Patent ID: 9453376
Filing Date: 2016-09-27
CPC Classification: E21B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first rigid pipe segment comprising a first end and a second end, the second end having a protrusion; a second rigid pipe segment having the same shape as the first rigid pipe segment and comprising a second rigid pipe segment first end and a second rigid pipe segment second end, the second rigid pipe segment second end having a second rigid pipe segment protrusion; and a spring-loaded spherical joint directly interconnecting the first rigid pipe segment and the second rigid pipe segment, the spring-loaded spherical joint comprising a first socket connected to the second rigid pipe segment and disposed within a portion of the first rigid pipe segment; wherein the first socket comprises a first socket first end contacting the second rigid pipe segment second end and a first socket second end contacting the first rigid pipe segment first end when the first and second rigid pipe segments are not separated; a second socket having the same shape as the first socket and connected to the protrusion of the first rigid pipe segment; wherein separating the first rigid pipe segment and the second rigid pipe segment along their centerlines activates the spring-loaded spherical joint and allows the first rigid pipe segment and the second rigid pipe segment to freely pivot with respect to each other; and wherein the spring-loaded spherical joint provides a restoring force that pulls the first rigid pipe segment and the second rigid pipe segment in contact with one another and back together after being separated; and wherein the spring-loaded spherical joint further comprises: wherein the first socket comprises an internal semi-spherical cavity for holding the ball; wherein the ball pivots within the first socket without a rocker cam therebetween.