Patent Application
20120294028
The invention generally relates to a ball and socket assembly, and more specifically to any aimable lighting device/assembly for a vehicle including the ball and socket assembly.
Ball and socket assemblies are used to pivotably attach a first component to a second component. For example, one or more ball and socket assemblies may be used to attach a lighting device/module of an aimable lighting device/assembly, e.g., a head aimable lighting assembly, to a housing of the aimable lighting device/assembly. The ball and socket assembly provides a pivotable connection therebetween so that the lighting device/module may pivot and/or rotate during adjustment and/or positioning of the lighting device/module. The ball and socket assembly may include a ball stud having a spherical end disposed within a socket cup in a snap fit engagement therebetween. The snap fit engagement must provide a retention force sufficient to secure the ball stud within the socket cup to prevent the ball stud from becoming dislodged from the socket cup.
A ball and socket assembly is provided. The ball and socket assembly includes a support. The support includes a face plate defining an opening, a base spaced from the face plate along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of arms extending between the face plate and the base. The plurality of arms cooperate to define a socket cup. A ball stud, having a substantially spherical end defining a diameter, is disposed within the socket cup in a snap fit engagement with the plurality of arms. Each of the plurality of arms includes an upper portion. The upper portion is disposed adjacent the face plate, and extends radially inward toward the longitudinal axis. The upper portion defines a diameter of the opening that is smaller than the diameter of the spherical end of the ball stud. A radial biasing device is disposed annularly about an outer periphery of the upper portion of the plurality of arms. The radial biasing device is configured to resist movement of the plurality of arms radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis.
A ball and socket assembly is also provided. The ball and socket assembly includes a support. The support includes a face plate that defines an opening, a base that is spaced from the face plate along a longitudinal axis, a plurality of legs that extend between the face plate and the base, and a plurality of arms that extend between the face plate and the base. The plurality of arms cooperate to define a socket cup. A ball stud, having a substantially spherical end defining a diameter, is disposed within the socket cup in a snap fit engagement with the plurality of arms. Each of the plurality of arms includes an upper portion. The upper portion is disposed adjacent the face plate, and extends radially inward toward the longitudinal axis. The upper portion of the plurality of arms defines a diameter of the opening that is smaller than the diameter of the spherical end of the ball stud. A radial biasing device is disposed annularly about an outer periphery of the upper portion of the plurality of arms. The radial biasing device is configured to resist movement of the plurality of arms radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis. The radial biasing device includes an un-sprung inner circumference that is approximately equal to an outer circumference of the plurality of arms when the radial biasing device is in a non-expanded state. The radial biasing device is configured to resist radial expansion of the inner circumference beyond the un-sprung inner circumference. The plurality of legs cooperate to define a groove that is disposed annularly about the longitudinal axis in an outer peripheral surface of the plurality of legs. The radial biasing device is disposed within the groove.
An aimable lighting assembly for a vehicle is also provided. The aimable lighting assembly includes a frame defining an interior space. A lighting device/module is disposed within the interior space of the frame. An adjuster is attached to the frame. The adjuster is configured for adjusting a position of the lighting device/module relative to the frame. A ball and socket assembly interconnects the lighting device/module and the adjuster. The ball and socket assembly includes a support. The support includes a face plate defining an opening, a base spaced from the face plate along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of arms extending between the face plate and the base. The plurality of arms cooperate to define a socket cup. A ball stud, having a substantially spherical end defining a diameter, is disposed within the socket cup in a snap fit engagement with the plurality of arms. The ball stud extends from the spherical end to a distal end that is coupled to the adjuster. Each of the plurality of arms includes an upper portion. The upper portion is disposed adjacent the face plate, and extends radially inward toward the longitudinal axis. The upper portion defines a diameter of the opening that is smaller than the diameter of the spherical end of the ball stud. A radial biasing device is disposed annularly about an outer periphery of the upper portion of the plurality of arms. The radial biasing device is configured to resist movement of the plurality of arms radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis.
Accordingly, the radial biasing device provides an additional retention force over and above the retention force provided by the snap fit connection between the spherical end of the ball stud and the socket cup alone, thereby increasing the overall retention force of the ball and socket assembly. The spherical end of the ball stud may still be removed from the socket cup, but most both elastically deform the plurality of arms and expand the radial biasing device to do so. The increased retention force provided by the ball and socket assembly described herein allows the ball and socket assembly to secure heavier components without failure.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, an aimable lighting assembly is shown generally at 20 in
Referring to
Referring to
The plurality of arms 40 cooperate to define a socket cup 48 therebetween, which is accessible through the opening 46. As best shown in
The plurality of legs 42 provide support 34 to the face plate 36, to prevent the face plate 36 from flexing or substantially moving during insertion of a spherical end 74 of a ball stud 72 into the socket cup 48 (described in greater detail below). The legs 42 include an upper portion 60 disposed adjacent the face plate 36. An inner radial surface 62 of the upper portions 60 of the legs 42 extend generally parallel with the longitudinal axis 44, with the upper portions 50 of the arms 40 extending farther inward toward the longitudinal axis 44 than the upper portions 60 of the legs 42. As such, the legs 42 do not operate to retain the spherical end 74 of the ball stud 72 within the socket cup 48. While the ball and socket assembly 30 is shown with four legs 42, it should be appreciated that the ball and socket assembly 30 may include any number of legs 42.
Referring to
The ball and socket assembly 30 further includes a ball stud 72. The ball stud 72 includes a substantially spherical end 74 disposed within the socket cup 48, and extends to a distal end 76 that is coupled to the adjuster 28. The spherical end 74 of the ball stud 72 defines a substantially spherical shape having a diameter 78. The shape and size of the spherical end 74 of the ball stud 72 is approximately equal to the shape and size of the socket cup 48. The diameter 57 of the opening 46 is smaller than the diameter 78 of the spherical end 74 of the ball stud 72. Accordingly, insertion of the spherical end 74 of the ball into the socket cup 48 causes elastic deformation of the upper portions 50 of the arms 40 and radial movement of the arms 40 relative to the longitudinal axis 44 to allow passage of the spherical end 74 of the ball stud 72 through the opening 46. Upon the spherical end 74 of the ball stud 72 being positioned within the socket cup 48, the upper portions 50 of the arms 40 resiliently move back into their initial position prior to the elastic deformation and radial movement thereof to axially secure the spherical end 74 of the ball stud 72 in place within the socket cup 48 against axial movement along the longitudinal axis 44. Accordingly, the spherical end 74 of the ball stud 72 is disposed within the socket cup 48 in a snap fit engagement with the plurality of arms 40.
Referring to
The radial biasing device 80 is configured to resist movement of the plurality of arms 40 radially outward relative to and away from the longitudinal axis 44. When the radial biasing device 80 is in a non-expanded state, such as shown in
The radial biasing device 80 may include but is not limited to one of a spring retention ring, a spring clip or some other similar device. For example, referring to
While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.
