Abstract: A rotary joint includes an inner joint element which has a spherically shaped inner convex joint face and an inner joint connection head protruding from the inner convex joint face; an outer joint element which has a spherically shaped inner concave joint face, a spherically shaped outer convex joint face and an outer joint connection head protruding from the outer convex joint face, wherein the inner joint element is held within the outer joint element such that the two joint elements can be rotated with respect to one another along the inner joint faces; and a joint bearing which has a spherically shaped outer concave joint face, wherein the outer joint element is held within the joint bearing such that the outer joint element can be rotated in the joint bearing along the outer joint faces.

Abstract: The ball joint includes a housing that has an inner bore. A ball stud is partially received in the inner bore. The ball stud has a ball portion and a shank portion which are separate pieces from one another and which are in threaded engagement with one another. At least one bearing is disposed in the inner bore and slidably supports the ball portion of the ball stud for allowing the ball stud to rotate and articulate relative to the housing. The ball portion is shaped through a forging operation, and the shank portion is shaped through a process which includes machining and does not include forging.

Abstract: The socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore which extends along an axis from a first end to an second end. A ball portion of a ball stud is received in the inner bore, and with a shank portion of the ball stud projects through the second end. A backing bearing is disposed in the inner bore and has a bearing surface which is in surface-to-surface contact with an outer surface of the ball portion for enabling relative rotation between the housing and the ball stud. The backing bearing also has a lubricant opening which extends therethrough and a plurality of lubricant wells which are spaced around the bearing surface from one another for holding a lubricant. The backing bearing lubricant grooves which are formed into the bearing surface and extend from the lubricant opening to the lubricant wells for filling the lubricant wells with lubricant.

Abstract: An orientable support head (1) for optical or video-photographic equipment comprises a first articulation element (2) and a second articulation element (3) which can be fixed to a support element and to the equipment, respectively, and which can be mutually moved, the first articulation element (2) comprises a member (10) which is internally hollow and which defines a receiving cavity (11) for the second articulation element (3), with a support element (15) for receiving in abutment the second articulation element (4) and an abutment element (14) for the second articulation element (4), locking means (20) which can be actuated in order to move the second articulation element (4) along a locking axis (X) between a release position (W), in which the second articulation element (4) is free to slide in the cavity (11), and a locking configuration (W?), in which the second articulation element (4) is urged against the abutment element (14) and is locked in the cavity (11), the locking means (20) further comprising

Abstract: A ball joint comprising: a housing having an inner cavity defined inward of a seat end, a side wall and a closure end having an opening, an edge about the opening in an assembly position extending upwardly; a ball stud having: a lower ball end with an outer convex spherical surface, a middle portion, and a connector end; a first bearing, slidably housed within the cavity, having an inner concave spherical surface; a retention plate, housed within the cavity inward of the edge about the opening, wherein the edge of the opening extends inwardly engaging an outer surface of the retention plate in a closed position; and a first disc spring disposed in a disc annular recess in at least one of: an outer surface of the first bearing; and an inner surface of the retention plate.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint assembly includes a stationary object, a movable object, and a mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus has first and second rigid link sections, each link section having an upper socket section and a lower socket section, so that an upper receiving space is defined by the two upper socket sections and a lower receiving space is defined by the two lower socket sections. The assembly further includes an upper coupler having an upper ball that is received for rotation inside the upper receiving space, with the movable object secured to the upper coupler, and a lower coupler having a lower ball that is received for rotation inside the lower receiving space, with the stationary object secured to the lower coupler. A link member secures the link sections together with the upper ball retained inside the upper receiving space, and with the lower ball retained inside the lower receiving space.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint assembly includes a stationary object, a movable object, and a mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus has first and second rigid link sections, each link section having an upper socket section and a lower socket section, so that an upper receiving space is defined by the two upper socket sections and a lower receiving space is defined by the two lower socket sections. The assembly further includes an upper coupler having an upper ball that is received for rotation inside the upper receiving space, with the movable object secured to the upper coupler, and a lower coupler having a lower ball that is received for rotation inside the lower receiving space, with the stationary object secured to the lower coupler. A link member secures the link sections together with the upper ball retained inside the upper receiving space, and with the lower ball retained inside the lower receiving space.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pedicle screw-based dynamic posterior stabilization system that is used to stabilize the segments of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine as an adjunct to, or in place of, conventional spinal fusion using bone grafts. The system includes a plurality of pedicle screws, each of the plurality of pedicle screws including a head portion, and the head portion of each of the plurality of pedicle screws forming a first half of a joint that allows relative pivoting movement about the head portion of each of the plurality of pedicle screws and up-and-down movement with respect to the head portion of each of the plurality of pedicle screws. The system also includes a stabilization body coupled to the plurality of pedicle screws, the stabilization body including a plurality of end portions, and the end portions of the stabilization body forming a plurality of second halves of the joints formed by the head portion of each of the plurality of pedicle screws.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an insert-molded ball joint which is configured such that rotational frictional torque of a ball stud is kept below the appropriate level, pull-out strength of the ball stud is increased, and play of the ball stud is minimized. The ball stud has a spherical head. The spherical head of the ball stud is rotatably inserted into the ball seat. The housing covers the ball seat and a portion of the spherical head that is exposed from the ball seat. The upper end of the ball seat is disposed higher than the center of the spherical head. The housing includes a head support which covers the spherical head. A ball seat grease groove is formed in the inner surface of the ball seat. Housing grease grooves are formed in the head support in a vertical direction and meet the upper end of the ball seat.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint (11) having an outer joint part (12) with outer ball tracks (19), an inner joint part (15) with inner ball tracks (20), torque transmitting balls (21) which are held in pairs of outer and inner ball track (19, 20) associated with one another, and having a ball cage (23) which receives the balls (21) in cage windows (22) and holds same in a common central plane K, wherein the course of the outer ball tracks (19) and the course of the inner ball tracks (20) associated with one another extend mirror-symmetrically relative to the central plane K of the constant velocity universal joint, wherein, at one kind of the outer and inner ball tracks (19, 20), at least one axial end portion (34) each, the track shape is such that a ball (21) entering said axial end portion (34) when the joint is articulated is freed from the transmission of torque between the associated outer and inner ball tracks (19, 20).

Abstract: This invention relates to a double ball joint device comprising: a housing; a first joint element comprising a first ball, wherein a major portion of said first ball is mounted and retained within said housing and a minor portion of the first ball protrudes from said housing through a first opening thereof, and a first shaft, which is attached to the first ball at said minor portion thereof; a second joint element comprising a second ball, wherein a major portion of said second ball is mounted and retained within said housing and a minor portion of the second ball protrudes from said housing through a second opening thereof, and a second shaft, which is attached to the second ball at said minor portion thereof; a locking washer, which is arranged between said first and second balls and which comprises a first seat for receiving said first ball, and an opposite second seat for receiving said second ball, and an operation member, which is operable between a locked state where it urges said locking washer to

Abstract: A universal joint component is used for connecting two members, such as a reflector and a lamp body. The universal joint component includes a shaft, an installation section formed on one end of the shaft, and a spherical head formed on the other end of the shaft. The spherical head includes a joint base, a top end, and at least one gap formed on a side of the spherical head between the top end and the joining base. The gap is formed of a groove or through hole so as to straddle a phantom line substantially passing through a center of the spherical head and perpendicularly intersecting a shaft axis of the shaft. Split head sections are defined by the at least one gap so that the split head sections flexibly deform when the spherical head is inserted into a spherical socket.

Abstract: A gimbal includes a first lug housing. The first lug housing includes a first base plate and a first lug protruding from the second surface of the first base plate. The gimbal also includes a second lug housing. The second lug housing includes a second base plate and a second lug protruding from the second surface of the second base plate. In addition, the gimbal includes a shaft passing through the first and second lugs, thereby connecting the first lug housing to the second lug housing, such that the first base plate is facing the second base plate. The gimbal also includes a first void in the second base plate, opposite the first lug, such that the first lug extends into the first void of the second base plate.

Abstract: A tripod head includes a cylindrical housing 1 having connection member at one end for a tripod, a ball joint (2) rotatably and pivotally arranged in the housing (1), a bearing element (4) for the ball joint (2), having a sliding surface (7) contacting the circumference of the ball joint (2) and arranged so as to be axially displaceable and rotatable in the housing (1), and a device (5) for fixing the ball joint (2) and having a support (6) for the bearing element 4 and an adjusting device (25) in operative connection with the support (6) in order to displace the bearing element against the ball joint to achieve the clamping action.

Abstract: A ball joint having a housing with a cylindrical cavity that has an open receiving end and a closed retaining end receives a polymeric insert and a non-deformable insert therein. The polymeric insert has a cylindrical outer wall that extends upwardly from a base and the interior of the insert defines a concave spherical contour. The non-deformable insert fits into a slot formed in the base of the polymeric insert and rests against the housing's bottom. A ball stud comprising a shank with a spherical ball at one end thereof snaps into the polymeric insert and the non-deformable insert. A retaining ring slips over the shank of the ball stud into the receiving end of the housing and its inner surface also has a spherical contour conforming to the spherical ball. The inserts, the ball of the ball stud and the retainer ring are held in the housing by forming the periphery of the housing at the receiving end to overlay the retaining ring.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint, preferably for chassis suspensions and/or steering mechanisms of motor vehicles, is presented, which has a ball pivot pin (1), which is accommodated rotatably and tiltably in a joint housing (8) with one of its free ends with a spherical joint area (3). The other free end of the ball pivot pin (1) is fixed to a body part. The ball-and-socket joint has a stop device for limiting the tilting movement of the ball pivot pin (1) in the joint housing (8), which comprises a stop element, which is arranged in the bottom area (11) of the joint housing (8) rotationally symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the sphere and cooperates with the end-side joint area (6) of the ball pivot pin (1).

Abstract: The fiber optic pressure sensing system includes a sensor housing formed using MEMS processing. The sensor housing has ribs and grooves in both horizontal and vertical directions relative to the surface to allow the membrane to flex in a consistent manner. The flexing of the membrane allows the pedestal to be repeatedly positioned in response to pressure acting on the extension of the sensor head and membrane.

Abstract: A D-ring assembly comprising a D-ring and a load limiting device. The D-ring has a slot therethrough for receiving a seatbelt webbing and for guiding the webbing from the retractor to the torso of a vehicle occupant. The load limiting device functions by absorbing kinetic energy of the vehicle occupant during a crash to control the deceleration forces experienced by the vehicle occupant. The load limiting device has a deforming member partially embedded in a swivel ball. When a predetermined amount of force is applied on the D-ring assembly, the swivel ball rotates causing the deforming member to create a channel in the load-limiting device.

Abstract: A ball joint which uses spherical rollers to reduce the torque friction which tends to inhibit the rotation of the ball within a ball joint assembly. Two sets of spherical rollers are captivated between the ball and two liner rings in the ball joint housing. The ball has two annular raceways which act as the inner raceways for the spherical rollers. Two liner rings have internal diameters which match the configuration of the spherical rollers and which act as outer raceways for the spherical rollers. The two liner rings have external threads and are installed into the housing which has matching internal threads.

Abstract: A supporting joint having a casing and a ball pin held therein comprises, on the pin side, a support having a bearing shell and, oppositely to the pin, a pressure shell. A cutout is provided in the central region of the pressure shell. On the rear side the pressure shell is provided with a cover having a support surface. Referred to the installed joint, the thickness of the pressure shell in a central support region, measured in the uninstalled state, is greater than the distance between the ball and the support surface of the cover.

Abstract: A new class of spherical joints is disclosed. These spherical joints are capable of extremely large angular displacements (full cone angles in excess of 270°), while exhibiting no singularities or dead spots in their range of motion. These joints can improve or simplify a wide range of mechanical devices.

Abstract: The tripod head contains a cylindrical housing (1), a connecting device (2) which closes the housing (1) off on one side, at least one body (3, 4) which is movably arranged in the housing (1) and at least one fastening device (6, 7) having at least two members (17, 18), each of which is provided with an oblique surface. The members are arranged resting on a base (2, 26) with the oblique surfaces resting on each other and displaceable transverse to each other in order to displace the one member (16, 25) against the body (3, 4) so as to obtain the clamping action. A setting device (19, 28) is provided by which the members (17, 18; 26, 27) are displaceable transverse to each other.

Abstract: A spherical joint has an upper bearing assembly, a main supporting body, a lower bearing assembly, a linking body for linking the main supporting body and the lower bearing assembly, and an enclosing assembly. Four active hemispherical surfaces are defined. The upper bearing assembly has an active convex surface which, together with an active internal surface of the main supporting body forms an internal coupling. The external convex surface of the main supporting body cooperates with a concave active surface of the lower bearing assembly to define an internal coupling. The external and internal couplings compensate and adjust for wear and any deviation in concentricity between the couplings. The active surface of the lower bearing assembly is comprised a number of spring-loaded lobes equispaced from each other, and is covered with antifriction material.

Abstract: An arrangement wherein a concave portion on a support end of a connecting rod is slidably engaged with a convex portion formed in a lower part of a piston, and a retainer ring member supported on a skirt portion of the piston is placed in contact with the lower part of the concave rod end.

Abstract: The tripod head contains a cylindrical housing (1), a connecting device (2) which closes the housing (1) off on one side, at least one body (3, 4) which is movably arranged in the housing (1) and at least one fastening device (6, 7) having at least two members (17, 18), each of which is provided with an oblique surface. The members are arranged resting on a base (2, 26) with the oblique surfaces resting on each other and displaceable transverse to each other in order to displace the one member (16, 25) against the body (3, 4) so as to obtain the clamping action. A setting device (19, 28) is provided by which the members (17, 18; 26, 27) are displaceable transverse to each other.

Abstract: A hitch ball (20) with a mating first set of shells (25a and 25b) and optionally a second set of shells (27a and 27b) to increase the diameter of the ball to accommodate various sized hitch assemblies (11) are described. In a preferred form detents (25e and 25f) in the first set of shells are provided in a recess (23) in the ball. Detents (27c and 27d) are provided on the detents (25e and 25f) of the first set of shells. The invention provides safe and effective mounting of the sets of shells on the hitch ball and prevents the shells being used on a conventional hitch ball which might not be rated for the increased capacity provided by the larger ball size.

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated piston machine includes at least one cylinder and a piston axially movably guided in the cylinder. The piston is connected to a crankshaft or the like by means of a connecting rod. The connecting rod and the piston each have spherically-shaped bearing surfaces serving for connecting the connecting rod and the piston with each other in an articulated manner. The connecting rod defines at its end connected to the piston a radially outwardly facing spherical surface portion which is arranged concentrically with the spherical bearing surface of the connecting rod. The spherical surface portion rests against the surface of a recess defined in the piston, so that a hollow space is defined between the surface of the recess and the spherical surface portion. The piston defines a bore for effecting communication of fluids between the interior of the cylinder and the hollow space.

Abstract: A swivel bellows assembly designed to be mounted within a valve housing to provide self-alignment with a valve opening. The bellows assembly comprises a mounting element having a central opening surrounded by a depending, contoured skirt, or wall, a bellows unit having a central contoured well which receives said skirt or wall, and a retainer disc or cup which confines said skirt or wall within said well to permit relative angular adjustment of the bellows unit.

Abstract: An axial joint arrangement with integrated seal is provided with three successively arranged bearing rings, the upper and lower bearing rings having spherical guiding surfaces which oppose corresponding spherical surfaces of the middle bearing ring. The upper and lower bearing rings are connected and the middle bearing ring slides therebetween. The guiding surface of the lower bearing ring serves to center and guide the middle bearing ring and the guiding surface of the upper bearing ring serves to transmit operating loads to the middle bearing ring. A first sealing disk is attached to the middle bearing ring. One face of the first sealing disk abuts a first sealing surface and the other face abuts an intermediate disk. The intermediate disk is sealingly connected by a bellows to a second sealing disk, which is in turn connected to a second sealing surface.

Abstract: A suspension umbrella has a crown connected to a holder by means of a ball joint. For arresting the ball joint in different positions the ball joint is equipped with an arresting body which is actuatable by means of a screw spindle arranged coaxially to the umbrella axis. A securing device includes a securing screw which is threaded into the crown through a bore in a sleeve in order to prevent relative movement between the crown and the sleeve or ball joint.

Abstract: A shift lever tower assembly includes a spherical inner bearing with a central aperture formed therein for attachment to the shift lever, a spherical intermediate bearing having a hollow interior and inwardly extending projections for cooperating with slots formed in the outer surface of the inner bearing, and an outer bearing having a hollow interior with slots formed therein for cooperating with outwardly extending projections formed on the exterior of the intermediate bearing. The slots and projections are spaced such that the slot/projection combination of the inner and intermediate bearings limits movement of the shift lever in the fore and aft direction and the slot/projection combination of the intermediate and outer bearings limits shift lever movement to the side to side direction.

Abstract: A knuckle or swivel joint of the half-ball and socket type comprising a stud terminating in an enlarged diameter half-ball member disposed in the socket member and having a hemispherical recess engaged by the hemispherical convex surface of a retainer bearing member disposed in or, alternatively, made integral with the socket member. The retainer bearing member or, alternatively, a segment of the socket internal surface engaged with the half-ball peripheral surface is elastically pre-loaded in an appropriate direction which causes firm engagement of the diverse bearing surfaces in mutual contact, thus, among others, compensating for wear. The knuckle or swivel joint assembly of the invention is capable of transmitting substantial loads within a wide range of angular variations between the stud and the shank, or other member, rigidly connected to the socket.

Abstract: This invention relates to a coupling of the ball-and-socket joint type between two objects. Connected to the one object, which may be a driver's seat in a working vehicle is a joint socket and a joint ball with a gap between them. Connected to the other object, which may consist of a base for a driver's seat, for example, is a coupling element in the form of a spherical shell disposed in the gap between the joint socket and the joint ball. The latter are pressed towards one another by means of powerful cup springs so that the spherical shell is locked firmly and the two objects are thus located in relation to one another. The grip of the spring force can be cancelled by means of a tightening element connected to the joint ball, as a result of which the coupling becomes movable again so that new positions can be adopted. The coupling can be used in various connections where it is desired to adjust two objects in relation to one another simply, securely and quickly.

Abstract: The ball joint for the suspension system of automobiles, in which as a load-supporting seat, a multi-layer material provided with the synthetic resin layer having self-lubricating ability and abrasion resistance is used on the surface of the back metal, while as an opposite seat to a ball stud, synthetic resin having self-lubricating ability and wear resistance is used, and constituted so as to keep securely load support applied on the ball head by both seats.

Abstract: This orthopedic appliance for correcting a wide variety of lower extremity deformities comprises: a bar which is scored so that it can be broken to provide a bar of a desired length; lockable articulated joints at both ends of the bar; releasable clips for rapidly attaching and detaching the articulated joints to and from the bottom of the patient's shoes; index markings allowing the articulated joints to be accurately adjusted and locked in the desired position; nesting extension attachments; and stabilizer rods for maintaining plantar or dorsi flexion and insuring that the device is not defeated by bending the knees.Included in the appliance is a lockable articulated joint utilizing a hollow spherical member clamped between a spherical socket and a spherical locking member.

Abstract: Integrally formed brake shoe for use with cylindrical automotive brake drums in hydraulic brake systems are fabricated by bending and shaping sections of extruded lengths of the material having a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration. Connector pins for transmitting brake actuating forces between the hydraulic cylinder pistons and the brake shoes are concavely rounded at their piston abutting ends, and either concavely or convexly rounded at their brake shoe abutting ends, for face-to-face sliding contact with complemental abutting surface portions, respectively, of the hydraulic pistons and brake shoes.

Abstract: A plastic ball socket for a grease lubricated ball joint socket, having a hemispherical inner cup composed of thin, hard, elastic material; an outer cup composed of soft elastic material at least partially containing the inner cup and having elongated ribs disposed on the outer surface of the outer cup to support the outer cup in the ball joint socket, spaced apart from the ball joint socket whereby the plastic ball socket may be deformed during use to form grease lubrication grooves between it and an inserted ball.