Manual of U.S. Patent Classification
as of June 30, 2000

Class
403
JOINTS AND CONNECTIONS

Class definitions may be accessed by clicking on the class title, above.
Subclass definitions may be accessed by clicking on the subclass number, below.

Patents classified in a subclass may be accessed by clicking on the " " icon following the subclass number, below.

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For search strategies, please refer to the Classification Index Explanation of Data web page.

Subclass		Title
ClassTitle		===> JOINTS AND CONNECTIONS
1		SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE HUB TO SHAFT CONNECTION
2		INCLUDING FRANGIBLE COMPONENT
3		SELECTIVELY ASSEMBLED, E.G., CONVERTIBLE, ETC.
4		. Selective orientation
5		INFLATABLE CONNECTOR
6		WITH OPENING FOR ACCESS TO CONNECTOR OR OPERATOR
7		. To threaded component
8		. . Transverse to thread axis
9		. To biased component
10		CLOSURE OR PLUG SPACED FROM JOINT
11		WITH ADJUNCTIVE PROTECTOR, BROKEN PARTS RETAINER, REPAIR, ASSEMBLY OR DISASSEMBLY FEATURE
12		. Holding means or protector functioning only during transportation, assembly or disassembly
13		. Position or guide means
14		. . Related to joint component
15		. Utilizing fluid pressure
16		. Back-off means, e.g., separator, etc.
17		. Handle or handwheel
18		. . Actuates retainer or blocker
19		. Tool-engaging or accommodating means or with tool
20		. . For latch or retainer
21		. Releasably captive nut or bolt
22		. Means to lock bolt or nut when other is turned
23		WITH ADJUNCTIVE SHIELD
24		STRUCTURALLY INSTALLED IN DIVERSE ART DEVICE
25		. Head or base
26		COUPLING SUPPORTED BY INDEPENDENT BEARING
27		WITH INDICATOR OR INSPECTION MEANS
28		UTILIZING THERMAL CHARACTERISTIC, E.G., EXPANSION OR CONTRACTION, ETC.
29		. Interposed material of intermediate coefficient of expansion
30		. Members having different coefficients of expansion
31		WITH FLUID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE COMPONENT
32		WITH AMBIENT CONDITION RESPONSIVE CONTROL MEANS
33		WITH INDEPENDENT HANDLE OR OPERATOR
34		WITH DISTINCT FLUID OR ARTICLE HANDLING OR DIRECTING FEATURE
35		. External reservoir
36		. Pressure fitting
37		. Including port or reservoir communicating with joint
38		. . Articulated member
39		. . . At joint interface
40		NON-ADHERING FLUENT MATERIAL AT JOINT
41		WITH STRAIN-LIMITING MEANS
42		COMBINED
43		ROTARILY CONNECTED, DIFFERENTIALLY TRANSLATABLE MEMBERS, E.G., TURN-BUCKLE, ETC.
44		. Having tool-engaging means or operating handle
45		. Having operating mechanism
46		. Having locking means
47		. Differential pitch, similar hand
48		. Externally threaded actuator
49		LATERALLY RELATED MEMBERS CONNECTED BY LATCH MEANS, E.G., SCAFFOLD CONNECTORS
50		FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM OR BELLOWS
51		. With additional connection or packing
52		ARTICULATED MEMBERS
53		. Plural distinct articulation axes
54		. . Three or more parallel axes
55		. . Single adjustment for plural axes
56		. . Plural ball and socket
57		. . Universal
58		. . . Non-coplanar axes
59		. . Angular and linear
60		. . . Screw and swivel
61		. . . Pivot stud slidable in elongated opening
62		. . Parallel rotary
63		. . Plural translating connections
64		. Branched
65		. Member pivoted at rigid corner
66		. Including static joint
67		. . Trunnion assembly to side of rod
68		. . One member is plate or side
69		. . . Secant, i.e., rod extending through plate
70		. . . Plate or side forms bearing surface
71		. . . Bearing component clamped to plate or side, e.g., bolted, etc.
72		. . Articulate joint intermediate end joints
73		. . . Variable angle
74		. . . . Universal
75		. . Angled or offset members
76		. . Articulate joint is ball and socket
77		. . . With threaded joint
78		. . Articulate joint is a swivel
79		. . Articulate joint comprises pivoted clevis or channel bar
80		. . Articulate joint is a slide
81		. Including operator
82		. Arcuate shank moves in complementary guide
83		. Lockable at fixed position
84		. . At selected angle
85		. . . Movable brace between members
86		. . . Members rotatable about oblique axes
87		. . . Clamping screw traverses sliding complementary arcuate bearing surfaces
88		. . . Securing yoke or ring spaced radially from locking means
89		. . . . Eyebolt
90		. . . Ball and socket
91		. . . Including pivot stud
92		. . . . Including radially spaced detent or latch component
93		. . . . . Engaging notch or recess in outer periphery of component
94		. . . . . Side of rod engages recess in radial face
95		. . . . . Pivoted detent
96		. . . . . Engaging recess in radial face
97		. . . . Including radial interengaging tongue and slot or serrations
98		. . . . Radially spaced arcuate slot engages fastener
99		. . . . Locked by plural motions of one member
100		. . . . Including bridging keeper
101		. . . . Locked by nesting parts
102		. . . . Members locked in axial alignment
103		. . . Plural distinct positions
104		. . Plural distinct positions
105		. . . Unidirectional movement, e.g., ratchet, etc.
106		. . . At least one discrete position
107		. . . . Step-by-step adjustment
108		. . . . . Retainer extends through aligned recesses
109.1		. . Telescoping members
109.2		. . . Having detent
109.3		. . . . Spring biased
109.4		. . . . Threaded
109.5		. . . . Cam or wedge
109.6		. . . . Having transverse pin
109.7		. . . Remotely actuated
109.8		. . . Self-locking
110		. . Clamped members
111		. Rotatable members resiliently biased to one position
112		. Including limit means
113		. . For pivotal motion
114		. . . Ball and socket with restricted movement about one axis
115		. . . . Ball stud passes through confining opening
116		. . . Pin and slot
117		. . . Opposed stops on one member
118		. Threaded interface
119		. Pivoted
120		. . Including circumferential biasing or damping means
121		. . Rocking or rolling contact
122		. . Universal ball and socket
123		. . . Including internal tie means
124		. . . Plural concave surfaces with diverse curvature
125		. . . . Interposed concavo-convex component
126		. . . . Outer surfaces
127		. . . Swiveled ball parts or seat
128		. . . Composite ball
129		. . . . Spring biased segments
130		. . . . Nonmetallic part
131		. . . . Stud extends into ball
132		. . . Elastomerically biased or backed components
133		. . . Elastomeric seat
134		. . . Externally packed
135		. . . Including liner, shim, or discrete seat
136		. . . . Spring acts through wedging surfaces
137		. . . . Variably preloaded
138		. . . . Spring-biased seat opposite ball stud
139		. . . . Porous
140		. . . . Completely spacing the members
141		. . . Divided socket-type coupling
142		. . . Bifurcated socket
143		. . . Separable socket sections
144		. . . Spring-biased
145		. . Including tension or take-up means
146		. . . Interposed spring means coaxial with pivot
147		. . . Acting through tapered surface on bearing component
148		. . . Manually variable
149		. . . External of bearing assembly, e.g., antirattler, etc.
150		. . T-pivot, e.g., wrist pin, etc.
151		. . . Floating pin
152		. . . Pin is integral with or secured to inner member
153		. . . Expanded pin or end
154		. . . Including distinct pin retainer
155		. . . . Unitary clip or plug
156		. . . . Threaded pin end
157		. . . Fork and tongue
158		. . . . With interposed antifriction means
159		. . . . Oppositely laterally movable tines
160		. . On oblique interface
161		. . Transverse pin or stud
162		. . . Traverses interposed facing component
163		. . . Attached to or integral with one member
164		. Rotatable
165		. . Rod in socket
166		. Axially spring-biased coaxial members
167		TRANSVERSE ROD TO SPACED PLATE SURFACES
168		. Retainer utilizes or abuts plural plates
169		BRANCHED
170		. Three or more radiating members
171		. . Polyhedral
172		. . . Unilateral of plane
173		. . Plural pairs of axially aligned members
174		. . Coplanar
175		. . . Additional rod held by encompassing means
176		. Polyhedral
177		. Parallel rods
178		. Coplanar
179		DIVERSE MATERIAL COUPLING MEMBER
180		THREE OR MORE SERIAL JOINTS, AT LEAST ONE DIVERSE
181		. Nonaligned axes
182		. Separable intermediate joint
183		. . Axially acting connector
184		. . Screw or cam
185		JOINT INVOLVING PLURAL LAYERS OF SINGLE ROD
186		LATERALLY RELATED RODS INDEPENDENTLY JOINED TO TRANSVERSE SURFACE
187		ROD TO MEMBER TO SIDE, E.G., PLATE, ROD SIDE, ETC.
188		. Rod side to member to side
189		. Unilateral of side
190		. Arcuate or multiplanar side
191		. . Encompassed side
192		. Intermediate member includes tubular part
193		. . Side or tubular part deformed in situ
194		. . Intermediate member extends through side
195		. . . Split or divided tubular part and coacting compressor
196		. . . Transverse clamp secures rod and tubular part
197		. . . Rod also extends through side
198		. . Oblique rod
199		. . Intermediate member secured to side by radial flange
200		. . Internally threaded tubular part
201		. Intermediate member extends completely through side
202		RADIALLY SPACED MEMBERS JOINED BY INDEPENDENT COUPLING
203		. Flexible intermediate member
204		COACTING CONNECTION BETWEEN INNER MEMBER AND PLURAL PARTS OF OUTER MEMBER
205		RIGID ANGLE COUPLING, E.G., ELBOW OR U, ETC.
206		AXIALLY CURVED OR BENT PORTION OF ROD IS JOINT COMPONENT
207		. Interfitted crossing rods
208		. Joined to laterally related transverse surface at axially spaced points
209		. Reversely bent portion
210		. . Around eye-forming thimble
211		. . With wedge clamp
212		. . Held by crimped collar
213		. . Open U
214		. Intertwisted ends
215		. End of rod is deflected laterally within connector
216		. Plural rods distorted by single component
217		THREE OR MORE MEMBERS CONNECTED AT SINGLE LOCUS
218		. All encompassed
219		. Mutually contacting
220		FLEXIBLY CONNECTED RIGID MEMBERS
221		. Rigid sleeve encompasses flexible bushing
222		. . Longitudinally divided sleeve
223		. Flexible sleeve-type coupling
224		. Connecting pin traverses radially interposed elastomer
225		. Elastomer interposed between radially spaced members
226		. . Elastomer encompasses shoulder on inner member
227		. . Including axially acting compressing means
228		. . Composite bushing with elastomeric component
229		. Helical spring type coupling
230		ROD END TO TRANSVERSE SIDE OF MEMBER
231		. Corner joint
232.1		. Stirrup
233		. Structure attached to rod end encompasses side
234		. . Clamped saddle
235		. . Yoke or ring
236		. . . Having radial screw at bight
237		. Including saddle
238		. Gland type
239		. . Rod and side gripped simultaneously by single actuation
240		. Rod clamped to hole edge
241		. Rod to open edge of side, e.g., wrap-around connection
242		. Rod and side deformingly interlocked
243		. Radially interposed, side-engaging shim or bushing
244		. Socket formed by shaping or deforming side
245		. Integral transverse projection on side, e.g., necked, etc.
246		. . From rod side
247		. Utilizing opposite sides of member
248		. . Rod is expanded by component inserted from distal side
249		. . . Separate and deformable component
250		. . . Plural contacting components
251		. . . Barbed component
252		. . Inserted, blind-side-engaging, retaining portion on rod
253		. . Stepped or tapered recess in side
254		. . . Terminal, rod-attached retainer engages distal side
255		. . . . Inserted into rod
256		. . Clamped member
257		. . . Clamping component engages recessed side
258		. . . Bolted to rod
259		. . . Between rod shoulder and terminal nut
260		. . . Bolted through member
261		. . . Coaxial collar or shoulder or rod is clamp element
262		. Flange on rod bolted to side
263		. Rod received in recessed side, e.g., socket or tapered opening, etc.
264		. Utilizing internal rod structure
265		MOLDED JOINT
266		. And independent connection
267		. Including mechanical interlock
268		. Socket or open cup for bonding material
269		. Member cast in situ
270		. Fusion bond, e.g., weld, etc.
271		. . Metallic fusion material
272		. . . Added bonding material, e.g., solder, braze, etc.
273		SHRUNK FIT
274		MEMBER DEFORMED IN SITU
275		. Separating element between strands of member
276		. Interposed deforming element contacts socket bottom
277		. Inner member is expanded by longitudinally inserted element
278		. By separate, deformable element
279		. Deformation occurs simultaneously with action of separate, diverse function, joint component
280		. Deforming component is inserted section
281		. Separate deforming means remains with joint assembly
282		. Deformation occurs simultaneously with assembly
283		. By piercing
284		. Diverse resistance to lateral deforming force
285		. Both members deformed
286		BRIDGED BY DIVERSE CONNECTOR
287		INCLUDING SPACED, DIVERSE CONNECTIONS
288		INCLUDING DISTINCT PACKING
289		SPLIT END WITH LATERALLY MOVABLE OPPOSED PORTIONS
290		. With separate force-applying means
291		FLEXIBLE MEMBER IS JOINT COMPONENT
292		MEMBER ENDS JOINED BY INSERTED SECTION
293		. Externally bridged
294		. Laterally inserted section
295		. Angle section
296		. Section threaded to member
297		. Expansible section
298		. Fluted or splined section
299		THREAD ADAPTOR
300		DISTINCT END COUPLER
301		. Diverse serial connections
302		. . Axially cleft coupler
303		. Single actuator for plural connections
304		. . Axially biased end portions
305		. Plural opposed sockets
306		. Separate screw or pin-type connections
307		. Continuous thread
308		. Having separable end caps or plugs
309		. Interrupted periphery, e.g., split or segmental, etc.
310		. . Axially divided segments
311		. . . Interfitting
312		. . . Bolted
313		. . Split
314		. Including member wedging or camming means
315		INCLUDING ANCILLARY MEANS BLOCKING DISCONNECTION OF JOINT
316		. Blocker for assembled joint retainer
317		. . Blocker keeper
318		. . Blocked key
319		. Blocker is catch or key
320		. Cam or thread lock
321		MANUALLY RELEASEABLE LATCH TYPE
322.1		. Having operating mechanism
322.2		. . Ball detent
322.3		. . Remotely actuated
322.4		. . Lever
323		. Swiveled bolt
324		. Transversely sliding pin
325		. Spring biased manipulator