Abstract: A non-stroking constant velocity universal joint including an inner joint member, an outer joint member, and a plurality of torque transferring bearing spheres in facing pairs of ball grooves in the inner and outer joint members. The bearing spheres are maintained in a common plane bisecting the angle of articulation between the inner and outer joint members by a cage consisting of a pair of hollow hemispherical segments (“hemi-segments”) clamped radially against each other by the outer joint member. Interlocking lugs and notches on the hemi-segments prevent relative linear translation therebetween. The hemi-segments are made from flat blanks which are perforated for the cage windows and then plastically deformed to the shape of the hemi-segments. The cage is assembled around the inner joint member and may, therefore, have dimensions which reduce unit stresses in the cage and preclude assembly of the inner joint member into the cage through a circular open end of the cage.

Abstract: A lawn tractor has a pivoting shaft mechanism and a tilt steering mechanism. The lawn tractor includes a frame, a first wheel, a steering implement for steering the wheel, and a power steering pump for use in providing power for the steering of the first wheel. The pivoting shaft mechanism includes a steering shaft having a first end that is connected to the steering implement and that is pivotable about its second end. The pivoting shaft mechanism also includes a pin operatively connected to the second end of the steering shaft, a connecting shaft having a first end operatively connected to the second end of the steering shaft and a second end operatively connected to the power steering pump, and a pivot coupling for translating rotational motion from the pin to the first end of the connecting shaft.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint includes a bearing set having an upper bearing and a lower bearing that have respective rim portions that are shaped for complementary overlapping engagement to create a radial and axial preload on a ball and socket joint assembly. The upper and lower bearings include generally spherical inner surfaces for contacting a ball stud outer surface. A socket housing includes a generally cylindrical inner wall for contacting outer surfaces of the upper and lower bearings. The upper and lower bearing rims overlap at a bearing to bearing interface that is preferably at the equator of the ball stud.

Abstract: A master cylinder for a motor vehicle clutch is coupled to the clutch pedal by means of a fastening and articulating device comprising a ball which is mounted pivotally in a ball housing. The ball housing is in the form of a tulip, the base of which has a thrust seating surface configured as a hollow spherical bowl; the petals of the tulip consist of fingers deformable axially to enable the ball to be introduced into the housing along the general axis of the housing, so as to be resiliently gripped within the housing by the fingers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mount for panel-shaped components, in particular glass panels, with a base element that penetrates through an opening in the panel-shaped component and immobilize it, and a ball stud that has at its first end a ball element which is rotatably mounted in an opening of the base element which is complementary in form and function, and that can be fastened at its second, opposite end to a support structure, immobilizing the base element. The base element has an axial length such that at least one end of the base element projects out of the panel plane, the opening to receive the ball element being furthermore arranged in the region of that end. The base element has at least two base subelements that can be fastened to one another at their mutually facing radial surfaces in the radial plane of the base element that extends substantially through the center point of the ball element, thus enclosing the ball element.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint body for terminals of control cables has a transverse passage with respect to the coupling of the cable with the terminal which forms two reciprocally opposed inlet mouths of freely choosable alternative use, and a central chamber for housing a ball with elastically deformable retaining and seat structure. The retaining and seat structure can comprise a sleeve provided with perimetral projections, or a first shock-absorbing sleeve and a second sleeve provided with coplanar sectoral projections or two "U"-shaped springs or a sleeve and two "U" shaped springs which traverse it.

Abstract: A ball joint of the present invention joins a pair of members so that relative pivotal movement of the pair of members is permitted. The ball joint comprises a ball stud to be connected to one of the pair of members, a bearing support rod to be connected to the other member, and a cup-shaped bearing for supporting the ball stud on the rod. The bearing is formed of an elastic polymeric material and has an expandable open end to permit the ball of the ball stud to be put in and taken out of a hollow defined by the spherical inner surface of the bearing through the open end. The opposite ends of a rod forming the bearing support rod is bent in a ring-shaped heads, respectively. When the bearing is fitted in the ring-shaped head, the ring-shaped head compresses the bearing so that the ball of the ball stud is unable to come off the bearing.

Abstract: A coupling member for joining a first article to a second article comprising first and second elongate arms that are pivotally connectable to a main housing via ball and socket joints. Each arm has one end formed for connection to one of the articles and the other end adapted to be engaged in the ball and socket joint. A locking system is also provided to lock the arms in position with respect to the main housing after the arms have been connected between the first and second articles to create a rigid connection between the first and second articles. The pivotable nature of the coupling member allows for a connection to be made between the first and second articles to be joined without the articles being in perfect alignment whereupon the locking system is applied to create a rigid link.

Abstract: A ball socket connector particularly adapted for connecting a gas spring shaft with a vehicle so that the gas spring may be used to hold open the vehicle's truck lid, deck lid, hood, lift glass, hatch door (in hatch type vehicles) or the rear door or gate (in minivan or sports utility type vehicles). A manually slidable plate, which is mounted on and slidable with respect to the connector body, retains the ball on a ball stud in an internal cavity in a connector body. The ball stud projects from the internal cavity through an elongated open slot in the connector body so as to permit the ball socket connector to provide four degrees of freedom of motion between the gas spring and vehicle.

Abstract: A device for adjusting a length or inclination of a support for a percussion musical instrument, including an articulated ball formed of a plurality of sector members forming a central channel for receiving an adjusting rod-shaped member, clamping jaws having inner surfaces defining a socket for retaining the articulated ball and forming therewith a ball-and-socket joint, and a tensioning element for actuating the clamping jaws.

Abstract: An internally sealed pivotal joint assembly for use on buses and other vehicles. The assembly includes an eyelet which has disposed therein a bearing socket for positioning a ball stud journal therein. The assembly includes a cap and a sealing ring provided to the socket in order to avoid ingestion of contaminants and obviate the need for repeated lubrication of the assembly.

Abstract: A joint comprising a body member defining an annular groove and a pair of tangential notches intersecting the annular groove at diametrically opposed positions. A socket member is comprised of a preferably semispherically shaped frame having an open side and a pair of diametrically opposed knob or pin member. Each knob or pin member is engagable with one of the tangential notches to snap fit the body member within the semispherically shaped frame and within the annular groove. The body member is secured to a mounting bar and the semispherically shaped frame has an elongated slot and the mounting bar passes through the slot. The arrangement is such that the slot defines one path of rotation of the shaped frame member relative to the body member and the annular groove defines a second path of relative rotation between the body member and the shaped frame.

Abstract: A prepackaged ball joint subassembly is adapted to be installed into a final housing that is then closed to retain the subassembly. The subassembly comprises a bearing and a stud with stud head and a shank which are received in an encasement. The encasement is then sealed. In one preferred embodiment, the encasement includes an upper hood with a lower hook and a lower bowl with an upper hook. One of the hooks extends radially outwardly and the other hook extends radially inwardly such that the upper hood and lower bowl may be snapped together without using special tools.

Abstract: A ball joint is formed of a joint device having a ball holder with a through hole, a plurality of ball abutting ribs projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the ball holder, a ring-shaped projecting stand formed at a lower part of the ball holder to extend along a periphery of the inner surface of the ball holder, a fitting ring disposed on the projecting stand, and a rotation preventing rib projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the ball holder. The fitting ring is elastically deformable and has a slit. The rotation preventing rib is placed in the slit of the fitting ring to thereby prevent the fitting ring from moving on the projecting stand. In the invention, a ball stud having a spherical fitting part can be reliably disposed between the fitting ring and the ball abutting ribs.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a socket of synthetic resin having a through-hole that accommodates a ball, a hole into which a rod is inserted and which is formed at right-angles to the through-hole and an accommodation portion that communicates with the rod insertion hole, a ball stud, the ball of which is accommodated in the through-hole, a C-ring mounted in the socket through-hole to maintain the ball in place, a cap that closes the open end of the socket and has a holder portion that locates in the accommodation portion of the socket and which holds the end of the inserted rod.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball joint comprising a housing (1) provided with a cylindrical receptacle opening (1a) and a gudgeon (2) arranged in a ball socket (3) made of plastic such that it is able to rotate and pivot within a limited range, wherein the outer surface (3b) of the ball socket that corresponds with the inner diameter of the receptacle opening (1a) is, after the assembly process, fixed in the radial direction and secured in the axial direction by means of annular shoulders (3c,4a), one of which (3c) is situated on an annular flange that surrounds the opening (3a) of the ball socket (3) on the side of the gudgeon. In order to ensure a secure, i.e., large-surface, fixing of the ball socket (3) on the housing (1) in the axial direction despite a simplified manufacture, the annular shoulder (4a) that cooperates with the upper side of the housing (1) is arranged on a ring (4) connected with the ball socket (3), preferably in an inseparable manner by means of ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: An electrical fan having a positioning mechanism, driven by the rotation of the fan's motor, which causes the fan's head to simultaneously pivot sinusoidally and continuously about a pair of perpendicular axes to continuously redirect the airstream from the fan in a conical pattern.

Abstract: A connector for segments of a modular surgical implant includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and second portion are configured to snap-fit together to mate and form a swivel coupling. A modular implant includes at least first and second segments which are connected by such a connector having first and second portions. The first portion is secured to the first segment and the second portion is secured to the second segment. The first portion and second portion are configured to mate and form a swivel such that the first segment and second segment are movable in multiplanar orientation relative to each other.

Abstract: A ball joint has a joint pin with a spherical head received by a bearing shell arranged in the joint housing. Notwithstanding bearing-shell wear which occurs, the radial guidance of the spherical head in the bearing shell remains largely constant over the lifetime of the ball joint. For that purpose, the bearing shell, through which passes a slot extending transversely relative to the circumferential direction, bears with a cylindrical part of its circumferential surface against a cylindrical wall portion of the joint housing and is radially prestressed relative to the axis of the cylindrical wall portion between the joint housing and the equatorial diameter of the spherical head.

Abstract: By virtue of its modular construction, this external fixator makes it possible to position the pins (21 to 25) in the bone fragments (11 to 13) taking account of anatomical criteria. The pins are at least indirectly integral with universal joints (36 to 38) with balls (46 to 48) permitting the orientation of the pins relative to connecting bars 503 and 504. The external fixator additionally comprises connecting pieces for articulation between the connecting bars (501 to 507), such as the articulation (7), the telescopic connecting piece (8) and orientable connecting pieces (97 to 99). After the onset of osseous consolidation, some of the connecting bars and their connecting pieces can be removed, it being possible for the bars (501,502) to be withdrawn from the vices (65, 66).

Abstract: The invention concerns a ball joint with a ball (6) arranged in a joint housing (1), with at least one bearing shell arranged between the joint housing (1) and the ball (6) and with at least one thrust collar (14) arranged between the joint housing (1) and the bearing shell, whereby the thrust collar adjoins the outer surface (11) of the bearing shell and braces the same in the axial direction of the inner space (2) of the joint housing. A consistent bracing of the joint after automated mounting is obtained by the fact that the thrust collar (14) is an elastic metal ring with a generally U-shaped cross section and with two ring limbs (17,18) that form one stopping face (15,16) each, and with a ring web (19) connecting the ring limbs (17,18) to each other.

Abstract: An improved trailer coupler is provided for a trailer having a forwardly extending tongue, which consists of a housing fixed on and extending forwardly from the tongue. A pair of opposed jaws are pivoted on vertical axes on the housing. Each jaw has an inner side formed with a spherical concavity for embracing a hitch ball and a surface for forcing said improved trailer coupler to align with a said hitch ball. A jaw locking bail has a bight portion with a finger tab to facilitate operation of the bail and a pair of side portions, each with an ear extension. The side portions are horizontally pivoted on the housing at the ear extensions at opposite sides of the housing. The ball is swingable forwardly and downwardly from an elevated retracted position to a horizontal jaw-locking position, wherein the side portions completely engage the outer sides of the jaws and the bight portion completely engages the forward ends of the jaws in the closed positions of the jaws.

Abstract: A ball joint comprises a socket having a chamber with a main portion and a recessed portion extending radially outward from the main portion. The socket has an opening into the chamber, and a seam bordering the recessed portion of the chamber. First and second bearing members having surfaces in sliding contact with the ball end a stud support the ball end of the stud for pivotal movement in the main portion of the chamber. The first bearing member has a flange extending in the recessed portion of the chamber. An annular sealing member extends in the recessed portion of the chamber between the flange and the socket. The annular sealing member is formed as flange on the second bearing member.

Abstract: A flashlight holder clamp assembly having a mounting bracket which contains an elastomeric substantially spherical gripping member having a centrally disposed cylindrical channel therein for receiving a portion of the barrel of a small flashlight. The gripping member also defines a plurality of uniformly spaced longitudinal slots which communicated along their inner ends with the central channel so as to allow the gripping member to be uniformly constricted by the mounting bracket upon clamping the flashlight holder clamp assembly to a tubular member, such as a bicycle handlebar.

Abstract: A ball joint comprises a sheet metal socket having a spherical chamber with first and second openings into the chamber. An elastomeric bearing encapsulating the ball end of a stud supports the stud with the ball end in the socket chamber, and with the stud shank extending from the first opening. The socket comprises a semi-spherical sheet metal wall portion which defines the second opening, and which is at least partially comprised of segments separated by seams extending from the second opening toward the first opening.

Abstract: A ball joint can dynamically alter the preload between the cones and the ball of the ball joint to desired levels. When the stage or other device is in motion, the preload can be reduced to provide low friction and wear. When the stage or other device is not in motion, then the preload can be increased to provide zero backlash and high stiffness. The ball-type pivot joint with dynamic preload adjustment includes a ball and a pair of cones which are dynamically preloaded by servo (feedback) control of a preload actuator. Alternate designs are limited by manufacturing and assembly tolerances as well as wear of bearing surfaces or are subject to change due to thermal fluctuations. A flexible member provides flexure of the bearing members in response to the preload actuator.

Abstract: A ball joint comprising a ball stud including a shank and a ball formed at one end of the shank and a ball socket for receiving the ball and including resilient arms having an outer surface corresponding to the outer surface of the ball and engaging the same and ridges located internally of the ball socket for preventing displacement of the ball out of the ball socket.

Abstract: A flashlight holder clamp assembly having a mounting bracket which contains an elastomeric substantially spherical gripping member having a centrally disposed cylindrical channel therein for receiving a portion of the barrel of a small flashlight. The gripping member also defines a plurality of uniformly spaced longitudinal slots which communicated along their inner ends with the central channel so as to allow the gripping member to be uniformly constricted by the mounting bracket upon clamping the flashlight holder clamp assembly to a tubular member, such as a bicycle handlebar.

Abstract: A highly variable and economical spaceframe structual system is provided wherein the ends of elongated frame members have fixedly attached spherical, ball-shaped ends which, in turn, fit into spherically-shaped recessed sockets in the connector joint. The connector comprises three, disk-like parts which nestle one on top of another on a common axis and which are held together with a single bolt fastening means. Each of the three connector parts share interior faces with another part and have matching hemispherical recesses for joining the frame member ends. Other matching recessed formations on the interior faces of these parts permit the frame members to assume variable angles with respect to the common axis and, by this means, faciitate the property of variable curvature of the spaceframe structure. An intermediate assembly nut and a location for its placement is provided in the interior of the connector, the use of which, significantly simplifies the assembly process into three, more manageable stages.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly having a lamp unit supported by three ball pivots each of which is connected to the reflector member of the lamp unit through a pair of socket portions which encapsulate the ball portion of the associated ball pivot and are connected together by a fastener accessible from above the headlamp assembly and which, when removed, allows the lamp unit to be released from the vehicle.

Abstract: A snap on strand assembly comprising a molded plastic body and a connecting strand molded in situ in said plastic body. The plastic body includes a cylindrical opening which closely engages a complementary cylindrical portion on a connector element which has a head spaced from the cylindrical portion. The plastic body further includes a frustoconical portion extending axially therefrom and a diametral slot dividing the frustoconical portion into two portions that snap below the head of the connector element. Radial tabs extend from the frustoconical portions to facilitate insertion of a tool for expanding the two portions to remove the body from the connector element.

Abstract: A universal joint for use in an automobile tilt wheel assembly includes a first (12) and second (28) shaft. The end of the first shaft (12) includes a pin (20) extending on opposite sides of the first shaft (12). A pair of caps (22) having a circular outer periphery are rotatably disposed on the pin (20). Two socket member halves (34) interconnect the first shaft (12) and the second shaft (28). The socket members (34) define a circular pocket (36) for receiving the first end of the first shaft (12). The socket members (34) mate in a plane containing the axis of the pin (20). The socket members (34) define an outwardly flared recess (40, 41) to accommodate the sides (17) of the first shaft (12) during rotational movement of the cap members (22) in the circular pocket (36) and to accommodate movement of the first shaft (12) about the axis of the pin ( 20).

Abstract: A mechanical clamping device for coupling any an object requiring infinite positioning to a fixed surface and which quickly and easily locks the object firmly in position without the use of electricity or hydraulic fluids. A triple pivoting linkage is employed which magnifies the force applied to a locking lever to thereby facilitate locking of the object in position. The ball seat configuration provides an additional force magnifier at the interface of the ball of the object being clamped and a ball seat defined within the clamping device. An adjusting screw is preferably provided for selectively varying the play between upper and lower clamping plates thereby enabling the clamping force applied to a ball within the device to be varied.

Abstract: An optical assembly, especially for an automobile vehicle, is fixed and pivoted on a support by a screw threaded in the support and carrying a ball at its free end. The ball engages in a socket mounted in a housing fixed to the optical assembly. According to the invention, the socket is moulded from plastics material and comprises two parts connected by a live hinge disposed substantially in line with the center of the concave seating. After assembly the socket is fitted into a sleeve in the housing, which prevents opening of the hinge.

Abstract: A tie rod end has a one-piece stamped sheet metal housing for connecting a tie rod and a ball stud. The sheet metal housing includes a tie rod receiving portion with a longitudinally extending chamber for receiving an end portion of a tie rod; a socket portion which encloses a ball stud and an elastomeric bearing therebetween; and a connector section extending between the tie rod receiving portion and the socket portion. The sheet metal housing is made by starting with a single flat piece of sheet metal which is formed, using progressive dies, into its final shape. The sheet metal element has only one seam thereon, which extends throughout the tie rod receiving portion and connector portion and through a part only of the socket portion. The single piece of sheet metal encircles the ball stud and bearing and completely defines an opening through which a shank of the ball stud projects.

Abstract: A linkage component includes a rod portion. The rod portion of the linkage component includes a tubular inner layer and a tubular outer layer which is coaxial with and encloses the tubular inner layer. An inner surface of the tubular outer layer circumferentially abuts an outer surface of the tubular inner layer along at least a major portion of the axial extent of the rod portion. The double-layered rod portion of the linkage component has a relatively large section modulus.

Abstract: A universal joint having first and second shaft members respectively including a pair of yoke portions and a ball member disposed between the first and second shaft members for movably interconnecting the same. The respective first and second shaft members are constituted by two separate half-elements together with forming the respective pair of yoke portions. Base seats respectively having a truncated cone shape are provided in mutually opposing faces of the yoke portions such that each virtual cone has a virtual vertex having an angle of substantially 90 degrees and at the same time the virtual vertexes of the cones are substantially in contact with each other, the base seats respectively defining arc faces in mutually opposing surfaces thereof. And, the arc faces respectively have a central axis in a direction transverse to the shaft members and are formed by a part of a peripheral face of a virtual cylinder having the same diameter as the ball member which is rotatably supported between these arc faces.

Abstract: Spherical head coupling for Bowden cables to establish a connection between actuator and control elements in automotive vehicles, wherein the Bowden cable is equipped with a terminal piece exhibiting a ball socket and the actuator or control element with a spherical cap held in the ball socket. The ball socket is formed by a spherical cap of a low height, i.e., a height that is less than the length of one half of the sphere diameter, wherein the spherical head is encompassed on its side facing away from the spherical cap by a counter support held on a laterally elastic bar extending parallel to the center plane of the spherical head. The spring elastic bar is offset in its location from the center plane in the direction of the insertion side of the spherical head and the counter support encompasses the spherical head on the opposite side.

Abstract: A ball joint consisting of a plastic one-piece molding comprises two halves having substantially the same shape and each consisting of a shell having a semi-spherical recess and a mounting portion provided on the shell for mounting the ball joint on a work. The two halves are coupled together by a hinge and are capable of being joined together face to face by bending the hinge such that one half of a ball portion of a ball stud is received in the recess of each shell. The two halves can be mounted in a face-to-face joined state in a mounting hole of a panel.

Abstract: A motion-transmitting remote assembly (10) of the type for transmitting motion in a curved path including a tube member (14) and a rod member (18) movably supported by the tube member (14) and extending therefrom to provide a variable extending length of the rod member (18) between the tube member (14) and one end (68) of the rod member (18), the rod member (18) defining a line of force. An integral terminal member (20) operatively interconnects the extending length of the rod member (18) and a control member (22). The assembly is characterized by the terminal member (22) including an opening (38) therethrough defining an axis perpendicular to the line of force and having a containing portion for containing a body portion (32) of the control member (22) therein and a retaining portion for retaining a ball pin (36) extending from the body portion (32) of the control member (22) therein.

Abstract: The invention is a mechanical device which enables the connection of two ferably longitudinal rigid members. Utilization of the invention enables the quick connection and disconnection of members manually without the aid of tools. The device is designed such that the connection is positively locked. The connection is also characterized in that torques and bending moments will not be transmitted between the two connected members through the device. The device, however, will transmit tensile, compressive, and shear loads.

Abstract: A ball joint comprises a ball stud containing a ball at the leading end thereof, a socket incorporating therein a receptacle for admitting of the ball, and a resilient metallic ring containing a gap therein and adapted to retain the ball rotatably within the receptacle. The receptacle is formed of a main body and an auxiliary body adapted to be attached fast to the main body, and at least the main body is formed of a plastic material. Retention of the ball within the socket is accomplished by setting the resilient metallic ring in position within the receptacle before attachment of the auxiliary body to the main body, driving the ball into the receptacle thereby causing the equator of the ball to widen the gap in the resilient metallic ring and slide past the ring, and consequently enabling the ring to get hold of the ball.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a body member having a socket defined by a cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall. A ball stud having a ball end portion is received in the socket, and is adapted to swivel with respect to the body member through a predetermined cone angle. The ball end is retained in the socket by a split retaining ring having a circular cross section which cooperates between the socket and the ball end portion to prevent removal of the ball end portion from the socket. The ring is seated in an arcuate annular seat formed in the cylindrical side wall of the socket, and has an arcuate extent of less than 180 degrees from an intersection of the seat and the socket side wall. A conical bearing wall extends upwardly and inwardly from the arcuate seat to the socket side wall, and is tangent to the arcuate annular seat.

Abstract: A device for producing an installation template for conduits, especially conduits for hydraulic or pneumatic switching or operating circuits. The device includes a plurality of relatively short articulated elements that are connected or connectable to one another. Adjacent articulated elements can be respectively moved relative to one another about a common geometrical point of rotation and within a predetermined spatial angle, and can be fixed in any possible position relative to one another. In addition, the device has end pieces that are associated with the articulated elements and are connected or can be connected to the latter, with these end pieces being provided with connectors for rod elements. Finally, the device has rod elements that are several times longer than the articulated elements, and that are provided with connectors that correspond to the connectors on the end pieces.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved self-adjusting hub and strut-endcap assembly for tent frame roof and wall struts characterized by a two-part hub section sandwiched together in stacked relation to define a set of four sockets, each of which has a channel-shaped entryway which is adapted to receive the socket-forming neck projecting from the ball on the inner end of one of the strut endcaps for limited side-to-side movement therein when in extended position as well as movement between its extended position and a folded position wherein the strut connected thereto lies in nested essentially parallel relation to the other struts of the frame.

Abstract: A connector 11 for connecting tubular bars at variable mutual angles by means of a spherical attachment member 13 with tapped holes 26. The connector 11 has a lockable ball 31 and socket 32 joint from which a bolt 23 extends for engagement in the tapped holes 26. The connector also has a lockable snap-fit assembly 24 arranged to engage a tubular bar located over the body of the connector 11.

Abstract: A ball socket assembly is constructed of a plastic molded housing and a locking member. The plastic molded housing has a ball socket integrally formed on its bottom wall in the form of a base member having a spherical-shaped internal wall segment which faces an opening in the housing and having a pair of resilient arm members integrally formed with the base segment. The resilient arm members extend generally parallel to and equidistant from the axis drawn through the center of the spherical-shaped wall segment. Each of the resilient arm members have a curved internal face which matches the curvature of the spherical-shaped wall segment. A locking member can be selectively installed to prevent outward flexing of the resilient arm members after a spherical ball-headed screw has been installed into the ball socket.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a tie rod joint for motor vehicles for the linking of the inner ends of two tie rods to a steering rod, actuated by a steering gear, the inner ends of the tie rods being shaped as formed joint parts, which project in each case between an outer and an inner bearing part, while between the joint parts and the outer bearing part on the one hand, and the inner bearing part on the other, inlays are arranged, and while the outer bearing part, the joint parts, the inlays and the inner bearing part are prestressed by at least one tension bolt fastened to the steering rod.

Abstract: The present system discloses an improved self-aligning quick release coupling system capable of releasably joining any two or more of a great variety of male/female mating items to be joined at the option of the user. This improved system includes a lock and key system that provides capability for the coupling system to be safely locked into the coupling mode or released from the coupling mode. The system includes a male connecting member having a securing end. The supporting structure, or housing, can be positioned in the side walls of a small boat and the securing end of the male connecting member connected to an oar on a securing rope. A ball member of the male connecting member is freely rotatable between the female mating members positioned in the housing so as to provide rowing and free riding, tying and lifting capabilities.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint wherein the socket has a head with a spherical cavity and a one-piece or two-piece shank which extends radially from the spherical external surface of the head. The head is formed with a lateral opening whose diameter is normally less than the diameter of the cavity so that insertion of the ball into and its withdrawal from the cavity through the opening necessitates an enlargement of the opening. This is achieved by forming the external surface of the head with recesses which entail a reduction of the thickness of the corresponding portions of the head and enable the head to expand so that the ball can pass through the opening. That portion of the head which is disposed diametrically opposite the shank and is adjacent to the opening is not formed with recesses. If the shank is made of two sections, such sections can be assembled by snap action and they can confine the end portion of a motion transmitting or motion receiving member.