Self-centering articulated joint

Claim 2

An articulated joint having a socket and a stud, said socket having a wall defining a hollow interior and an opening, a stud having a head member disposed in said interior of said socket and a shank portion extending through said opening, a support member supportEd within said socket against angular displacement relative to said socket about an axis extending generally perpendicularly through said opening, said support member engaging said head member, one of said members having a transverse recess portion and the other of said members having a complementary protruding portion extending into said recess portion, said stud being rotatably displaceable about the longitudinal axis of said shank portion from a first position in which said protruding portion is seated in said recess portion to a second position in which said protruding portion and said recess portion are spaced apart, said recess portion and said protruding portion interengaging so as to inhibit rotatable displacement of said stud from said first position to said second position.

Claim 3

An articulated joint according to claim 1 and including: one of said recess portion or said protruding portion having an inclined edge forming a ramp surface whereby angular displacement of said stud from said first position to said second position will cause said stud to move axially relative to said support member.

Claim 4

An articulated joint according to claim 1 and including: one of said members being axially displaceable in said socket, resilient means urging said head member and said support member into engagement.

Claim 5

An articulated joint according to claim 1 and including: one of said members being axially displaceable in said socket, resilient means urging said head member and said support member into engagement, one of said recess portion or said protruding portion having an inclined edge forming a ramp surface constructed to cause said stud to move axially relative to said support member in response to angular displacement of said stud from said first position to said second position.

Claim 6

An articulated joint according to claim 1 and including: means connecting said support member to said socket constructed to support said support member for tiltable movement about an axis extending perpendicular to said axis extending generally perpendicularly through said opening.

Claim 7

An articulated joint according to claim 1 and including: one of said members being axially displaceable in said socket, resilient means urging said head member and said support member into engagement, pivot means connecting said support member to said socket constructed to support said support member for tiltable movement about an axis extending perpendicular to said axis extending generally perpendicularly through said opening.

Claim 8

An articulated joint having a socket and a stud, said socket having a wall defining a hollow interior, said socket having a small opening and a large opening at the ends of said interior, said stud having a generally flat head disposed in said interior and a shank extending through said small opening, a support member disposed in said hollow interior, pivot means connecting said support member to said wall, said pivot means being constructed to prevent angular displacement of said support member relative to said socket about a first axis extending through the centers of said small opening and said large opening, one of said head or said support member having a transversely extending ridge and the other of said head or said support member having a complementary recess, said stud being rotatably displaceable about said first axis from a first position in which said ridge is seated in said recess to a second position in which said ridge is not seated in said recess, said recess and said ridge being interengaging so as to inhibit rotatable displacement of said stud from said first position to said second position, closure means engaging said socket at said large opening and having bearing means engaging said support member, said bearing means of said closure means being constructed to support said support member for tilting movement relative to said socket abOut a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis.

Claim 9

An articulated joint having a socket and a stud, said socket having a wall defining a hollow interior, said socket having a small opening and a large opening at the ends of said interior, said stud having a generally flat head disposed in said interior and a shank extending through said small opening, a support member disposed in said hollow interior, pivot means connecting said support member to said wall, said pivot means being constructed to prevent angular displacement of said support member relative to said socket about a first axis extending through the centers of said small opening and said large opening, one of said head or said support member having a transversely extending ridge and the other of said head or said support member having a complementary recess, said stud being rotatably displaceable about said first axis from a first position in which said ridge is seated in said recess to a second position in which said ridge is not seated in said recess, said recess and said ridge being interengaging so as to inhibit rotatable displacement of said stud from said first position to said second position, closure means engaging said socket at said large opening and having bearing means engaging said support member, said bearing means of said closure means being constructed to support said support member for tilting movement relative to said socket abOut a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis.

Claim 10

An articulated joint according to claim 7 and including: said stud being axially displaceable in said socket, resilient means urging said head and said support member into engagement.

Claim 11

An articulated joint according to claim 8 and including: an annular bushing surrounding said shank and engaging the interior surface of said wall adjacent said small opening, a coil spring operatively interposed between said bushing and said head constructed to urge said head into engagement with said support member.

Claim 12

An articulated joint according to claim 7 and including: one of said recess or said ridge having an inclined edge forming a ramp surface, said ramp surface being constructed to cause said stud to move axially relative to said support member in response to angular displacement of said stud from said first position to said second position.

Claim 13

An articulated joint suitable for use in a steering linkage system of a motor vehicle having a socket and a stud, said socket having a wall defining a hollow interior, said socket having a small opening and a large opening at the ends of said hollow interior, said stud having a generally flat head disposed in said hollow interior and a shank extending from one side of said head through said small opening, a ramp member disposed in said hollow interior and means connecting said ramp member to said wall constructed to prevent angular displacement of said ramp member relative to said socket about a first axis extending through the centers of said small opening and said large opening, a closure member threadedly engaging said socket at said large opening and having bearing means engaging said ramp member, an annular bushing means surrounding said shank and slideably engaging the interior surface of said wall, spring means interposed between said bushing means and said head constructed to urge the other side of said head into engagement with one side of said ramp member, said other side of said head having a generally flat surface with a transversely extending ridge, said one side of said ramp member having a transversely extending recess with inclined ramp edges, said stud being rotatably displaceable about said first axis from a first position in which said ridge is seated in said recess to a second position in which said ridge is not seated in said recess, said inclined ramp edges being constructed to cause said stud to be displaced axially against the force of said resilient means when said stud is rotatably displaced from said first position to said second position, said closure member being constructed to support said ramp member for tilting movement about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis, said threaded engagement between said closure member and said socket providing a means to permit said closure member to be rotated relative to said socket to vary the preload of said resilient means.

Claim 14

An articulated joint suitable for use in a steering linkage system of a motor vehicle having a socket and a stud, said socket having a wall defining a hollow interior, said socket having a small opening and a large opening at the ends of said hollow interior, said stud having a generally flat head disposed in said hollow interior and a shank extending from one side of said head through said small opening, a ramp member disposed in said hollow interior and means connecting said ramp member to said wall constructed to prevent angular displacement of said ramp member relative to said socket about a first axis extending through the centers of said small opening and said large opening, a closure member threadedly engaging said socket at said large opening and having bearing means engaging said ramp member, an annular bushing means surrounding said shank and slideably engaging the interior surface of said wall, spring means interposed between said bushing means and said head constructed to urge the other side of said head into engagement with one side of said ramp member, said other side of said head having a generally flat surface with a transversely extending ridge, said one side of said ramp member having a transversely extending recess with inclined ramp edges, said stud being rotatably displaceable about said first axis from a first position in which said ridge is seated in said recess to a second position in which said ridge is not seated in said recess, said inclined ramp edges being constructed to cause said stud to be displaced axially against the force of said resilient means when said stud is rotatably displaced from said first position to said second position, said closure member being constructed to support said ramp member for tilting movement about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis, said threaded engagement between said closure member and said socket providing a means to permit said closure member to be rotated relative to said socket to vary the preload of said resilient means.