ball-and-socket joint

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ball-and-socket joint

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

ball-and-socket joint in engineering, mechanical connection used between parts that must be allowed some relative angular motion in nearly all directions. As the name implies, the joint consists essentially of a spherical knob at the end of a shaft, with the knob fitting securely into a mating socket. Like other mechanical joints, a ball-and-socket joint must have some provision for lubrication and is normally provided with a seal to prevent loss of the lubricant. Joints of this type are commonly used in mounting the front wheels of automobiles, allowing these wheels movement sufficient for steering. In this application they are usually called ball joints.

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"ball-and-socket joint." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 27 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ball-and-socket joint." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 27, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ballNsoc.html

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ball-and-socket joint

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

ball-and-sock·et joint • n. a natural or manufactured joint or coupling, such as the hip joint, in which a partially spherical end lies in a socket, allowing multidirectional movement and rotation.

ball-and-socket joint

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ball-and-socket joint

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | © A Dictionary of Nursing 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

ball-and-socket joint (bawl-ănd-sok-it) n. see enarthrosis.

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Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

German Inventor Develops Ball, Socket Joints
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 2/3/2007; 540 words ; ...each type of ball and socket joint from one series...angle of the ball and socket joint is reached, the...the entire series of ball and socket joints for a plurality...at the ball and socket joint for a plurality of types...series of ...
Greman Inventors Develop Ball/Socket Joint for High Bearing Loads
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 3/24/2008; 549 words ; ...Dielingen, Gremany, have developed a ball/socket joint manufacturing process. According to the...preformed plastic film as a thin-walled ball socket with a joint surface enclosing the ball head at least partially." An abstract of...
German Inventor Develops Motor Vehicle Ball, Socket Joint
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 11/26/2008; 510 words ; ...Osnabruck, Germany, has developed a ball, socket joint for motor vehicle. According...Office: "A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially...of the motor vehicle, has a ball and socket joint housing, which has a joint opening...
German Inventors Develop Vehicle Ball-Socket Joint
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 5/27/2008; 478 words ; ...have developed a motor vehicle ball/socket joint. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ball-and-socket joint for a motor...chassis of the motor vehicle has a ball-and-socket joint housing, which has a joint opening...
Florida Inventor Develops Ball Socket, Joint Assembly
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 9/12/2006; 515 words ; ...Sebastian, Fla., has developed a ball and socket joint assembly for a water vehicle outdrive...Patent & Trademark Office: "A ball and socket joint assembly for a...the Patent Office, said: "The ball and socket joint assembly includes...
German Inventors Develop Ball, Socket Joint with Pivot Pin
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 5/3/2008; 549 words ; ...Horstel, Germany, have developed a socket joint. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ball-and-socket joint has a pivot pin accommodated...the dimensional accuracy of the ball-and-socket joint components...
German Inventors Develop Ball, Socket joint
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 7/10/2006; 442 words ; ...Groger of Damme, Germany, have developed a ball-and-socket joint. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ball-and-socket joint has a housing, a ball pivot mounted pivotably in the housing...
German Inventors Develop Ball, Socket Joint Bearing Shell
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 3/31/2007; 413 words ; ...component bearing shell for an injection-molded ball-and-socket joint. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark...present invention pertains to a bearing shell for a ball-and-socket joint, wherein the bearing shell has a core component...
Michigan Inventors Develop Ball, Socket Joint Bellows Seal
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 7/16/2007; 462 words ; ...Holmes of Ann Arbor, Mich., have developed a joint sealing bellows with sealing ring and an assembly...S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ball and socket joint bellows seal is provided with a ball pivot pin with a connection piece, a bellows...
Indiana, Tennessee Inventors Develop Ball, Socket Joint Prosthesis
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 5/11/2007; 460 words ; ...Ind., J. Brock Vanmeter of Leesburg, Ind., and Jon C. Serbousek of Memphis, Tenn., have developed a ball and a socket joint prosthesis for use in arthroplasty. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The prosthesis...
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