Pivot bearing with adjustable resistance

An articulated arm of a dental examination light having a pivot bearing with an adjustable resistance feature, the articulated arm comprising:

• a generally cylindrical bearing housing having a threaded bore extending therethrough having a longitudinal axis extending generally tangentially to the inner diameter of the housing;
• a split bushing mounted in the bearing housing at the inner diameter thereof;
• an axle mounted rotatably within the split bushing;
• a setscrew mounted in the threaded bore and movable generally tangentially to the split bushing in the housing;
• a cutout in the bushing that receives a leading edge portion of the setscrew up to an abutment on the split bushing;
• and
• a ramp in the housing that converts a tangential movement of a portion of the bushing into a radial movement of the portion of the bushing;
• wherein tightening the setscrew pushes the portion of the bushing against the ramp, and the ramp redirects the portion of the bushing radially inward against the axle for increasing an axle rotation resistance;
• whereby an axle rotation resistance adjustment is provided with minimal radial thickness of the housing required for the setscrew for enabling the arm to be selectively positioned and secured in a desired position and configuration.

An articulated arm of a dental examination light having a pivot bearing with an adjustable resistance feature, wherein the pivot bearing comprises:

• a split bushing with first and second edges mounted in a channel in an interior diameter of a housing;
• a ramp forming an end of the channel;
• an axle rotatably mounted in the bushing;
• a setscrew mounted tangentially to the bushing in the housing;
• and
• an abutment on the bushing;
• wherein turning the setscrew in a tightening direction pushes a front end of the setscrew into the abutment, pushing the first edge of the bushing into the ramp, which redirects the first edge of the bushing radially inward against the axle, thus providing bearing resistance adjustment.