Patent ID: 8460116

Claim:
A slip joint, comprising: a female portion comprised of four axially extending segments of substantially equal length, wherein two segments comprise a first pair of identical segments and two other segments comprise a second pair of identical segments different than said first pair, wherein said segments in said first pair comprise a greater portion of an outer perimeter of said female portion than said segments in said second pair and wherein said segments in said first pair alternate with said segments in said second pair, said four segments together creating said outer perimeter with spaced apart grooves extending circumferentially around all four segments of said female portion, said outer perimeter also comprising a unitary radially extending tube stop, wherein each of said combined segments together form an inner surface of said female portion and wherein each of said segments each have at least one axially extending ball track, said ball track extends substantially the length of said female portion; a unitary male portion having an outer surface defined by a plurality of axially extending ball tracks, said male portion located radially inward said female portion inner surface; a unitary cage located radially outward from said male portion outer surface and radially inward said female portion inner surface, said cage having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said cage has a plurality of ball apertures each extending entirely through from said inner surface to said outer surface; a plurality of balls located in said plurality of ball apertures, said balls in contact with both of said ball tracks in said male and female portions for selective movement of said male portion with respect to said female portion; and a tube member.