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. 09, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 20, 2008
James T. Kull, Denver, NC (US);
Brian M. Waypa, Charlotte, NC (US);
Joshua S. Mcnair, Charlotte, NC (US);
Rodney A. Armstrong, Belmont, NC (US);
James T. Kull, Denver, NC (US);
Brian M. Waypa, Charlotte, NC (US);
Joshua S. McNair, Charlotte, NC (US);
Rodney A. Armstrong, Belmont, NC (US);
Stabilus GmbH, Koblenz, DE;
Abstract
A coupling member for pivotally coupling an end of a device to a mounting ball includes a body connectable to an end of the device and defines a socket for receiving a mounting ball. The body further includes slots communicating with the socket. A sliding element arranged in a longitudinal groove of the body is movable from a first position to a second position. A C-shaped spring has two ends and a center section, the ends being received through the slots and projecting into the socket for holding the mounting ball in the socket. The sliding element interacts with the center section of the spring when the sliding element is moved to the second position so that the ends of the spring are drawn out from the socket to release the mounting ball from the socket, whereby the mounting ball is releasable from the socket without external tools.