Patent ID: 7695211
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An assembly for pivotally connecting a first and second component, said assembly comprising: a ball adapted to fixedly receive the first component; said ball having a shaft portion and spherical portion the ball defining a central axis of symmetry therethrough, said shaft portion being threaded to receive a nut; a socket adapted to fixedly receive the second component, said socket pivotally receiving said spherical portion therein for allowing pivotal motion between the first component and the second component; a U-shaped retainer of homogenous one-piece construction including first and second portions adapted to retain said spherical portion and socket therebetween, each of said first and second portions lying in respective planes offset from one another and perpendicular to said central axis, said first portion adapted to be fixedly clamped between the nut and the first component creating a gap between said socket and said second portion, and an intermediate portion extending perpendicularly from an edge of said first portion to and edge of said second portion to prevent separation of the spherical portion from the socket, and whereby a predetermined amount of wear between the spherical portion and the socket causes the gap to be reduced such that a wear indicator supported on said second portion is engaged by said socket to generate a signal in response to such engagement.