Ball joint with detent action

A flexible multi-jointed support for holding items, including lamps and tools, wherein the support is comprised of multiple segments that are joined end to end each joining of two segments thereby forming the joints, and at least one of the joints is a ball and socket joint that is capable of being biased in a desired orientation, wherein each ball and socket joint comprises:

• a male portion, that is in the shape of a ball, wherein the ball comprises a detent area that includes one part of a detent mechanism;
• and,
• a spring biasing female portion, that is in the shape of a socket that frictionally embraces the ball, wherein the socket comprises a detent area that includes a second complimentary part of the detent mechanism that aligns with and engages the detent area of the ball when the male and female portions are placed in a desired position thereby biasing the joint toward that position;
• wherein the detent area of the ball comprises a spring band and one or more ball bearings aligned around an outside of the spring band, wherein the spring band provides an outward force on the one or more ball bearing;
• and,
• the detent area of the socket comprises an indentation that extends around an internal circumference of the socket, wherein the indentation is adapted to engage the one or more ball bearings when the ball and socket are aligned in a desired position.

A flexible multi-jointed support for holding items, including lamps and tools, wherein the support is comprised of multiple segments that are joined end to end each joining of two segments thereby forming the joints, and at least one of the joints is a ball and socket joint that is capable of being biased in a desired orientation, wherein each ball and socket joint comprises:

• a male portion, that is in the shape of a ball, wherein the ball comprises a detent area that includes one part of a detent mechanism;
• and,
• a spring biasing female portion, that is in the shape of a socket that frictionally embraces the ball, wherein the socket comprises a detent area that includes a second complimentary part of the detent mechanism that aligns with and engages the detent area of the ball when the male and female portions are placed in a desired position thereby biasing the joint toward that position;
• wherein the detent area of the ball comprises an indentation that extends around a circumference of the ball;
• and,
• the detent area of the socket comprises a spring band that extends around an external circumference of the socket and provides an inward force on one or more ball bearing, wherein the ball bearings are aligned along an interior of the spring band and adapted to engage the indentation in the ball when the ball and socket are aligned in a desired position.

A flexible multi-jointed support for holding items, including lamps and tools, wherein the support is comprised of multiple segments that are joined end to end each joining of two segments thereby forming the joints, and at least one of the joints is a ball and socket joint that is capable of being biased in a desired orientation, wherein the at least one ball and socket joint comprises:

• a male portion, that is in the shape of a ball, wherein the ball has one or more detent areas;
• and,
• a spring biasing female portion, that is in the shape of a socket that frictionally embraces the ball, wherein the socket has one or more detent areas, and,
• each socket detent area can engage at least one of the ball's detent areas and each ball detent area can engage at least one of the socket's detent areas, thereby allowing the support to be biased in multiple different desired positions, and further wherein each segment is hollow and each ball has a hole at an axial end so that a cord, such as a power cord, can pass through an interior of the support.