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.

A bottom loading fastening system that consists of the polyaxial ball and socket joint used in conjunction with an anchoring bone screw. The system allows attachment of a connector assembly to the anchoring bone screw having a spherical ball connector using a locking ring positioned in a locking ring slot. Upon installation, the locking ring is moved to a ring containment slot to expand a retainer ring, allowing passage of a bone screw spherical ball, the retainer ring forcing the locking ring back to the locking ring slot, thereby permanently attaching the connector assembly to the anchoring bone screw. Movement of the locking ring from the ring containment slot provides an audible sound and tactile indication that the locking ring has secured the connector assembly to the bone screw.

In a socket assembly having a housing with a closed end and an open end and an axially slidable and rotatable bearing, a spring washer seated on the axially slidable and rotatable bearing with a protrusion or a recess on the external periphery for engagement with a cooperating recess or protrusion on an inner cavity of the housing to effectively stop movement of spring washer with the axially slidable and rotatable bearing during driving conditions.

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 ball joint, in particular a chassis joint, which has a housing and a ball socket that comprises a ball bearing section for receiving a joint ball. An anti-rotation member prevents movement of the ball socket within the housing. To improve operational performance of the ball joint, the anti-rotation member is formed by a connecting element of the housing and a mating connecting element of the ball socket. The connecting elements have corresponding holding profiles so that, in an assembled condition, the connecting elements form a shape-enclosing plug-in connection.

A ball joint, particularly for a chassis of a motor vehicle having a housing with a first opening surrounded by a circumferential forming edge. The housing has at an end opposite the first opening, a closing force absorber for absorbing a closing force F required for a deformation of the circumferential forming edge, which closing force absorber extends in a trough-shaped manner toward the housing interior in direction of the first opening. A method for fitting a ball joint, having a counter-holder of a closing device surroundingly received by the closing force absorber during a closing of the housing.

A quick-disconnect ball and socket joint includes a substantially spherical strain relief node configured to be coupled to an object, such as a cable. The system further comprises an end cap configured to capture the substantially spherical strain relief node, the end cap having a diameter that permits the substantially spherical strain relief node to pass therethrough when the system is in an open position. The system still further comprises a retaining element configured to retain the substantially spherical strain relief node in the end cap. The retaining element is attached to the end cap when the system is in a closed position and the object is prevented from being removed from capture by the end cap. However, in the open position, the retaining element may be removed from capture by the end cap by passing the substantially spherical strain relief node through a diameter of the end cap.

Adjustable and rebuildable ball joint assemblies are disclosed. Methods for installation, adjustment, and rebuilding ball joint assemblies are described. In some embodiments, the ball joint assembly includes a washer with tabs to restrain rotation of the cap relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the ball joint assembly includes a locking mechanism to restrain rotation of the bearing relative to the housing.

A ball joint, in particular a chassis joint, which has a housing and a ball socket that comprises a ball bearing section for receiving a joint ball. An anti-rotation member prevents movement of the ball socket within the housing. To improve operational performance of the ball joint, the anti-rotation member is formed by a connecting element of the housing and a mating connecting element of the ball socket. The connecting elements have corresponding holding profiles so that, in an assembled condition, the connecting elements form a shape-enclosing plug-in connection.

A ball socket assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The ball socket assembly includes a housing having an inner surface surrounding an inner bore. The inner bore extends from an open first end to an open second end. A groove extends into the inner surface adjacent the second end. A ball stud having a ball portion is disposed in the inner bore with a shank portion of the ball stud extending through the open first end. A cover plate assembly is fixed to the housing. An outer piece of the cover plate assembly has an outer periphery and a through opening. The outer periphery is fixed in the groove. An inner piece of the cover plate assembly is fixed in the through opening. The inner piece includes an opening configured for receipt of a lubricant fitting.