Ball-and-socket joint

A ball-and-socket joint comprising:

• a ball head provided at an end of a shank of a rod;
• a bearing encompassing and slidably holding the ball head;
• a housing holding the bearing therein and having at a first end thereof a first opening through which said shank extends outward, slid housing having a second opening at a second end thereof opposite said first opening;
• a joining member provided at said second end for joining the housing to another member, said joining member having a head part with a peripheral flange formed thereon, said head part and said peripheral flange defining an end surface and being fitted in said second opening, said peripheral flange having a peripheral surface and a rear surface opposite said end surface and being flared so as to diverge toward said bearing so that said end surface is formed as a flared end surface;
• said bearing having an inner surface facing said flared end surface of the joining member, said inner surface of the bearing being formed in a shape complementary to the shape of the flared end surface;
• an elastic layer made of an elastic material and applied to said end surface in at least the region of said peripheral flange so that the elastic layer is interposed between said bearing and said joining member and between said housing and said joining member;
• a closure plate interposed between said elastic layer and said housing and between said elastic layer and said inner surface of the bearing;
• and means for preventing detachment of said joining member from within said second opening;
• whereby vibration and shocks applied to a side of said rod are absorbed by the elastic layer and prevented from being transmitted to a side of said joining member.