Universal Flexible Arm Having an Educational Attachment

Abstract

A flexible arm apparatus 1 that has a base clamp 10 , a support arm 75 , an interface attachment 100 , and capable of receiving an attachment 131, 140 , or 150 . The base clamp 10 has a threaded knob 43 that is rotatably secured at two ends and is used to move a second jaw 17 relative to a first jaw 12 . The rotation cup 80 is secured into the top of the base clamp 10 with a retainer ring 87 . The rotation cup 80 receives a first end 77 of the support arm 75 , and a second end 78 is received by the interface attachment 100 . The interface attachment 100 comprises a lower interface component 101 and an interface-mid component 102 . Changeable attachments 131, 140 , and 150 are securable to the interface attachment by use of a pringle 131 or 141 . The rotation cup 80 and the retainer ring 87 allow angular rotation of the first end 77 of the support arm 75 relative to the clamp base 10 . The interface-mid component 102 allows angular rotation of the attachment relative to the second end 78 of the support arm 75 . Flexible arm 1 apparatus further includes at least one of an educational device and an entertainment device suspended therefrom.

1 . A flexible arm apparatus comprising:
 a) a securement device adapted to releasably secure said securement device to a structure;   b) a flexible support arm having a first end and a second end;   c) an attachment interface, and;   d) an attachment,   and wherein said securement device is rotatably attached to said first end of said flexible support arm, and wherein said attaching interface is rotatably attached to said second end of said flexible support arm, and wherein said attaching interface is rotatably attached to said attachment such that when said securement device is secured to a structure and said flexible support arm is flexibly positioned in a desired orientation, said attachment provides support for an article at a desired position, and wherein said apparatus includes at least one of an educational device and an entertainment device suspended from a Velcro strap that is connected to said flexible support arm of said apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said educational device defines at least one of a block having alphabetical letters formed thereon, a book, and a set of keys, and wherein said entertainment device defines at least one of a toy doll, a toy animal, a pacifier, and a teething ring. 
   
   
       3 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said securement device defines a clamp assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein said clamp assembly further comprises:
 a) a tubular clamp body having said first jaw securely attached thereto;   b) the second jaw moveably received by said tubular clamp body, and;   c) a screw that couples said first jaw to said second jaw and wherein said screw is used to drive said clamp assembly, and wherein said screw is housed within said tubular clamp body.   
   
   
       4 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said screw is a worm screw that is generally attached at two ends within said tubular clamp body and said worm screw is rotated to drive said second jaw along a lengthwise axis of said tubular clamp body. 
   
   
       5 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said screw further comprises a threaded knob having:
 a) a cylindrical shaft having a first end and a second end;   b) external threading located along a generally middle length surface of said cylindrical shaft;   c) a non-threaded portion generally located at said first end of said cylindrical shaft;   d) a drive knob attached to said first end of said cylindrical shaft;   e) another non-threaded portion generally located at said second end of said cylindrical shaft; and   f) a shaft tip attached to said second end of said cylindrical shaft.   
   
   
       6 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said threaded drive knob further comprises:
 a) a washer-shaped knob flange; and   b) a cylindrical hand grip attached to an outer perimeter of the knob flange to define a cylindrical channel that receives a second end of said clamp body wherein said drive knob is able to rotatingly move within said cylindrical channel.   
   
   
       7 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said support arm further comprises:
 a) a support wire having a hexagonal cross section and a first end and a second end; and   b) a low density, expandable polymer foam cover that encloses said support wire, said foam having a corresponding hexagonal shaped hollow for receiving said support wire.   
   
   
       8 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said attachment interface further defines a lower interface component and an interface-mid component movably attached to said lower interface component to allow rotational movement between said interface-mid component and said lower interface component, and wherein said lower interface component further comprises:
 a) a hollow outer cylindrical body,   b) an inner hollow cylinder positioned concentrically within said outer cylindrical body wherein said inner cylinder is coplanar with said cylindrical body at a first end and wherein said inner cylinder extends beyond said outer cylindrical body at a second end; and   c) a circular partition attached between said inner hollow cylinder and said outer cylindrical body wherein circular partition is positioned relatively near said inner hollow cylinder first end,   and wherein said interface-mid component further comprises:   e) retaining hollows located in the interior portions of said interface-mid component for receiving and retaining said attachment;   f) gripping components located in the interface-mid component to guide said attachment so that said attachment is engaged with said interface-mid component and wherein said gripping components are able to grip said attachment, and   g) fins located in the interface-mid component to function as spacers between said interface-mid component and said attachment.   
   
   
       9 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said attachment defines at least one of a bottle holder for holding a baby bottle, a cup holder for holding a baby cup, a tray for holding various articles, and a bowl. 
   
   
       10 . A flexible arm apparatus comprising:
 a) a securement device adapted to releasably secure said securement device to a structure;   b) a flexible support arm having a first end and a second end, and;   c) an attachment interface, and;   d) an attachment,   and wherein said securement device is rotatably attached to said first end of said flexible support arm, and wherein said attachment interface is rotatably attached to said second end of said flexible support arm, and wherein said attaching interface is rotatably attached to said attachment such that when said securement device is secured to a structure and said flexible support arm is flexibly positioned in a desired orientation, said attachment provides support for an article at a desired position, and wherein said apparatus includes at least one device of the following group of devices connected to a Velcro strap that is connected to said flexible support arm of said apparatus, said group of devices consisting of a toy doll, a toy animal, a pacifier, a teething ring, a block having alphabetical letters formed thereon, a book, and a set of keys.   
   
   
       11 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said securement device defines a clamp assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein said clamp assembly further comprises:
 a) a tubular clamp body having said first jaw securely attached thereto;   b) the second jaw moveably received by said tubular clamp body, and;   c) a screw that couples said first jaw to said second jaw and wherein said screw is used to drive said clamp assembly, and wherein said screw is housed within said tubular clamp body.   
   
   
       12 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said screw is a worm screw that is generally attached at two ends within said tubular clamp body and said worm screw is rotated to drive said second jaw along a lengthwise axis of said tubular clamp body. 
   
   
       13 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said screw further comprises a threaded knob having:
 a) a cylindrical shaft having a first end and a second end;   b) external threading located along a generally middle length surface of said cylindrical shaft;   c) a non-threaded portion generally located at said first end of said cylindrical shaft;   d) a drive knob attached to said first end of said cylindrical shaft;   e) another non-threaded portion generally located at said second end of said cylindrical shaft; and   f) a shaft tip attached to said second end of said cylindrical shaft.   
   
   
       14 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said threaded drive knob further comprises:
 a) a washer-shaped knob flange; and   b) a cylindrical hand grip attached to an outer perimeter of the knob flange to define a cylindrical channel that receives a second end of said clamp body wherein said drive knob is able to rotatingly move within said cylindrical channel.   
   
   
       15 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said support arm further comprises:
 a) a support wire having a hexagonal cross section and a first end and a second end; and   b) a low density, expandable polymer foam cover that encloses said support wire, said foam having a corresponding hexagonal shaped hollow for receiving said support wire.   
   
   
       16 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said attachment interface further defines a lower interface component and an interface-mid component movably attached to said lower interface component to allow rotational movement between said interface-mid component and said lower interface component, and wherein said lower interface component further comprises:
 a) a hollow outer cylindrical body,   b) an inner hollow cylinder positioned concentrically within said outer cylindrical body wherein said inner cylinder is coplanar with said cylindrical body at a first end and wherein said inner cylinder extends beyond said outer cylindrical body at a second end; and   c) a circular partition attached between said inner hollow cylinder and said outer cylindrical body wherein circular partition is positioned relatively near said inner hollow cylinder first end,   and wherein said interface-mid component further comprises:   e) retaining hollows located in the interior portions of said interface-mid component for receiving and retaining said attachment;   f) gripping components located in the interface-mid component to guide said attachment so that said attachment is engaged with said interface-mid component and wherein said gripping components are able to grip said attachment, and   g) fins located in the interface-mid component to function as spacers between said interface-mid component and said attachment.   
   
   
       17 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said attachment defines at least one of a bottle holder for holding a baby bottle, a cup holder for holding a baby cup, a tray for holding various articles, and a bowl. 
   
   
       18 . A flexible arm apparatus comprising:
 a) a clamp assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw;   b) a worm screw that couples the first jaw to the second jaw wherein the worm screw is generally attached at two ends within the clamp assembly and is rotated to drive the second jaw along a lengthwise axis of the clamp assembly;   c) a flexible support arm having a first end attached to the clamp assembly;   d) a lower interface component attached to a second end of the support arm;   e) an interface-mid component movably attached to the lower interface component to allow rotational movement between the interface-mid component and the lower interface component;   f) an attaching component having at least one attaching mechanism that engages to the interface-mid component wherein the attaching component is able to secure an attachment to the interface-mid component, said attachment defining at least one of a bottle holder for holding a baby bottle, a cup holder for holding a baby cup, a tray for holding various articles, and a bowl;   g) a rotation cup interfaced between the clamp assembly and the support arm wherein a portion of the rotation cup is placed in the clamp assembly and the rotation cup allows the support arm to be adjustably rotated to various positions relative to the clamp assembly, and   h) a retainer ring that is fitted around the support arm and secured to the clamp assembly wherein the retainer ring secures the support arm in a particular rotated position.   and wherein said apparatus includes at least one device of the following group of devices suspended from a Velcro strap that is connected to said flexible support arm of said apparatus, said group of devices consisting of a toy doll, a toy animal, a pacifier, a teething ring, a block having alphabetical letters formed thereon, a book, and a set of keys.   
   
   
       19 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said clamp assembly further comprises:
 a) a tubular clamp body having said first jaw securely attached thereto;   b) the second jaw moveably received by said tubular clamp body, and;   c) a screw that couples said first jaw to said second jaw and wherein said screw is used to drive said clamp assembly, and wherein said screw is housed within said tubular clamp body.   
   
   
       20 . The flexible arm apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said attaching mechanism further defines a lower interface component and wherein said interface-mid component is movably attached to said lower interface component to allow rotational movement between said interface-mid component and said lower interface component, and wherein said lower interface component further comprises:
 a) a hollow outer cylindrical body,   b) an inner hollow cylinder positioned concentrically within said outer cylindrical body wherein said inner cylinder is coplanar with said cylindrical body at a first end and wherein said inner cylinder extends beyond said outer cylindrical body at a second end; and   c) a circular partition attached between said inner hollow cylinder and said outer cylindrical body wherein circular partition is positioned relatively near said inner hollow cylinder first end,   and wherein said interface-mid component further comprises:   e) retaining hollows located in the interior portions of said interface-mid component for receiving and retaining said attachment;   f) gripping components located in the interface-mid component to guide said attachment so that said attachment is engaged with said interface-mid component and wherein said gripping components are able to grip said attachment, and   g) fins located in the interface-mid component to function as spacers between said interface-mid component and said attachment.