The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1994
Thomas A Garland, Jamestown, RI (US);
Robert A Kolich, East Aurora, NY (US);
Charles W Paddock, Lancaster, NY (US);
James P Bicheler, Alden, NY (US);
Fisher-Price, Inc., East Aurora, NY (US);
Abstract
A ball and socket joint for connecting one end of a rail member to a base member includes a ball mounted on the end of the rail member. A socket and a radial slot in the base member permit pivoting of the rail section relative to the base between a first position and a second position. The socket also permits rotation of the ball in the socket to permit rotation of the rail member about its longitudinal axis relative to the base member between a locked orientation and a unlocked orientation. When the rail section is in the locked orientation it cannot pivot relative to the base member and when the rail section is in the unlocked position it is free to pivot relative to the base member.