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Title:
DOUBLE BALL JOINT AND DEVICE COMPRISING TWO SUCH JOINTS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/209152
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Disclosed is a joint (400) comprising first inner part (100) and a second inner part (100), a middle part (200), a first outer part (300) and a second outer part (300). The first and second inner parts each comprises a semi-spherical ball (110) with a through hole (130) connected to a non-circular tap (160). The ball has four recesses (140) thereon for attachment of wires and for enabling movement of the inner part inside the middle part. The middle part (200) comprises two opposing half-spheres (210), with a cylindrical portion (220) between them for fitting of the wires. The half-spheres (210) are adapted to accommodate the first and second inner part (100) respectively. The first and second outer parts (300) each comprises a semi-sphere (310) connected to a hollow tap (330), and the semi- sphere (330) is adapted to encompass one side of the middle part (200) and one of the inner parts (100). The first and second outer parts (300) each further comprises four brackets (320) for attachment of ligaments (410).

Inventors:
JOHANSSON ANDERS (SE)
Application Number:
PCT/SE2016/050620
Publication Date:
December 29, 2016
Filing Date:
June 23, 2016
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ORBISHAFT (SE)
International Classes:
F16M11/14; A47L13/00; B25J17/02; F16M11/20; F16M11/40; G03B17/56
Domestic Patent References:
WO1985003112A11985-07-18
Foreign References:
US20020012566A12002-01-31
DE1425957A11969-03-20
US20070086849A12007-04-19
US4928546A1990-05-29
GB2415683A2006-01-04
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BERGENSTRÅHLE & PARTNERS STOCKHOLM AB (Box118 93 Stockholm, SE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1 . A joint (400) comprising: a first inner part (100) and a second inner part (100); a middle part (200); and a first outer part (300) and a second outer part (300); and characterized in that the first and second inner parts each comprises a semi-spherical ball (1 10) with a through hole (130) connected to a non-circular tap (160), the ball having four recesses (140) thereon for attachment of wires and for enabling movement of the inner part inside the middle part, the middle part (200) comprises two opposing sides each comprising a half-sphere (210), with a cylindrical portion (220) between them for fitting of the wires, the half- spheres (210) being adapted to accommodate the first and second inner part (100) respectively, the first and second outer parts (300) each comprises a semi-sphere (310) connected to a hollow tap (330), wherein the semi-sphere (330) is adapted to encompass one side of the middle part (200) and one of the inner parts (100), and the hollow tap (330) is adapted to house the tap (160) of one of the inner parts (100); the first and second outer parts (300) each further comprises four brackets (320) for attachment of ligaments (410), and a ligament (410) connecting the first outer part (300) and the second outer part (300) is attached to each of the four brackets (320) of the outer parts (300).

2. The joint according to claim 1 , wherein each ligament (410) is attached to a bracket at one side of the first outer part and to a bracket on an opposing side of the second outer part.

3. The joint according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the brackets on the first and second outer parts are positioned with essentially the same mutual circumferential distance.

4. The joint according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner, middle and outer parts are each integrally formed.

5. The joint according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the middle part is adapted to act as a sliding layer between the inner parts and the outer parts.

6. The joint according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ligaments are made from a rigid material.

7. The joint according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ball of the first inner part and the ball of the second inner part have different diameters.

8. The joint according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hollow tap of each outer part is adapted to exactly house the tap of one of the inner parts.

9. A device comprising two joints according to any of claims 1 -8, a shaft (510) and a handle (520) connected to each joint, wherein the joints are disposed at opposing ends of the shaft.

10. A device according to claim 9, further comprising wiring (530) inside the shaft (510) connecting the joints with each other.

Description:
DOUBLE BALL JOINT AND DEVICE COMPRISING TWO SUCH JOINTS

Technical field

[0001 ] The present solution relates to a joint, more specifically a double ball joint which may be used in various types of equipment such as cleaning equipment or photographic equipment.

Background art

[0002] Various types of joints are well known and have been used for various types of application areas for a long time. In many fields it is desirable to have equipment with a high freedom of movement, such as in the field of cleaning equipment. In order to achieve such equipment, the functionality of providing a high freedom of movement must be achieved through some means, and today this is mostly done by moving the entire equipment. It would be desirable to find a better and easier way to achieve a high degree of freedom.

[0003] There are available solutions that are aimed at allowing high degrees of freedom, such as disclosed in patent publication GB 2 415 683. However, there are problems with existing solutions, even though they may provide a good degree of freedom it is still desirable to achieve even higher degrees of freedom, while still being easy to handle and to manufacture, which is not possible to do in a good way with existing joints and equipment.

Summary

[0004] It is an object of the solution to address at least some of the issues outlined above. It is possible to achieve these objects and others by using joints and devices as defined in the attached claims.

[0005] According to one aspect, there is provided a joint. The joint comprises a first inner part and a second inner part, a middle part, a first outer part and a second outer part. The first and second inner parts each comprises a semi- spherical ball with a through-hole connected to a non-circular tap. The ball has four recesses thereon for attachment of wires and for enabling movement of the inner part inside the middle part. The middle part comprises two opposing sides with integrally formed half-spheres, having a cylindrical portion between them for fitting of the wires. The half-spheres are adapted to accommodate the first and second inner part respectively. The first and second outer parts each comprises a semi-sphere connected to a hollow tap. The semi-sphere is adapted to encompass one side of the middle part and one of the inner parts and the hollow tap is adapted to house the tap of one of the inner parts. The first and second outer parts each further comprises four brackets for attachment of ligaments. A ligament connecting the first outer part and the second outer part is attached to each of the four brackets of the outer parts.

[0006] According to optional embodiments, each of the inner, outer and middle parts may be integrally formed. According to other optional embodiments, the ligaments may be attached to one bracket on one side of an outer part, and attached to a bracket on an opposing side of the other outer part.

[0007] According to some optional embodiments, the middle part may be adapted to act as a sliding layer for the joint, between the inner and outer parts.

[0008] According to some optional embodiments, the ligaments may be made from a rigid material which is slightly flexible but not elastic.

[0009] According to some optional embodiments, the ball of the first inner part and the ball of the second inner part may be different in size. This may achieve a joint in which movement in one side of the joint achieves a bigger or smaller movement in the other side of the joint, depending on how the sizes are different.

[00010] By using a joint as described above, it is possible to achieve a high freedom of movement in the joint, while still being easy and cheap to construct and not requiring any overly complex structural parts.

[0001 1 ] According to another aspect, there is provided a device. The device comprises two joints according to the present disclosure, disposed on opposing ends of a shaft. A handle is connected to each joint. [00012] According to an optional embodiment, the device may comprise wiring connecting the joints with each other, for achieving a relative movement between the joints when one joint is moved. A device achieving such relative movement may be beneficial when e.g. reaching areas that are hard to get to or when wanting to precisely control the orientation of the device.

[00013] Further, by incorporating such joints into equipment it becomes possible to achieve equipment with better functionality than available today.

Short description of the drawings

[00014] The solution will now be briefly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[00015] Fig. 1 A shows a joint according to the present solution.

[00016] Fig. 1 B shows a sectional view of the joint shown in Fig. 1 according to the present solution, comprising two inner parts, a middle part and two outer parts.

[00017] Fig. 1 C shows an end view of the joint shown in Fig. 1 A according to the present solution.

[00018] Fig. 1 D shows the joint of Fig.l A according to the present solution achieving a 90 degree angle.

[00019] Figs. 2A and 2B show perspective views of the inner part of the joint according to the present solution.

[00020] Figs. 3A and 3B show a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, of the middle part of the joint according to the present solution.

[00021 ] Figs. 4A and 4B show a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of the outer part of the joint according to the present solution.

[00022] Figs. 5A and 5B show a device incorporating two joints according to the present solution. [00023] Fig. 6 shows the degree of freedom that may be achieved with a device according to the present solution.

Description

[00024] In the following, a detailed description of the different embodiments of the solution is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings. All examples herein should be seen as part of the general description and are therefore possible to combine in any way in general terms. Individual features of the various embodiments and methods may be combined or exchanged unless such combination or exchange is clearly contradictory to the overall function of the implementation.

[00025] Shortly described, the present solution relates to a joint, more particularly a joint for achieving a high degree of freedom. A joint according to the present solution may achieve a 90° angle while still being flexible and fluent in motion. The present solution also presents a device incorporating such joints, for use as e.g. cleaning equipment or photographic equipment. A device incorporating joints according to the present solution may be adapted to reach into areas that are difficult to reach with current joints and equipment, which is beneficial e.g. when cleaning. This is achieved by the movements on one part of the joint being mirrored or the same in the other part of the join, and further the movements of a whole joint may be mirrored or the same as another joint incorporated into an equipment comprising two such joints. The solution will now be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[00026] The present solution is focused on a joint 400 comprising three parts; an inner part, a middle part and an outer part. Fig. 1 A shows a side view of a joint according to the present disclosure, comprising the three parts as well as ligaments 410.

[00027] Fig. 1 B shows a sectional view of joint according to the present disclosure, comprising two inner parts 100, however only one inner part 100 is shown in the figure, a middle part 200 and two outer parts 300. As can be seen from the figure, the middle part 200 is in the center of the joint, and on each side the joint comprises one inner part 100, housed by one side of the middle part 200, and one outer part 300, which encompasses one side of the outer part 200. The inner parts 100 are in a typical implementation fixed inside the outer parts 300, by fitting taps of the inner parts 100 into the recesses of the outer parts.

[00028] The middle part 200 and the outer parts 300 are movable relative one another. The movement of one outer part 300 on one side of the middle part 200 is related to the movement of the other outer part 300, i.e. the two sides of the joint move with dependence on one another such that if one outer part 300 on one side of the middle part 200 is moved, the other outer part 300 on the other side of the middle part 200 is also moved. The movement of the outer parts 300 typically has a pre-determined relationship, and the most common embodiments are to either mirror the movement of one outer part 300 in the other outer part 300, or to perform the same corresponding movement in one outer part 300 when the other outer part 300 is moved.

[00029] The two outer parts 300 are interconnected by ligaments 410, as shown in Fig. 1A. The ligaments are typically guided through and fastened by brackets 320 of the outer parts, shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. The brackets may be seen as guides and/or fixing points for the ligaments 410. Typically there are four brackets and four corresponding ligaments connecting each pair of outer parts 300. The ligaments 410 are fastened on opposing sides of the outer parts 300 such that if a ligament is fastened on a top part of one outer part 300, the same ligament is fastened on a bottom part of the other outer part 300, as shown in the figures. Likewise, a ligament 410 fastened on the right side of one outer part 300 is fastened on the left side of the other outer part 300. This entails that the ligaments 410 are twisted in a helical fashion. The reason for this is that the ligaments fixate the movements of the outer parts 300 relative one another, which avoids damaging the joint by preventing movement which may harm the joint, and also enables movement in one part of a joint to be mirrored or the same in the other part of the joint. The reason for fixing the ligaments as described, in a helical fashion from one side of one outer part 300 to the other side of the other outer part 300, is that the distances from opposing brackets of outer parts in a joint will always have the same distance in between them, provided a uniform movement. Typically, in order to accomplish the fixing, the ligaments are made from a rigid material which is not elastic, such as plastic. The ligaments may also be made from relatively thin steel, which optionally may be covered in Teflon. The ligaments are typically less rigid than the middle and outer parts, which may also be made of plastic.

[00030] Fig. 1 C shows an end view of the joint according to the present disclosure, and what is seen in the figure is only the bottom part of an outer part due to the view.

[00031 ] Fig. 1 D shows the angle which may be achieved with a joint according to the present disclosure, which typically ranges from +90° to -90°.

[00032] Now that the entire joint has been described, the parts will also be described more in detail. Fig. 2A shows a view of an inner part 100 of the joint, comprising a ball shaped portion 1 10 having a scooped out portion 120 and a longitudinal through-hole 130 therethrough. The size of the ball 1 10 may be varied in order to achieve different kinds of movements, especially in devices

incorporating at least two joints according to the present disclosure. The size of the scooped out portion 120 depends on the size of the whole joint and especially on the size of the inner part. The ball 1 10 is surrounded by four petal-like portions 150, which may be seen as protrusions from the ball 1 10 since the ball 1 10 and the petal-like parts 150 typically are integrally formed. Typically, the protrusions 150 only protrude by a few millimeters or parts of a millimeter from the ball 1 10. Furthermore, there are recesses 140 between adjacent petals 150. The recesses 140 are adapted for guiding wires, which may be incorporated into a device using joints comprising an inner part 100 such as shown in Fig. 2A. The petals 150 are typically of the same length as the diameter of the ball 1 10.

[00033] The inner part 100 further comprises a tap 160, preferably integrally formed with the ball 1 10, and the petal-like portions 150, the tap 160 being adapted to fit into an outer part of the joint. The cross-sectional shape of the tap 160 is typically non-circular in order to limit or entirely prevent movement of the inner part 100 relative to an outer part, when attached in an outer part, which is described more in detail later in this disclosure.

[00034] Fig. 2B shows a slightly different view of an inner part 100 of a joint according to the present solution. The exit of the through-hole 130 extending through the ball 1 10 may be seen in this view. In some embodiments, the through- hole 130 may be larger in diameter at the bottom part of the inner part 100, but typically the hole 130 ends right where the scooped out portion 120 begins, and the hole 130 has the same diameter throughout the tap 160 and the ball 1 10, while the scooped out portion 120 has a bigger diameter than the hole 130.

[00035] Figs. 3A and 3B show a middle part 200 of the joint according to the present disclosure, adapted to house two inner parts 100, one on each side. The middle part 200 generally has an hourglass shape, with two opposing hollow semi- spheres 210 interconnected at their bottom parts by a cylindrical portion 220. The cylindrical portion may also be seen as a passage between the two opposing semi-spheres. The entire middle part 200 is preferably integrally formed.

[00036] The middle part 200 is adapted to act as a sliding layer between an inner part 100 and an outer part. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 220 is relevant for the maneuverability of the joint, if the diameter is too large then the joint may be prevented from achieving a 90 degree angle, because of the cylindrical portion 220 abuts an outer part of the joint. The middle part may preferably be made of a sturdy and moldable material such as plastic. Another possible material for the middle part is aluminum, preferably with a high surface finish.

[00037] Fig. 4A shows an outer part 300 of a joint according to the present disclosure. The outer part 300 also comprises a hollow semi-sphere 310, connected to a bottom portion 330, the semi-sphere and the bottom portion typically being integrally formed. The bottom portions 330 may be seen as a hollow tap, which may be adapted to exactly house a corresponding tap of an inner part. The outer part 300 is adapted to house generally half of a middle part 200, namely one of the hollow semi-spheres 210, which in turn houses an inner part 100. The outer part further comprises brackets 320 for the mounting of ligaments, the ligaments providing stability of the joint and preventing movement that may damage the functionality of the joint. The purpose of the ligaments is elaborated on later in this disclosure.

[00038] Fig. 4B shows a top view of an outer part 300. The brackets 320 are typically provided mounted with the same circumferential distance between them, and there are typically four brackets mounted on each outer part, i.e. the angle between two brackets is 90 degrees. Inside the semi-sphere 310 there is a longitudinal through-hole 350, which is inside the bottom part 330 of the outer part, for receiving the tap 150 of an inner part. Further, there may be four holes 340 in the semi-sphere 310 angularly disposed similarly to the brackets 320, the holes 340 being adapted for having a wire therethrough. The outer part may, like the middle part, also preferably be made out of a sturdy and moldable material, for instance plastic.

[00039] Looking now at Figs. 5A and 5B, it is shown a device 500 incorporating two joints 400 according to the present disclosure. The device comprises a stem 510 having a joint at each end, and attached to each joint on opposing ends of the shaft there is a handle 520. The stem 510 and the handles 520 are attached to the outer part of the respective joint 400. By having the joint as described herein, it is possible to achieve a 90 degree angle between a handle 520 and the stem 510, i.e. the joint may achieve an angle between -90° and 90°.

[00040] In some embodiments, there may be wiring 530 inside the stem 510 which connects a joint on one end of the stem 510 with a joint on the opposite end of the stem. This wiring 530 may be drawn through the holes in the outer parts, shown in Fig. 4B, and may be adapted to control the movement of the joints relative one another. In some embodiments, movement in one joint may be mirrored in the other joint, as shown in Fig. 5A, while in other embodiments movement in one joint may entail the same movement in the other joint, as shown in Fig. 5B. This means that by moving one of the handles 520, which in turn affects the joint 400 it is connected to, the other handle 520 on the opposite end of the stem 510, and its corresponding joint 400, is also moved. Figs. 5A and 5B also show that the wiring is different for achieving a mirrored or same movement in opposing handles 520.

[00041 ] Typically, there are four wires in a device, place with a mutual

circumferential distance between them, like the brackets of the outer parts. The wiring 530 may be fastened on brackets acting as fixing points, located on either the joints 400 or the handles 520. The brackets may further comprise means for tightening and loosening the wiring, which may be used to affect the relative movement of the device when one handle 520 on one side of the stem 510 is manipulated. Typically, the wiring is used to achieve a relative movement between the handles 520 of the device.

[00042] Fig. 6 shows the degree of freedom that may be accomplished in a device 500 incorporating two joints 400 according to the present disclosure. As described above, movement in one handle of a device incorporating two joints according to the present disclosure may be mirrored in the other handle, which is the case in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6. By moving the first handle downward, the other handle is moved upward, and by having such a device a user may advantageously reach any position within the half-sphere illustrated in Fig. 6.

Devices having this degree of freedom of movement is advantageous when compared to current devices used in e.g. cleaning and photographic equipment.

[00043] An example of using a device 500 incorporating wiring and two joints 400 according to the present disclosure will now be described for illustrative purposes. A user may manipulate a handle 520 on one side of the device 500. The

movement in one side of the joint will entail a corresponding movement in the other side of the joint 400, due to the ligaments fixing the relative movement between the two sides of the joint. The wiring inside the stem 510 of the device 500 will further transfer the movement in the handle on one side to the handle on the other side. Depending on how the wiring is drawn, this may be a mirrored or a same corresponding movement. The user can bend the handle between a +90° and -90° angle relative to the stem 510, which achieves a 180 degree movement. Further, the handle 520 may be rotated 360 degrees, which further increases the possible areas that may be reached with a device, as illustrated in Fig. 6. This movement may be achieved without having to move the entire device 500 or the stem 510, but only through moving the handles 520. In some embodiments, the device may be fixed in any specific position. This may be accomplished by having fixing means associated with each handle 520 and/or joint 400.

[00044] The present solution allows for equipment with better functionality and a higher freedom of movement than what is currently available today, while still being relatively cheap and easy to construct. One of the advantages of the present solution is that the functionality of rotating the end parts of the equipment to achieve a high degree of freedom is mainly located in the joints and can be controlled through the handles, rather than having to move the entire equipment.