Patent ID: 11879575
Assignee: BLUE ORIGIN, LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A gimbal assembly for a flexible conduit configured to convey a medium, the gimbal assembly comprising:
a first component comprising a first plurality of struts that terminate in a first socket defining a first cavity of a first geometric configuration, and wherein the first component defines an aperture;
a second component comprising a second plurality of struts that terminate in a second socket defining a second cavity of a second geometric configuration;
a flexible bellows disposed between and coupled to the first component and the second component; and
a joint fastener configured to couple the first socket to the second socket, wherein the joint fastener comprises a first portion that geometrically corresponds to the first cavity, an intermediate portion that geometrically corresponds to the aperture such that the intermediate portion can be immovably seated within the aperture, and a second portion that geometrically corresponds to the second cavity, wherein the first portion is dimensionally configured to be immovably seated within the first cavity, and wherein the second portion is configured to be movably retained by the second socket such that the first component can rotate relative to the second component about the second socket.