Ball and socket joints

Claim 1

IN A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT COMPRISING A SOCKET HAVING A REDUCED END PORTION DEFINING AN OPENING, A BALL ROTATABLY AND ROCKABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SOCKET, A PIN CONNECTED TO SAID BALL AND PROJECTING THROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID OPENING PROVIDIG A CLEARANCE SPACE AROUND SAID PIN, A FLAT SEALING DISC OF THIN FLEXIBLE MATERIAL EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY STRAIGHT ACROSS SAID CLEARANCE SPACE AND TOWARD SAID STUD, SO AS TO EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF THE PIN AND SOCKET, SAID DISC HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE RECEIVING SAID PIN WITH A FORCED FIT TO PROVIDE A SECURE AND TIGHT SEAL AROUND SAID PIN, AN ANULAR COUNTERBORE IN THE REDUCED END PORTION OF SAID SOCKET OPENING, SAID SEALING DISC HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE PORTION RECEIVED IN SAID COUNTERBORE, AND A RETAINING RING SECURED IN SAID COUNTERBORE OVER SAID END PORTION OF SAID SEALING DISC FOR SECURING SAID DISC IN SAID ANNULAR COUNTERBORE, SAID SEALING DISC EXTENDING IN A PLANE DISPOSED AXIALLY INWARDLY OF THE OPEN END PORTION OF SAID COUNTERBORE.