Patent Application
20070003362
This invention relates generally to a quick connect, snap together, coupling consisting of a ball and a socket or socket sleeve securable to a respective one of a pair of members and in which the coupling has an air chamber that serves as an cushion when coupling together the pair of members and as a suction chamber when detaching the members.
There are numerous examples of one member having a projection that slip fits into a socket in another member to join them together and the following United States patents are examples of some considered related to applicants proposal:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,280 discloses a low voltage light novelty item with a cavity extending upwardly into the bottom end thereof and into which projects a cylindrical enlargement on the upper end of a post or equivalent mounting device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,729 discloses a solar warning light having a spigot extending downwardly from the bottom thereof for projecting into an open upper end of a post or into a hole in the upper end of a traffic cone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,924 discloses a tapered plug detachably mounted on the bottom of a warning light and projecting downwardly for insertion into a hole in the top end of a traffic cone.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,237,035 discloses a lamp with a downwardly projecting generally cylindrical part that projects into the upper open end of a cylindrical member.
None of the forgoing employ the concept of having an air chamber to serve as a cushion when joining the two parts together and serving as a resistance when separating one part from the other. Also, the foregoing are dedicated to the particular respective items being joined together.
The device comprises a ball attached to any object such as a door. The socket is comprised of a sleeve forming a cylinder having an end and an internal diameter whereby the inner portion of the sleeve next to the end wall is of greater inside diameter than the portion of the sleeve adjacent to the outer open end. The ball will slip through the narrower opening with only slight expansion of the sleeve if any. Thus, slamming a door will allow the ball to extend into a sleeve mounted onto the wall allowing air to exit around the sleeve slowing the door, but not stopping it from shutting. Moreover, pulling on the door will cause a slight vacuum to form in the sleeve resisting the pull. Thus, the device provides a controlled pulling and pushing resistance to attaching and detaching a device held together by the ball and sleeve socket coupling arrangement.
The present invention comprises a ball attached to a selected object such as a door or post. A socket comprised of elastomeric or pliable resilient material forms a sleeve or cylinder having an end and an internal diameter whereby the inner portion of the sleeve next to the end wall abutting the door, post or other attachment support is of greater inside diameter than the portion of the sleeve adjacent the outer open end. Upon exertion of force, the ball will contact and slip through the narrower opening of the sleeve with only slight expansion of the sleeve if any. Thus, slamming a door connecting the ball with the sleeve or socket allows the ball to extend into a sleeve mounted onto the wall and allows the air to exit between the ball and sleeve thereby providing an air cushion slowing the door, but not stopping it. Moreover, pulling on the door will cause a slight vacuum to form within the sleeve to resist the pull and control rate of opening.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple coupling for detachably interconnecting two of a multiplicity of different members.
One object of the present invention is to provide a simple door abutment to cushion the door's engagement therewith and that also serves to retain the door in a door open position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick disconnect coupling for mounting a lamp on the upper end of a post like support.
The present invention comprises a coupling for detachably interconnecting a pair of members comprising a first ball-shaped member and means on a first member for securely attaching the same to one of a pair of members. The pair of members includes a second member having a cavity for receiving therein the first member. Means on the second member is provided for securely attaching the same to the other one of the pair of members. The socket has a throat entry into the cavity. The first member has an outer dimension greater than that of the throat providing an interference or friction fit during insertion and removal of the first member respectively into and out of the cavity.
These and other objects will become more apparent from reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein:
Referring to
One preferred embodiment provides that the member 20 is attachable, by way of example, to a door 40 by a mounting means 21 in the form of a plate that is suitably anchored to the member 20 by rivets, screws, adhesives, hook and loop attachment means, or integrally formed therein and attaches to the door by holding means such as by an adhesive, a strip of double faced tape 22 or screws, rivets, nails. staples and the like.
As shown in the
The member 20 maybe spherical or elliptical and has an outer surface that sealingly engages the throat to the socket to thereby trap air in the socket when inserted there into. This trapped air is compressed as the ball is forced into the socket through the throat 32 providing an air cushion. Any attempt to swing the door in the opposite directions is initially resisted by the trapped air in the socket as the ball is forced out of the socket through the throat.
The amount of compression and force to overcome the suction can be varied by variously controlling leakage of air from the socket and/or the amount of air trapped in the air chamber. One for example can vary the distance of travel of the ball while remaining in sealing contact with the throat into the socket. This might be done by changing the ratio of the diameter of the ball to that of the socket throat. Another would be to have the throat continue as a cylindrical portion part way into the cavity before the wall 34 of the cavity tapers outwardly as illustrated in the drawing. The air leakage can also be controlled by having dimples on the outer surface of the ball similar to that of a golf ball.
A modified embodiment is illustrated in
The foregoing ball and socket can be employed in many different ways other than just a door stop described above.
The ball member for example maybe atop a post or plate attached to a post and the socket member fastened to a suitable area on a portable lantern, for example the bottom thereof so that it can be removably and variously positioned to shine on different areas or removed for hand use.
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art based upon more recent disclosures and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.
