Ball joint construction

Claim 2

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, and a plurality of resilient tabs extending in free state generally axially beyond said one outer edge of said body and being homogeneously integral with said body, said tabs being dimensioned such that they are flexed when said retainer is assembled in the cavity to resiliently mount the ball stud in the housing for slightly generally axial displacement in at least one direction with respect to the housing.

Claim 3

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, and a plurality of resilient tabs extending in free state generally axially outwardly of both said one outer edge of said body and another outer edge at the opposite end of said body, said tabs being homogeneously integral with said body and being dimensioned such that they are flexed when said retainer is assembled in the cavity to resiliently mount the ball stud in the housing for slight generally axial displacement in both directions with respect to the housing.

Claim 4

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, and a plurality of resilient tabs extending in free state generally axially outwardly of both said one outer edge of said body and another outer edge at the opposite end of said body, said tabs being homogeneously integral with said body and being dimensioned such that they are flexed when said retainer is assembled in the cavity to resiliently mount the ball stud in the housing for slight generally axial displacement in both directions with respect to the housing.

Claim 5

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending second groove therein opening into the other outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart second inner and outer circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second webs in said second groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said second inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said second outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said other outer edge to place said second webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said webs terminating in a plurality of integral webs extending in free state generally axially outwardly of their associated outer edges of said body with said tabs being dimensioned to resiliently mount the ball stud in the cavity of the housing for slight generally axial displacement in both directions with respect to the housing.

Claim 6

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending second groove therein opening into the other outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart second inner and outer circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second webs in said second groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said second inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said second outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said other outer edge to place said second webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said webs terminating in a plurality of integral webs extending in free state generally axially outwardly of their associated outer edges of said body with said tabs being dimensioned to resiliently mount the ball stud in the cavity of the housing for slight generally axial displacement in both directions with respect to the housing.

Claim 7

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously intEgral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said webs in cross section having a generally V-shape.

Claim 8

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously intEgral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said webs in cross section having a generally V-shape.

Claim 9

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally radially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending second groove therein opening into the other outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart second inner and outer circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second webs in said second groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said second inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said second outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said other outer edge to place said second webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said webs in cross section having a generally V-shape.

Claim 10

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally radially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending second groove therein opening into the other outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart second inner and outer circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second webs in said second groove interposed between and homogeneously integral with said second inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said second outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said other outer edge to place said second webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said webs in cross section having a generally V-shape.

Claim 11

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeNeously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said body comprising a pair of rings each having an inner generally spherical recess providing a part of said inner generally spherical peripheral surface and having a continuous portion to overlie a portion of the ball of the stud between the equator and the poles of the ball and interrupted portions overlying the equator of the ball, said interrupted portions of said rings interdigitating to form a substantially continuous portion of said inner peripheral general spherical surface and being shaped to interlock with each other so as to prevent disassembly when pressed together, said webs in cross section having a generally V-shape.

Claim 12

A retainer for a ball joint construction having a stud with a ball received in a cavity in a housing comprising a body of a slightly resilient high density plastic bearing material having an annular wall with an inner generally spherical peripheral surface to surround and slidably engage in assembly a relatively large equatorial area of the ball around an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the stud, said annular wall having a generally axially and circumferentially extending first groove therein opening into one outer edge of said annular wall to provide generally radially spaced apart first inner and outer generally axially and circumferentially extending portions thereof homogeneously integral therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first webs in said groove interposed between and homogeNeously integral with said first inner and outer portions of said annular wall, said first outer portion of said annular wall being dimensioned with respect to the cavity of the housing such that in assembly it is displaced generally radially inwardly adjacent said one outer edge to place said first webs in compression and urge said inner generally spherical peripheral surface into mating engagement with the ball of the stud whereby said inner generally spherical peripheral surface continues to engage the ball of the stud as the mating surfaces wear away during in service use of the ball joint construction, said body comprising a pair of rings each having an inner generally spherical recess providing a part of said inner generally spherical peripheral surface and having a continuous portion to overlie a portion of the ball of the stud between the equator and the poles of the ball and interrupted portions overlying the equator of the ball, said interrupted portions of said rings interdigitating to form a substantially continuous portion of said inner peripheral general spherical surface and being shaped to interlock with each other so as to prevent disassembly when pressed together, said webs in cross section having a generally V-shape.