US5078531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball joint
Assignee: TRW Steering and Industrial Products Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-11-19
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2010-11-19
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a ball joint. The ball joint comprises a socket; a bearing provided along an inner face of said socket; and a ball stud embraced by said bearing; said socket including a stepped portion at an upper part and a rising portion rising integrally from an outer periphery of said stepped portion; said bearing including a flange portion at an upper part; said flange portion forcibly holding said ball stud to prevent a removal of said ball stud by caulking said stepped portion of said socket from upper and outer crosswise directions with said rising portion of said socket.
Inventors
- 👤 Motohiro Sakai
- 👤 Tsuneharu Wasada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:02
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0619; F16C11/0623; 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
184 words
A ball joint comprising: socket having a recess therein; a bearing contained in said recess and having a spherical cavity; a ball stud having a ball portion contained in said spherical cavity; a first annular cavity formed on an inner wall of said recess in said socket, said cavity having a first stepped portion; a rising portion rising integrally from an outer periphery of said first stepped portion; a second annular cavity formed on the inner wall of said recess and spaced apart from said first cavity, said second annular cavity having a second stepped portion and a diameter less than a diameter of said first annular cavity; a first flange portion provided on the outer periphery of said bearing and contained in said first cavity; a second flange portion provided on the outer periphery of said bearing and contained in said second cavity; said rising portion being caulked on said bearing to prevent removal of said bearing from said recess of said socket; said first flange portion being supported on said first stepped portion when said rising portion is caulked on said bearing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A ball joint comprising: socket having a recess therein; a bearing contained in said recess and having a spherical cavity; a ball stud having a ball portion contained in said spherical cavity; a first annular cavity formed on an inner wall of said recess in said socket, said cavity having a first stepped portion; a rising portion rising integrally from an outer periphery of said first stepped portion; a second annular cavity formed on the inner wall of said recess and spaced apart from said first cavity, said second annular cavity having a second stepped portion and a diameter less than a diameter of said first annular cavity; a first flange portion provided on the outer periphery of said bearing and contained in said first cavity; a second flange portion provided on the outer periphery of said bearing and contained in said second cavity; said rising portion being caulked on said bearing to prevent removal of said bearing from said recess of said socket; said first flange portion being supported on said first stepped portion when said rising portion is caulked on said bearing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ball joint as set forth in claim 1, wherein a gap is provided between said second stepped portion and said second flange portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A ball joint comprising: a socket having a recess therein; a bearing contained in said recess and having a spherical cavity; a ball stud having a ball portion contained in said spherical cavity; said socket having a first annular shoulder portion formed on an inner wall of said socket, a rising portion rising integrally from an outer periphery of said first annular shoulder portion, and a second annular shoulder portion formed on the inner wall of said socket and spaced apart from said first annular shoulder portion; a first flange portion on said bearing and supported on said first annular shoulder portion; a second flange portion on said bearing and located facing said second annular shoulder portion; said rising portion being caulked on said bearing to prevent removal of said bearing from said recess of said socket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
137 words
A ball joint comprising: a socket having a recess therein; a bearing contained in said recess and having a spherical cavity; a ball stud having a ball portion contained in said spherical cavity; said socket having a first annular shoulder portion formed on an inner wall of said socket, a rising portion rising integrally from an outer periphery of said first annular shoulder portion, and a second annular shoulder portion formed on the inner wall of said socket and spaced apart from said first annular shoulder portion; a first flange portion on said bearing and supported on said first annular shoulder portion; a second flange portion on said bearing and located facing said second annular shoulder portion; said rising portion being caulked on said bearing to prevent removal of said bearing from said recess of said socket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A ball joint as set forth in claim 3, wherein a gap is provided between said second annular shoulder portion and said second flange portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |