Structure formed from ball jointed links
US4898490A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 1988 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/32795
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A complex, load bearing structure which is formed from a series of steel links of a standard design which are joined to one another end to end. Each link has a ball portion on an end of an elongate central portion and a socket portion on the other end of the elongate central portion. The ball portion has a spherical or part-spherical outer surface and the socket portion has a part-spherical inner surface, and the ball portion and socket portion are so sized that the ball portion will fit snugly within the socket portion of a similar link for limited universal movement of the link and the similar link relative to one another. When the link and the similar link have been positioned in a proper relationship to one another, they are joined together by welding, soldering or adhesively. Preferably, each link is made integrally, in a single piece, from a steel tube which is copper plated on its exterior.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.