Load support unit
OwnerManish KOCHAR, Gary KRIVOY +1inventors
InventorsManish KOCHAR, Gary KRIVOY, Aaron H. LEIMKUEHLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a load support unit for holding and adjusting the orientation of the load. The load support unit includes a lower arm, a upper arm, a mounting swivel, a swivel joint, a knuckle joint and a rotational joint. The mounting swivel allows the load support unit to rotate relative to its surroundings, the swivel joint allows the upper arm to rotate relative to the lower arm, the knuckle joint allows the upper arm to pivot in a rotational direction relative to the lower arm, and the rotational joint allows the load to rotate about the upper arm.
Claims38
A knuckle joint configured for connecting a lower arm and a upper arm, the knuckle joint comprising:
- an outer shell;
- a body sized and shaped to fit within an opening of the upper arm;
- an actuator element including:
- a trigger button disposed exterior to the body and having an engagement arm extending therefrom and into the body;
- at least one actuator pawl disposed within an interior surface of the body;
- a biasing spring configured to bias the engagement arm away from interaction with the at least one actuator pawl;
- and
- a spring element configured to bias the at least one actuator pawl towards the interior surface of the body,
- wherein when the trigger button is engaged, the engagement arm interacts with the at least one actuator pawl such that the knuckle joint is in an unlocked configuration.
2-12. (canceled)
A swivel joint configured for connecting a lower arm and a upper arm, the swivel joint comprising:
- an outer shell;
- a first tapered bushing having a first circumferential opening through a center thereof,
- a second tapered bushing having a second circumferential opening through a center thereof, and
- a shoulder screw,
- wherein the first tapered bushing is rotationally keyed to the shoulder screw to prevent relative rotation with the shoulder screw and provide friction during relative rotation with the outer shell.
14-22. (canceled)
A mounting swivel configured for supporting an arm, the mounting swivel comprising:
- a base plate configured for coupling to the arm;
- a holder post extending from the base plate, wherein the holder post includes at least one keyway;
- a base adapter configured to receive the holder post and including:
- a base block, wherein the base block further includes at least one keyway, and
- a base socket extending from the base block;
- and
- a friction stack including:
- a plurality of clutch plates;
- a plurality of friction plates disposed between respective ones of the plurality of clutch plates;
- and
- a spring element,
- wherein the base socket of the base adapter is configured to house the holder post of a lower arm,
- wherein rotation of the holder post causes conforming rotation of the plurality of friction plates relative to the plurality of clutch plates, and
- wherein the rotation of the plurality of friction plates relative to the plurality of clutch plates causes resistance to the rotation of the holder post.
24-37. (canceled)
A rotational joint configured for supporting a load at an end of an arm, the rotational joint comprising:
- a ball attachment including a rotator ball and a stem,
- a socket configured to accommodate the rotator ball, the socket including a first socket portion and a second socket portion,
- a collar configured to secure the rotator ball within the socket, and
- a load support coupled to the first socket portion of the socket,
- wherein relative rotation of the rotator ball within the collar does not cause loosening of the collar, and
- wherein the socket, the collar and the load support connected thereto is able to rotate freely about the rotator ball attached to the arm.
39-47. (canceled)
A load support unit including:
- a lower arm;
- a upper arm;
- a mounting swivel configured to support the lower arm;
- a swivel joint disposed between the lower arm and a knuckle joint;
- the knuckle joint disposed between the swivel joint and the upper arm;
- an outer shell configured to house the swivel joint and the knuckle joint;
- and
- a rotational joint configured for supporting a load at the upper arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.