US 11,668,340 B2
Selectively lockable ball and socket joint
Keanan R. Smith, Quincy, MA (US)
Assigned to MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SARL, Le Locle (CH)
Filed by Medos International Sarl, Le Locle (CH)
Filed on Dec. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/548,273.
Application 17/548,273 is a continuation of application No. 16/698,433, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, granted, now 11,204,060.
Prior Publication US 2022/0099137 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16C 11/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 11/106 (2013.01) [F16C 2316/10 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ball and socket joint assembly comprising:
a housing defining a cavity and a distal opening to the cavity, the distal opening having a diameter larger than a diameter of a spherical portion of a connector and less than a diameter of an inner wall of the cavity proximal to the distal opening, the housing comprising an engagement feature extending into the cavity;
a compression member disposed in the cavity, a distal end of the compression member comprising a collet configured to accept the spherical portion of the connector, the collet defining an outer diameter that is configured to be larger than the diameter of the distal opening in the housing when the spherical portion is disposed in the collet, and the compression member comprising an outer surface defining a corresponding engagement feature around at least a portion of the outer surface for receiving the engagement feature of the housing and converting rotation of the compression member into translation of the compression member along a longitudinal axis of the housing; and
an actuator shaft extending through a proximal end of the housing, the actuator shaft coupled to the compression member and permitting rotation and translation of the compression member in the cavity,
wherein the collet is configured to be compressed against the opening of the cavity when the compression member is advanced distally against the distal opening.