Bearing

Claim 2

A bearing for being mechanically connected between a first object and a second object for transferring a force between the first object and the second object, said bearing comprising: a housing element for being connected to the first object; a substantially solid ball element for being connected to the second object; said ball element having a ball shaped portion; said ball-shaped portion of said ball element being positioned in spaced-apart relation with and at least partially surrounded by said housing element; said ball element defining a linear axis along a substantial line of symmetry of said bearing; fluid in communication with said ball element and said housing element; a sole, sealed fluid cavity formed at least by said ball element and said housing element, wherein said fluid is disposed within said fluid cavity; said fluid at least partially surrounding a substantial portion of said ball-shaped portion of said ball element; said fluid for at least transmitting a force between said ball element and said housing element when said ball element moves relative to said housing element; a lower resilient element being vulcanized to said ball element and said housing element for at least transferring a force between said ball element and said housing element when said ball element moves in a first direction and when said ball element moves in a second direction; an upper resilient element for being interposed between said fluid and said housing element for transmitting a force between said fluid and said housing element; said upper resilient element being braced by said fluid to receive a force between said ball element and said housing element; said bearing having at least one cross-section generally through said linear axis; said fluid cavity comprising a substantial portion of said at least one cross-section; said upper resilient element and said ball element being separated by a substantial distance; and said fluid cavity forming a substantial indentation in a portion of said lower resilient element.

Claim 3

The bearing according to claim 1, further comprising: said ball portion of said ball element having a center; said fluid cavity extending circumferentially about a portion of said ball portion of said ball element; said fluid cavity having a maximum circumferential extent about said ball portion of said ball element; said lower resilient element extending circumferentially about a portion of said ball portion of said ball element; and said lower resilient element having a minimum circumferential extent about said ball portion of said ball element.

Claim 4

The bearing according to claim 2, further comprising: said indentation having an apex; and said apex of said indentation at least partially defining the maximum circumferential extent of said fluid cavity.

Claim 5

The bearing according to claim 3, further comprising: said upper resilient element having plate reinforcement means disposed thereupon; said plate reinforcement means being disposed to be in contact with said fluid; and said plate reinforcement means being for receiving a force between said ball element and said upper resilient element through said fluid.

Claim 6

The bearing according to claim 4, wherein said lower resilient element has a region of reduced thickness defined by said indentation and said housing element.

Claim 7

The bearing according to claim 5, wherein said housing element and said upper resilient element define chamber means for receiving and discharging a gas.

Claim 8

The bearing according to claim 6, including vent means for being in fluid communication with said chamber means and the ambient atmosphere for transferring gas to and discharging gas from said chamber means.

Claim 9

The bearing according to claim 7, wherein said upper resilient element is generally ring-shaped and connected to said housing element.

Claim 10

The bearing according to claim 8, wherein said upper resilient element has a central portion disposed between said plate reinforcement means and said chamber means.

Claim 11

The bearing according to claim 9, wherein said central portion of said upper resilient element has a generally convex shape oriented towards said chamber means.

Claim 12

The bearing according to claim 10, wherein said upper resilient element is vulcanized to said housing element.

Claim 13

The bearing according to claim 11, further comprising: said housing element having an interior surface; and said housing element comprising at least one sheet overlay means being disposed on said interior surface.

Claim 14

The bearing according to claim 12, wherein said upper resilient element is disposed upon and vulcanized to a first of said at least one sheet overlay means.

Claim 15

The bearing according to claim 13, wherein said lower resilient element is disposed upon and vulcanized to a second of said at least one sheet overlay means.

Claim 16

The bearing according to claim 14, further comprising: said ball element having an upper area and a lower area, wherein said upper area is located generally towards said upper resilient element and said lower area is located substantially opposite said upper area; and said lower resilient element having a region of tapered thickness towards said upper area of said ball element, wherein said region of tapered thickness is defined by said ball element and said indentation.

Claim 17

The bearing according to claim 15, wherein said indentation has two walls, wherein a first of said walls is formed by said region of tapered thickness of said lower resilient element and a second of said walls is formed by said region of reduced thickness of said lower resilient element.

Claim 18

The bearing according to claim 16, wherein said lower resilient element has a region of substantial thickness between said ball element and said housing element at said lower area of said ball element.

Claim 19

The bearing according to claim 17, wherein said lower resilient element and said ball element define at least one open cavity, wherein said at least one open cavity is disposed generally opposite said fluid cavity with respect to said lower resilient element.

Claim 20

The bearing according to claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said at least one open cavity forms a convex indentation in said lower resilient element.

Claim 21

The bearing according to claim 19, wherein said plate reinforcement means extends about a substantial portion of said ball portion of said ball element in a spaced-apart relationship with said ball portion of said ball element.

Claim 22

The bearing according to claim 20, further comprising: at least a portion of said ball element being a ball pin; said housing element comprising first and second external elements; said first and second elements forming a junction; sealing means being interposed at said junction for providing a seal between said first external element and said second external element; a portion of said lower resilient element comprising a portion of said sealing means; said sealing means comprising said lower resilient element having a sawtooth patterned surface within said junction; said plate reinforcement means comprising a metal material; said housing element comprising first mounting means for mechanically connecting said housing element to the first object; said first mounting means being ring-shaped; said ball element comprising second mounting means for connecting said ball element to the second object; said second mounting means comprising thread means disposed within said ball element; said first external element having a circular flange portion; said second external element having a circular flange portion facing said circular flange portion of said first external element; said circular flange portion of said first external element and said circular flange portion of said second external element forming at least a portion of said first mounting means; at least one of said at least one sheet overlay means comprising a sheet metal material; each of said first and second sheet overlay means having a first edge and a second edge; the first edge of said first sheet overlay means being disposed within said junction; the first edge of said second sheet overlay means being disposed within said junction; a portion of said lower resilient element being disposed between said first sheet overlay means and said second sheet overlay means within said junction; at least a portion of said lower resilient element comprising internal plate reinforcement means for strengthening said lower resilient element, wherein said internal plate reinforcement means is disposed within said lower resilient element between said ball element and said housing element; each of said upper and lower resilient elements comprising an elastomer material; said housing element comprising cylinder means; and said apex of said indentation being generally rounded.