Pivot joint

A pivot joint assembly comprising housing means for at least partially defining a cavity, said housing means having open and closed end portions, an axially movable and rotatable stud extending axially through said open end portion of said housing means into said cavity, said stud having a head end portion disposed in said cavity and a cylindrical shank portion extending outwardly from said head end portion of said stud through said open end portion of said housing means, said stud being movable between a retracted position in which said shank portion extends a relatively small distance outwardly from said housing means and an extended position in which said shank portion extends a relatively large distance outwardly from said housing means, bearing means disposed in said cavity for preventing sidewise movement of said stud relative to said housing means during axial and rotational movement of said stud relative to said housing means, said bearing means including a cylindical bearing surface engaging the cylindrical shank portion of said stud and a circular end surface facing toward said closed end portion of said housing, said head end portion of said stud being disposed axially between said end surface of said bearing means and said closed end portion of said housing means, said head end portion of said stud having a first side surface which is disposed in abutting engagement with said circular end surface of said bearing means when said stud is in the extended position to limit axially outward movement of the shank portion of said stud, said head end portion of said stud having a second side surface which is disposed in abutting engagement with said closed end portion of said housing means when said stud is in the retracted position to limit axially inward movement of the shank portion of said stud, said first side surface being spaced apart from said bearing means when said stud is in the retracted position and said second side surface being spaced apart from said closed end portion of said housing means when said stud is in the extended position by a distance through which said stud is freely movable axially between the retracted and extended positions, and wear take-up means for pressing said cylindrical bearing surface firmly against the cylindrical shank portion of said stud during axial and rotational movement of said stud to enable said bearing means to hold said stud against sidewise movement after normal wear has occurred between said bearing surface means and the shank portion of said stud, said wear take-up means including spring means disposed between said bearing means and said closed end portion of said cavity for applying force to said bearing means to continuously urge said bearing surface into engagement with the shank portion of said stud during axial and rotational movement of said stud relative to said housing means prior to the occurrence of excessive wear between said bearing surface and the shank portion of said stud.