US3843272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball joint
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-03
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1993-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A ball joint comprises a generally spheroidal ball member to which at least an annular strip of a resiliently compressible elastomeric material is vulcanized. A metal shell in the form of an annular sheet metal body surrounds an axis of the ball and is vulcanized to the elastomer layer over a part of its exposed surface. A housing receives the elastomer layer and ball under compression whereby the shell prevents extrusion of the elastomer material as compression is applied or the ball joint is used.
Inventors
- 👤 R Jorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:33
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0604; B; B60; B60G; B60G13/00; B60G13/001; B60G13/003; B60G7/00; B60G7/005; F16C11/0614; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/12; B60G2204/128; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/416; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/01; F16C2326/05; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32713
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A ball joint comprising: a. an inner ball member conforming to a body of revolution having a center lying on an axis; b. an elastomeric layer conforming to at least a generally spheridal segment vulcanized to said ball member along a first surface of said layer; c. a round metal shell having at least a periphery lying around said axis and vulcanized to only a portion of said layer on a second surface thereof opposite said first surface across said layer; d. a housing enclosing said ball member and having an inner surface geometrically similar to said body of revolution and centered thereon; and e. means interconnecting said housing and said shell for compressing said layer along said axis between said inner surface and said shell to retain the portion of said second surface free from said shell in frictional contact with said housing under a force sufficient to prevent relative sliding movement of said second and inner surfaces while permitting molecular deformation of said layer upon relative angular displacement of said ball member and said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A ball joint comprising: a. an inner ball member conforming to a body of revolution having a center lying on an axis; b. an elastomeric layer conforming to at least a generally spheridal segment vulcanized to said ball member along a first surface of said layer; c. a round metal shell having at least a periphery lying around said axis and vulcanized to only a portion of said layer on a second surface thereof opposite said first surface across said layer; d. a housing enclosing said ball member and having an inner surface geometrically similar to said body of revolution and centered thereon; and e. means interconnecting said housing and said shell for compressing said layer along said axis between said inner surface and said shell to retain the portion of said second surface free from said shell in frictional contact with said housing under a force sufficient to prevent relative sliding movement of said second and inner surfaces while permitting molecular deformation of said layer upon relative angular displacement of said ball member and said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ball joint defined in claim 1 wherein the center of said second surface of said layer is offset from the center of said body along said axis prior to compression of said layer, and said centers are coincident subsequent to compression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The ball joint defined in claim 1 wherein said layer is subdivided into at least two generally spheroidal segments by an elastomer-free annular generally equatorial zone, said ball member being formed with an annular outwardly projecting rib having a width substantially equal to that of said zone and bearing upon said segments upon compression of said layer even without application of an external load to the ball joint for precompressing the elastomer layer in the principal-load direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The ball joint defined in claim 3 wherein said ball member is subdivided into two sections on opposite sides of an intermediate plane perpendicular to said principal load direction, said sections being of different radii of curvature but of an identical center of curavture, said segments of said layer having radii of curvature from said identical center corresponding to said sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The ball joint defined in claim 3 wherein said ball member has a mounting bolt extending along said axis and projecting from one side of said ball member out of said housing, said shell being vulcanized to a segment of said layer opposite said side and having a spherical contour.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ball joint defined in claim 5 wherein said shell is a dish-disk lying transversely to said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ball joint defined in claim 5 wherein said shell is a ring vulcanized to said segment of said layer opposite said side along an edge thereof engaged by said rib.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ball joint defined in claim 3 wherein one of said segments is internally partitioned by a metal ring vulcanized to the elastomer and having a spherical segment configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ball joint defined in claim 8 wherein said ring and shell have cylindrical coaxial axial rims surrounding said axis and extending axially beyond said layer at least prior to the compression of said layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ball joint defined in claim 3 wherein said rib has an outer face lying along a spherical surface with a center coinciding with that of said body, said housing being formed with a low-friction synthetic resin surface slidingly engaging said face of said rib.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ball joint defined in claim 3 wherein said rib has an outer face formed from a low friction synthetic resin, and said housing is formed interposed with a spherical surface concentric with said body and slidingly engaged by said face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The ball joint defined in claim 3 wherein said ball member is provided with a pair of generally radial arms projecting from diametrically opposite sides of the ball member and lying substantially in the plane of said rib, said housing having two parts joined together by said means at locations flanking said ball member at diametrically opposite sides thereof but offset by about 90* around said axis from said arms, said housing having openings receiving said arms with clearance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ball joint defined in claim 2 wherein of said body of revolution is ellipsoid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ball joint defined in claim 1 wherein said ball member has the configuration of a sphere and is formed with a mounting bolt extending axially therefrom at one side of the ball member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ball joint defined in claim 14 wherein said layer is annular and is vulcanized to said side of said ball member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ball joint defined in claim 15, further comprising another elastomeric layer disposed between the other side of said ball member and said housing, and a low friction synthetic resin shell interposed between said ball member and said other elastomeric layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ball joint defined in claim 15, further comprising a low friction synthetic resin body interposed between the other side of said ball member and said housing, said synthetic resin body having a spherical surface slidingly engaging said ball member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
The ball joint defined in claim 1 wherein said ball member is provided with a pair of generally radial arms projecting from diametrically opposite of the said ball member and link substantially in an equatorial plane where, said housing having two parts joined together by said means at locations flanking said ball member at diametrically opposite sides thereof but offset by about 90* about said axis from said arms, said housing having openings receiving said arms with clearance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |