Patent ID: 7722305

Claim:
A pin, comprising: a shank including a first end defined by a spherical lead-in portion having a spherical surface, a transition portion joined directly to said spherical surface of said lead-in portion, and a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical surface joined directly to said transition portion; the spherical lead-in portion being symmetrical about a plane extending perpendicular to a central axis of said cylindrical portion and having diametrically opposite circular profiles which each extend through an angle of approximately 30° about a center of said spherical lead-in portion, with said spherical lead-in portion having a diameter approximately equal to a diameter of said cylindrical portion and being adapted to be received by a cylindrical hole to facilitate entry of the shank therein; and said transition portion including an annular relief portion joined directly to said spherical surface of said spherical lead-in portion, the transition portion cooperating with said spherical surface to form an annular groove between said spherical lead-in portion and said cylindrical surface of said cylindrical portion, with said annular groove including a bottom defined by said annular relief area and including a side defined at least in part by a chamfer defining a second lead-in portion, the relief area being joined to the second lead-in portion thereby providing a direct transition from the spherical lead-in portion to the second lead-in portion.