Patent US4125957A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3849009A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3849009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball and socket joint for rack and pinion steering gear
Assignee: Gemmer France SA
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Filing: 1973-03-09
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A ball and socket joint with a plastic ball receiving bearing housed in a metal tube is attached to the end of the rack bar of a rack and pinion steering gear by crimping the housing over a plug in such a manner as to preload the bearing and attaching either the plug or a portion of the tube beyond the plug to the end of the rack bar. The plug or housing is preferably threaded into or onto the rack bar end. A washer is attached to either the plug or housing in non-rotatable relation to provide a wrench engaging head for the assembly to facilitate threading of the joint assembly onto the rack bar end.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bourdon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:06
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0619; F16C11/0623; F16C11/0628; F16C11/0633; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32721
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A joint comprising a stud having a head and a shank extending from the head, a plastics bearing enveloping said head, a metal tube surrounding said bearing, said tube having an inturned end bottoming the bearing and defining an aperture freely receiving the stud shank therethrough, a closure plug in said tube overlying the bearing, said tube and plug cooperating to provide a housing enveloping said bearing, a reduced diameter crimped portion on the tube holding the plug against the bearing and preloading the bearing on the stud head, and threaded means on the housing projecting beyond the closure plug to connect the joint to a rod member or the like.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A joint comprising a stud having a head and a shank extending from the head, a plastics bearing enveloping said head, a metal tube surrounding said bearing, said tube having an inturned end bottoming the bearing and defining an aperture freely receiving the stud shank therethrough, a closure plug in said tube overlying the bearing, said tube and plug cooperating to provide a housing enveloping said bearing, a reduced diameter crimped portion on the tube holding the plug against the bearing and preloading the bearing on the stud head, and threaded means on the housing projecting beyond the closure plug to connect the joint to a rod member or the like.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The joint of claim 1, wherein the closure plug has a threaded stem projecting beyond the housing to provide the threaded means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The joint of claim 1, wherein the housing has an internally threaded portion projecting beyond the closure plug to provide the threaded means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The joint of claim 2, including a washer surrounding the stem in non-rotatable relation to provide a wrench head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The joint of claim 3, including a washer surrounding the threaded portion of the housing to provide a wrench head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The joint of claim 1 wherein the portion of the tube receiving the bearing is cylindrical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The joint of claim 1, wherein the portion of the tube receiving the bearing is tapered toward the inturned end of the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
A joint for automotive vehicles including a rod having a threaded end portion, a stud having a head and a shank extending from the threaded end portion of the rod, a plastics bearing enVeloping said stud head, a metal tube surrounding said bearing, said tube having an inturned end bottoming the bearing and defining an aperture freely receiving the stud shank therethrough, a closure plug in said tube overlying the bearing and cooperating with the tube to provide a housing enveloping the bearing, said tube having a reduced diameter crimped portion overlying the plug and pre-loading the bearing between the plug and inturned end of the tube, and threaded means on the housing extending beyond the plug in threaded engagement with the threaded end portion of said rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A joint for automotive vehicles including a rod having a threaded end portion, a stud having a head and a shank extending from the threaded end portion of the rod, a plastics bearing enVeloping said stud head, a metal tube surrounding said bearing, said tube having an inturned end bottoming the bearing and defining an aperture freely receiving the stud shank therethrough, a closure plug in said tube overlying the bearing and cooperating with the tube to provide a housing enveloping the bearing, said tube having a reduced diameter crimped portion overlying the plug and pre-loading the bearing between the plug and inturned end of the tube, and threaded means on the housing extending beyond the plug in threaded engagement with the threaded end portion of said rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The joint of claim 8, wherein the rod has a threaded recess in the end thereof and the plug has a threaded stem threaded in said recess.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The joint of claim 8, wherein the rod has an externally threaded end and the tube has an internally threaded portion projecting beyond the plug in threaded engagement with said external threaded end of the rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The joint of claim 9, wherein the stem receives a washer in non-rotatable relation overlying the housing and providing a wrench head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
A joint comprising a stud having a head and a shank extending from the head, a plastics bearing enveloping the head, a metal tube surrounding said bearing, said tube having an inturned end bottoming the bearing and defining an aperture freely receiving the stud shank therethrough, a closure plug in said tube overlying the bearing, said tube and plug cooperating to provide a housing enveloping the bearing, a reduced diameter crimped portion on the tube having circumferentially spaced, external longitudinal folds, said reduced diameter crimped portion holding the plug against the bearing and preloading the bearing on the stud head, a rod member, and threaded means on the housing projecting beyond the closure plug connecting the joint to said rod member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
A joint comprising a stud having a head and a shank extending from the head, a plastics bearing enveloping the head, a metal tube surrounding said bearing, said tube having an inturned end bottoming the bearing and defining an aperture freely receiving the stud shank therethrough, a closure plug in said tube overlying the bearing, said tube and plug cooperating to provide a housing enveloping the bearing, a reduced diameter crimped portion on the tube having circumferentially spaced, external longitudinal folds, said reduced diameter crimped portion holding the plug against the bearing and preloading the bearing on the stud head, a rod member, and threaded means on the housing projecting beyond the closure plug connecting the joint to said rod member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The joint of claim 12 wherein said longitudinal folds imparts resiliency to said reduced diameter crimped portion, the threaded means are internal threads in said reduced diameter crimped portion and the rod member has external threads threaded into said internal threads expanding the resilient crimped portion into tight gripping relationship therewith to prevent unauthorized relative rotation of the rod member and housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The joint of claim 12 including a washer on the reduced diameter crimped portion having grooves receiving the external folds to prevent rotation of the washer relative to the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The joint of claim 14 wherein the washer has flat sides adapted to be engaged by a wrench.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2424455A
Cited
US3355787A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |