Patent ID: 8602612

Claim:
An electrically conductive ball joint, comprising: a ball including a first ball portion made of or coated with an electrically conductive material, a second ball portion made of or coated with an electrically conductive material, the second portion being larger than the first portion, and having an opening, recess, or cavity therein, and a ball bushing made of an electrically nonconductive, insulating material arranged in the cavity between the first ball portion and the second ball portion so as to electrically isolate the first and second ball portions from one another; and a generally hemispherical socket adapted to engage the ball for movement therein, the socket including a socket bushing made of an electrically nonconductive, insulating material, the socket bushing being sized, shaped, and adapted to be received in the socket, one or more first contacts adapted to make electrical contact with the first ball portion, and one or more second contacts adapted to make electrical contact with the second ball portion, the first and second contacts being electrically isolated from one another.