US 12,392,370 B2
Selectively lockable ball and socket joint
Keanan R. Smith, Quincy, MA (US)
Assigned to Medos International Sàrl, Le Locle (CH)
Filed by Medos International Sarl, Le Locle (CH)
Filed on Jun. 20, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/748,955.
Application 18/748,955 is a continuation of application No. 18/314,134, filed on May 9, 2023, granted, now 12,038,041.
Application 18/314,134 is a continuation of application No. 17/548,273, filed on Dec. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,668,340, issued on Jun. 6, 2023.
Application 17/548,273 is a continuation of application No. 16/698,433, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, granted, now 11,204,060, issued on Dec. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0344554 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
Int. Cl. F16C 11/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 11/106 (2013.01) [F16C 2316/10 (2013.01)] 20 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
wherein the engagement feature of the housing and the corresponding engagement feature of the compression member are configured to define a first configuration in which the compression member is free to translate along a longitudinal axis of the housing and a second configuration in which rotation of the compression member causes translation of the compression member to compress the collet against the distal opening of the cavity.