Ball and Socket Assembly with Notched Head for Wide Range of Motion
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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, particularly under high peak stresses, while also experiencing increased wear 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 along a major axis without deformation, and featuring a durable joint with a yield strength greater than maximum stresses, minimizing wear and the need for large insertion forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering 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 and insertion forces become excessively large
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 and then rotated to engage with the socket's internal geometry, achieving both ease of insertion and stable positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The ball member transitions from a static inserted state to a dynamic rotational engagement state, where rotation about the shaft axis enables the spherical head to engage with the socket's internal ridges or contours, providing stable positioning without excessive insertion forces
2Reliability
If the socket opening is made smaller than the ball radius, then the ball is securely retained, but the load-bearing surface area is reduced and wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism transitions from a two-dimensional opening constraint to a three-dimensional rotational engagement, where the spherical head rotates about the shaft axis to engage with internal ridges or contours in the socket, maximizing contact surface area while maintaining retention
3Reliability
If the ball member is rotated to secure it within the socket, then the coupling is achieved, but the range of motion is limited by the need to maintain alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The ball member is designed with dynamic rotational capability about the shaft axis, allowing it to rotate freely within the socket to engage with internal ridges or contours at various orientations, thereby achieving reliable coupling while maintaining a wide range of motion in multiple degrees of freedom
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
A ball and socket assembly including a ball component (12) with a notch (18) formed therein. The socket (50) is a one-piece structure including an opening sized to receive the ball component.