Patent ID: 6869432

Claim:
A device permitting the articulated connection of two bodies, comprising: a first body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cavity extending coaxially along a central axis and defining a cavity wall, the central axis intersecting both the top surface and the bottom surface, and the cavity extending through at least the top surface; a clamping member including a portion insertable within the cavity, a longitudinal axis, a top end, a bottom end, and a bore extending coaxially along the longitudinal axis and defining at least one aperture, the outside contour of the clamping member adjacent the at least one aperture shaped in a form complementary to that of the cavity and resiliently deformable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; at least one tension member insertable coaxially to the longitudinal axis into the aperture, and an axial displacement of the at least one tension member within the corresponding aperture may cause the clamping member to be expanded to contact the cavity wall and be releasably locked within the cavity; a second body connected to the at least one tension member and releasably connectable to the first body by the at least one tension member and the clamping member; a driving member for displacing the at least one tension member axially relative to the corresponding aperture, wherein the driving member is connected to both the clamping member and the at least one tension member in positive engagement while rotatable about the longitudinal axis and the driving member is at least partially disposed within the clamping member.