Positively-Positiona Ble Mounting Apparatus.pdf

US Patent 6,561,476 B2, issued on May 13, 2003, to Jeffrey D. Carnevali, describes a positively-positionable mounting apparatus. The apparatus consists of a ball mount, a multisided positionable mount, and a coupler. The coupler has two rigid arm members and a clamp that secures them together. Each arm member has a part-hemispherical socket at one end, which cooperates with the ball mount to form a securely positionable ball-and-socket assembly. At the other end, each arm member has a multisided partial collar that cooperates with the multisided positionable mount to form a positively-positionable wheel-and-axle assembly.

Key aspects of the invention include:

1. Ball Mount: Can be a part-spherical ball mount made of a radially compressible material, allowing the part-hemispherical sockets to secure and deform it.
2. Alternative Ball Mount: Can be a second multisided positionable mount, such as a partial geodesic sphere, with internal contours that cooperate with the part-hemispherical sockets.
3. Coupler: Includes two relatively rigid arm members and a clamp that secures them in an operatively juxtaposed configuration.
4. Positioning: The apparatus allows for positive positioning, reducing slippage under load compared to traditional ball-and-socket couplers.

The patent includes 28 claims and 6 drawing sheets, detailing various embodiments and aspects of the invention. It is related to application Ser. No. 09/855,171, entitled “Geodesic Mounting Apparatus,” filed on the same day by the same inventor. The background of the invention highlights the limitations of known couplers, particularly those of the ball-and-socket variety, which often rely on friction and are prone to slippage under load.