US 12,449,087 B2
Spherical joint with leveling and panning capability
Benjamin A. Grover, Phoenix, AZ (US); Mark J. Eastwood, Scottsdale, AZ (US); James Blake Bullock, Gilbert, AZ (US); and Daniel H. Orol, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Axon Enterprise, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed by Axon Enterprise, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/411,576.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/070,068, filed on Aug. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0065389 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. F16M 11/14 (2006.01); F16C 11/06 (2006.01); G03B 17/56 (2021.01)
CPC F16M 11/14 (2013.01) [F16C 11/0604 (2013.01); F16C 11/0647 (2013.01); G03B 17/561 (2013.01); F16M 2200/022 (2013.01); F16M 2200/024 (2013.01); F16M 2200/042 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spherical joint comprising:
a collar extending from a first end to a second end along an axis, the collar comprising a cavity;
a ball head comprising a ball and a first attachment interface, the ball coincident with the cavity of the collar;
a cup disposed in the cavity of the collar, the cup comprising a cradle and a second attachment interface opposite the cradle, the cradle coincident with the ball;
a biasing device engaged with the cup, the biasing device applies a biasing force on the cup in a direction of the ball to create a frictional force between the cradle and the ball to resist movement of the ball relative to the cup;
a first lock configured to engage the collar and the cup in a first locked position and disengage the collar and the cup in a first unlocked position, wherein:
while in the first locked position, rotation of the cup relative to the collar about the axis is prevented; and
while in the first unlocked position, rotation of the cup relative to the collar about the axis is permitted;
a second lock configured to engage the collar and the ball head in a second locked position and disengage the collar and the ball head in a second unlocked position; wherein:
while in the second locked position, rotation of the ball head relative to the collar about the axis is prevented; and
while in the second unlocked position, rotation of the ball head relative to the collar about the axis is permitted; and
a third attachment interface configured to couple with one of the first attachment interface of the ball and the second attachment interface of the cup to couple a vehicular camera with the spherical joint.