Expansion bolt and pivot and swivel mechanism therefor
An expansion bolt and pivot and swivel mechanism therefor. The expansion bolt may have a base and a plurality of radially spreadable elongate elastic members cantileveredly projecting from the base at respective points of joinder to the base and terminating in respective spoons at respective points of joinder of the spoons, wherein the elongate elastic members have respective radially defined thicknesses at the points of joinder to the base that are substantially less than the corresponding thicknesses of the base, and respective radially defined thicknesses at the points of joinder of the spoons that are substantially less than the corresponding thicknesses of the spoons. The pivot and swivel mechanism may have a ring element that includes two spaced apart leg members having foot portions that turn to extend toward each other, the foot portions having respective, spaced-apart relatively enlarged ends; a swivel housing element having an open end for receiving and at least partially containing the ends of the foot portions so that the ring element can be substantially freely rotated about a pivot axis; and a capping element adapted for interlocking with the open end of the swivel housing element, the capping element having a bottom surface portion of radial symmetry about a swivel axis that is distinct from the pivot axis.
1. A pivot and swiveling mechanism, comprising:
a ring element defining a closed or closeable attachment aperture, the ring element including two spaced apart leg members, the leg members including foot portions that turn to extend toward each other, the foot portions having respective, spaced-apart relatively enlarged ends;
a swivel housing element having a first open end for receiving and at least partially containing the ends of the foot portions within the swivel housing element so that the ring element can be substantially freely rotated about a pivot axis; and
a capping element adapted for interlocking with the first open end of the swivel housing element, the capping element having a bottom surface portion of radial symmetry about a swivel axis that is distinct from the pivot axis,
wherein the swivel housing element including a first mating structure and the capping element includes a second mating structure complementary to the first mating structure, wherein the first mating structure and the second mating structure are structured to interlock the capping element with the first open end of the swivel housing element to resist pulling the capping element apart from the swivel housing along a longitudinal axis of the swivel housing element,
wherein the swivel housing element has a second open end opposite the first open end, wherein the capping element has a hole therethrough, and further comprising a shaft extending through the hole in the capping element and the first and second open ends of the swivel housing element.
2. The pivot and swivel mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is threaded proximate the second open end of the swivel housing element, the mechanism further comprising a nut threaded onto the threads of the shaft.
3. The pivot and swivel mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a ledge for receiving the capping element over the bottom surface portion thereof.
4. The pivot and swivel mechanism of claim 3 , further comprising an annular element concentrically disposed around the shaft and supporting the capping element.
5. The pivot and swivel mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the annular element is a flat washer.
6. The pivot and swivel mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the flat washer comprises Teflon.
7. A pivot and swiveling mechanism, comprising:
a ring element defining a closed or closeable attachment aperture, the ring element including two spaced apart leg members, the leg members including foot portions that turn to extend toward each other, the foot portions having respective, spaced-apart relatively enlarged ends;
a swivel housing element having a first open end for receiving and at least partially containing the ends of the foot portions within the swivel housing element so that the ring element can be substantially freely rotated about a pivot axis; and
a capping element adapted for interlocking with the first open end of the swivel housing element, the capping element having a bottom surface portion of radial symmetry about a swivel axis that is distinct from the pivot axis,
wherein the swivel housing element including a first mating structure and the capping element includes a second mating structure complementary to the first mating structure, wherein the first mating structure and the second mating structure are structured to interlock the capping element with the first open end of the swivel housing element to resist pulling the capping element apart from the swivel housing along a longitudinal axis of the swivel housing element,
wherein the first mating structure and the second mating structure form an interface that becomes progressively narrower in a radial dimension of the swivel housing element with increasing elevation in a direction in which the swivel housing element would be extracted from the capping element.