The subject device is an adjustable coupling and quick release safety system, both automatic and manual and is applicable at a wide range of applications. It is mainly composed of two elements called “receptacle” (1, 2, 3) and “sphere” (8). The coupling and/or the release are controlled by a spring (5) with adjustable force, the coupling and/or the release can be made for direct pressure between the two elements or manually via a lever (6). The system also allows the angular and rotational movement of the sphere (8) which may however also not to be oscillating or rotating. The current state of the technique involves articulated sphere joints with fixed coupling or with connections of different kind.

A ball mount for an accessory device is provided. The ball mount may include a rectilinear base, such as, but not limited to a square, that is configured to couple within a recess of similar shape formed in a mounting base. The sides and bottom surface of rectilinear base of the ball mount engages the sides and recessed surface of the recess of the mounting base. This engagement prevents rotation of the ball mount with respect to the mounting base and inhibits loosening of the ball mount from the mounting base. A system that includes the ball mount and mounting base is also provided that allows for the attachment of the ball mount to a vehicle that is not originally equipped for the attachment of a ball mount.

A ball and socket joint, including a pin located on either the socket or the ball and a groove located on the other of the socket or ball, the pin configured to engage the groove and translate along the length of the groove when the ball is located in the socket. An attachment surface for attaching a device to the ball and socket joint is also provided, and the pin and groove are arranged to prevent rotation of the ball about an axis that is parallel to the plane of the groove and extends through the attachment surface when the ball is located in the socket. A ball and socket joint includes a locking nut, the locking nut including a partly circular internal cross section and a second flat surface.

A ball pin connector includes a sleeve-like housing having a cavity with an elastic ball bearing. The elastic ball bearing is axially moveable between a lifted up position, and a lower locking position. Cooperating surface structures are provided on an inner wall of the housing and on an outer wall of the elastic ball bearing as a plurality of projecting surface structures arranged circumferentially distributed with gaps in between such that in a first rotational state of the elastic ball bearing within the housing the projecting surface structures are aligned to be able to come into engagement such that the elastic ball bearing is held in the lifted up position, and such that in a second rotational state of the elastic ball bearing the projecting surface structures of the elastic ball bearing are aligned with gaps of the projecting surface structures of the housing.

A device including a ball, cage housing the ball and a centering lug, wherein the centering lug has a generally annular form with a radially outer annular periphery and a radially inner annular periphery, the outer annular periphery is integral with the cage and the inner annular periphery is inserted in a groove in the outer periphery of the ball, and the centering lug is elastic and arranged to hold the ball along a predefined axis in a rest position.

A method of manufacturing a slotted entry bearing assembly includes inserting an inner race into a central space of an outer race. The outer race is configured to receive the inner race through at least one slot. Once the inner race is fully inserted into the outer race, it is rotated approximately ninety degrees within the center space, effectively locking the inner race within the outer race. After the inner race is rotated ninety degrees, a molded seal is molded between the inner race and the at least one slot. The molded seal adheres to the at least one slot and is made of a polymeric material. The molding process used to mold the molded seal may be compression molding.

A ball and socket joint assembly is disclosed that includes a body defining a cavity, a collet disposed in the cavity to receive a ball of a connector, and an actuator shaft coupled to the collet for rotating and translating the collet in the cavity. The cavity has a distal opening to accept the ball and an engagement feature extending into the cavity. The collet has an outer diameter larger than the opening in the body when the ball is disposed in the collet, and the collet has a corresponding engagement feature around at least a portion of the outer surface for receiving the engagement feature and converting rotation of the compression member into translation of the compression member along a proximal-distal axis of the body. The collet is compressed against the opening of the cavity when the collet is advanced distally against the opening.

An isolation joint with an integral angle measurement system. The isolation joint includes a suspension interface yoke, a payload support member, a spherical bearing, and an integral angle measurement system. The suspension interface yoke includes a suspension interface configured to couple the suspension interface yoke to one or more suspension bars. The payload support member includes a payload interface configured to couple a payload to the payload support member. The spherical bearing includes an inner race secured to one of the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member and an outer race secured to the other of the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member. The integral angle measurement system includes a plurality of position sensors configured to measure a change in position between the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member.

A rotatable ball joint is provided. The rotatable ball joint is adapted to enable an object to be rotatably assembled on a foot stand, where the foot stand includes a fixed hole. The rotatable ball joint includes a friction part, a shapeshifting sphere, and an assembly part. The shapeshifting sphere is adapted to be compressed from a first state to a second state. A size of the shapeshifting sphere in the first state is greater than a size of the fixed hole, and a size of the shapeshifting sphere in the second state is less than the size of the fixed hole. The shapeshifting sphere is adapted to be disposed in the fixed hole. The shapeshifting sphere is connected to the assembly part. The object is adapted to be assembled on the assembly part. The friction part is configured on an outer surface of the shapeshifting sphere. When the shapeshifting sphere is disposed in the fixed hole, the friction part is in contact with an inner wall surface of the fixed hole to temporarily maintain the rotatable ball joint at a specific angle relative to the foot stand. A universal ball joint assembly is further provided.

A ball and socket joint assembly is disclosed that includes a body defining a cavity, a collet disposed in the cavity to receive a ball of a connector, and an actuator shaft coupled to the collet for rotating and translating the collet in the cavity. The cavity has a distal opening to accept the ball and an engagement feature extending into the cavity. The collet has an outer diameter larger than the opening in the body when the ball is disposed in the collet, and the collet has a corresponding engagement feature around at least a portion of the outer surface for receiving the engagement feature and converting rotation of the compression member into translation of the compression member along a proximal-distal axis of the body. The collet is compressed against the opening of the cavity when the collet is advanced distally against the opening.