Ball and socket joint - has flexible plastics housing and snap on closure plate to allow insertion of and retain ball

摘要

The ball and socket joint consists of a plastics socket (7) moulded into a support plate (6). The upper half of the spherical socket is split into several leaves (9) enabling the socket to open out to admit the ball joint (3). A cavity (11) exists in the base of the socket packed with grease and which may contain guides to constrain the movement of the joint in one direction. A snap-on closure plate (13) has a rubber sealing washer (18). The closure plate fits over the upper leaves of the socket holding them closed over the ball joint (3).