초록 ▼

A mechanical joint is formed from a hollow structure of material that can be shaped so that bringing opposite sides of the external walls forming the hollow together forms a socket. For example, by compressing together opposite external sides of a hollow structure, such as a tube, a socket with a co

A mechanical joint is formed from a hollow structure of material that can be shaped so that bringing opposite sides of the external walls forming the hollow together forms a socket. For example, by compressing together opposite external sides of a hollow structure, such as a tube, a socket with a continuous double wall is formed. The socket is configured to provide a snap fit with a moveable member. A flexible member is positioned in the socket and attached to the moveable member, so that the moveable member can be controlled for placement in an out of the socket. The flexible member may also twist to permit the moveable member to be located in any position necessary to allow the moveable member to be engaged in the socket or disengaged from the socket, reducing the need for precise component tolerances. The joint is useful in structures that have multiple configurations. For example, the joint finds application in structures such as portable game goals, where it is desirable for the structure to collapse from an erect position for game play into a collapsed configuration for transport.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A mechanical joint comprising: a hollow structure having wall portions thereof brought together forming a socket; and a flexible, twistable member having a first end fastened in said socket, said flexible, twistable member including a rubber section that enables said flexible

What is claimed is: 1. A mechanical joint comprising: a hollow structure having wall portions thereof brought together forming a socket; and a flexible, twistable member having a first end fastened in said socket, said flexible, twistable member including a rubber section that enables said flexible, twistable member to be flexed and twisted, said hollow structure comprising a tube, said socket comprising portions of said tube brought together forming a double wall, wherein the flexible, twistable member has a second end that is capable of movement along three degrees of motion with respect to said socket, said double wall being continuous, said socket having a fitted region with a curvature such that a width of an opening of said socket is smaller than a maximum inner width of said socket. 2. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 1, said fitted region providing a snap fit with a moveable member placed in said socket. 3. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 1, said socket further comprising a transition region adjacent said fitted region, said transition region having an opening therein. 4. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible, twistable member includes a metal band, and wherein the first end of said flexible, twistable member is securely fastened in said socket by putting a fastening device through a hole in said metal band and through a hole in an outer circumferential portion of said socket. 5. A mechanical joint comprising: a hollow structure having wall portions thereof brought together forming a socket; and a flexible, twistable member having a first end fastened in said socket, said flexible, twistable member including a rubber section that enables said flexible, twistable member to be flexed and twisted, said hollow structure comprising a tube, said socket comprising portions of said tube brought together forming a double wall, wherein the flexible, twistable member has a second end that is capable of movement along three degrees of motion with respect to said socket, wherein, when flexed and/or twisted, the second end of said flexible, twistable member can move into or out of a fitted region in said socket, said socket further including a transition region within which the first end of said flexible, twistable member is affixed, and the first end is fastened to said socket such that the first end cannot move out of said socket. 6. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 5, further comprising a moveable member, wherein said second end of said flexible, twistable member is connected to said moveable member. 7. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 6, wherein said fitted region has a width to provide a snap fit with said moveable member when said flexible, twistable member moves into said socket. 8. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 5, said flexible, twistable member comprising a plurality of members surrounding each other, wherein one of the plurality of members corresponds to said rubber section. 9. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 6, said moveable member being an integrated portion of a structural member of an assembly. 10. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 5, wherein said fitted region includes an opening for accepting a fastening means, wherein the first end of said flexible, twistable member is fixedly attached to said socket at said fitted region by way of the fastening means. 11. The mechanical joint according to claim 5, further comprising a fastening device for fastening the first end of said flexible, twistable member in said socket. 12. The mechanical joint according to claim 11, wherein said fastening device includes a bolt. 13. A mechanical joint comprising: a hollow structure having wall portions thereof brought together forming a socket; a flexible, twistable member having a first end fastened in said socket, said flexible, twistable member having a second end; and a moveable member, wherein said second end of said flexible, twistable member is connected to said moveable member, said hollow structure comprising a tube, said socket comprising portions of said tube brought together forming a double wall, wherein, when flexed and/or twisted, the second end of said flexible, twistable member can move into or out of a fitted region in said socket, said socket including a transition region within which the first end of said flexible, twistable member is affixed, and the first end is fastened to said socket such that the first end cannot move out of said socket, said fitted region having a width to provide a snap fit with said moveable member when said flexible, twistable member moves into said socket, said socket mates with an alignment portion of said moveable member to form a substantially smooth exterior surface at an intersection of said moveable member and said socket. 14. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 13, wherein said socket that mates with said alignment portion receives said moveable member having a swagged portion. 15. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 13, further comprising a sleeve that locks said socket in engagement with said moveable member. 16. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 15, further comprising an up stop and down stop maintaining said sleeve in a set position. 17. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 15, said sleeve having a substantially smooth exterior surface and being positionable to a location where said moveable member is engaged with said socket. 18. A mechanical joint comprising: a structure having a wall that forms a socket; and a flexible, twistable member having a first end fastened in said socket, wherein, when flexed and/or twisted, the second end of said flexible, twistable member can move into or out of a fitted region in said socket, said socket including a transition region within which said first end of said flexible, twistable member is affixed, wherein said second end of said flexible, twistable member connects to a moveable member, wherein said wall of said structure has a width to provide a snap fit with said moveable member when said flexible, twistable member moves into said socket, wherein said socket has a concave depression that mates with an outer circumferential surface of the first end of said flexible, twistable member, and wherein said socket mates with an alignment portion of said moveable member to form a substantially smooth exterior surface at an intersection of said moveable member and said socket. 19. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 18, said socket portion that mates with said alignment portion receives said moveable member having a swagged portion. 20. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 18, further comprising a sleeve that locks said socket in engagement with said moveable member. 21. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 20, further comprising an up stop and down stop maintaining said sleeve in a set region. 22. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 20, said sleeve having a substantially smooth exterior surface and being positionable to a location where said moveable member is engaged with said socket, so as to create a relatively consistent outer diameter surface for said mechanical joint. 23. A mechanical joint comprising: a flexible, twistable member that flexes and twists with respect to a non-moveable member that the flexible, twistable member is fixedly attached to; wherein the non-moveable member is fixedly attached to a first end of the flexible, twistable member, a moveable member that is fixedly attached to a second end of the flexible, twistable member; wherein the flexible, twistable member enables movement of the moveable member along three degrees of motion with respect to the non-moveable member; and a sleeve slidable on the moveable member, the sleeve being capable of sliding over an outer diameter of a socket of the non-moveable member, to allow the moveable member to be fixedly attached to the non-moveable member, wherein said moveable member includes a reduced diameter portion and a full diameter portion in a snap-fitted region where said non-moveable member and said moveable member are snap-fitted to each other. 24. A mechanical joint as recited in claim 23, wherein, in an engaged position, the sleeve and the snap-fitted region have relatively consistent outer diameter surfaces.