
- a releasable clamping mechanism for radially clamping said flexible housing to compress said spherical core, said clamping mechanism being positioned to reduce the diameter of said flexible housing when said clamping mechanism is tightened to cause said segments to deflect about said deflection flexure points and conform to the outer surface of the external object, thereby immobilizing said core on the external object and immobilizing said housing on said core;
- and
- said spherical core having a spherical core diameter and the external object having an object diameter wherein the ratio of said spherical core diameter to said object diameter is greater than about 1.5.
5 more elements
A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to an external object, said bearing comprising:
- a truncated spherical core having opposing top and bottom surfaces connected by a spherical outer periphery, and further comprising an annular hole through the center of said core for appending said core to the external object, the core further comprising:
- a plurality of segments positioned radially around said annular hole, said segments being defined by a plurality of inner relief cuts formed around said annular hole;
- and
- a plurality of deflection flexure points, each said point formed at an outer end of one said inner relief cut in said core;
- a flexible housing surrounding said spherical core;
- a releasable clamping mechanism for radially clamping said flexible housing to compress said spherical core, said clamping mechanism being positioned to reduce the diameter of said flexible housing when said clamping mechanism is tightened to cause said segments to deflect about said deflection flexure points and conform to the outer surface of the external object, thereby immobilizing said core on the external object and immobilizing said housing on said core;
- and
- said spherical core having a spherical core diameter and the external object having an object diameter wherein the ratio of said spherical core diameter to said object diameter is greater than about 1.5.
5 more elements
A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to an external object, said bearing comprising:
- a spherical core having a top, a bottom, a center, a spherical outer periphery, and an annular hole through said center of said core for appending said core to the external object, the spherical core further comprising:
- said annular hole extending from said top to said bottom of said spherical core, said spherical outer periphery extending to said annular hole, and a plurality of segments positioned radially around said annular hole, said segments being defined by at least one of a plurality of outer relief cuts formed in said spherical outer periphery and around said annular hole;
- and
- a plurality of deflection flexure points, each said point formed at an inner end of one said outer relief cut in said core;
- a flexible housing surrounding said spherical core;
- a releasable clamping mechanism for radially clamping said flexible housing to compress said spherical core, said clamping mechanism being positioned to reduce the diameter of said flexible housing when said clamping mechanism is tightened to cause said segments to deflect about said deflection flexure points and conform to the outer surface of the external object, thereby immobilizing said core on the external object and immobilizing said housing on said core;
- and
- said spherical core having a spherical core diameter and the external object having an object diameter wherein the ratio of said spherical core diameter to said object diameter is greater than about 1.5.
5 more elements
A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to an external object, said bearing comprising:
- a spherical core having a top, a bottom, a center, a spherical outer periphery, and an annular hole through said center of said core for appending said core to the external object, the spherical core further comprising:
- said annular hole extending from said top to said bottom of said spherical core, said spherical outer periphery extending to said annular hole, and a plurality of segments positioned radially around said annular hole, said segments being defined by a plurality of inner relief cuts formed around said annular hole;
- and
- a plurality of deflection flexure points, each said point formed at an outer end of one said inner relief cut in said core;
- a flexible housing surrounding said spherical core;
- a releasable clamping mechanism for radially clamping said flexible housing to compress said spherical core, said clamping mechanism being positioned to reduce the diameter of said flexible housing when said clamping mechanism is tightened to cause said segments to deflect about said deflection flexure points and conform to the outer surface of the external object, thereby immobilizing said core on the external object and immobilizing said housing on said core;
- and
- said spherical core having a spherical core diameter and the external object having an object diameter wherein the ratio of said spherical core diameter to said object diameter is greater than about 1.5.
5 more elements
A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to an external object, said bearing comprising:
- a spherical core having a spherical outer periphery and an annular hole through said center of said core for appending said core to the external object, the spherical core further comprising:
- said annular hole extending from said top to said bottom of said spherical core, said spherical outer periphery extending to said annular hole, and a plurality of segments positioned radially around said annular hole, said segments being defined by at least one of a plurality of relief cuts formed around said annular hole;
- and
- a plurality of deflection flexure points, each said point formed at an end of one said relief cut in said core;
- a housing surrounding said spherical core;
- a releasable strap clamp, said strap clamp comprising:
- a circumferential strap, said strap extending around the circumference of said housing;
- and
- a strap tightener, said strap tightener positioned to reduce the diameter of said circumferential strap to exert hoop compression around said housing to compress said spherical core and reduce the diameter of said flexible housing when said clamping mechanism is tightened to cause said segments to deflect about said deflection flexure points and conform to the outer surface of the external object, thereby immobilizing said core on the external object and immobilizing said housing on said core;
- and
- said spherical core having a spherical core diameter and the external object having an object diameter wherein the ratio of said spherical core diameter to said object diameter is greater than about 1.5.
8 more elements
A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to an external object, said bearing comprising:
- a spherical core having a spherical outer periphery and an annular hole through said center of said core for appending said core to the external object, the spherical core further comprising:
- said annular hole extending from said top to said bottom of said spherical core, said spherical outer periphery extending to said annular hole, and a plurality of segments positioned radially around said annular hole, said segments being defined by at least one of a plurality of relief cuts formed around said annular hole, said relief cuts being at least one of inside cuts located adjacent said annular hole and outside cuts located along said spherical outer periphery of said core;
- and
- a plurality of deflection flexure points, each said point formed at an end of one said relief cut in said core;
- a two-piece housing surrounding said spherical core, said housing having a housing base and a housing cap, said base and said cap being separated by a housing split therebetween when said housing is compressed by said strap clamp;
- a releasable strap clamp, said strap clamp comprising:
- a circumferential strap, said strap extending around the circumference of said housing;
- and
- a strap tightener, said strap tightener positioned to reduce the diameter of said circumferential strap to exert hoop compression around said housing to compress said spherical core and reduce the diameter of said flexible housing when said clamping mechanism is tightened to cause said segments to deflect about said deflection flexure points and conform to the outer surface of the external object, thereby immobilizing said core on the external object and immobilizing said housing on said core;
- and
- said spherical core having a spherical core diameter and the external object having an object diameter wherein the ratio of said spherical core diameter to said object diameter is greater than about 1.5.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.