Ball joint

Claim 1

A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT OF THE TYPE USED IN A STEERING MECHANISM UTILIZING A BALL AND STUD, A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL HOUSING BODY FOR RECEIVING SAID BALL, AND INTERPOSED ANNULAR BEARING INSERTS CONFINED UNDER AXIAL PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID BALL AND SAID BODY, THAT IMPROVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION WHICH COMPRISES: (A) AN ANNULAR BEARING INSERT AT THE STUD SIDE OF SAID BALL HAVING SPACED END PORTIONS AND AN INNER PERIPHERAL SURFACE COMPLEMENTAL TO AND ENGAGING SAID BALL AND A SEGMENT OF THE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE AT ONE END CONTACTING AND INTERFITTED WITH SAID BODY AND WITH THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE BEING SPACED FROM SAID BODY, THERE BEING FORMED IN THE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID INSERT AN ANNULAR GROOVE BETWEEN SAID PORTION OF THE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE CONTACTING SAID BODY AND THE OTHER END OF SAID INSERT AND SO FORMING, WITH THE WALLS OF SAID BODY, AN ANNULAR RE-ENTRANT RECESS OPENING TOWARD SAID STUD, (B) AN ANNULAR FLARING SKIRTED SEALING MEMBER HAVING A NARROW NECK PORTION SURROUNDING AND IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STUD AND AN ANNULAR ENLARGED BEADED PORTION AT THE OTHER AND FLARED END OF SAID MEMBER RECEIVED BY SAID OPENING AND LOCKED IN SAID GROOVE BETWEEN SAID INSERT AND SAID BODY, AND (C) RADIALLY EXTENDING MEANS AT EACH END OF SAID BODY TO CONFINE SAID INSERTS UNDER AXIAL PRESSURE AND RETAIN SAID BALL IN SAID BODY, WHEREBY RADIAL FORCES BETWEEN SAID BALL AND BODY ARE RECEIVED BY SAID INSERT TO RELIEVE CRUSHING FORCES ON SAID SKIRTED MEMBER.