| 摘要 |
A segmented, ball jointed support, which is an improvement over other support devices which make use of ball joints to provide universal flexibility of the support. This support is made up of a plurality of individual hollow segments, each segment shaft having a male ball at one end that is received by an adjacent segment's female socket. The socket is sized to fit snugly over the received ball. A spring-detent arrangement within the segment shaft acts against a receiving hole at the top of the corresponding ball. The spring-detent allows the ball joint to be "snap returned" to a straight, axially aligned arrangement. The spring-detent also provides greater joint stability over a longer length of assembled support, without compromising useful flexibility of the support. A radial compression device around the segment socket maintains appropriate joint tightness and compensates for joint wear. The segment shafts are manufactured of varied lengths to accommodate differing flexibility needs of the assembled support, depending on its intended use. The support can be free standing or made part of, or integrated into another system.
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