US3787127A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball joint
Assignee: REUTER G GmbH
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Filing: 1971-11-22
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1991-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A ball and socket joint is provided having a casing with a bore closed at one end with a cover, a ball in the casing and a resilient bearing between the ball and the wall of the bore, the bore being cylindrical from the opening closed by the cover to a point below the maximum cross-section of the ball where it merges into a frustoconical portion terminating adjacent the ball pin in an annular inwardly extending flange, the external configuration of the bearing corresponding to that of the wall of the bore, having protuberances adjacent to and compressed by the cover and having circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots in that portion thereof which is frusto-conically shaped to reduce the volume of the bearing and reduce friction when the ball moves with respect to the bearing.
Inventors
- 👤 R Cutler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:52
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0619; F16C11/0623; F16C11/0628; F16C11/0633; F16C11/0638; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32721; Y10T403/32737; Y10T403/32778
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
In a ball joint having a casing with a bore therethrough, a ball and pin, a resilient bearing between the ball and casing, a cover closing one end of the bore and an inwardly extending annular flange about the opposite open end through which the said pin protrudes, said bore having a substantially cylindrical portion extending from the cover to below the maximum crosssection of the ball and a frusto-conically shaped portion merging at its maximum cross-section with the cylindrical portion and terminating adjacent the said flange, said bearing having an external configuration corresponding substantially to that of the bore and a cavity therein adapted to fit snugly about the ball and an annular groove in the external surface thereof adjacent to the juncture of the cylindrical and frusto-conical portions of the casing, said bearing being pressed by the cover towards the ball and having circumferentially spaced slots extending longitudinally therein with intermediate segments adjacent the frusto-conical portion of the bore which seals the space about the ball with a minimum of friction therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a ball joint having a casing with a bore therethrough, a ball and pin, a resilient bearing between the ball and casing, a cover closing one end of the bore and an inwardly extending annular flange about the opposite open end through which the said pin protrudes, said bore having a substantially cylindrical portion extending from the cover to below the maximum crosssection of the ball and a frusto-conically shaped portion merging at its maximum cross-section with the cylindrical portion and terminating adjacent the said flange, said bearing having an external configuration corresponding substantially to that of the bore and a cavity therein adapted to fit snugly about the ball and an annular groove in the external surface thereof adjacent to the juncture of the cylindrical and frusto-conical portions of the casing, said bearing being pressed by the cover towards the ball and having circumferentially spaced slots extending longitudinally therein with intermediate segments adjacent the frusto-conical portion of the bore which seals the space about the ball with a minimum of friction therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
A ball joint having a casing with a bore therethrough, a ball and pin, a resilient bearing between the ball and casing, a cover closing one end of the bore, said bearing having an external surface configuration corresponding substantially to and engaging that of the bore and a cavity therein conforming to the configuration of the ball, circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots in the bearing adjacent the opposite end of the bore and intersecting an annular groove in said external surface, which groove is contiguous with the surface of said bore and which provides a channel for lubricant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
A ball joint having a casing with a bore therethrough, a ball and pin, a resilient bearing between the ball and casing, a cover closing one end of the bore, said bearing having an external surface configuration corresponding substantially to and engaging that of the bore and a cavity therein conforming to the configuration of the ball, circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots in the bearing adjacent the opposite end of the bore and intersecting an annular groove in said external surface, which groove is contiguous with the surface of said bore and which provides a channel for lubricant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A ball joint of claim 2 having protuberance on the surface of the bearing adjacent the cover and compressed thereby.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A ball joint of claim 2 wherein the said slots are substantially uniformly spaced about the periphery thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB777002A
Cited
US3210105A
Cited
US3220755A
Cited
US3375028A
Cited
US3530495A
Cited
US3554586A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |