Patent ID: 9249821
Filing Date: 2016-02-02
CPC Classification: F16B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. In combination: an abutment screw extending along an axis and having a forwardly open substantially spherical ball seat and an axially extending spring seat opening into the ball seat; a connecting part formed with a threaded bore in which the abutment screw is threadedly engageable, the bore having at least one radially inwardly open latching groove; a head having a swivel ball generally complementary to and fitting in the ball seat such that the head can swivel relative to the screw, the screw and head being formed with respective axially confronting contact faces engageable with each other to limit swiveling of the head in the ball seat, the head being formed with an axially rearwardly open ball recess; an inner ball in the spring seat axially rearward of the ball seat and engageable axially forward in the ball recess; a slide formed with a radially open latch recess and axially displaceable in the spring seat toward and away from the head axially rearward of the inner ball; a latch ball radially displaceable in the screw between a radial inner holding position engaging in the latch recess of the slide and preventing axial rearward movement thereof in the screw and a radial outer position permitting such axial rearward movement and projecting radially from the screw such that, when the screw is in the threaded bore and the latch ball is aligned radially with the groove, the latch ball engages in the groove and locks the screw against rotation in the threaded bore while permitting axial movement of the slide and, when the screw is in the threaded bore and the latch ball is engaged in the latch recess, the screw is free to rotate in the bore and the slide is locked against axial movement; a spring braced axially between the slide and the inner ball and biasing the head inner ball axially forward against the head and biasing the slide axially rearward into the holding position; and a pin on the displaceable slide projecting axially rearward from the screw such that pushing the pin axially forward shifts the slide out of the holding position and frees the screw to rotate in the connecting part.