Patent US3679248A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3679248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball joint
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-05
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1991-08-05
Abstract
Abstract Preloaded ball and socket joints for automotive wheel suspensions and steering linkages of the type having the ball member enveloped by a plastic bearing compressed between the ball member and a housing to maintain a fixed tilting center for the ball in the housing while expanding to take up wear between the parts together with the added improvement of an initially locally deformed retainer spring regaining its undeformed condition as wear develops to increase the wear take-up capacity of the joint without increasing the turning torque or extruding the plastic bearing material.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J Herbenar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:36
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0619; F16C11/0623; F16C11/0628; F16C11/0633; F16C11/0647; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/01; F16C2326/05; F16C2326/20; F16C2326/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49636; Y10T29/49643; Y10T29/49647; Y10T29/49648; Y10T29/49657; Y10T29/49663; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32737; Y10T403/32778; Y10T403/32811
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A preloaded plastic bearing pivot joint which comprises a housing, a stud having an end in the housing, a preloaded plastic bearing in the housing surrounding the end of the stud, said bearing being deformed from an initial free state condition and having elastic memory to reclaim said condition, a spring ring pressed in the housing in its unstressed free state between said bearing and housing and initially preloading the bearing on said stud end while in said free state, means on the housing deforming load portions of said pressed ring into the bearing, and said deformed ring being effective to reclaim its free state condition for adding wear take-up capacity to the preloaded bearing for maintaining the preload on said stud end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a preloaded plastic bearing ball and socket joint, the improvement of a spring washer in the socket acting on the plastic bearing, staked depressions in the socket deforming the washer into a wave configuration, and said deformed washer being effective to reclaim its free state condition for increasing the wear take-up capacity of the joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
A ball and socket joint which comprises a stud having a ball end, a rigid but compressible plastic bearing enveloping said ball end in tiltable and rotatable relation therewith, a rigid housing enveloping said bearing, means on said housing preloading said bearing on said ball end and in said housing, a spring washer in said housing between said means and said bearing, and locally deformed portions in said means forming a wave in said washer and holding the washer at a depressed level in the housing as the washer returns to its initial shape upon wear between said ball end and said bearing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
A ball and socket joint which comprises a stud having a ball end, a rigid but compressible plastic bearing enveloping said ball end in tiltable and rotatable relation therewith, a rigid housing enveloping said bearing, means on said housing preloading said bearing on said ball end and in said housing, a spring washer in said housing between said means and said bearing, and locally deformed portions in said means forming a wave in said washer and holding the washer at a depressed level in the housing as the washer returns to its initial shape upon wear between said ball end and said bearing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The joint of claim 1 wherein the means deforming the ring are staked depressions in a rim of the housing overlying the ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The joint of claim 2 wherein the staked depressions are circumferentially spaced around a rim of the socket overlying the washer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The joint of claim 3 wherein the washer underlies an annular lip of the housing containing the deformed portions in circumferentially spaced relation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The joint of claim 3 wherein the housing is a cup, the bearing is a plug terminating inwardly from the open end of the cup, the washer overlies the bearing in the open end of the cup, the open end of the cup has an inturned lip pressed against the washer, and the depressed portions are staked depressions in the lip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |