A universal joint includes a driving portion and a joint head. The driving portion includes a ball nest and a polygonal column disposed within the ball nest. The joint head includes a working end portion and a ball head portion, and the ball head portion is rotatably and swingably disposed within the ball nest. A shaped of the ball head portion corresponds to a shaped of the ball nest, and the polygonal column is co-rotatable with the ball head portion. The ball head portion including a polygonal groove, and the polygonal column is inserted within the polygonal groove.

A universal join is provided, including a driving portion and a joint head. The driving portion includes a ball nest and a polygonal column disposed within the ball nest. The joint head includes a working end portion and a ball head portion, and the ball head portion is rotatably and swingably disposed within the ball nest. A shaped of the ball head portion corresponds to a shaped of the ball nest, and the polygonal column is co-rotatable with the ball head portion. The ball head portion including a polygonal groove, and the polygonal column is inserted within the polygonal groove.

A socket joint device includes a first and a second joint component (2, 6). The first joint component (2) has a spherical surface element (10) with a convex or concave exterior (11). The exterior (11) of the spherical surface element (10) is part of a spherical surface. An engagement mechanism (14) engages over the spherical surface element (10), so that the engagement mechanism (14) and the spherical surface element (10) contact one another via a first contact surface (22). A spherical cap-shaped receptacle (24) in the first or second joint component (2, 6) and an associated convex spherical cap (26) in the respective other joint component result in a second contact surface (28) that has a smaller radius of curvature R2 than the radius of curvature R1 of the spherical surface element (10).

A socket joint device is provided which has a low installation height and a fairly small installation volume. The socket joint includes a first and a second joint component (2, 6). The first joint component (2) has a spherical surface element (10) with a convex or concave exterior (11). The exterior (11) of the spherical surface element (10) is part of a spherical surface. An engagement mechanism (14) engages over the spherical surface element (10), so that the engagement mechanism (14) and the spherical surface element (10) contact one another via a first contact surface (22). A spherical cap-shaped receptacle (24) in the first or second joint component (2, 6) and an associated convex spherical cap (26) in the respective other joint component result in a second contact surface (28) that has a smaller radius of curvature R2 than the radius of curvature R1 of the spherical surface element (10).