Patent ID: 7686529

Claim:
A two-axis connection assembly for interconnecting a platform with two or more moveable members, said connection assembly comprising: a housing comprised of two or more openings therein; two or more disks positioned within said housing; two or more receptacles wherein each of said two or more receptacles is in proximate spatial relationship to a first corresponding one of said two or more disks, wherein said each of said two or more receptacles is positioned within a second corresponding one of said two or more openings such that said each of said two or more receptacles capable of interconnecting with a third corresponding one of two or more moveable members to provide a plurality of first axes of rotational movement, wherein said two or more receptacles are aligned along the length of said housing and positioned in the same vertical direction with respect to each other; two or more upper thrust needle bearings wherein each of said two or more upper thrust needle bearings supports to a fourth corresponding one of said two or more disks' upper surfaces; two or more lower thrust needle bearings wherein each of said two or more lower thrust needle bearings supports a fifth corresponding one of said two or more disks' lower surfaces; a base affixed to said housing, wherein said base comprises two or more hubs, wherein each of said two or more hubs rotatably supports a sixth corresponding one of said two or more receptacles, wherein said two or more hubs are formed along the inner surface of said base and project vertically along a third axis perpendicular to the length of said base; and two or more bushings, wherein each of said two or more bushings is in proximate spatial relationship with a seventh corresponding one of said two or more hubs and a eighth corresponding one of said two or more lower thrust needle bearings, and wherein said each of said two or more receptacles in combination with said first corresponding one of said two or more disks is capable of rotation within said housing to provide a second axis of rotational movement for third corresponding one of the two or more moveable members, wherein said second axis of rotational movement projects through said two or more hubs; and wherein said two or more upper thrust needle bearings and said two or more bushings in combination are capable of accommodating loads outside of said second axis of rotational movement.