US 7,354,330 B2Granted

Connection for beads with locked and articulating engagement

AssigneeLynx Ag, LLC

InventorCharles W. Bentley, Jr.

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Abstract

An assembly of two elements including a first element that has a cavity with an external opening connected to a first region defined by a sidewall that is a spherical segment and the diameter of the external opening is smaller than the diameter of the sidewall in the first region. Adjacent to the first region is a second region also defined by a second spheroid segment that is separated from the first region by an annular ring extending from the sidewalls towards a central axis of the cavity. The annular ring forms a passage having a diameter approximately the same as the external opening. An extension member on the second element is inserted into the cavity which has a first rod section terminating in a second spherically-shaped section. The spherically shaped section has a diameter larger slightly larger than the external opening on the first element and accordingly, the spherical section may be snap-fitted through the external opening to a first position in a first region, and be retainer there and, it may be further snap-fitted through the passage to the second region and be retained there. Also disclosed is flange structure that engages an annular seat when the spherically shaped member is in the second position.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An assembly comprising a first element and a second element, said first element and said second element comprised of a compressible and resilient material,

a cavity within said first element, said cavity having a first region defined by a sidewall formed by a spherical segment, said first region having an external opening through the surface of said first element, wherein the diameter of said opening is smaller than the diameter of said sidewall, and
a second region defined by a second spheroid segment, and second spherical segment region contiguous with said first region and said second region located further from said opening than said first region and said second region separated from said first regions by an annular ridge having a diameter, and
an extension connector member on said second element, said extension connector member extending from said second element and comprising a first rod section terminating in a second spherical shaped section, wherein said spherical shaped section has a diameter larger slightly larger than said external opening on said first element, and slightly larger than said diameter of said annular ridge to said second region,
wherein said spherical section may be snap-fit through said external opening to a first position in said first region, and be retainer therein and, be further snap-fit through said annular ridge to said second region and be retained therein.

1 more element

An assembly comprising a first and a second element, wherein at least one of said elements comprises a material that is resilient, said first element comprises a cavity, said cavity further comprising a first retention region, said first retention region defined by a first restricted area having a constricted opening and a second constricted region, wherein said first and second constricted regions have a minimum circumference less than that a maximum circumference of a sidewall of said first region, and a second region, said second region defined by said second constricted region and,

and wherein said second element comprises an extension member, said extension member extending from said second element and comprising a first rod section terminating in a second section, said second section having an dimension slightly larger than said constricted regions, and smaller than the dimension of said first and second regions
wherein said second section of said extension member may be snap-fit through said first constricted region to be seated at a first position in said first region and be retained therein and, be further snap-fit through said second restricted region to be seated in said second position and be retained therein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.