CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/969,214 filed February 3, 2020 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/009,141 filed April 13, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to an accessory for lighting fixtures, and more specifically to an accessory for landscape lighting fixtures that allows multiaxial movement.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Often in lighting it is desirable to provide a way to allow the direction of the fixture to be moveable by a user. Often a fixture may be coupled to a structure through multiple, separate axis that allow the fixture to be repositioned on the structure. The fixture may be pivotable along a longitudinal axis through the base along with being pivotal through a horizontal axis through a can member. In this configuration, the wiring for the fixture is often routed separate from the structure and care must be taken when repositioning the fixture to ensure the wiring is not compromised.

SUMMARY

[0004] One embodiment is a pivotal coupler that has a socket, a ball component pivotally coupled to the socket, and a tightening ring selectively coupleable to the socket to lock the position of the ball component. The pivotal coupler has a first through hole defined through the ball component and a second through hole defined through the socket to allow electrical wiring to be positioned there through.

[0005] One example of this embodiment has a cap selectively coupleable to the ball component to provide a compressive force to the tightening ring to restrict movement thereof. In another example, the ball component can pivot about a longitudinal axis defined by the socket up to about 30 degrees. [0006] In another example of this embodiment, a fixture is coupled to the ball component. In one aspect of this example, the socket is sized to threadably couple to a stake. In another example, the ball component has a male threaded section surrounding a female threaded section. In another aspect, the cap has conical sides and a substantially planar leading end.

[0007] In yet another example, the tightening ring defines a spherical surface that contacts the ball component. In one aspect of this example, the socket defines a spherical cavity that contacts the ball component. In part of this aspect, the tightening ring is threadably coupleable to the socket at a tight torque value and a loose torque value wherein the tight torque value substantially locks the ball component relative to the socket and the loose torque value permits the ball component to pivot relative to the socket. In another part, a setscrew selectively positionable through the tightening ring to contact the ball component. The setscrew selectively prevents movement of the ball component relative to the socket and selectively prevents rotation of the tightening ring about the ball component.

[0008] In another aspect of this example, the ball component defines a grooved cutout and the ball component is pivotal relative to the socket so a portion of the tightening ring is partially positioned in the grooved cutout.

[0009] In yet another example, the ball component defines a through hole with a radially extended taper at a ball end.

[0010] Another embodiment is a pivotal coupler for pivotally coupling a fixture to a base. The pivotal coupler has a socket partially defining a spherical cavity, a ball component having a ball end sized to fit at least partially within the spherical cavity, and a tightening ring defining a spherical surface and configured to be threadably coupled to the socket to selectively compress the ball end of the ball component between the socked and the tightening ring.

[0011] In one example of this embodiment, a first through hole is defined through the ball component and a second through hole is defined through the socket to allow electrical wiring to be positioned there through. Part of this example has a radially extended taper defined about the first through hole in the ball end of the ball component.

[0012] Another example of this embodiment has a setscrew selectively positionable through the tightening ring to contact the ball component. In part of this example, the setscrew selectively prevents movement of the ball component relative to the socket and selectively prevents rotation of the tightening ring about the ball component.

[0013] In yet another example of this embodiment, the ball component defines a grooved cutout and the ball component is pivotal relative to the socket so a portion of the tightening ring is partially positioned in the grooved cutout.

[0014] Another embodiment of this disclosure is a method of assembling a pivotal coupler for pivotally coupling a fixture to a base. The method includes providing a socket partially defining a spherical cavity, positioning a ball end of a ball component at least partially within the spherical cavity, and threadably coupling a tightening ring to the socket to selectively compress the ball end of the ball component between a spherical surface of the tightening ring and the spherical cavity of the socket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0016] Fig. l is a side view of a lamp assembly coupled to the ground through a pivotal coupler; [0017] Fig. 2 is an isolated side view of the pivotal coupler of Fig. 1;

[0018] Fig. 3 is an elevated perspective view of the components of the pivotal coupler of Fig. 1 spaced along a longitudinal axis;

[0019] Fig. 4 is a section view of the pivotal coupler of Fig. 2;

[0020] Fig. 5a is a section view of the pivotal coupler of Fig. 2 offset to a first side;

[0021] Fig. 5b is a section view of the pivotal coupler of Fig. 2 offset to a second side;

[0022] Fig. 6 is a front view of a tool;

[0023] Fig. 7 is an elevated perspective view of another embodiment of a pivotal coupler; [0024] Fig. 8 is a section side view of the pivotal coupler of Fig. 7; [0025] Fig. 9 is an elevated perspective view of another embodiment of a pivotal coupler;

[0026] Fig. 10 is a side view of the pivotal coupler of Fig. 9; and

[0027] Fig. 11 is a section view from the perspective identified in Fig. 10.

[0028] Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

DETATEF/D DESCRIPTION

[0029] The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

[0030] Referring to Fig. 1, a lamp assembly or fixture 102 is illustrated coupled to an underlying surface 104 through a pivotal coupler 106. The fixture 102 may be a landscape lighting fixture that provides lighting to the surrounding area. However, this disclosure considers applying the teaching discussed herein to any lighting fixture that may be adjusted. More specifically, the pivotal coupler 106 may provide increased fixture adjustability during both the initial installation stage and subsequent maintenance of the lighting fixture. In one aspect of this disclosure, the pivotal coupler 106 is designed to be compatible with any half-inch NPT threaded fixture. However, other types and sizes of threaded or non-threaded fixtures are also considered herein and this disclosure considers any known coupling configuration for the pivotal coupler 106.

[0031] In one aspect of this disclosure, the pivotal coupler 106 allows for substantially 360- degree radial adjustability of any fixtures 102. This adjustability of the pivotal coupler allows easy alignment of the fixture 102 after the fixture 102 is coupled to the pivotal coupler 106.

[0032] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a stake 108 or the like may be driven into the ground to provide a structural base for the pivotal coupler 106. The stake 108 may have a threaded female end that corresponds with the pivotal coupler 106 to allow the pivotal coupler 106 to be threadably coupled thereto. In another embodiment, conduit or the like may run along or at least partially underneath the underlying surface 104 and provide a coupling point for the pivotal connector 106. The connector may be an elbow, T, or any other junction of the conduit that allows wiring or the like to be routed to the fixture 102 through the pivotal coupler 106. Further still, the pivotal connector 106 may be coupled to conduit of a building and not along or under the ground at all. In this configuration, the pivotal coupler 106 may be coupled to a structural component of a structure and powered via electrical lines coupled to the structure’s electrical system.

[0033] Referring now to Fig. 2, the pivotal coupler 106 is illustrated separated from the fixture 102 and stake 108. In Fig. 2, a cap 202 is illustrated offset towards a first side 204 of the pivotal coupler 106. The cap 202 may have a substantially frustum shape and function in part as a cover that substantially prevents particulate, liquid, and the like (collectively “debris”) from entering an inner portion of the pivotal coupler 106. In one aspect of this disclosure, debris entering the inner portion of the pivotal coupler 106 may compromise the functionality of the pivotal coupler 106 along with any electrical components passing there through. Accordingly, the cap 202 may, in part, substantially prevent the debris from entering the inner portion of the pivotal coupler 106.

[0034] To further facilitate preventing debris from entering the inner portion of the pivotal coupler 106, a bushing 206 may be coupled to the cap 202. The bushing 206 may be positioned between the cap 202 and a tightening ring 208 to thereby prevent debris from entering the inner portion between the cap 202 and the tightening ring 208. In one embodiment of this disclosure, the cap 202 is directly coupled to the bushing 206 with adhesive or the like. However, in other embodiments the bushing 206 may be held in position by being at least partially compressed between the cap 202 and the tightening ring 208. Further still, in yet another embodiment the bushing 206 may be coupled to the tightening ring 208 with adhesive or the like.

[0035] In one aspect of this disclosure, the cap 202 is pivotal relative to the tightening ring 208. In this configuration, the bushing 206 may be compressible to ensure that the space between the cap 202 and the tightening ring 208 remains substantially sealed regardless of the pivotal orientation of the cap 202 relative to the tightening ring 208. More specifically, the tightening ring 208 may be threadably coupled to a socket 210. The socket 210 may at least partially encompass a ball component 302 (see Fig. 3) to allow the ball component 302 to be pivotable relative to the socket 210. Further, the cap 202 may be coupled to the ball component 302. Accordingly, as the ball component 302 pivots, the cap 202 moves therewith and the bushing 206 is compressible to accommodate such movement while still sealing the space between the cap 202 and the tightening ring 208.

[0036] In addition to sealing the inner portion from debris, the bushing 206 may also provide pressure against the tightening ring 208 to restrict rotational movement of the tightening ring 208 relative to the socket 210. In other words, the tightening ring 208 may be threadably coupled to the socket 210 to maintain the orientation of the ball component 302. By compressing the bushing 206 between the tightening ring 208 and the cover 202, the forces applied to the tightening ring 208 by the bushing 206 may substantially prevent the tightening ring 208 from rotating about the socket 210 thereby ensuring the tightening ring 208 remains threadably coupled thereto at the desired torque.

[0037] In one aspect of this disclosure, the bushing 206 may be formed of a rigid material and a compressible material. For example, a metallic or like washer may have a separate bushing material coupled thereto. However, in other embodiments the bushing 206 may be formed of a single material. For example, the bushing material may be any semi-compressible material such as EPDM rubber or the like as one non-exclusive example.

[0038] In one aspect of this disclosure, the tightening ring 208 may be sized to be threadably coupled onto external one and three-quarter inch threading. Correspondingly, the socket 210 may have external one and three-quarter inch threading to receive the tightening ring 208. However, this disclosure considers any thread size and pattern that may be appropriate for the size and application of the pivotal coupler 106.

[0039] Referring now to Fig. 3, the components of the pivotal coupler 106 are illustrated spaced from one another along a longitudinal axis 304. More specifically illustrated is the ball component 302. The ball component 302 may have a ball end 306 and a coupler end 308. The ball end 306 may be partially spherical and sized to correspond with the socket 210 to become at least partially positioned therein. The coupler end 308 may have a one inch threading there along to allow the coupler end 308 to be threadably coupled to the cap 202 among other things. However, other embodiments considered herein use a different thread pattern and size along the coupler end 308. Further still, other embodiments may not have threading at all along the coupler end 308 but rather the cap 202 and other components may be coupled thereto through a friction fit, adhesive, and/or any mechanical locking mechanism. [0040] The ball component 302 may also have a first through hole 310 defined there through and the socket 210 may have a second through hole 312 defined there through. When the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 is positioned at least partially within the socket 210, the first through hole 310 and second through hole 312 may be at least partially aligned to provide an inner channel through the pivotal coupler 106 wherein electrical wiring or the like may be positioned.

[0041] The socket 210 may also have one or more cutout 314 defined along a threaded sections 316 thereof. The threaded sections 316 may have a slightly tapered outer surface. Further, the cutout 314 may be configured to allow the threaded sections 316 of the socket 210 to expand and contract. More specifically, once the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 is positioned in the socket 210, the tightening ring 208 may be threadably coupled to the threaded sections 316. As the tightening ring 208 is tightened to the threaded sections 316, the tapered outer surface of the threaded sections 316 cause inward deflection of the threaded sections 316 around the ball component 302.

[0042] The inward deflection of the threaded sections 316 may increase as the tightening ring 208 is tightened with increased torque due to the taper of the threaded sections 316. Further, once the tightening ring 208 is sufficiently coupled to the socket 210 with the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 positioned therein, the deflection of the threaded sections 316 of the socket 210 may substantially capture the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 therein to substantially restrict axial movement of the ball component 302 away from the socket 210. Further, additional tightening of the tightening ring 208 may create further inward deflection of the threaded sections of the socket 210 to thereby substantially prevent pivotal movement of the ball component 302 relative to the socket 210. In other words, when the tightening ring 208 is not coupled to the threaded sections 316 the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 may pass into and out of the corresponding cavity of the socket 210. Once the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 is positioned within the socket 210, the tightening ring 208 may be coupled to the threaded sections 316 to substantially capture the ball end 306 therein but allow the ball component 302 to pivot about the ball end 306. As the tightening ring 208 is further tightened, the threaded sections 316 may compress against the ball end 306 to substantially prevent further pivotal movement via the compression force and friction. [0043] Referring now to Fig. 4, a section view of the pivotal coupler in the assembled orientation is illustrated. To assemble the pivotal coupler 106 as illustrated in Fig. 4, the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 may be positioned within the corresponding portion of the socket 210. Once positioned therein, the tightening ring 208 may be threadably coupled to the socket 210. As the tightening ring 208 is threadably tightened to the socket 210, the threaded sections 316 deflect inwardly towards the longitudinal axis 304 to capture the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 therein. The cap 202 may then be threadably coupled to the external threaded sections 316 of ball component 302 until the bushing 206 is positioned along the tightening ring 208. Then, the light assembly may be coupled to the end of the ball component. More specifically, the end of the lighting fixture may be a male thread that is sized to correspond and be inserted into an internal female thread of ball component 302. In other words, there is threading on both the inside and outside of the ball component 302 wherein the external threading is for the cap 202 and the internal threading is for the fixture 102.

[0044] In one aspect of this disclosure, the socket 210 may have a coupler section 402 extending away from the ball component 210. The coupler section 402 may be sized to be coupled to conduit, the stake 108, or any other structural component as discussed herein. Further, during the assembly of the pivotal coupler 106 the coupler section 402 may be coupled to the structural component as a first step or as a last step in the process depending on the application. Accordingly, the assembly steps discussed herein may vary depending on the particular needs of the application.

[0045] Referring now to Figs. 5a and 5b, two positions of the ball component 302 relative to the socket 210 are illustrated in this section view. More specifically, Fig. 5a illustrates the ball component 302 being offset from the longitudinal axis 304 of the socket 210 by an angle 502. In one aspect of this disclosure, the angle 502 may be limited by the geometries of the socket and ball component 302. More specifically, the ball component 302 may pivot relative to the socket 210 in substantially any directions until the ball component 302 contacts the socket 210 at a contact point 503 and/or the electrical wire passing through the through holes 310 and 312 hinders further movement. Alternatively, the contact point may be a location wherein the cap 202 contacts the tightening ring 208 through the bushing 206 with sufficient compression to substantially restrict further movement. Further still, some embodiments considered herein do not have a bushing 206 at all and contact directly between the tightening ring 208 and the cap 202 may restrict further movement. However, this disclosure considers any location for the contact point and the ball component 302 may pivot relative to the socket 210 until any such contact restricts further movement.

[0046] In one aspect of this disclosure, when the ball component 302 is in the first angle relative to the socket 210 the bushing 206 may have a high compression area 504 and a low compression area 506. The high compression area 504 may be along the portion of the cap 202 that is located relatively closest to the corresponding portion of the tightening ring 208. Alternatively, the low compression area 506 may be along the portion of the cap 202 that is located relatively farthest from the corresponding portion of the tightening ring 208. As discussed herein, the bushing 206 is sized to compress between the cap 202 and the tightening ring 208 to substantially divert debris away from the ball end 306 to minimize debris interference with the pivotal movement thereof or cause damage to electrical components within the pivotal coupler 106.

[0047] In one aspect of this disclosure, as the ball component 302 pivots relative to the socket 210, the first through hole 310 of the ball component 302 may become unaligned with the second through hole 312 of the socket 210. The corresponding through holes 310, 312 may be sized such that a passage 508 is always provided there through. More specifically, the passage 508 may be sufficiently sized to ensure that electrical wiring can pass there through even when the angle 502 is at a maximum due to contact between the components of the pivotal coupler 106. The passage 508 is sufficiently sized to ensure that any electrical wiring passing there through will not be severed while pivoting the ball component 302 relative to the socket 210.

[0048] While Figs 5a and 5b illustrate pivotal movement from a planar perspective, a person having skill in the art understands that the interface between the ball component 302 and the socket 210 allows for substantially three-hundred and sixty degree ball-and-joint-type movement of the ball component 302 relative to the socket 210. In other words, the ball component 302 has a substantially conical area within which it can pivot relative to the socket 210 before the contact points 504 restrict further movement. The size of the conical area may be defined by the value of angle 502. In one non-exclusive example, the value of angle 502 is around 30 degrees. However, this disclosure also considers angles for angle 502 that are greater and less than 30 degrees.

[0049] In another aspect of this disclosure, once the pivotal coupler 106 is in the assembled configuration with the coupler section 402 of the socket 210 coupled to a structure and a light assembly coupled to the interior threading of ball component 302, the cap 202 may be unscrewed or otherwise spaced from the tightening ring 208. Once the cap 202 and bushing 206 are sufficiently spaced from the tightening ring 208, the tightening ring 208 may be loosened to allow easy pivoting of ball component 302, and the light assembly coupled thereto, relative to the socket 210. Once the light assembly is positioned as desired, the tightening ring 208 may be tightened until the threaded section 316 of the socket 210 applies sufficient compression to the ball end 306 of the ball component 302 to prevent additional movement thereof. Next, the cap 202 may be threadably advanced towards the tightening ring 208 until the bushing 206 is sufficiently compressed there between to substantially prevent debris from entering the inner portions of the pivotal coupler 106 and prevent the tightening ring 208 from loosening from the socket 210. [0050] In another aspect of this disclosure, a tool 600 illustrated in Fig. 6 may be utilized to facilitate tightening the tightening ring 208 to pivotally lock the ball component 302 to the socket 210. The tool 600 may have an opening that corresponds with the outer portion of the tightening ring 208 to provide an interface to couple the tool 600 thereto. Further, the tool 600 may have a radially extending lever arm that allows the user to selectively apply a torque to the tightening ring 208 to thereby tighten or loosen the tightening ring from the socket 210.

[0051] In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, a cap 704 may have conical side walls and a planar leading edge 706. Further, in the embodiments of Figs. 7 and 8 there may not be a bushing positioned between the cap 704 and the tightening ring 208. Rather, the cap 704 may be tightened along the ball component 302 until it contacts the tightening ring 208 to thereby restrict the loosening of the tightening ring 208 along the exterior threaded section 316 of socket 210. The planar leading edge 706 may be spaced a distance 802 from an end 804 of the ball component 302. The distance 802 may be such that the cap 704 may be loosened towards the end 804 to allow access to the tightening ring 208. Further, the distance 802 may allow loosening of the cap 704 even when a fixture is coupled to the end 804 and extending radially away from the end 804.

[0052] As more clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the coupler end 308 may have both external and internal threading. That is to say, the outer surface of the coupler end 308 may be a male coupler having threading there around. In one non-exclusive example, the outer surface of the coupler end 308 may have 1” threading. However, different sizes and thread patterns are contemplated herein to accommodate different sized applications. The inner surface of the coupler end 308 may have a ½” NPT female thread configured to threadably receive a fixture or the like therein. The threaded female portion of the coupler end 308 may also be sized to accommodate any thread pattern that has a smaller diameter than the male threaded section of the coupler end 308. Accordingly, the cap 704 may be threadably coupled to the male section of the coupler end 308 while the female section of coupler end 308 threadably receives a portion of the fixture. [0053] While the threading configuration of the coupler end 308 is discussed in detail with reference to Figs. 7-8, all embodiments discussed herein may have both male and female threading at the coupler end 308 of the ball component 302. Further, in other embodiments the female portion of the coupler end 308 may be substantially smooth to be friction fit or glued to the fixture. Accordingly, many different coupler configurations are contemplated herein for the coupler end 308.

[0054] Referring now to Figs. 9-11, yet another embodiment of a pivotal coupler 900 of the present disclosure is illustrated. This embodiment also has a ball component 902 pivotally coupled to a socket 910 similar to the other embodiments discussed herein. In the embodiment of Fig. 9, a tightening ring 908 may be positioned at one end of the socket 910 to retain and selectively compress the ball component 902 between the tightening ring and socket 910. The ball component 902 may have a coupler end 904 similar to coupler end 308 discussed herein. Further, the socket 910 may also have a coupler section 906 similar to the coupler section 402 discussed herein. [0055] The ball component 902 may define a first through hole 914 and the socket 910 may define a second through hole 912. The first and second through hole 914, 912 may correspond in size to allow electrical wires or the like to pass there through similar to through holes 310, 312 discussed herein. More specifically, the through holes 914, 912 may be sized to provide a passage through the ball component 902 and the socket 910 regardless of the angular orientation of the ball component 902 and the socket 910 relative to one another when coupled to one another as discussed herein.

[0056] The embodiment of Fig. 9 also illustrates a setscrew 916 coupled to the tightening ring 908. The setscrew 916 may be selectively coupled to the tightening ring 908 to provide supplemental friction against a ball end 920 of the ball component 902 to lock it in position. In one aspect of this disclosure, the tightening ring 908 may have a threaded through hole defined partially there through to allow the setscrew 916 to be selectively threaded thereto. The setscrew 916 may be positionable within the threaded through hole to extend at least partially towards the ball end 920 of the ball component 902 to contact a surface thereof. As the setscrew 916 is threaded into the tightening ring 908 with increased torque, the ball component 902 may be increasingly restricted from moving relative to the tightening ring 908 and socket 910 due to the added resistance provided by the set screw 916.

[0057] The ball component 902 may also have a grooved cutout 918 along a portion adjacent to the ball end 920 of the ball component 902. The cutout 918 may provide a recess in which a portion of the tightening ring 908 may be positioned to allow an increased range of motion of the ball component 902 relative to the socket 910 while also providing an adequately sized coupler end 904 to couple to a fixture 106. In other words, the cutout 918 may be radially inward taper of the coupler end 904 that allows greater pivotal movement of the ball component 902 than if the walls of coupler end 904 extended directly from the ball end 920 without the cutout 918.

[0058] Fig. 10 is a side view of the pivotal coupler 900 in an offset position. Similar to the other embodiments discussed herein, the ball component 902 is pivotable relative to the socket 910 to define many different angles 1002 relative to a longitudinal axis 1004 of the socket 910. As will be explained in more detail with reference to Fig. 11, the tightening ring 908 is coupleable to the socket 910 to couple the ball end 920 of the ball component 902 thereto. In this configuration, the ball component 902 can selectively pivot relative to the socket 910 when the setscrew 916 and tightening ring 908 are not substantially contacting the ball component 902.

[0059] The ball component 902 can be pivoted to create many different angles 1002 relative to the socket 910. Further still, the ball component 902 can be axially aligned with the socket 910. In other words, the ball component 902 can be pivoted relative to the socket 910 in any direction until the walls of the cutout 918 contact the tightening ring 908.

[0060] A section view of the pivotal coupler 900 is illustrated in Fig. 11. The section view illustrates how the tightening ring 908 is coupled to the socket 910 to selectively retain the ball component 902 at least partially therein. More specifically, the socket 910 provides a partially spherical cavity 1102 that corresponds in size with a partial sphere formed by the ball end 920 of the ball component 902. Similarly, the tightening ring 908 has a spherical surface 1104 that corresponds with the ball end 920 as well. Further, the tightening ring 908 is selectively coupleable to the socket 910 to substantially capture the ball end 920 between the spherical surface 1104 of the tightening ring 908 and the spherical cavity 1102 of the socket 910.

[0061] In one aspect of this disclosure, the tightening ring 908 may be threadably coupled to the socket 910. In this configuration, as the tightening ring 908 is threaded onto the socket 910 the spherical section defined by the spherical cavity 1102 of the socket 910 and the spherical surface 1104 of the tightening ring 908 is reduced. Further, when the ball end 920 of the ball component 902 is positioned therein, the tightening ring 908 may be threadably coupled to the socket 910 until the spherical cavity 1102 and the spherical surfaces 1104 are contacting the ball end 920. In other words, as the tightening ring 908 is threadably advanced along the socket 910 towards the coupler section 906, the ball end 920 of the ball component 902 is sandwiched between the spherical cavity 1102 and the spherical surfaces 1104.

[0062] The tightening ring 908 may be threadably coupled to the socket 910 at different torque values depending on the desires of the user. More specifically, when a low torque value is applied to the tightening ring 908 relative to the socket 910, the ball component 902 may pivot therein. However, if a high torque value is applied to the tightening ring 908, the tightening ring 908 may sandwich the ball end 920 of the ball component 902 between the spherical cavity 1102 and the spherical surfaces 1104 to substantially prevent pivotal movement of the ball component 902 relative to the socket 910.

[0063] In yet another aspect of this disclosure, the set screw 916 may be positionable through the tightening ring 908 to selectably provide a supplemental locking force against the ball end 920 of the ball component 902. In this configuration, once the ball component 902 is in the desired orientation relative to the socket 910, the tightening ring 908 may be tightened to the high torque value to substantially retain the position of the ball component 902. Additionally, after the tightening ring 902 is tightened to the high torque value, the setscrew 916 may be threadably coupled through the tightening ring 902 to a high torque value to contact the ball end 920. The setscrew 916 may simultaneously provide supplemental friction against the ball end 920 to prevent movement and restrict the tightening ring 908 from rotating relative to the ball end 920 and loosening. That is to say, the setscrew 916 both restricts movement of the ball component 902 and the tightening ring 908 relative to the ball component at the same time. [0064] In yet another aspect of this disclosure, the first through hole 914 may have a radially extended taper 1106 at the ball end 920. The radially extending taper 1106 may provide additional clearance between the first and second through holes 914, 912 when the ball component 902 has an angle 1002 that is at or around a maximum available angle relative to the socket 910. When the angle 1002 is at a maximum available angle, a portion of the tightening ring 908 may be positioned within, or contacting, the cutout 918. In one example, the maximum available angle of angle 1002 is about thirty degrees. However, this disclosure also contemplates implementing the teachings discussed herein for generating maximum available angles greater than, and less than thirty degrees. Further, any electrical wires running from the fixture through the pivotal coupler 900 may pass along the taper 1106 as they transition into the second through hole 912 of the socket 910. [0065] In use, a fixture may be coupled to the coupler end 904 with the electrical wires extending through the first and second through holes 914, 912. The setscrew 916 and tightening ring 908 may be in a loosened state to allow the ball component 902 to move relative to the socket 910 to reposition the fixture. The electrical wires may not be substantially pinched in the interface between the ball end 902 and the socket 910 in part because the radially extended taper 1106 in the ball end 920 ensures adequate clearance even in the maximum available angle. Once the fixture is in the desired orientation, the tightening ring 908 may be threadably coupled to the socket 910 to a tight torque wherein the orientation of the fixture is substantially locked. Next, the setscrew 916 may be tightened to provide supplemental friction against that ball component 902 that both prevents the ball component 902 from moving relative to the socket 910 and prevents the tightening ring 908 from moving relative to the ball end 920.

[0066] While this disclosure has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present disclosure can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.