Notched Ball and One-Piece Socket Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ball and socket designs lack a significant range of motion, high tolerance load surface area, and structural integrity, especially under high peak stresses, while also experiencing wear issues and requiring deformation for coupling, which is undesirable.

Innovation Solution

A hook-in ball and one-piece socket design with a notched spherical head that fits into a restricted socket opening, allowing 360-degree rotation and ±77.5 degrees of movement, minimizing deformation and wear through close tolerances and a durable, low-profile configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the ball member is permanently secured within the socket using a small opening, then the joint stability is improved, but the range of motion is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint stabilityVSAvoidrange of motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The ball member is segmented into a spherical head and a shaft portion, allowing the head to be inserted through the restricted socket opening while maintaining rotational capability. The segmentation enables the ball to achieve both secure retention (through the restricted opening) and range of motion (through rotation of the shaft portion).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ball member is designed with dynamic rotational capability around its longitudinal axis, transitioning from a static secured position to a dynamic rotating position. This dynamic feature allows the joint to achieve both stability during retention and range of motion during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the socket opening is made smaller than the ball radius, then the ball is securely retained, but the insertion requires deformation of the ball or socket

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball retentionVSAvoidinsertion process

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ball member is divided into a spherical head and shaft, where the spherical head can be inserted through the restricted opening without requiring deformation. The segmentation allows the ball to be assembled after insertion, eliminating the need for deformation during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ball member is pre-formed with a spherical head and shaft configuration before insertion. This preliminary shaping allows the ball to be inserted through the restricted opening without requiring deformation during the insertion process, and the spherical head is already prepared to engage with the socket interior surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the ball member is rotated to secure it within the socket, then the range of motion is improved, but the structural integrity under high peak stresses is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of motionVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The ball member is designed with a spherical head that contacts the socket interior surface at a single point during rotation. This spheroidality allows the ball to rotate through a full range of motion while maintaining structural integrity, as the curved surface distributes stresses uniformly during rotational movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The ball member incorporates dynamic rotational movement as a key feature, allowing it to rotate around its longitudinal axis while maintaining structural integrity. The dynamic design enables the ball to achieve range of motion without compromising strength, as the rotation is controlled and the spherical geometry maintains consistent contact with the socket.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If the ball member includes grooves or surfaces aligned with socket ridges, then the coupling precision is improved, but the wear under high peak stresses increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling alignmentVSAvoidwear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ball member is designed with a spherical head that contacts the socket interior surface at a single point. This spheroidality eliminates the need for grooves or ridges, thereby reducing wear under high peak stresses while maintaining coupling precision through the spherical geometry and restricted opening design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The grooves and ridges features are extracted from the design, replacing them with a simpler spherical head and restricted opening configuration. This extraction eliminates the sources of wear while maintaining the necessary coupling precision through the geometric relationship between the spherical head and the restricted opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10363139B2Ball and socket assembly

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 MOXIMED INC

AI summary

A ball and socket assembly including a ball component with a notch formed therein. The socket is a one-piece structure including an opening sized to receive the ball component. The ball is a capable of being inserted into the socket when the notch, cavity, or undercut is properly oriented relative to the opening of the one-piece socket.