US PATENT SUBCLASS 180 / 259
.~.~.~.~ Joint includes intermediate ball, floating in groove, for positively engaging ball with socket

Current as of: June, 1999
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180 /   HD   MOTOR VEHICLES

252  DF  HAVING AT LEAST ONE WHEEL BOTH DRIVEN AND STEERABLE {4}
253  DF  .~ Steerable wheel has exclusive axis of pivot (i.e., stub-axle type) {1}
254  DF  .~.~ Including flexible, axially rotatable means having one portion fixed to vehicle and another portion pivotable with wheel for transmitting drive thereto {5}
258  DF  .~.~.~ Pivotable portion of means includes ball or socket element of ball-and socket type universal joint {1}
259.~.~.~.~ Joint includes intermediate ball, floating in groove, for positively engaging ball with socket

DEFINITION

Classification: 180/259

Joint includes intermediate ball, floating in groove, for positively engaging ball with socket:

(under subclass 258) Vehicle wherein the ball and socket universal joint is of the kind which is provided with, between the ball and the socket, one or more (usually a plurality of) balls which are significantly smaller than the ball of the joint, and wherein grooves for receiving a portion of the periphery of each of the intermediate balls are provided in either the ball or the socket or both, each intermediate ball being permitted some movement in its groove in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft of either the ball or the socket, but serving to key the ball and socket to one another insofar as rotational movement of their shafts is concerned.

(1) Note. Structure resembling a bearing race may be provided for maintaining a fixed lateral spacing between each of a plurality of the intermediate balls.