Patent ID: 7993207

Claim:
A vehicle joint assembly comprising: a cup-shaped outer race comprising an outer cup surface and an inner cup surface, said outer cup surface and said inner cup surface forming an open front face and a closed rear face; a pair of opposed slot tracks formed in said inner cup surface, each of said opposed slot tracks comprising a track top wall and two track sidewalls, wherein said two track sidewalls comprise convex surfaces facing each other; a bipod element comprising a body portion and two opposed peg portions, each of said two opposed peg portions comprising the general shape of a shaved cylinder having a flat forward surface, a flat rear surface, and two opposed curved engagement surfaces, wherein said curved engagement surfaces engage said track sidewalls formed in said inner cup surface; and a barshaft in communication with said bipod element; wherein said bipod element is positioned within said cup-shaped outer race such that each of said opposed peg portions resides in one of said opposed slot tracks, said bipod element and said cup-shaped outer race forming a variable angle joint with plunging capabilities.