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, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 03, 2000
Courtney A. King, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Keechang Han, Shanghai, CN;
Bird Brain, Inc., Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Abstract
An adapter assembly for mounting a hollow glass ornament such as a blown glass gazing ball onto a support structure, for example an upright sprinkler. The adapter assembly includes a cylindrical plastic body having a first end adapted to mate with a base opening in the glass gazing ball, and a second end adapted to fit into the support. A bolt is rotatably inserted through the adapter body, and its threaded tip engages a flexible retaining piece comprising an elongated strip of rubber-like material having a nut held therein for receiving the bolt. The flexible retaining piece is pre-assembled to the tip of the bolt, and then inserted endwise into the gazing ball opening until the adapter assembly can be rotated downwardly and then pushed axially into the opening while the second end of the flexible retaining piece is bent against the adapter assembly and pushed through to the interior where it unfolds. Once unfolded, and once the bolt is then further threaded through the retaining piece, the flexible retaining piece is tensioned in conforming fashion against the inside surface of the glass gazing ball, thereby holding the plastic adapter body securely against the gazing ball base.