Patent ID: 6095611
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: A61G,Y10T

Abstract:
A ball and socket joint comprising:a substantially spherical ball including a first section and a second section having a threaded opening extending therethrough, said first and second sections having spherical outer surface areas terminating in juxtaposed planar base surfaces defined by a cutting plane, said planar base surfaces having diameters corresponding to a diameter of a small circle of the ball;a socket having a cavity formed therein that is sized to receive a portion of said ball, said socket including a base having said cavity formed therein, and a bracket secured to said base when said ball is positioned inside said cavity, said bracket having an inner edge positioned around a portion of said ball;a threaded stud secured to said first section of said ball and extending through said opening in said second section outwardly from said socket, said stud being movable within said opening inwardly to an extended position and outwardly to a retracted position, said stud moving said first section of said ball into abutment with said second section when said stud is in the retracted position to permit said ball to rotate freely in said socket, said stud moving the planar base surface of said first section of said ball outwardly away and spaced from the planar base surface of said second section and the outer surface area of the first segment into engagement with the cavity of said socket when said stud is in the extended position to prevent rotation of said ball in said socket, said inner edge of said bracket engaging said ball when said stud is in the extended position to prevent rotation of said ball in said cavity.