Patent ID: 8047518

Claim:
A device for positioning an object in all directions, wherein the object is a spherical element which is placed and held by gravity on three points of support of the positioning device, wherein the centre of gravity of the object in any position or orientation is within the triangle formed by the three points of support of the positioning device, the positioning device including: (a) means for driving the object in rotation, forming one of the three points of support of the positioning device, wherein the means for driving the object in rotation includes a wheel, wherein the wheel is arranged to drive the object in rotation in all directions on the positioning device to come into contact with an external surface of the spherical element and thus to form one of the three points of support of the positioning device; (b) a ball and socket joint, forming each of the two other points of support of the positioning device, wherein the ball is placed to rotate freely in an end housing of the ball and socket joint, wherein one portion of the ball is arranged to emerge through an aperture in the end housing to come into contact with the external surface of the spherical element and thus to form each of the two other points of support of the positioning device; and (c) an additional ball and socket joint in contact with the spherical element to increase the weight of the spherical element on the three points of support of the positioning device.