Adjustable connector
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorSimon Garry Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable connector including at least two parts, each having a main body with a bore having a longitudinal axis therein, wherein an external surface of the main body of a first part is configured to bear against an internal surface of the bore of a second part when the first part is at least partially inserted into the bore of the second part to form a connection, characterized in that the positioning of the bores with respect to the main bodies is such that when the parts are connected to each other, rotation of one part with respect to the other changes the inclination of the longitudinal axes of the bores with respect to one another.
Claims18
An adjustable connector comprising:
- a first part having a generally cylindrical body that includes:
- an external surface disposed about a first longitudinal axis;
- an internal surface disposed about a second longitudinal axis and defining a first bore;
- wherein the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle relative to the first longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the second longitudinal axis intersects the first longitudinal axis at a point within the first bore;
- a second part having a generally cylindrical body that includes:
- an external surface disposed about a third longitudinal axis;
- an internal surface disposed about a fourth longitudinal axis and defining a second bore;
- wherein the fourth longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle relative to the third longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the fourth longitudinal axis intersects the third longitudinal axis at a point within the second bore;
- wherein the external surface of the first part bears against the internal surface of the second part when the first part is at least partially inserted into the second bore;
- and
- wherein the internal surface of the second part includes a spline, key detail, or ridges and grooves that inhibit rotation of the second part with respect to first part when the first part is at least partially inserted within the second bore.
An assembly comprising:
- a first object including a shaft;
- a second object defining an aperture;
- and
- an adjustable connector configured to couple the first object with the second object in a selectively lockable orientation, the adjustable connector including:
- a first connector part having a generally cylindrical body that includes:
- an external surface disposed about a first longitudinal axis;
- an internal surface disposed about a second longitudinal axis and defining a first bore;
- wherein the first bore receives a portion of the shaft of the first object;
- wherein the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle relative to the first longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the second longitudinal axis intersects the first longitudinal axis at a point within the first bore;
- a second connector part having a generally cylindrical body that includes:
- an external surface disposed about a third longitudinal axis, and received within the aperture of the second object;
- an internal surface disposed about a fourth longitudinal axis and defining a second bore;
- wherein the fourth longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle relative to the third longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the fourth longitudinal axis intersects the third longitudinal axis at a point within the second bore;
- and
- wherein the first connector part is received within the second bore;
- and
- wherein the internal surface of the second part includes a spline, key detail, or ridges and grooves that inhibit rotation of the second part with respect to first part when the first part received within the second bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.